Q's about speakers & DSL 50.

[Mike M.]

Okay, lately I've been experimenting with differant speakers with my DSL 50 trying to decide once and for all what I'd like to end up with. Of all the speakers I have it comes down to two: A 25 watt, 16 ohm Celestion Greenback and a 30 watt, 16 ohm Weber Blue Dog. Right now all I have is a 1X12 cabinet that I made so it's been just testing one speaker at a time.

I like the clarity, the articulation and the "flavour" of the breakup with the GB, and I like the smoothness of the Blue Dog. I tend to think that they would sound great together in a 2X12 cabinet.

Over at Avatars website they have a schematic that shows how to wire them together. It would be..."2-16 ohm speakers wired in parallel to equal 8 ohms." Okay, if I had a 2X12 cabinet it would be no problem. Now, before I go and order a 2X12 cabinet I need to know......would wiring up these two speakers as described be safe thru my DSL? I confess that I'm really an idiot when it comes to understanding these things. Don't want to blow anything up, ya know? I'm really concerned because of how I run the amp, which is very loud. I use the Classic channel (with the gain button engaged) and have the volume on 10. (Yes folks, 10!). I keep the Gain set to around a 9:00 position and use a pedal to dial things in a bit. And yes, I use an attenuator! It just sounds best to me this way. But again, will I blow anything up?

There is another possibility. How would a 4X12 with G12-65's sound with my amp? Of what I've been reading it sounds like it might be a good match for my amp. The DSL can be rather "biting" if not careful and of what I can tell the 65's seem to have a smoother higher end.

Thanks for your help. Have a good weekend.

Mike

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Re: Q's about speakers & DSL 50.

Is there a place on the amp to switch to 8 ohms? I had that amp and cannot remember.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Q's about speakers & DSL 50.

Yeah, just switch the selector to 8 ohms. Modern Marshall heads switch between 16 and 8 ohms with a slider switch. They can also be changeable between 8 and 4 ohms, but you must rewire the switch.

The Greenback is a great speaker in a closed back cab and would work great with the Alnico Blue Dog that way. However, if the cab is open backed then the G12H30 is the one you chould use instead of the GB. Either of those two with the 30 watt alnico combined, will give you plenty of early breakup in a 2x12, behind a 50 watt amp.

The GB works fine in combonation with alnico, or similar to alnico sounding speakers.

The 65 has a somewhat similar EQ curve to the Greenback, but the breakup will come late if at all, especially considering 4 of them. The 65 is good in a 4x12, BTW.

 

[Mike M.]

Re: Q's about speakers & DSL 50.

When I asked if this would all be safe what I meant was will these two speakers be able to handle the power I'm throwing at them, even though I'm using an attenuator.

As far as the ohms go yeah, there's no problem because the DSL can take a 4, 8 or a 16 ohm load.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Q's about speakers & DSL 50.

You will be pushing the GB pretty hard, but I think you will probably be okay. Stepping up to the G12H30 will provide some added insurance and five more watts total power handling. FWIW, a single Vintage 30 rated at 60 watts, can handle an unattenuated, cranked 50 watt Marshall just fine. I've done it plenty of times. Using an attenuater should make it safe enough for the GB at 50 watt total power handling.