Speaker breakup and articulation...

[Gr8Scott]

Does speaker breakup adversely effect articulation in distortion? If so, how much? This is something I have limited if any experience with. I think all of my combo amps didn't have much in the way of speaker breakup. Is distortion always better with speaker breakup or is it good clean in some cases?

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Speaker breakup and articulation...

I like to let the tubes provide the distortion. Others like the way speakers add to the mix. too bad the only way to find out is to try eack combination

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Speaker breakup and articulation...

That's what I've been thinking. I've recently played around with the Mig-50 and a modified Danelectro Fabtone and I've found the combination between the two is extremely articulate under distortion until I crank the amp to the point that the cab starts farting out a bit. By articulate, I mean being able to hear every single string being hit in a pretty distorted chord and picking out each strings distorted sound all by itself in the chord as it's ringing out. Each of the chords frequencies were bouncing and weaving through each other in a manner that was a true feast for the ears when the guitar is properly tuned and played. It sounded like a chorus of avenging angels.

I think having much if any speaker breakup in distortion like this would blend the frequencies together and make it all sound more two dimensional and less complex to my ears. I think I'm not going to be one of those folks who wants speaker breakup in my distortion. I don't want those glowing tubes hiding behind anything at all. I want them stripped naked and center stage.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Speaker breakup and articulation...

thats one of the reason i like old jbl's and the webeer california series. usual the speakers with higher power handlling don't add as much flavor.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Speaker breakup and articulation...

Thanks for the recco. I'll look into the Weber Cali series when I get my cab. I'll see what the cost would be to get the whole smear ready to go in one shot so all I have to do is unwrap it and plug it in. Do ya think it will be more cost effective to get a local shop to check on the price for me and then do it all seperately myself and see what the difference is? I'll bet they can get better pricing than I can.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Speaker breakup and articulation...

Just checked out the Weber Cali 12's. They look really nice. Are the alnico ones worth the extra $100 or so per speaker? That's a mighty big chunk of change for an alnico with a ceramic piggyback...

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Speaker breakup and articulation...

For your edana, i'd recommend the Mojo british series. They are quite good.

 

[Falstaff]

Re: Speaker breakup and articulation...

Gr8Scott-

I just put one Cali in my Pro Reverb (the other speaker is a Jensen that I will probably replace with another Cali soon). It's the paper dome ceramic one, and it's nice. The amp tech I know was pleasantly surprised because it has some of the power and stoutness of a JBL type speaker, but it doesn't go over the top into aluminum dome territory. It's closer to one of the F150 types than he thought it would be i.e. it's not something that might sound foreign to someone hearing it for the first time. Granted, I play clean 80% of the time, but it sounds nice with a pedal as well.

FWIW, I think Weber pushes people looking for a JBL type speaker towards the paper dome ceramic...at least that's what they did for me.

YMMV, etc., etc.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Speaker breakup and articulation...

For your edana, i'd recommend the Mojo british series. They are quite good.

Damn I love reading the first three words in that post!...:dance:

Do you mean the 25M, 30V or 30H mojotones from Mojo Music supply? Those do look interesting sho nuff! Any reviews of them to speak of?

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Speaker breakup and articulation...

30H=G12H30

30V=Vintage 30

25M=Greenback


on my Bluesbreaker style 2x12, I ordered it with 30H's, 30V's are the stock config.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Speaker breakup and articulation...

30H=G12H30

30V=Vintage 30

25M=Greenback


on my Bluesbreaker style 2x12, I ordered it with 30H's, 30V's are the stock config.

Thanks! I'll check into these babies. Sounds like a steal in terms of price.

 

[James Rock]

Re: Speaker breakup and articulation...

It matters what speakers. Celestion Blues break up smoothly and add warmth but some speaker (especially cheaper ones) break up in a very harsh and farty way.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Speaker breakup and articulation...

I agree. the Celestion Blues have a reputation for very good note diffinition and warmth at the same time. The blues are the best speakers I've heard for that. Alnico magnets seem to give a smooth subtle breakup when pushed, without garbling the harmonic content. If the speaker power handling is more closely matched to the power output of the amp it can be variable controled to some extent by the guitarist's picking technique. Perfect for high quality, responsive tube amps, in my opinion.