Speakers and neodymium magnets

[Mr Wolf]

Hi guys I wonder if you guys can help.

I am looking into upgrading my Marshall 2x12 cab (loaded with Celestian G12-75T's). Amongst other things - I am looking into neodymium speakers. Of course they are known to be lighter, but what is the general consensus on them from a tonal point of view?

Sadly I haven't had the opportunity to try them out yet, but I would appreciate any feedback on these.

Thanks

 

[everdrone]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

I have read a lot of good feedback on them

they are not used by famous people, so they are not as popular

their magnet is much stronger, so the tone is not quite as smooth usually

best thing to do besides testing them is to compare their EQ curve to see if it will meet your needs

I am prolly gonna replace my V30s with celestion century vintages, in my Thunderverb 50 orange 212PPC

 

[jeremy]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

i love them in bass speakers but havent found a guitar speaker that i love yet. its probably out there but i havent found it yet

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

Everdrone - I'd like to know your thoughts if you do choose to get some any time soon. It isn't surprising a lot of famous names don't use them. Weight probably isn't on the agenda when you have roadies. Therefore no need to deviate from the tried and tested classic speaker set-ups.

Jeremy - I know what you mean with regards to neodymium in bass amps/cabs. My cousin had them loaded in his rig and he has a great sound. Obviously the demands for bass are different though.

Thanks both your the input

 

[everdrone]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

I already own TEN NEODYMIUM SPEAKERS!!

ha! guitarists just dont care about bassist's rigs though. I am a bassist, I have ultralight gallien 410 cabs and a gallien combo 212 ultralight. they are GREAT on bass.

I am considering neos for my ORange thunderverb 50 and 212PPC closed back cab:

1) eminence tonkerlite
2) celestion century vintage

I like my celestion v30s and my amp is based on the v30s so the celestion is winning out since it has a similar EQ curve. but for my heavy downtuned sludge music I am always tweaking to make improvements to my FAMOUS SLUDGE SECRET RECIPE :banana:

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

ha! guitarists just dont care about bassist's rigs though.

No-one cares about a bassist's rig

Anyway seriously, thanks for the input. For now I shall continue with a bit of research. In my band, I'm playing 1950's rock n roll and I am not sure how neodymium speakers would fare against the usual options. Overall, with the next cab I am looking for something of an upgrade over my Marshall 1936, both with regards to build and the overall sound. The saving in weight is also a consideration that is very appealing if they sound good.

Cheers,

 

[everdrone]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

hey brutha, little update:

I have been researching to the end of the reviews and the forums and finally finished my research! just did another hour today. I have come to the conclusion that I am not gonna replace my V30s with Celestion Century Vintage neodymiums!

why? Cause 8 years ago when they came out, bruthas on this forum tried them out, and lots of others on forums tried them and did not like them. too sterile. I found a few dudes that swore by them, but their enthusiasm for them wore off over time and I saw one guy that had them in a closed back matamp 212 cab with a matamp head put em up for sale a few years later. They might be okay for people going for a cleaner tone, but I have the v30s and am really only interested in SLUDGE music. Many cannot hear a difference, but none of the tone gurus are swearing by neodymiums or anything close.

So I better steer clear of that bullet! I cannot test them out. Instead of paying $100 for the install and $320 for a pair of speakers, I will prolly just save up for another Orange 212PPC-closed back cab. Good luck brutha, cheers :beerchug:

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

Thanks for your help I'm glad I am not the only one mulling over whether these are worth considering.

I have been starting to have similar concerns from what I have read as well. I do have rock/metal leanings a lot of the time, but my main project is a 1950's rock n roll band and whilst the majority of that stuff is relatively clean - I don't want things going sterile. I do like things to be warm and jazzy at times, then sometimes a good raw clean with some mild breakup on top. I am a little concerned the neodymium may take things in the wrong direction.

Tough to know how things actually are in reality without giving them a proper try but I feel more inclined to stick with the tried and tested speakers. For now I am thinking Vintage 30's as Brian Setzer uses them and I love his sound! Not to mention all the others that favour them - that's another topic though!

Thanks again for your help.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

cool brutha, I have been on the fence about it for awhile. I was lifting my cab for a jam and thinking this is just too much weight, even if I am maybe stronger than the average guy and do not have injuries. I just do not want any injuries. I read all the neodymium posts on this forum where The Guy Who Invented Fire said the lil' texas was good for him. Your style of playing is tons different than mine so there might be options for you. On the Orange Forum Irish Admiral really likes the celestion century vintage; he just does not know my style of playing.

You can see I am still on the fence about it depending on what day it is and how much closer I am to saving up for it, I still may bet some and then I would be able to give a better recommendation. I am thinking of getting an Orange 212OB since it weighs 45 pounds and I can convert the open back cabinet to closed back cabinet, and putting Tonkerlites in it for my heavy rock. Ya I know it will not be like the V30 industry standard, but it might be acceptable, and I dig fuzz tones so they may come through just fine.

Here is my favorite article/opinion on Neos: http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/4-neodymium-speakers/8492

Here is my favorite thread on Neos, I really have appreciated everyone's insights on the forums and taking the time to write responses to my questions :beerchug: http://forum.orangeamps.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=48799

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

. Instead of paying $100 for the install

Who in the world is charging you $100 for a speaker change? You're getting raped, bro. It's so ****ing easy to do that there's no excuse for paying someone else to do it.

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Speakers and neodymium magnets

Who in the world is charging you $100 for a speaker change? You're getting raped, bro. It's so ****ing easy to do that there's no excuse for paying someone else to do it.

+1

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

I haven't heard one yet that I like. Neo speakers are light, have good power handling, have good sensitivity and a fairly wide frequency range but they're very bright. I can see their usefulness for PA and Bass but not guitar.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

thanks, I will change them out myself after watching a youtube video as it is pretty easy as you enlightened me

maybe I will enroll a carpenter though to make the closed back panel for an Orange 212-openback cab

 

[everdrone]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

I haven't heard one yet that I like. Neo speakers are light, have good power handling, have good sensitivity and a fairly wide frequency range but they're very bright. I can see their usefulness for PA and Bass but not guitar.

lol

the money pit plunge is scaring me!! also a smaller cab with Neos is prolly not going to be a SLUDGE improvement to my ears, just wondering how much of a tone drain it would be.

may be a good idea to have one cab for gigs and one for quick grab and go for DOOm practice and jams

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

I haven't heard one yet that I like. Neo speakers are light, have good power handling, have good sensitivity and a fairly wide frequency range but they're very bright. I can see their usefulness for PA and Bass but not guitar.

I guess neodymium magnets in speakers are still a bit new and manufacturers are still trying to get them dialled in. Having a wide range and response that I've heard about - straight away they are useful for bass and PA, but I guess satisfying the demands of guitarists is another thing!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

A magnet is only one part of a speaker and like ceramic or alnico magnet speakers I have heard neo speakers I like and neo speakers I did not like...

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: Speakers and neodymium magnets

A magnet is only one part of a speaker and like ceramic or alnico magnet speakers I have heard neo speakers I like and neo speakers I did not like...

TGWIF - Can you elaborate on your experiences? What makes/models have you heard in action? What sort of music? Most importantly - what did you think?

In my position, of course I am looking to upgrade what I already have for a better sound. On top of this though I do have an interest in saving weight as well. Whilst speakers for a 2x12" are not the be-all/end all with weight saving compared to a 4x12", it is certainly a significant bit - hence my interest.

Many thanks in advance.