Swapping speakers

[Coma]

For those of you who have swapped speakers in a cab, did the results live up to your expectations? Ä

I have two setups, one 100w EVH 5153 running through the matching 4x12 cab, it sounds amazing.
My home setup is the 50w hooked up to a vertical 2x12 Engl cab loaded V30s. I've never liked any V30 cabs with the EVH amps, they always sound harsh to my ears.

I'm thinking maybe replace the speakers with Celestion EVH branded G12Ms, but I've no idea if it's going to sound like crap because the cab wasn't designed with those speakers in mind.

 

[jeremy]

ive swapped speakers a bunch over the years, mostly in open back combos, but closed cabs too. youll definitely notice a difference, and if you pick the right speakers. i think those 20w celestions are really good sounding speakers and should work well in your 2x12 cab. just watch the volume

 

[uOpt]

I think "cab designed with speakers in mind" is mostly marketing. There isn't much you can do to specifically target a specific speakers.

I started experimenting with speakers by mounting 4 different ones into my 4x12" and miking them, but that was interrupted by a move and I haven't set it up again.

I wish we could easily swap magnets on speaker like we can do on pickups.

 

[jeremy]

i would say thats mostly true, unless the cab is ported. then there is some tuning involved

 

[Coma]

ive swapped speakers a bunch over the years, mostly in open back combos, but closed cabs too. youll definitely notice a difference, and if you pick the right speakers. i think those 20w celestions are really good sounding speakers and should work well in your 2x12 cab. just watch the volume

I'm not too concerned about blowing the speakers - I think my otherwise very chill neighbours would lynch me well before that

 

[80's_Metal]

I have swapped a bunch here and there.
And yes I have learned a lot and enjoyed the process immensely.
Here's what I am rocking these days

https://imgur.com/WXnrWVu

 

[misterwhizzy]

Definitely depends on the day. I swapped out the Celestion Seventy/80s that came in my cabinet with an Eminence Governor and Wizard pair and would never ever go back to those basic and uninspiring Celestions. After eventually going through some WGS speakers and trying actual Vintage 30s, I finally realized that Celestion Greenbacks are my happy place. But they may not be that tomorrow. (They will.)

tl;dr Speakers are absolutely worth experimenting with.

 

[Coma]

I have swapped a bunch here and there.
And yes I have learned a lot and enjoyed the process immensely.

What did you learn?

 

[idsnowdog]

What I learned is Celestion's have their own sound. They don't all sound the same, but they do have similarities. I have learned that Eminence speakers marketed as Celestion alternatives don't sound the same. That even if the published EQ curves look the same, they don't sound the same. That there's no substitute to trying a speaker.

 

[80's_Metal]

What did you learn?

Mostly that there are a lot of great sounding speakers.

I dislike greenbacks

Swamp thangs are actually beautiful

The sweet spot is different on every speaker, yet if you put the mic just on the inside edge of the dust cap that's good enough for every speaker.

Each guitar has speakers that sound better for that guitar.... For that tuning, or for that pickup.

Each amp has it's favorite speakers as well.

Speakers matter more than the guitar when it comes to tone.

And K100s slay!

 

[Securb]

I have had only one disappointment in a speaker swap. My Fender Quad originally sat on top of a Celestron-loaded Ampeg V4. When I restored it top to bottom, I put Seventy 80s in it. The amp lost all of its character. I bought into the hype that Seventy 89s were garbage and eventually replaced them with Type As. They sound glorious in that amp. Later, I ended up putting the Seventy 80s in my Fender M80 halfstack with a closed cab, and they sounded perfect for that amp/cab. The Ampeg V4 is now the cab for my bass amp. It has 4 Celestion Pulse bass speakers in it. Yet another perfect match for the cab. Every bass player who plays through it offers to buy it.

 

[GuitarStv]

I didn't like the V30 that came with my open back Traynor combo. It was just too bright and upper mid-rangey. Swapped in a C. Rex and haven't looked back, it just smoothed things out exactly the way I wanted without making it overly dark. What's weird is, I love v30s in closed back cabs and now run my open back Traynor and C. Rex with a closed back v30 all the time. Sounds great.

Speakers are very important in shaping your tone. Maybe more than the guitar you're using, and probably on par with the amp.