Tell me about EVM12Ls

[dd12939]

I hear about these from time to time, they seem highly regarded, I know they cost more than most speakers, they're heavy, handle a lot of power and that Zakk Wylde has a sig model of them. I'd love to hear some more in depth info about them though - frequency response, how they sound in open v. closed back cabs, etc
Thanks!

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Tell me about EVM12Ls

very heavy, very loud...big bass and sharp treble but IMO they lack mids and character in most settings...they sound prety good but only if they are being driven at pretty high volume levels. A speaker thatas rated at 200 watts generally doesn't sound good with a 50 watt amp being played on 2 or 3...these things need to be pushed pretty hard to have any kind of good tone IMO.

I would say that there are lots of better speakers out there but some guys really like the EVM's. I used a pair of them for a while in my Twin Reverb and didn't care for them and hated the weight after that I put them into a small Bassman cab and used them with various heads...still wasn't crazy about them so I sold them...

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Tell me about EVM12Ls

I used a pair back in the 80's in a 2x12 cab with a JCM800 2203 head. I loved them for their clean sound and extended frequency response. I don't know if I would still like them today, it's hard to remember.

Neil Geraldo used Marshall combos with EV's in the early days with Pat Benetar - that's where I got the idea. If your looking for simialr speakers today, Weber makes something along those lines that's cheaper than vintage EVM12L's.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Tell me about EVM12Ls

Loud, punchy, smooth where they need to be, huge mids yet not too much, tight bass, adn you either love or hate 'em.

I talked to one great 80s player once who used them, and I said "yeah, those things are no good to me unless you are playing stadiums"

He laughed and said yeah, they are a little too much at times.

I can say they cut so well, they are the ONLY speaker that ever got some much Db's (102-103) that they sliced thru and got me noise complaints. My Marshall, pretty loud with a 4x12 never got me in trouble like a booie 1x12 with an EV12L. Great speaker, Wylde swears by them.

 

[myxolidian]

Re: Tell me about EVM12Ls

I didn't know Neil Geraldo used EV's. He's always had killer tones back then. Although I recently saw Pat Benatar's latest dvd and he's using a Pod XT. I think he must be deaf cuz it sounded like poop. :boggled:

Steve Stevens also used EV's back in the day with Billy Idol. I have an article where he mentioned that he also had the voice coils modified for faster transient response(?). Whatever the case, he also had kick ass tones.

Come to think of it, I might have to check some EV's out myself.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Tell me about EVM12Ls

Yeah..big.. punchy...clear tight bass and clear tight highs..not alot of mids really.

RR and Adrian Smith used them mixed with Altec/Celestion speakers (respectively)

I should also note that the VS65 I got recently (used) had one in it. The previous owner had put it in as well as closed the back on the combo. Louder it got the better/more full it sounded...it seriously got very Marshall stack like in tone/breakup. At lower volumes it was way too "clean". Unfortunately the amp crapped out on me, and I had to take it back.

 

[gt5litre]

Re: Tell me about EVM12Ls

I use the older EV SRO's in my Rivera 2X12 cab and my Rivera S120 amp. My SRO's use an alnico magnet and are a 75 watt speaker. They work great with the Rivera since it was voiced with EV's in mind. They are heavy and big; the magnet cover is about as big as a coffee can and not the 1lb size.

When I picked up the Rivera cab and speakers it made the S120 come alive. Only other cab that comes close is an Ampeg "V" series 4X12 like Nine Inch Nails used in the past for their live shows.

Get a pair of the older SRO's very highly recommended.

gt5litre

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Tell me about EVM12Ls

EVM 12L's are not for everybody. I stumbled onto them (it) by accident. I was involved in three way deal where I surrendered some cash and a Nintendo video game console (HA-HA), for the bottom cab from an open-back Fender Concert set.

The EVM 12L is a speaker that can take a beating like rented mule.

In the realm of Sabbath-y stoner rock, ultimate crunch/core (or cork-sniffing vintage Class A tone) is not necessarily desired. The EV just takes my simple Boss SD-1, and the stone age Sunn model T tone (150w clean/180w distorted), and projects it with ease.

Most people will find this speaker to be sterile and lifeless because they want to drive a light speaker with bluesy tones...or murder eardrums with sizzley amps and cabinet crunch. More power to them.

With the EVM 12L, you can put power to it...then more power to it...then more power to it...until you reach your limits. The speaker still will have more left in it.

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Tell me about EVM12Ls

Got one in my Mesa Mark III combo... Sounds great IMO. I feel that you dont have to crank it to get good tones out of it. It does have to be louder than a normal practice volume, but not that much louder. Cleans sound great at any volume.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Tell me about EVM12Ls

Use to use EV SRO's back in the early 70's.

Have no experience with the speakers that you are requesting informaiton about. BUT the same type of comments surely applied to those EV SRO speakers.

 

[jdm61]

Re: Tell me about EVM12Ls

EV used to make a very similar 100w speaker back in the day. A friend of mine had them installed in a silverface Twin back in the day. That thing was SO loud that you had to step out in the hallway and close the bedroom door in order to get it loud enough to distort on its own and not rupture all of your internal organs. :laugh2: He played it with a Rat pedal normally.