Time to make a cab decision

[ratherdashing]

Re: Time to make a cab decision

What speakers are easily available to you guys up there? Can you get hold of some Eminence? I think the Ace is one of the better Boogies. Would be nice if you could get a 2x12 with some Emi Private Jack, Wizard, Governor, Tone Spotter, Tonker, Texas Heat. Just something decent to give your head a fighting chance. Anything but those dreadful T-75 Celestions.
But really, what can a Canadian get his hands on as far as raw speakers are concerned???
Do any of these guys ship up your way?
http://www.eminence.com/guitar.asp?speaker_size=12
https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/
https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/

The local music chain carries Eminence and Celestion, and I can order anything else I want online. I have a US shipping address. Living in Canada has no bearing on what I can and can't buy.

 

[Kostas]

You can try these cabs:

You can try these cabs:

http://www.portcityamps.com/wave2OS.html
http://www.portcityamps.com/wave2.html
http://www.vhtamp.com/frames.html
http://www.fredacabs.com/2x12.cfm

Buy unloaded and try some Celestions:
G12-65 http://professional.celestion.com/guitar/products/heritage/detail.asp?ID=32
G12H http://professional.celestion.com/guitar/products/heritage/detail.asp?ID=7
Gold http://professional.celestion.com/guitar/products/alnico/detail.asp?ID=32
The VHT Fat Bottom comes with VHT/Eminence and it's very good with the stock speakers.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Time to make a cab decision

Well, I tried the horizontal Recto 2x12 at a gig on Saturday. It was a definite improvement over the Marshall 1960, but I still felt like I wasn't quite getting the tone I want. The shrillness was gone and replaced with very sweet, cutting treble. This cab definitely has a mid hump to it with the Stiletto. It sounded awesome for solos and single note lines, but chording sounded kind of muddy. Basically, I think I went too far in the other direction from the 1960.

Physically it's a very deep and heavy cab, and this probably contributes to the thick low end I felt. Unfortunately a lot of the lows got lost in the mix with the bass.

Overall, a step in the right direction, but not ideal.

I wonder if the answer is a 2x12 with different speakers. I've always thought that a 2x12 with a Vintage 30 and a G12H30 would be really good, or maybe a Greenback and a G12H30.

Suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Time to make a cab decision

Based on your description of how you liked/disliked the Horizontal Recto 2x12, I honestly think a traditional/stiletto sized 2x12 or 4x12 would be perfect for you.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Time to make a cab decision

That sounds similar to my experience with my Mesa cabs.... I liked mine in isolation but not in a band situation. I would go for a pine cab (or mahogany for a warmer sound) and as you say, 1 x V30 and 1 x G12H30.

 

[Animal]

Re: Time to make a cab decision

I've always thought that a 2x12 with a Vintage 30 and a G12H30 would be really good, or maybe a Greenback and a G12H30.

A Greenback and G12H30 combo is definitely a lot more "classic" sounding than the V30 and G12H30 combo. I find that having a V30 in the mix is a lot more useful for my purposes as it has all the clarity and compression required for a modern feel but mixed with the G12H30 you get a taste of that classic colour to make things more interesting.

I've got an x-pattern of Greenback and G12H-30s, all from the 70s, in my Marshall 1960 and I'm finding it too "open". For better or worse, the Greenies give that certain "growl" to the table. I think I might replace them with my pair of WGS V30 copies in that cab again, I remember the previous config I had being more fun to play with.

Either of the Greenbacks I have sound better in my 1x12" open back cab....the clean tone with that speaker in that cab is awesome! There's just something about that top-end of that speaker which sounds very acoustic and beautiful.

I've also got a pair of British made G12T-75s and a single Mesa Black Shadow MC-90 (tweaked CL-80 British Lead) and I'll probably never use those again in my cabs. They just didn't work well with my Laney AOR, an EL-34 hot-rodded Marshall clone, which is kind of in the ballpark british tone I would imagine the Stiletto to be similar to.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Time to make a cab decision

I've not read the entire thread but here's my 2 coppers, FWIW.

Those 1960s are full of Celestion 75s. While I like the 75s with an actual Marshall I think based on my experience with the Stiletto, thats a poor match.

The Stilletto is "marshall inspired" but is brighter and has more slice right outta the box.

I've heard some Stiletto clips with Greenbacks and they sound good but again that GB presence spike could really get harsh I'd think-FWIW I don't like the Marshall Vintage Modern with GBs either. But I do like them with a Plexi/Metalface or JMP/800 type Marshall.

V30s- I'm normally not a fan. I think they sound pretty good with a Plexi type warmer marshall, but have their own annoying mid spike thing going on I don't care for that can get really overbearing with something more "modern" than that Plexi sound. I played the Stiletto through a MESA 4x12 with these and the mids were really abrasive, again typical of V30s IME. I think they record well, but standing by the amp, playing it, they just annoy me.

I'd recco the H30, it's warmer toned and the EQ is very well balanced for a Marshall type amp. It has good clarity, It's tighter than a GB-nearly as tight as a v30.I think it would be a great match with the Stiletto (though I don't know for sure).

65s are a good compromise too- they are like a cross between the H30 and a 75- crunchy, good bass, nice highs- more aggressive than a H30, but not as "metal" as the 75 or nasal as the v30.

I have heard a V30/75 mix cab that I definitely liked-both speakers seemed to cancel out the negatives while leaving the good things about each design. It was full, punchy, maybe a little dark and the mids nor highs were overbearing-which could be excellent for the Stilletto.

I'd buy an Avatar cab personally if a Marshall cab is too much $- I think the MESA cabs are a better built cab than either but I don't think they have that good woody "knock" that Marshall cabs have- they are more "metal" for lack of a better description. I had some Laney cabs back in the day (the old metal BBQ grill ones) and they are fairly well built and sound pretty good. May be able to find one on the cheap, used? (and then could load with whatever speakers you wish).

 

[Ascension]

Re: Time to make a cab decision

I use a pair of Avatar 2/12's. One with Vin 30's and one with 75's. Both are identical cabs except color and speakers. BTW guys side by side the 75 cab is a LOT darker and tighter in the bottom than the Vin 30 cab is.
Try an Avatar 2/12 with a pair of the Hellatones. They are well built, dirt cheap and sound GREAT!!

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Time to make a cab decision

Hmm ... right now an Avatar 2x12 with a V30 and a G12H is looking pretty good for the price.