TX Heat vs. CL80 - opinions?

[hydro]

About to get a 1x12 cab made and have narrowed down to a couple of speakers I'd like to try.

I have heard Texas Heat demos and like what I heard; they seem to be pretty mellow on the highs, a bit warmer sounding than some of the other Eminence speakers.
I have heard that CL80s are pretty neutral-voiced speakers and don't break up much but that they are similar in voice to Mesa Black Shadow C90s (which I like pretty well).

As a point of reference, I have (Mesa branded) V30s in another cab and I don't really care for them - too fizzy, crispy, too much high mids.

This is going to be an open-backed cab and I plan on running a Marshall 3203 Artist - 30 watt hybrid amp into it. It's actually for a friend/bandmate to use, for the short term, and as a spare/backup. I'd describe the primary use as somewhere between psych and garage, with cleans being pretty important.

My gut tells me the Celestion, but I have really wanted to try a Texas Heat and see if I like it as I may go for those to replace the V30s in my Mesa 4x12 down the line.

Thoughts and suggestions much appreciated --

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: TX Heat vs. CL80 - opinions?

The texas heats will deliver what you describe.
Is the 1x12 open or closed?
The texans are good for open cabs and a much warmer, sweeter sounding speaker than the mesa black shadow, but with all the headroom you could ever need.
If its an open back and you still want feel that you want celestion, its pretty hard to go past the g12K100 too, so check one out if you get the chance.

 

[hydro]

Re: TX Heat vs. CL80 - opinions?

The texas heats will deliver what you describe.
Is the 1x12 open or closed?
The texans are good for open cabs and a much warmer, sweeter sounding speaker than the mesa black shadow, but with all the headroom you could ever need.
If its an open back and you still want feel that you want celestion, its pretty hard to go past the g12K100 too, so check one out if you get the chance.

It's open back -- I am really digging on the open back cabs lately.

I have a Black Shadow (C90) in my other 1x12 (also open back) and I do like it a lot. I saw/heard a comparo between the C90 and the CL80; similar profile although the C90 was actually brighter and more defined all around.

I'm leaning towards the Texas Heat right now as it would be cool to try out an Eminence and something that is a little different sounding from what I am used to... thanks for the input!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: TX Heat vs. CL80 - opinions?

Texas Heat all the way. But you might also want to check out the Emi Swamp Thang. A really great speaker!

 

[SrDeMaFp]

Re: TX Heat vs. CL80 - opinions?

^Took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[hydro]

Re: TX Heat vs. CL80 - opinions?

This is cool advice because I am really thinking about replacing the v30s in my Mesa 4x12 cab also. Last practice I felt like I was starting to get used to them. Maybe they still need breaking in although I have been using them a lot and I'm still not sure.

I thought about Swamp Things; but was worried they might have too much high end from what I have heard from demos. But they seemed to be a little scooped and have good low end, and not too much breakup.

I think what I'd like in speakers for the 4x12 is a bigger, clearer low end, slightly scooped mids, tight high mids and rolled off highs to avoid icepick/raspy/fizzy sounds - but with just a bit of warmth overall.

I had an old Marshall bass cab with G12H-100s in it, that i used for a while but gave to my bass player. Great grunt for riffing but not all that good for leads. The Mesa cab with v30s I have now is good for leads but I dunno, it just doesn't have quite enough thump for me and i wonder if it's the V30s.

On the other hand i also feel lucky to have such nice gear overall and to have the luxury to split hairs about what kind of speakers to use... Maybe I should just drink more beer and turn my amp up louder.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: TX Heat vs. CL80 - opinions?

swampy is similar to a black shadow

 

[hydro]

Re: TX Heat vs. CL80 - opinions?

swampy is similar to a black shadow

You know, I kind of got that sense that these two were similar from demos and descriptions I've seen of them, so what you said makes me trust my ears a little more!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: TX Heat vs. CL80 - opinions?

This is cool advice because I am really thinking about replacing the v30s in my Mesa 4x12 cab also. Last practice I felt like I was starting to get used to them. Maybe they still need breaking in although I have been using them a lot and I'm still not sure.

I thought about Swamp Things; but was worried they might have too much high end from what I have heard from demos. But they seemed to be a little scooped and have good low end, and not too much breakup.

I think what I'd like in speakers for the 4x12 is a bigger, clearer low end, slightly scooped mids, tight high mids and rolled off highs to avoid icepick/raspy/fizzy sounds - but with just a bit of warmth overall.

I had an old Marshall bass cab with G12H-100s in it, that i used for a while but gave to my bass player. Great grunt for riffing but not all that good for leads. The Mesa cab with v30s I have now is good for leads but I dunno, it just doesn't have quite enough thump for me and i wonder if it's the V30s.

On the other hand i also feel lucky to have such nice gear overall and to have the luxury to split hairs about what kind of speakers to use... Maybe I should just drink more beer and turn my amp up louder.

My Swamp Thangs certainly don't have too much high end, and they don't sound very scooped. They are warm, even EQ, present. Right now I have the ST in an Avatar oversized 2x12 closed back cab, but I've had it in a 1x12 open back, and in a oppen back combo amp. Sounded the same (great) in every instance.