Which Speakers should I get???

[bjeans79]

Hey folks, I had a couple of questions on some different speakers. This is a huge deal to me. I play mainly blues and I love that good tube breakup sound with the overdriven speakers. It makes me happy. Anyways, I was looking to build a few speaker cabinets, that would work with my Peavey classic 50 (50 watts) with 8 and 16 ohm inputs. When both jacks are engaged its 8 ohms. Some possible options I was thinking of was some vintage type Jensen, Celestion, and maybe weber, but I wanted to ask the experts. I would like to get some that were in the old Bassmans or Twins or Supers, and I also love some of the old vintage marshall's that had the celestions. Obviously I cant get fender and Marshall sounds out of a peavey, but I was looking for some different sounds. I Most likely 2 12's, whatever gives me good breakup at loud levels. If there is any questions I didnt answer please let me know. Thanks.

Also If someone could just run the basics about speakers by me I would appreciate it. Just things like wattage, and do's and donts. I know a little, but I always like to know more.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

Come on speaker gurus, give it up.

Levi is a personal friend of mine so look out for him.

Robert

 

[MrHeavyMetal]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

How about a pair of 16 ohm Celestion Greenbacks (25 watt rating each) or Celestion G12H-30's (30 watt rating each) ?

 

[marvar]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

Greenbacks/or G12H30's + tube amp= sweet tone and break-up.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

I was thinking one of each.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

How about a pair of 16 ohm Celestion Greenbacks (25 watt rating each) or Celestion G12H-30's (30 watt rating each) ?

closed back 2x12 with g12m greenbacks would be sweet, the same cab with the g12h would be louder and thicker toned. mixing them is always a cool option. i think the g12h work better in an open back cab than the g12m

some speakers are louder than others given the same signal
in general dont overpower your speakers, 50w amp means atleast 50w of speakers.

for a british tone celestions are the way to go, for a more american tone i would look into jensen p12n or more specifically the weber versions.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

Celestions are a great choice...in a 2x12 setting I think Vintage 30's or G12H30's are "better" than greenbacks for most setting, if you want the more trad "American" tone I think that the new Jensens are alright at best...I much prefer Webers to the new Jensens but both could get you where you want to be...for a Jensen I would look into maybe C12N's (ceramic) or P12N's (alnico) in the Weber line 12F125's...for a COOl tone try and mix one alnico and one ceramic...like one 12A125 (or P12N if you go Jensen) and one 12F125 or (C12N if you go Jensen)...mixing is a great way to get some killer tone!

Also, Ted Weber offers some cool hybrid speakers...american style baskets, magnets and vopice coils with britt cones...that might be a good idea for you as well.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

the 12a125 is a p12q isnt it?
i think the 12a150 is a p12n

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

the 12a125 is a p12q isnt it?
i think the 12a150 is a p12n

Yeah, thats what the translate to in Weber numbers but Ted beefed his speakers up a bit...Im not a big fan of his "N" speakers and to me most of his "Q" speakers sound close to original Jensen "N" series in a lot of cases, at least to me anyway...

 

[jeremy]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

right on. i havent tried enough of teds next to old jensens and ive only tried the 25w versions. ive heard the 50w are darker and smoother

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

i wouldn't go with one greenback & one h30, the h30 is MUCH louder than the greenback, wouldn't be able to hear the greenback much at all

but yeah i'd go with greenbacks if you like warm tones

or webers if you like more midrangey punchy tones

 

[rog951]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

i wouldn't go with one greenback & one h30, the h30 is MUCH louder than the greenback, wouldn't be able to hear the greenback much at all

but yeah i'd go with greenbacks if you like warm tones

or webers if you like more midrangey punchy tones

Yeah, I haven't checked the specs but the H30s must be more efficient than greenbacks. I have a greenback 4x12 and an H30 4x12 and the H30s are noticebly louder given the same amp settings, especially when the amp is cranked. Wouldn't expect them to mix too well in a cab but sometimes these things will surprise you.

To the OP, you didn't mention what kind of guitar you tend to play. My overwhelming bias towards Les Pauls, Marshalls and mushy classic rock tones makes me want to recommend greenbacks. They're my personal favorite speaker and will definitely break-up when under diress.

But, if you're more of a Fender/single coil guy and like that bite and shimmer on top of the growl, you may rather go with the little alnico Jensens or their many clones.

Best choice? Get one cab of each flavor!

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

Bjeans, are you looking for early breakup or are you looking for speakers that breakup later ?

Something with early breakup usually goes along with more distortion and a later breakup usually goes along with a cleaner tone to a slightly overdriven type of tone.

Are you thinking more Fender or more Marshall ? (Pretty difficult to get into Dual Rec territory with a Classic 50)

 

[bjeans79]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

closed back 2x12 with g12m greenbacks would be sweet, the same cab with the g12h would be louder and thicker toned. mixing them is always a cool option. i think the g12h work better in an open back cab than the g12m

some speakers are louder than others given the same signal
in general dont overpower your speakers, 50w amp means atleast 50w of speakers.

for a british tone celestions are the way to go, for a more american tone i would look into jensen p12n or more specifically the weber versions.

So your saying if I got a Pair of G12h's my amp would be too powerfull because its 50 watts? It has 8 and 16 ohm inputs so i dont know.

 

[bjeans79]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

Yeah, I haven't checked the specs but the H30s must be more efficient than greenbacks. I have a greenback 4x12 and an H30 4x12 and the H30s are noticebly louder given the same amp settings, especially when the amp is cranked. Wouldn't expect them to mix too well in a cab but sometimes these things will surprise you.

To the OP, you didn't mention what kind of guitar you tend to play. My overwhelming bias towards Les Pauls, Marshalls and mushy classic rock tones makes me want to recommend greenbacks. They're my personal favorite speaker and will definitely break-up when under diress.

But, if you're more of a Fender/single coil guy and like that bite and shimmer on top of the growl, you may rather go with the little alnico Jensens or their many clones.

Best choice? Get one cab of each flavor!

I was thinking of getting and mixing some flavors for sure. Well I play mainly strats, but I wanted to get one cab for the strat and maybe 1 for my Schecter type HB gutiar. I was thinking in the ballpark of maybe g12h's, vintage 30's. I dont know yet. Thanks.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

I was thinking of getting and mixing some flavors for sure. Well I play mainly strats, but I wanted to get one cab for the strat and maybe 1 for my Schecter type HB gutiar. I was thinking in the ballpark of maybe g12h's, vintage 30's. I dont know yet. Thanks.

So you are wanting 2 2x12s right?

For a strat cab you might consider the G12H30s, or 1230 on the Weber side of things ....but also take a look at the 123055. It's going to have the 55Hz cone and cloth surround so you will be looking at a deeper, thicker tone than the regular G12Hs or 1230s. For a strat that could be advantageous to keeping the highs in check, but also for giving you a deep low end.

Many people like 2x12's with 1 Vintage thrity and one G12H20. The V30 doesn't have as much breakup as the greenback or H30. For something with a bit more breakup maybe the Weber 1265 with a heavy magnet for more oomph?

Ted also does some hybrid speakers with English cones and American voice coils, you might want to look into those too.

Luke

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

So your saying if I got a Pair of G12h's my amp would be too powerfull because its 50 watts? It has 8 and 16 ohm inputs so i dont know.

Two 30 watt speakers will handle 60 watts together. That would be fine for a 50 watt amp.

When using two or more speakers of different wattage ratings, you multiply the lowest rated speakers' (rating) by the total number of speakers.

Two speakers of equal impedance wired together in series, results in a doubling of the impedance rating, For example two 8 ohm speakers in series is 16 ohms.

Two speakers wired together in parallel results in cutting the impedance rating in 1/2. For example two 16 ohm speakers in parallel is 8ohms together.

If you use two 2x12's, use 8 ohm speakers wired in series for each cab. This way you have a 16 ohm cab when using just one cab. You would use the 16 ohm output of your amp this way. When using both cabs together, the cab's are actually in parallel with each other, so two 16 ohm cabs will have 8 ohm impedance this way.

 

[baritone]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

I would consider a pair of Eminence Legends or any mixture of Red Coats and Patriots you can think of. I love how my Governor and Wizard sound together in my 2x12.

 

[James Rock]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

I would mix weber silver bells with blue dogs or blue dogs with a ceramic speaker (maybe weber or another brand) celestion or pretty good too but i prefer alnico speakers and the celestions r so expensive and made in china!

 

[disturb]

Re: Which Speakers should I get???

IMO Greenbacks are the best sounding speakers. Smooth, fat, and woody. But they're low wattage so I use only Vintage 30's. They sound great, but not as smooth as the Greenbacks. I really don't like G12H30's. They have a high pitched bite in them that I can't get rid of.