Post by mdrs on Mar 22, 2009 10:28:04 GMT -7
I posted this elsewhere, but thought it might be good to have a separate thread to discuss the general topic of what speakers and speaker cabs do we like the Remedy going thru. So, here it is again!!
I've spent some time trying to find out what speaker/speaker cab I like best with my Remedy. I've got this 1x12 Dr. Z convertable and wanna figure out what speaker I want to end up in it.
I must say that it's NOT been an easy task. Even using the same Les Paul Elegant, and no effects, there are so many options about how you can set the amp, given the Remedy's "EQ" section, PLUS the ability to mix in both the "high" and "normal" channels. And, then there is the half/full power switch. While the tone is very much the same on either half or full power, the power setting does effect how your signal hits the speakers, and therefore how they perform.
So, in spite of the Remedy being a "five knob" amp, you can really spend a lot of time tweeking the amp in many significant ways to try to optimize it's tone from any given speaker/speaker cab you are using. So, it's gonna take some time.
I have a variety of speakers and cabs I've run my Remedy thru so far. Here's the list;
-Marshall 4x12 basketweave cab loaded with Creambacks (made around 1974)
-Marshall 1960V 4x12 with G12 Vintage 70 watt speakers (stock)
-Marshall 1960 4x12 straight cab loaded with Heritage Series G12M's and G12H's
-Marshall 1960TV cab 4x12 G12M-25's (stock)
-Cornford 2x12 loaded with G12M-25's
-Fuchs 2x12 loaded with EV's
-Dr. Z 1x12 Convertable loaded with a Celestion Alnico Blue 15 Watt
I tried each with both full and half power (except for the Blue), and spent a bit of time trying to optimize the Remedy with each particular speaker/cab.
Who won? Well, to a large extent, the jury is still out.
None of them sounded bad, so lets start there.
My favorite tone, so far was the Dr. Z 1x12 with the Blue in it. Now, I could only use the Remedy on half power, and even on half power the neck pu (a '57 classic) on the Les Paul Elegant pushed the speaker into some mud. But, playing the bridge pu into the Blue sounded GREAT!! I was hearing the warm fuzzy classic rock "Duane" tone.
I would say that my #2 choice was the old Marshall 4x12 with the creamback speakers. It, too, had that warm fuzzy sweet tone that I really like.
I felt that the Remedy was a darn powerful amp and could push almost any of these speakers into a bit of "looseness"or distortion beyond the optimum. Most of my adjustments were getting the desired amount of speaker tone without them geting too loose. This is pretty easy to accomplish with the controls on the Remedy, and by backing off on the guitar's volume knob.
The sweet chimey cleans were "sweetest" thru the Dr Z 1x12 and that Blue Alnico speaker. The creambacks were again #2.
I thought that the Fuchs with the EV's might really clean up and tighten the Remedy, especially on the bottom end. However, it was not my favorite of these cabs/speakers tone wise.
All of the other cabs sounded good, to varing degrees. The TV cab, which is larger than the other cabs, sounded good, but didn't really deal with the bottom end the way I'd like.
I have to say that this "tendency" for the bottom to be a bit "loose" (which, btw, is a very "Marshall" tone characteristic, and not necessarily a bad thing) was immediately "fixed" by kicking on The Klon, with the treble turned up to about 1 or 2 o'clock. The Klon tightened the Remedy right on up, and gave it a real pleasing killer edge. I use The Klon A LOT, as it really is my secret weapon in helping a quality tube amp achieve it's best tone without altering the amp's tone in any significant way.
I do have two more cabs to run The Remedy thru, both with different speakers than the above offer. One is a Reeves 4x12 loaded with Fane speakers that tend to give a tighter growl than most other similiar speakers. So, I'm really looking forward to the Reeves cab tryout. And, the second is a stock Marshall 1936 2x12 cab loaded with G12T-75's. So, I'll try to report back when I give these two a run.
Now, after my experience to date with the Remedy, I'd say my favorite tone has been the Dr. Z 1x12 with the Blue Alnico in it. However, that speaker is a 15 watt speaker, and so not well suited to be pushed by the Remedy even at half power.
BTW, I've only tried the Dr. Z 1x12 convertable with the back closed so far. So, I still have to take the panel off and give it a go as an open back.
I went ahead and ordered a Celestion Alnico Gold 50 watt 12" last night. I hope to have it by the end of next week, and will put it in the Dr. Z and see how it sounds.
I've spent some time trying to find out what speaker/speaker cab I like best with my Remedy. I've got this 1x12 Dr. Z convertable and wanna figure out what speaker I want to end up in it.
I must say that it's NOT been an easy task. Even using the same Les Paul Elegant, and no effects, there are so many options about how you can set the amp, given the Remedy's "EQ" section, PLUS the ability to mix in both the "high" and "normal" channels. And, then there is the half/full power switch. While the tone is very much the same on either half or full power, the power setting does effect how your signal hits the speakers, and therefore how they perform.
So, in spite of the Remedy being a "five knob" amp, you can really spend a lot of time tweeking the amp in many significant ways to try to optimize it's tone from any given speaker/speaker cab you are using. So, it's gonna take some time.
I have a variety of speakers and cabs I've run my Remedy thru so far. Here's the list;
-Marshall 4x12 basketweave cab loaded with Creambacks (made around 1974)
-Marshall 1960V 4x12 with G12 Vintage 70 watt speakers (stock)
-Marshall 1960 4x12 straight cab loaded with Heritage Series G12M's and G12H's
-Marshall 1960TV cab 4x12 G12M-25's (stock)
-Cornford 2x12 loaded with G12M-25's
-Fuchs 2x12 loaded with EV's
-Dr. Z 1x12 Convertable loaded with a Celestion Alnico Blue 15 Watt
I tried each with both full and half power (except for the Blue), and spent a bit of time trying to optimize the Remedy with each particular speaker/cab.
Who won? Well, to a large extent, the jury is still out.
None of them sounded bad, so lets start there.
My favorite tone, so far was the Dr. Z 1x12 with the Blue in it. Now, I could only use the Remedy on half power, and even on half power the neck pu (a '57 classic) on the Les Paul Elegant pushed the speaker into some mud. But, playing the bridge pu into the Blue sounded GREAT!! I was hearing the warm fuzzy classic rock "Duane" tone.
I would say that my #2 choice was the old Marshall 4x12 with the creamback speakers. It, too, had that warm fuzzy sweet tone that I really like.
I felt that the Remedy was a darn powerful amp and could push almost any of these speakers into a bit of "looseness"or distortion beyond the optimum. Most of my adjustments were getting the desired amount of speaker tone without them geting too loose. This is pretty easy to accomplish with the controls on the Remedy, and by backing off on the guitar's volume knob.
The sweet chimey cleans were "sweetest" thru the Dr Z 1x12 and that Blue Alnico speaker. The creambacks were again #2.
I thought that the Fuchs with the EV's might really clean up and tighten the Remedy, especially on the bottom end. However, it was not my favorite of these cabs/speakers tone wise.
All of the other cabs sounded good, to varing degrees. The TV cab, which is larger than the other cabs, sounded good, but didn't really deal with the bottom end the way I'd like.
I have to say that this "tendency" for the bottom to be a bit "loose" (which, btw, is a very "Marshall" tone characteristic, and not necessarily a bad thing) was immediately "fixed" by kicking on The Klon, with the treble turned up to about 1 or 2 o'clock. The Klon tightened the Remedy right on up, and gave it a real pleasing killer edge. I use The Klon A LOT, as it really is my secret weapon in helping a quality tube amp achieve it's best tone without altering the amp's tone in any significant way.
I do have two more cabs to run The Remedy thru, both with different speakers than the above offer. One is a Reeves 4x12 loaded with Fane speakers that tend to give a tighter growl than most other similiar speakers. So, I'm really looking forward to the Reeves cab tryout. And, the second is a stock Marshall 1936 2x12 cab loaded with G12T-75's. So, I'll try to report back when I give these two a run.
Now, after my experience to date with the Remedy, I'd say my favorite tone has been the Dr. Z 1x12 with the Blue Alnico in it. However, that speaker is a 15 watt speaker, and so not well suited to be pushed by the Remedy even at half power.
BTW, I've only tried the Dr. Z 1x12 convertable with the back closed so far. So, I still have to take the panel off and give it a go as an open back.
I went ahead and ordered a Celestion Alnico Gold 50 watt 12" last night. I hope to have it by the end of next week, and will put it in the Dr. Z and see how it sounds.