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Post by z4me on Sept 2, 2009 10:46:04 GMT -7
First off, I own a Stangray 2X12 blue combo and I love the tone for sure! Absolutely awesome. The only issue I have is the weight of the 2X12 combo unit. I have a lot of stairs in my house which makes the weight more of an issue for me. So I am considering either getting a 1X12 Gold combo or a separate head and cab configuration with 2X12 blues. The 1X12 smaller combo seems appealing due to its reduced size and reduced weight compared to the 2X12 combo, therefore much easier to haul around. I had a Maz Jr 1X12 and the size and weight worked well. The separate head and cab would mean more equipment to haul, one more trip, and could be more expensive. I also will not take advantage of the separate head config and have a couple of different heads to swap in and out. Can barely afford the one Stangray and this amp is just great as my only amp. How many here have heard or played through both and can give insight to the tone differences between the 1X12 gold combo and the separate 2X12 blues head and cab which many of you already seem to own. I see from the threads that the Golds sound a little different from the blues, but it does not sound like too much of a difference from the posts, or is that not the case? Will I perceive a big tone difference going from a 2X12 speaker config to a single 1X12 speaker? The 2X12 will spread the sound around more than a more focused 1X12, but what else might be different? Maybe the tone is almost exact but just with more focused output with the 1X12, but is that a bad thing, advantages or disadvantages? Also a concern is the 1X12 cabinet is smaller than either the 2X12 combo or separate cab. I can't help feeling that there is a reason why the 2X12 cabinets were designed to the larger size for tone quality, unless you just really need that volume with 2 speakers. Will the 1X12 sound restricted and not so open? Stangrays are difficult to find anyway with the 1X12 even harder to find, so I would probably have to buy a new 1X12 if I went that route. Therefore, I am having a difficult time having to spend hundreds of dollars more to what I perceive as a "downgrade" from the 2X12 to a 1X12. Then factor in that I might be able to pick up a used head and cab for the same amount of additional money makes it more difficult. If I could test drive a 1X12 gold combo, I am sure it would answer most of my questions, but there are none around for me to check out. Thanks
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Sept 2, 2009 10:57:13 GMT -7
I really wish the Gold had been available when I bought my Stingray, because I would love to have a 1x12 Stingray combo instead of my 2x12 Blues and Head cab. The Golds that I have, once broken in, sound fabulous, are 99% of what the Blues are (and you can get the other 1% with the tone knob), they handle more power, don't fart out on the bottom like the Blues do, and are half the weight. Right now I have a Gold in each of my 1x12 Convertibles, and in my Maz Jr combo, and I'm loving all of them. That isn't to say I don't like my 2x12 with Blues - it's actually one of the best sounding cabs I've ever owned. But it is big, heavy, and I could get by with a combo so much easier. I think you'd like the Gold myself...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2009 10:59:02 GMT -7
I have a stangray head and open back with 2X12 blues. A singer/guitarist in a band I was in a while back had the RXes head and an open back with 2X12 golds. He left it at my house for a couple weeks and of course I just had to try the golds with my Stangray. The golds weren't yet broken in. I found the golds a bit louder but more shrill on the high end. I had a bit more clean headroom with them. Overall similar to the blues Of course my blues were well broken in when I compared. Not sure how it would sound with one 12. Personally I don't like 1X12.
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Post by Buzz Fretwear (Ignatius) on Sept 2, 2009 11:28:06 GMT -7
While not a direct answer to your question, I have a Stang Ray head, one cab with 1x12 Gold and one cab with 2x12 Golds. I just prefer the sound of the 2x12. There's something magical about two speakers interacting with each other, and to my ears it's a much wider and more swirly tone. The 1x12 sounds good, but a lot more one-dimensional than the 2x12. Both are open back, by the way. But when you throw a mic in front of either cab and toss the sound out through your PA to a bar full of half drunk patrons who aren't hanging on to your every note, they're perfectly identical ;>)
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Post by John on Sept 2, 2009 12:16:13 GMT -7
I have the Stangray 1x12 combo w/gold. (I didn't know they were hard to find.) I used to have a Maz Jr 2x12 combo...so yeah...it's heavy. The Stangray 1x12 isn't the lightest thing in the world either. You missed me putting my 'ray combo up for sale twice.....but I've decided to keep it. I also have a 1x12 cabinet with a blue. Like Benttop said, they're pretty darn close. But the bottom end of the gold doesn't flap out. But at medium volumes, that could be a good thing or a bad thing. The gold won't 'give up the goods' like a blue. But again, that's neither good nor bad. Just different. There is something extra about multiple speakers. They smooth out the sound just a bit. But like Ignatius said, most people don't know, and don't care. And personally, when blasting away with a band, that little extra smoothness gets lost on me. Here's mine.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2009 12:26:01 GMT -7
But when you throw a mic in front of either cab and toss the sound out through your PA to a bar full of half drunk patrons who aren't hanging on to your every note, they're perfectly identical ;>) If it was just all about the drunk patrons in a bar I'd gig with my Peavy Bandit and a squire tele.
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Post by Buzz Fretwear (Ignatius) on Sept 2, 2009 12:49:19 GMT -7
But when you throw a mic in front of either cab and toss the sound out through your PA to a bar full of half drunk patrons who aren't hanging on to your every note, they're perfectly identical ;>) If it was just all about the drunk patrons in a bar I'd gig with my Peavy Bandit and a squire tele. Yep, we gotta be happy too.
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Post by z4me on Sept 2, 2009 13:16:17 GMT -7
Though I have checked in with this forum from time to time for a while, I did not join until last night to finally ask this question that I have been thinking about for some time. As a result, I could not access areas like the for sale sections etc.
John,
Funny, you said I missed you posting your 1X12 Stangray twice and maybe you meant posting on this forum, but I actually caught your Craigslist posting during a search a few months ago and considered contacting you about it. However, I had the same question back then and did not know if I wanted to go the 1X12 route.
Golfnut,
Can you expand on what you don't like about 1X12's?
This is helping, I hope to get more input.
Thanks
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2009 13:28:44 GMT -7
Though I have checked in with this forum from time to time for a while, I did not join until last night to finally ask this question that I have been thinking about for some time. As a result, I could not access areas like the for sale sections etc. John, Funny, you said I missed you posting your 1X12 Stangray twice and maybe you meant posting on this forum, but I actually caught your Craigslist posting during a search a few months ago and considered contacting you about it. However, I had the same question back then and did not know if I wanted to go the 1X12 route. Golfnut, Can you expand on what you don't like about 1X12's? This is helping, I hope to get more input. Thanks To me it always sounds like something is missing. On a 2X12 the bass always sounds bigger, everything sounds fatter, snappier and punchier. I dislike 10" speakers for the same reason. I have a Victoria Victorilux 3X10 that I'll most likely get rid of. Although it sounds great I'll end up replacing it with a 2X12 combo. Its strange because I've heard other guitarists through a 1X12 and they've sounded great while I listened to them. But for me it just doesn't work.
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Post by Hohn on Sept 6, 2009 9:46:27 GMT -7
I like the sound of 10s, but there has to be 4 of 'em.
The actual cabinet matters a bunch too. Compare a Z-best with someone else's cheapo 2x12 and it's no contest-- even with identical drivers...
JMO
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Post by Buzz Fretwear (Ignatius) on Sept 18, 2010 8:27:44 GMT -7
While not a direct answer to your question, I have a Stang Ray head, one cab with 1x12 Gold and one cab with 2x12 Golds. I just prefer the sound of the 2x12. There's something magical about two speakers interacting with each other, and to my ears it's a much wider and more swirly tone. The 1x12 sounds good, but a lot more one-dimensional than the 2x12. Both are open back, by the way. But when you throw a mic in front of either cab and toss the sound out through your PA to a bar full of half drunk patrons who aren't hanging on to your every note, they're perfectly identical ;>) And so I have the right to change my mind. I've come full circle to the point where I now prefer the 1x12 to the 2x12's. The 2x12's are just too loud/too much for many gigs, and I'm finding that the 1x12 allows me to push the amp just that little bit more to get a better tone. Give me a few months and I'll change my mind again ;D
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Post by dougeds on Nov 10, 2010 6:46:36 GMT -7
z4me - what did you end up going with? i have a stang on the way and i'm thinking of going with the 1x12 gold to have a more portable, lighter rig. however, i don't want to sacrifice tone, if the 2x12 with blues is much better. thanks.
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Post by muzacman02 "Jamie" on Nov 10, 2010 20:09:44 GMT -7
I originally Had 2 Blues in My Red Z 2x12 Cab and I just needed more bottom end, I went with a Weber Treated Gold and a G12H30 and Wow! It's clean and snappy and thick and heavy when pushed into mayhem, but The ray Is so Loud, I started using with only 1 gold and man there's somethng magical about the golds when BROKEN fully ;D The key for me was realizing the gold likes to breathe so I use with a Partial open Cab, a Cheap Marshall 1x12 Cab , However my New 1x2 RED!!!! Convertible Z cab has just arrived today! ;D I'm hoping it sounds even better. The 2x12 stays in the raod case alot If it wasn't for such an opprtunity of a Lifetime to buy my Head/2x12 Ray setup I was gonna opt for the 1x12. I love a 1x12, You can hear the amp and speaker working together, Good luck with your choice, I hope all of the replies were helpful. Break the gold in good before you chuck it to ebay or the BST Jamie
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Post by wayben on Nov 11, 2010 6:49:40 GMT -7
I have a Ray head, a 1X12 with a Gold and a 2X12 with Blues. I really like the Gold with it's bottom end that holds up better, but I prefer the sound of a 2X12 to a 1X12. Someone here said the 2X12 has more of a swirling sound. That is kind of what I hear also. To me I'm surrounded by the sound from the 2-12s, vs. blasted at by the 1-12, if that makes any sense. I would really like to try a 2X12 with Golds. Funny how we're never happy.
Just my 2 cents worth, probably doesn't help answer your question at all.
Wayne
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Nov 11, 2010 7:57:19 GMT -7
Pull one of the Blues and put the Gold in there. After getting that configuration with my Z-Wreck I see why the Doc did that. You get the best of both speakers in one 2x12 cab.
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Post by z4me on Nov 11, 2010 13:25:10 GMT -7
Congratulations on purchasing a Stang Ray amp dougeds. One of the best sounding amps around today.
I went with a separate amp head and 1x12 Z convertible cab with a celestion gold. I really like the tones I get out of the rig. I run the cab with the back middle panel removed to give the gold some breathing room out the rear of the cab. It sounded fine with the back closed, but much better with the open back.
I went with the 1x12 cab for the smaller size and weight and every time I haul that cab around, I am glad I went with the 1x12. Also, I like that the gold does not flub out on the bottom like the blue can. The gold sounds great with the Ray.
However, as others have mentioned in this post, I believe I would prefer a 2x12 cab sound for that fuller cover the room more, swirling tones over the direct tone/sound of a single speaker. It took me a little bit of time to get used to the directness of the 1 speaker over the 2x12 blue combo that I had previously. But the 2x12 cabs are larger and moving that 1x12 is pretty easy.
So from a strict tone aspect, I believe the single gold and blues are comparable if not very close. Comparing a 1x12 and a 2x12 cab is fairly different regarding perceived room coverage to ones ears as was mentioned.
I would like to hear my Ray through a 2x12 cab again to compare. I also have been on the lookout for a black tolex 2x12 open back cab with a blonde valance for a while that I could pick up for not too much money. Not that I would get rid of the 1x12, but maybe add the 2x12 to the collection. I would most likely go with the 1 blue and 1 gold config as well.
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Post by dougeds on Nov 11, 2010 19:36:51 GMT -7
thanks z4me and everyone else. i'm thinking i'll try the 1x12 config for now, since i really wanted to downsize (i currently use a super reverb with webers, 2 of which are ceramic - so it is HEAVY). then maybe later, if funds are avail, i'll look for a 2x12 to have the option. i'm going to try first with a g12h30 that i already have, but it sounds like it won't be long before i try to get a gold.
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Post by gotmojo on Nov 12, 2010 7:03:51 GMT -7
Hey Z4me, Give this a try to see if you like it. The Z's speakers are wired with slide on clips, so it's easy to pull one speaker out of the circuit - no soldering required! Pull one of the clips off and you have a 1-12 combo. Remember you have to re-plug your speaker cable into the 8 ohm jack when you play it 1-12. Will give you an idea of what a 1-12 rig will sound like. Granted, the cabinet shape is different and it's not the Gold you are looking for, but it'll give you an idea if you can live with 1-12.
I've been a diehard 2-12 fan for some years now, but decided to try the 1-12 cabs recently. Have two now, one with a Vintage 30 and one with a G12H30. To my great surprise, couldn't be happier with both of them. A little different than the the 2-12, but once you crank 'em up they sound very, very good and the ease of transport to gigs is a no brainer, and plenty loud. I haven't done this with the Stang Ray, but I have with the Galaxie, Remedy, RxES, and even the Wreck and I'd gig any of those amps with the 1-12. The G12H30 is my favorite - nice low end. I have no experience with a 1-12 Gold, so no help there.
Also, I'd imagine it'd be an easy and cost effective thing to contact Brent at Dr. Z's and purchase a head cabinet and convert your combo Stang Ray to a head and 2-12 cabinet, giving you ease of use and a couple cabinets to choose from. That's what I'd do in your situation.
jj
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Post by dougeds on Nov 14, 2010 18:51:37 GMT -7
i got the ray and it sounds awesome. right now using a 1x12 peavey ext cab with a g12h30. sounds very good, but a bit harsh on highs. i'm looking for a gold, which i think will be warmer, since it's alnico. can anyone confirm this? thanks.
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Post by Ridgeback on Nov 15, 2010 8:53:38 GMT -7
i got the ray and it sounds awesome. right now using a 1x12 peavey ext cab with a g12h30. sounds very good, but a bit harsh on highs. i'm looking for a gold, which i think will be warmer, since it's alnico. can anyone confirm this? thanks. The Gold does sound great with the Ray but I would not consider the Gold a warmer speaker than a G12H30 by my defenition of warm. Both are nice (but quite different) speakers and the G12 I had didn't seem harsh in the highs. Everyone hears things differently though.
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Post by dougeds on Nov 16, 2010 18:24:27 GMT -7
i guess i was using the wrong word - i shouldn't say harsh with the g12h30, but rather very trebly. i have put the cut below 2 and the tone between 3 and 4.
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gtrfxr
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Post by gtrfxr on Nov 18, 2010 5:34:56 GMT -7
I've got a 4x10 Marshall cab I converted to 2x12 with Blues. I also made a convertible back. This sounds big with the Stingray. I also have a Mesa Wide Body 1x12 loaded with a Gold I use with the Stingray. I must say, the Mesa cab with the Gold has proven it can hang with any 2x12 on any venue I've used it at. This is the deepest 1x12 I've ever heard. It's not quite the eye candy of the Z cabs but can deliver the goods. Just my $.02.
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Post by Buzz Fretwear (Ignatius) on Nov 18, 2010 9:29:31 GMT -7
If it was just all about the drunk patrons in a bar I'd gig with my Peavy Bandit and a squire tele. Yep, we gotta be happy too. Ya know, more and more I'm starting to realize that - for me - the portability of the 1x12 outweighs (no pun intended) whatever additional sound/tonal goodness I get out of the 2x12. For my band and the material we play and the venues we play in, combined with the fact that I always mic a cab, the additional 'oomph' or 3d quality of a 2x12 cab is kind of lost.
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Post by Hohn on Nov 21, 2010 18:33:16 GMT -7
I agree. I love the sound of my 2x12 (Blues), but for what I want, a 1x12 Gold would be a better arrangement.
JMO
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Post by dougeds on Nov 22, 2010 19:51:27 GMT -7
i used the ray with the 1x12 this past sat and it was awesome. i'm definitely going to utilize a 1x12 a lot with this head. that said, if any of you guys with a red 2x12 open back, with blues wants to sell, let me know! thanks.
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Post by dougeds on Nov 30, 2010 10:16:01 GMT -7
jamie - on the 10th of nov, you'd said you had just rec'd your Z 1x12 cab. i'm curious how it sounds with the gold in it, as that's the setup i'm headed for. let me know! thanks.
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Post by dougeds on Dec 5, 2010 20:03:13 GMT -7
well, i have a gold on the way and i can't wait to try it, after reading all the rave reviews for it with the ray.
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