Post by John on May 10, 2006 13:01:58 GMT -7
Many of you have read and commented on my attempt at purchasing a 12 inch speaker for a 1x12 closed back cabinet to be used with a Route 66.
The goal is to get a sound close to a 4x12.
The Black Shadow MC-90 (Really a Celestion G12M80...and supposedly sounds clean, like an EV)) came from another combo I have. But I needed a speaker to replace it, or put the B Shadow back in the other combo.
Anyway, I'm using a Les Paul with a Route 66. I have to attenuate a bit because I'm in my small basement. So I didn't have the ability to crank it. But it wasn't bedroom level. I recorded with the BS, removed it and installed the V30 and repeated.
A Celestion Vintage 30 (60 watt) arrived earlier today. I put on a new set of strings and put a boom-box on the floor to record each. It's about 3 feet away from the cab and about 1 foot off to the side.
The winner: Vintage 30
The Vintage 30 was brighter. It's also my opinion that it's a little louder...not something I was really looking for. The V30 was more consistant/smoother across the upper midrange into the low high-end, resulting in a much brighter speaker.
The BS severely lacked an upper midrange. All the crispy highs were there, but the upper body was really missing. I was really quite surprised. After the comparison, I realized the BS speaker gave more of a Boogie type sound....not so much midrange and lots of crispy high end. Go figure, Boogie had Celestion make this speaker for them.
With the bridge pickup, the V30 was moderately better. With the neck pickup, the V30 was stunningly better. Even before comparing against the V30, I did notice the BS speaker was a little too dark for my preferences for the neck PU. It didn't project and it wasn't as clear.
I also noticed how the V30 let the Route 66 shine more. Having a brighter, smoother-in-the-upper-midrange sound was a real inspiration to play. It gave the effect of the 66 having more overdrive.
The gamble paid off. I could have purchased something cheap to replace in the combo and keep the Black Shadow in the 1x12...but I would always have been wondering if a V30 would sound better.
The goal is to get a sound close to a 4x12.
The Black Shadow MC-90 (Really a Celestion G12M80...and supposedly sounds clean, like an EV)) came from another combo I have. But I needed a speaker to replace it, or put the B Shadow back in the other combo.
Anyway, I'm using a Les Paul with a Route 66. I have to attenuate a bit because I'm in my small basement. So I didn't have the ability to crank it. But it wasn't bedroom level. I recorded with the BS, removed it and installed the V30 and repeated.
A Celestion Vintage 30 (60 watt) arrived earlier today. I put on a new set of strings and put a boom-box on the floor to record each. It's about 3 feet away from the cab and about 1 foot off to the side.
The winner: Vintage 30
The Vintage 30 was brighter. It's also my opinion that it's a little louder...not something I was really looking for. The V30 was more consistant/smoother across the upper midrange into the low high-end, resulting in a much brighter speaker.
The BS severely lacked an upper midrange. All the crispy highs were there, but the upper body was really missing. I was really quite surprised. After the comparison, I realized the BS speaker gave more of a Boogie type sound....not so much midrange and lots of crispy high end. Go figure, Boogie had Celestion make this speaker for them.
With the bridge pickup, the V30 was moderately better. With the neck pickup, the V30 was stunningly better. Even before comparing against the V30, I did notice the BS speaker was a little too dark for my preferences for the neck PU. It didn't project and it wasn't as clear.
I also noticed how the V30 let the Route 66 shine more. Having a brighter, smoother-in-the-upper-midrange sound was a real inspiration to play. It gave the effect of the 66 having more overdrive.
The gamble paid off. I could have purchased something cheap to replace in the combo and keep the Black Shadow in the 1x12...but I would always have been wondering if a V30 would sound better.