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Post by Ridgeback on Jan 19, 2007 11:34:59 GMT -7
From reading the various threads in this forum, I know that many of you have tried a ton of 12" speaker combinations with various Z (and other) amps. For kicks and future reference I thought I'd list my amps\cabs and available speakers and see if there were any combinations that you had tried and liked\disliked\wish you had tried\think might be fun.
Amps and Cabs: Carmen Ghia head Maz 18 NR 1x12 combo Z-28 head Victoria Double Deluxe (2x12 combo) Fender DRRI Open back 2x12 cab Closed back 1x12 cab
Available speakers: Celestion Blue (currently in Maz combo) Weber ceramic Silver Bell 50watt Weber ceramic Blue Dog 50 watt Weber 30 watt 12A150 and 12A150-B (currently in Vicky DD) Weber 30 watt 12A150-W Jensen 100 watt C12K Weber 30 watt 12F150-B (currently in DRRI)
I plan to heat up the soldering iron and play mix-n-match in the next couple of weeks. Any input or ideas for combinations to try (or avoid) is appreciated.
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Post by Hohn on Jan 20, 2007 0:15:36 GMT -7
I can't really offer to you much experience, as I simply don't have the gear or experience of other guys on this board.
But I can offer to you the results of a recent speaker swap I did on my 2x12. I swapped out one of the Blues in my Z 2x12 and replaced it with a blue label EVM12L, which is a pretty well-known speaker.
The result is something I'm VERY VERY pleased with. Yes, it seems like quite an odd couple with a 15W alnico and 300W ceramic speaker in the same cab, but it just works and works well. The bottom is huge and tight (nice thump for an open back). The midrange has detail and the highs are clear, articulate and not painful. The efficiencies match perfectly and they just blend together into a wall of sweetness. Plus, I have a lot of flexibility with this setup. If I want super-duper headroom and almost no "speaker tone", then I can bias tha mic towards the EVM. If I want to breakup of the Blue, I can bias the mic that direction.
I'd never really messed with speaker swapping much (aside from when I first bought the EVM for my little Classic 30, hehe) and the idea of two mismatched drivers in the same cab seemed wrong to me.
But the proof is in the sound, and the tone of a Blue and an EVM in the same Z 2x12 has made a believer out of me.
I'd love to do another, higher power 2x12 with an EVM and a Gold:)
Then I could wye them together and have a monstrously toneful 4x12 setup! As Napoleon Dynamite may say, YESSSSS!
JMO YMMV, etc..etc..
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Post by Ridgeback on Jan 20, 2007 10:13:47 GMT -7
Thanks for the input Hohn.
I actually like combining ceramic & alnico for the reasons you state. My 2x12 open back cab currently has the 100 watt ceramic Jensen for the tight lows and even response combined with the Weber 30 watt alnico 12A150-W which adds some compression\warmth\breakup and has a cone that is enhanced on the high end. I'm thinking of putting these two speakers in the Double Deluxe because they address the two major shortcomings of the 5E3 circuit (IMO), loose bass and slightly dark tone. I have played the DD through the 2x12 cab with these speakers and it seems to work well.
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Post by Ridgeback on Feb 9, 2007 9:47:59 GMT -7
FYI. After a bunch of trial and error here is what I decided to go with (for a while):
Double Deluxe => 12A150\12A150B (no change). I just didn't find a combo that I liked better for that low fi tweed crunch and compression. The clean tones are amazing.
Maz Jr NR combo => Cele Blue (no change). I really liked the Blue in the open back 1x12 cab with the Ghia head but decided having a 15 watt 1x12 cab was not practical as I was not comfortable running the Z-28 through it. I can always run the Ghia through the Maz combo for "that sound".
DRRI => Put the stock Jensen C12K back in and sold the amp. The Z-28 head made it expendable.
2x12 open back cab => 12F150B\12A150W. Nice balance of lows and highs in an American flavored cab. Sounded great with all of the amps. This cab with the Z-28 head is what put the DRRI out the door.
1x12 open back cab => Silver Bell 1x12 closed back cab => Blue Dog
The two 1x12 cabs have jacks wired so I can jumper them together for the Blue\Silver combo but can still use them individually.
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maction
Full Member
SRZ for me
Posts: 227
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Post by maction on Feb 10, 2007 18:06:16 GMT -7
Ridgeback,
have you tried your Ghia head through either the alnico and ceramic Webers in your open back, or the two alnico Webers in your Vicky DD?
I'm considering swapping the stock Celestions out of my Z-best, and I was thinking of going for a more American type of speaker.
thanks!
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Post by Ridgeback on Feb 12, 2007 9:22:57 GMT -7
Ridgeback, have you tried your Ghia head through either the alnico and ceramic Webers in your open back, or the two alnico Webers in your Vicky DD? I'm considering swapping the stock Celestions out of my Z-best, and I was thinking of going for a more American type of speaker. thanks! maction, Yes, I have used the Ghia through all of the speaker combinations mentioned above. I am currently running it through the "American" open back 2x12. This combo surprised me a bit because I actually figured the Ghia would more suited to the Blue\Silver 1x12 cabs in parallel and the Z-28 would sound best through the 12A\F150 2x12. It's only been a week since I settled on "which speakers where" so no amp\cab combo has received a lot of playing time. Bottom line, the Ghia is just a great amp and sounded fine, but quite different, through the Brit flavored Blue\Silver, the US flavored alnico\ceramic 2x12 and also the two 12A150s in the DD (least headroom, most compression, as expected). Good Luck.
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maction
Full Member
SRZ for me
Posts: 227
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Post by maction on Feb 12, 2007 13:27:17 GMT -7
Ridgeback, Thanks for the info! after listening to a bunch of samples on line I'm beginning to drift away from the American-type speakers and toward G12H varieties. I'll post when and if I ever decide
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Post by Ridgeback on Feb 12, 2007 14:10:19 GMT -7
maction,
If I'm not mistaken the G12H is the stock speaker in the Ghia combos and I'm sure the Doc puts them in there for a reason. Sounds like you are on the right track.
Nick
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