Marshall 4x12 with G12-65s

[Killcrop]

I have a JCM800 4x12 slant cab I bought a few years ago. The label on the back said it was a 260w cabinet. I got home (parking lot deal) and it didn't sound all that great. A while later I opened up the cab and it didn't have G12-65s in it. Bummer but I only paid like $300. I eventually put in UK V30s mixed with older UK Greenbacks. Its sounds great but I have since purchased a really great sounding JCM800 2204. I have always heard the 65 are the speakers for this amp.

Am I missing out on the optimal speaker match or is the V30 GB mix just fine?
I don't have a 65 cab to compare.

 

[chumbucket]

I don't know how your cab sounds but the G12-65s go with Marshalls like peanut butter and jelly IMO. The vented 75s are in a similar ballpark.

 

[rstites]

I love the old G12-65's. They sound great with older Marshalls and similar amps. I'm not a huge fan of V30's but lots of other people like them with these amps, so I'd say if you like it, just enjoy it. I've heard great things about mixing speakers like you have.

Last time I looked - it's been a while - the original G12-65's were going for big money. They were only available a few years before being replaced by the 70's and then the 75's. I have them in all my old Marshall 4x12's. If you can get them at a price that you can flip them if necessary than go for it. If not, just enjoy what you have.

 

[rstites]

Do the modern versions of the 65 sound like the originals? That'd be a good option too.

 

[RaceU4her]

65’s sound nothing like either gb or v30, much smoother and balanced

 

[Nigel]

65’s sound nothing like either gb or v30, much smoother and balanced

They need 100w to punch in a 4x12 too.

 

[Nigel]

65’s sound nothing like either gb or v30, much smoother and balanced

See also: the fucking lead tone is pure sex. God I love 65's for leads.

 

[thegame]

Do the modern versions of the 65 sound like the originals? That'd be a good option too.

Yes and no. Modern ones are close to the darker examples of originals (1983 ish) but lack the sharper highs and articulation of the earlier era of these speakers (1978-probably 1981 or so).

 

[rstites]

Yes and no. Modern ones are close to the darker examples of originals (1983 ish) but lack the sharper highs and articulation of the earlier era of these speakers (1978-probably 1981 or so).

Ah. I didn't realize they changed on the originals. All of mine are from '79 and '80. I used to have a shelf full of them as backups but now I just have one blown one and one spare back there! (Also, a blown EV. I really should find somewhere to fix those speakers.)

 

[7704A]

Also, a blown EV. I really should find somewhere to fix those speakers.

Speaker Repair Pros in Garden Grove, California. http://www.speakerrepairpros.com/
I've been very happy with the re-cone work they've done on the EVM 12S' I've brought them, and their service is excellent in general.

 

[LPMojoGL]

Always heard that g12-65s were THE speaker for 2204/2203. So, couple years back bought a late JMP era full stack with original g12-65s. Didn't care for them. They were kind of dark, unless they were being pushed. They sounded great with loud volume. I tried a couple of those speakers in my 4104. They were an improvement over the Celestion Modern Lead 70s (G12m-70), but I preferred many other speakers over them.

Sold the slant with the g12-65s. Ended up keeping the straight JMP 4x12 and loading it with England Greenback reissues. Love it.

Felt the same way about the g12-65 in a Princeton Reverb 1x12 combo. Too dark. Much preferred G12h30, GB and V30. Guess I like a bit more high end in my speakers.

@scottosan has a 4x12 loaded with g12-65 reissues, that sounds great.

FWIW, don't care for the V30/GB mix in any 4x12 I've heard it in. Kind of flat, like some frequencies are being cancelled out or something.
Much prefer all GBs, or the V30/Scumback BM75LD mix in my Soldano 4x12.
V30/H75 or WGS Invader mix has been great, too.

The 90s Greenbacks with 6402 cones reminded me of g12-65s. Lots of folks seem to like them. I also found them too dark unless pushed.

 

[Speeddemon]

They were kind of dark, unless they were being pushed.

This!

I have 2 originals from '81 and a Heritage RI (which sounds fairly close), but for home noodling (living room volumes, not talking about a -50dB+ isolated basement), these are a dark-ish sounding speaker.
The vented (or non-vented, but serifed font label) T75 are better in that regard; they come alive earlier, while maintaining that smooth-ish tone without being overly dark.
All this talk about them being dark sounding is also the main reason they work so well with 70's and 80's Marshalls, since those can be ranging from middy, to bright to outright strident, depending on which model, component drift, etc.
Cue the guys that go "Yeah, well my Plexi sounds full and lush", sure...but does it bring the same low-end to the table as a Recto or a Diezel Herbert? I didn't think so. And that super chewy tone from Def Leppard's High N Dry is not really achievable by using a 70's/early 80's Marshall into V30's, unless ...maybe...you're heavily EQ-ing afterwards and somehow have access to Mutt Lange's ears, fingers, studio and mic locker.

If you're mixing GB's with V30's, IMO, make sure to use the 30W, 55Hz cone GB's on top positions of a 4x12 and the V30's below that. The V30's are louder, so this helps balancing it somewhat.