15" and 12" speaker recommendations ?

[MadAsAHatter]

I’m in progress of building a 2x12/1x15 cab. I finished all the major woodworking this past weekend. Just have to go back and drill some pilot holes. [I'll post a pic later when I'm back home.] Then it’ll be time to cover and add speakers. The cab is near the same dimensions of a 1960b cab, but with a 2 degree tilt back of the baffle. All 3/4" birch ply, except for a frame around the perimeter of the from. I used some left over douglas fir for that. Speaker config. is the 2-12" on the top and 15" at the bottom. I need some recommendations on speakers, mainly the 15 inch one.

I’m shooting for a British crunch sound, but a little more bold and thicker low end (hence the 15”). Don’t need super tight low end but don’t want to be flub city either.

For the 2 12” speakers I’ll go either greenback or V30 style. Which type will mostly be dependent on what would work better with the chosen 15” speaker.

Starting with the 15” speaker, what are some recommendations? And second what 12” speakers to go with said recommended 15” speaker?

 

[MadAsAHatter]

Adding pictures of the build progress...

Front & back:

Baffle (sitting on top of the back and baffle dry fit:

 

[Mr. Willy]

That looks great. I’m going to recommend two Redbacks as those are badass speakers. Plus, they can handle a massive amount of power. Celestions makes a Fullback 15” that I thought from the clips I heard sounded killer.

 

[JackBootedThug]

for the 15", I have used the eminence legend - with v30's....it was awesome.

 

[MadAsAHatter]

That looks great. I’m going to recommend two Redbacks as those are badass speakers. Plus, they can handle a massive amount of power. Celestions makes a Fullback 15” that I thought from the clips I heard sounded killer.

I checked out the fullback. Clips sound pretty good but to me it comes off as not having a lot of character; kinda one note and boring. Though very clear sounding in the highs and not flubby at all.
I don't know what it is about the Redback... They seem like they would be excellent. The core tone is great but every clip sounds to me like someone draped a blanket in front of the speaker. Like it's being muffled. Are they better suited for live use and not so much recording? Or is it that being high watt they sound muffled at lower volume and you need to let them loose to get the best sound?

for the 15", I have used the eminence legend - with v30's....it was awesome.

A Legend 1518 is in top contention for the 15 inch speaker. A pair of V30 seem like they would mix well with it. Only downside is I need a 16 ohm one for the planned wiring scheme and I've only seen it offered in 8 ohms. But if a Legend is what I ultimately decide on I can change the plan and make 8 ohms work.

The other current top contenders are a Weber Werewolf or Blue Dog 15. It's hard to find reviews or clips of those two thought.

 

[JackBootedThug]

Mine was a Randall sig scott ian slime green cab. I wish I would have kept it. Sounded killer.

 

[GOHOINC]

My butterslax cab has the celestion Fullback and G12H30s. Normally I cant stand the H magnet speakers, no matter what 12" speakers I have tried with them I have never thought they sounded good. That said, the butterslax cab sounds great. Perhaps an H magnet will support/give the full back all the character you want?

 

[FormerlyKnownAsMaddnotez]

Cant really give a specific recommendation as the only 15" I've ever used was in the ISP sub.

Regarding speakers in general if you havent tried Scumback, that will always be my recommendation.

I havent tried a ton of speakers and I still have a couple other brands I'd really love to try but Scumbacks have been the best to me and idk, just something special about them to me.

 

[mcstinger]

I checked out the fullback. Clips sound pretty good but to me it comes off as not having a lot of character; kinda one note and boring. Though very clear sounding in the highs and not flubby at all.
I don't know what it is about the Redback... They seem like they would be excellent. The core tone is great but every clip sounds to me like someone draped a blanket in front of the speaker. Like it's being muffled. Are they better suited for live use and not so much recording? Or is it that being high watt they sound muffled at lower volume and you need to let them loose to get the best sound?


A Legend 1518 is in top contention for the 15 inch speaker. A pair of V30 seem like they would mix well with it. Only downside is I need a 16 ohm one for the planned wiring scheme and I've only seen it offered in 8 ohms. But if a Legend is what I ultimately decide on I can change the plan and make 8 ohms work.

The other current top contenders are a Weber Werewolf or Blue Dog 15. It's hard to find reviews or clips of those two thought.

Regarding to the Redback, I like it. But not standalone, it lacks something. I have it in a combination with EVH Greenback. Crazy combination, sounds weird, but sounds excellent . 15 inch speaker I would combine with something more pronounced, with more character, let say Greenback or V30.

What final impedance of the box you want to have? 8 Ohm 15" can pair nicely with 2x16 Ohm 12". 16 Ohm or 4 Ohm as a result.

 

[MadAsAHatter]

15 inch speaker I would combine with something more pronounced, with more character, let say Greenback or V30.

That's the general plan to go with a Greenback or V30 style speaker for the 12's. I want to pick the 15" first then choose which style for the 12s that works best with it.

What final impedance of the box you want to have? 8 Ohm 15" can pair nicely with 2x16 Ohm 12". 16 Ohm or 4 Ohm as a result.

I'm doing a mono/stereo cab with 8 Ohm mono and 16 Ohms each side stereo. The 2-12s will be 1/2 of the stereo and 15" the other. The main thing I need though is 8 Ohms mono.
2-12 at 8 Ohms each in series for 16 Ohms Stereo
1-15 at 16 Ohms Stereo
2-12 + 1-15 at 16 Ohms each side in parallel for 8 ohms mono

 

[Mr. Willy]

Regarding to the Redback, I like it. But not standalone, it lacks something. I have it in a combination with EVH Greenback. Crazy combination, sounds weird, but sounds excellent.

It’s interesting that you say this because I’ve seriously been thinking about trying 2 EVH Greenbacks mixed with 2 Redbacks in my 4x12. I think Redbacks sound closest to RI Greenbacks out of all the Celestions I’ve pleated through. They sound very, very similar. Hmmm….

 

[mcstinger]

It’s interesting that you say this because I’ve seriously been thinking about trying 2 EVH Greenbacks mixed with 2 Redbacks in my 4x12. I think Redbacks sound closest to RI Greenbacks out of all the Celestions I’ve pleated through. They sound very, very similar. Hmmm….

At one time I bought two Redbacks just out of curiosity and put them in the Engl 212. I was quite pleasantly surprised, very interesting speakers. Just they were quite selective about which amplifier they would play well with and which one they wouldn't. Then I bought EVH Greenbacks and went to put them in Engl box. Thought I'd try the box while only one was replaced. And it stayed that way. Even Randall Satan sounded great through it

 

[Mr. Willy]

I don't know what it is about the Redback... They seem like they would be excellent. The core tone is great but every clip sounds to me like someone draped a blanket in front of the speaker. Like it's being muffled. Are they better suited for live use and not so much recording? Or is it that being high watt they sound muffled at lower volume and you need to let them loose to get the best sound?

I’ve heard some Redback clips that were exactly like you describe here. I haven’t heard very many good clips online of the RB. I should note that it likely wouldn’t be my first choice for darker amps. I’m using bright amps with lots of mids. The RB really shines with that type of amp, imho. I should also note that I haven’t used them live.

 

[MadAsAHatter]

After shopping around more I've narrowed my choice down to either a Weber Werewolf 15 or Blue Dog 15. I've contacted Weber for more details on both but they haven't been responsive. Does anyone here have experience or opinions on either of these?