Best speaker for an open back Mark III combo?

  • Thread starter Thread starter GJgo
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GJgo

GJgo

Well-known member
Hey guys,

I took the Black Shadow 200W speaker out of my Mesa Mark III 1x12 combo, I've just never gotten along with that speaker's sound. I'm really a V30 guy, but I think they sound better in a sealed cab than an open back. For someone who likes the V30 general tone, what speaker do you think works the best in an open back setup? Figure it might be time to try something new. I have closed back combos for playing my metal, I think it might be nice to have a speaker in the open back for playing vintage / rock that compliments that style.
 
Mark III 1x12 combos were designed with the EVM-12L in mind. They work the best in there--but they will put your amp up to around 70lbs. Next best choice is the Mesa Black Shadow C90.
 
Just try a V30 in it. I have a purple stripe Mark III combo with a V30. I never changed it out because it sounds good to my ears. I use a mark V:25 with a V30 as well. They both sound good for vintage rock styles to me.
 
The best thing you can do is get a headshell and use a 4x12 or 2x12. IMHO the Mark series combos don't sound good. I've tried them over and over, even a IIC+ I had didn't sound good in it's small combo box. YMMV.
 
I play open back combo amps and I really like the Eminence Legend V12 speakers. I'm not speaker guys, but I did a "little" research on Thiele-Small parameters.

QTS of 0.4 or lower for vented cabinets
QTS of 0.4-0.7 for sealed enclosure
QTS of 0.7 or higher for open back.

they work very well...but i'm not sure how much of that has to do with the info above?
 
danyeo":3k0fmv1b said:
The best thing you can do is get a headshell and use a 4x12 or 2x12. IMHO the Mark series combos don't sound good. I've tried them over and over, even a IIC+ I had didn't sound good in it's small combo box. YMMV.
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This^
I always hated the vibration bleeding through in the reverb tank on the clean channel from the EV's at volume. Even though the chassis and tank were isolation mounted, I could not get rid of it until I made it a head only
 
The cleans/semi dirty tones can sound great. You can get a good singing lead tone. But high gain rhythm and the real Mesa crunch tones are disappointing in a combo w/any speaker.

I had a speaker shoot out years ago with a Mark III combo, nothing was impressive on the high gains. When I plugged it into a 4x12 I about shit my pants :rock: . Until then I thought all the hype was BS. Maybe try a oversized combo (24" x 20" x 10"?) with a EV speaker.
 
Thanks guys. I tried a Chinese V30 in it, sounded OK but a little middy in the open back. After a couple hours of listening to comparos on YouTube I think I'm going to try a 75W Creamback. I'll let you know!

I also ordered a 1x12 Recto cab to put under it, hoping the blend will be awesome.
 
Got the UK Creamback installed today. Even brand new & stiff, I feel like it was a good call for an open back. It has a super creamy tone with a nice spread, but without the V30 honk. It actually reminds me a lot of if the V30 were more tonally rounded & thicker which is just what I was going for. I'll most likely still plug into my recto cab for aggressive sounds, but for cleans & crunch I'm liking what I'm hearing!
 
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