JackBootedThug
MURDERATOR
I was never aware of this....thought he always used gb's....
It is amazing that almost 50 years later and still don't think there's a better combo of speakers that could be used besides maybe just a few others equally good but different like Blues/D120F's, Blues/Crescendo's or 20w GB's/Crescendo'sGBs mixed with JBL D120Fs. If you want to try this mix, and don’t want to pay 3-500 per JBL or at least that much for a real vintage 20w GB you can grab a couple reissue GBs and find a pair of JBL123s (150 per) and put them in a cab. Instant VH1(or close enough for me).
I’ve had in my KW 412 full quads of D120F’s, K120’s, E120’s and 3 123’s. They are very bright speakers for sure, but imo still can sound killer as full quads (tried with most of my amps including my ‘89 SLO and ‘79 JMP2203) because while bright still imo plenty toneful, not harsh or brittle. I prefer mixing JBL’s with other stuff like GB’s or Blues for more complete flavor, but was plenty happy too with full quads of themJBLs on their own with a Marshall are just super bright; even darkening the EQ is questionable. But with a few GBs it’s spot on to that VH1 vibe. To me it’s the most important link to have in that tone…any Marshall I play through that cab sounds like VH1.
Yes great combo. Almost any Celestion/jbl mix tends to sound great. My favorite Blues/JBL combo was crossing the blues with my D120F’s in my KW 412. Outstanding combo. The blues came out a little more (not a ton), but still liked that tone best over JBL’s on top. Also blues on top and crescendo’s on bottom sounded killer. Mixed quite awkwardly with my reissue 20 GB’s and actually awful imo with the gold’s lol, but maybe could be another story with the real deal 20w GB’sRight now I have my Blues in that cab with the JBLs; outstanding tone and works for any style imo. Blues on bottom and still almost overpower the JBLs, which are also super efficient
If you buy a newer H30 Ann they will be made in England and while still bright, it’s far less of a harsh bright almost like they are broken in already.I am wondering how a greenback and G12H 30th Anniversary would work? The 30th have top end spank to them. Might try this.
To my ear, adding the JBLs to GBs easily produced the ‘sizzle’ I hear on the first album.I owned two original JBLD120F's rare 16 ohm speakers, I installed them into a Marshall 1982B cabintet with two Celestion 6402 coned Greenbacks and the JBL's installed just like Ed did and they were not pleasant to stand in front of playing.
Of course I explored almost all of the Ed lore stuff over the years and it was fun. In my educated opinion while the JBL's added a cool different texture and tone to VH-1 I do not feel they are anything magical to EVH tone.... The Greenbacks and Blackbacks contribute more to the core VH tone IMHO.
I have heard straight up 0014 Pulsonic coned Greenbacks/, newer greenback, blackbacks M25's and Blackback 12H-30 55hz pretty much encompass and all get close to nailing EVH VH-1 and VHII tones.
Of course other people will always hear things differently and you might love the JBL120 tones, there's nothing wrong with that.
I agree they do add some harsh sizzle. I would also note that the Mighty Mite 1300/1400 pickup adds more of that ratty sizzly grind as much if not more than the JBLD120F's if you are really looking for that VH1 specific tone.To my ear, adding the JBLs to GBs easily produced the ‘sizzle’ I hear on the first album.
I have 1972 greenbacks in a 4x12 and Blackback H30’s in other 4x12’s. They sound great together. Both are darker than the anniversary H30’s though.I am wondering how a greenback and G12H 30th Anniversary would work? The 30th have top end spank to them. Might try this.
I personally never cared for EVH’s overall tone for a bunch of different reasons, but I do think the D120F’s are a crucial part of that sound. It’s not just the sizzle they give, but also a unique type of hollowness that EVH’s tone had that no celestions or any other brand of speakers I’ve tried have in the same way. It’s not necessarily a quality I like, but a distinct part of EVH’s tone. I think most guys really, even if they think they’re trying to nail EVH’s tone, are actually just trying to capture the parts they like about it without the parts they didn’t like and that is imo for the better anyway. There are imo plenty plenty of aspects of EVH’s that are both good and bad and it’s ok to acknowledge that. I personally can’t stand that overbearing plate reverb he hadI owned two original JBLD120F's rare 16 ohm speakers, I installed them into a Marshall 1982B cabintet with two Celestion 6402 coned Greenbacks and the JBL's installed just like Ed did and they were not pleasant to stand in front of playing.
Of course I explored almost all of the Ed lore stuff over the years and it was fun. In my educated opinion while the JBL's added a cool different texture and tone to VH-1 I do not feel they are anything magical to EVH tone.... The Greenbacks and Blackbacks contribute more to the core VH tone IMHO.
I have heard straight up 0014 Pulsonic coned Greenbacks/, newer greenback, blackbacks M25's and Blackback 12H-30 55hz pretty much encompass and all get close to nailing EVH VH-1 and VHII tones.
Of course other people will always hear things differently and you might love the JBL120 tones, there's nothing wrong with that.
I have a new/ish EVH 2x12 combo. I believe its got the G12H 30th anni in her. Not sure if they are UK ones or not. It doesn't sound bad at all. just tighter and a bit brighter than my 1st gen EVH combo with greenback 25s I owned, which had more give, a little darker, less tight. I could live with these in current speakers for sure....just that the green/clean channel is a little too much sparkle for my tastes. I adjust the EQ to compensate. I do prefer the feel of the G12m 25s in my prior combo though. it was more liquid, less sticato.If you buy a newer H30 Ann they will be made in England and while still bright, it’s far less of a harsh bright almost like they are broken in already.