Soldano/Eminence = bleh. Soldano/Celestion =Glorious

[Rdodson]

Good old greenbacks sound the best to me, or even better Scumback's version (the "M" series).

 

[Mr.L]

I think those V12's are fine until you throw an SM57 in front of them. SM57's just kinda hate them, IMO. They reveal a ton of fizz and weird, hollow, almost phase-y mids. Same with the Governors.

I realize that I'm commenting in an old thread here, but it's an ever current issue - choice of speakers.

Anyways, I gotta agree with you. I never knew how much speakers meant for the recorded sound. I thought it was a matter of nuances. Unfortunately I didn't realize that this was exactly why I didn't find "my sound" until years later and after many albums recorded (own and other's).

The thing is precisely that many speakers sound just great and fine acoustically, but put a mic in front of it and that changes the whole game. I loved my 4x12 Soldano cab (X12000) but could never get that sound translated to tape (yes, I'm old). Then I had a brain fart and started experimenting, and holy crap did things change. Now I could record and with very little eq'ing in the mix get exactly the sound I was after. I'm a hard rock player and pretty traditional in my taste, so I started up by swapping one Eminence speaker with a 20W/15Ω Greenback, and I was sold immediately. Now I've swapped two of the remaining three with others just to experiment, but I'll end up with the Greenback I already have, a Blackback, a Redback and either a JBL D120F or a Supro BD 12, which ever I find and/or can afford first.

Redbacks sound killer with the SLO. Probably my favorite so far, right next to RI Greenbacks. RB is more modern, GB is more raw/classic.

That's great to hear. I've been anxious to get one of those since I heard a test of it on YouTube. To my ears it's kinda like a heavy beefed up Greenback. Gotta get one for my Fronkensteen Swapdano cabinet mentioned above.

 

[Nigel]

I had the same experience with Bruce Zinky and his Eminence speakers.

The Mofo is an AC-15 clean and '59 BF Bassman modded front end with a 550v Sovtek MiG-50/60 PT/4K OT and his assorted gravy, mainly the MOFO channel being about the same as the Fender Tone Master.

Bruce also likes Sovtek pre's, LPS, and Sovtek Wafer Base 5881's.

He voiced the tone stack with an early 50's Esquire, likely with a really weak alnico II pickup.

It's too bassy and simultaneously paint-peelingly harsh/bright stock. I mean, "God damn, what was he thinking?" level.

Plug a Strat with antiquity Texas hots and it's fucking Keith Richards. Like, shut up and bang out "Start Me Up" and prepare to get laid later Keef toanz. All the shenanigans is for getting those perfect, weak A2 mag tones.

Wanna play rock/do your own thing with it? Experiment for 17 years, get new preamp tubes, trannies, and finally Mesa Vintage 30's, and well, you're happy like me.

Otherwise, yeah change the speaker or play A2 pickups.

 

[Fiesta Red]

I thought Soldano cabinets came stock with V30s?

 

[Rex Rocker]

I thought Soldano cabinets came stock with V30s?

Newer ones do, AFAIK.

Before the BAD takeover, they came with Eminence V12's.

 

[JackBootedThug]

if anyone cares-I had a mesa halfback loaded with emi ms-12's.....fuckin thing ripped with everything. killer speakers.

 

[DanTravis62]

I have had both good and bad experiences with eminence speakers.

the SLO sounded great with everything though, included the old emi's they used to use in their cab.

 

[Rdodson]

If you want that real solid, very "firm" and full-ranged sound...then V30s work.

If you want a bit bouncier, softer-edged but harmonically rich sound, then go with Greenbacks.

I generally like the sound of GBs out of the amp, in the room, regardless of amp. Recorded, that wall-of-sound thing has its place.