Speaker & Cab Recommendations

[IndyWS6]

Greetings
OK, so work on my rack rig is progressing, albeit slowly. I want to run the rig in stereo and have decided that dual 2x12 cabinets is my best option for portability and stage setup. I need some advice on what speakers and cabinets to use. The music that I tend to play most is 80's "Hair Metal" (Tesla, Poison, Dokken et. al.), but I need some flexibility to cover the typical bar band stuff. Could be anything from Wasp to Jason Aldean

What is a good all-around speaker? What cabinet would you recommend? I can't seem to hear the slight nuances in speakers and cabs that many of you describe and I doubt that those differences are going to be readily apparent in a small, crowded bar with the acousics of a gym bag. Consequently, I don't need "high-end" cabinets to be happy. But then again, I'm not opposed to spending what is necessary to get good tone - I haven't skimped thus far, so no need to start...

My first thought was to get something from Avatar or Lopo and fit them with a good speaker. It looks like an Avatar Contemporary cabinet is $430 while a Marshall JCM 1936 with the same speakers is $575. Is the Marshall cabinet worth the extra money? Are there valid reasons to avoid Avatar and Lopo and go "name brand"?

For reference, my rack has a Mesa V-Twin pre amp, an Eleven Rack, a Midiverb III, some "go to" pedals and uses a Mesa Simul 2:90 for the power section.

So, what cabinet would you recommend? What speakers?

Thanks in advance

 

[blackba]

Since you have a 2:90 power amp, you are going to want cabs that can handle minimum of 100Watts a piece. I would go with an Avatar oversized 212 (the one that looks similar to a Bogner 212). I have heard good things about those cabs.

For speakers here are some I think would work well:
G12-65/Vintage 30 mix in each cab
CL80/Vintage 30 mix in each cab (most modern sounding)
Scumback H75/M75 mix in each cab (would need to get the 65Watt speakers). (most classic sounding)

For budget speaker option: WGS ET-65 with Vet or Retro 30.

 

[IndyWS6]

Thanks I appreciate the detailed response.

I've read good things about the WGS speakers - aren't they considered "budget" only because they don't have the following of, say, Celestion, and therefore don't command the high prices?

Others?

 

[RedB4Black]

If you want higher quality at an affordable price, take a looke at Splawn.

 

[IndyWS6]

If you want higher quality at an affordable price, take a looke at Splawn.

Any specific recommendations for 2x12 cabinets and speaker combinations? I'm familiar with the name, but not the product line offerings...

Thanks

 

[glpg8o]

+1 for splawn - i plan to own two 4x12's loaded with his small blocks someday.

they are essentially a greenback copy but with higher headroom and his own few tweaks. forgot who actually makes the speakers? its either emenince or EV - sorry for not knowing, but i forgot and its not on his site.

i have played a 2x12 with the small blocks with a 5150 and it definately sounds badass. very solid low end reproduction and a nice greenback character with something else on the high end that rolls off nicely - cant put my finger on it. but i recommend it for being able to cover all of what you are wanting to do - as i do very simillar type of live gigs myself + needing the speaker to cover drop tuned as well.

be aware though he just went up on his price of those speakers - they have become very popular from word of mouth around here (his shop is about 35 minutes away from where i live)

 

[IndyWS6]

Thanks for the information - I'll do some research.

Other options?

 

[blackba]

Thanks I appreciate the detailed response.

I've read good things about the WGS speakers - aren't they considered "budget" only because they don't have the following of, say, Celestion, and therefore don't command the high prices?

Others?

I put budget for WGS, since they will run you less than celestions, especially if you go used. I have a pair of WGS ET-65's that I really like. I think a greenback or G12-65 type speaker would be your best bet. Not familiar with the Splawn cabs, but if the speakers are high powered greenbacks, that sounds like a great option.

 

[ender600]

EVM12L classics,,or if your not concerned about prices then go with the black labels.

I put the black labels in my 2x12's and right away they were clearer(zero distortion),,louder and overall just bigger sounding,,, my piece of crap Crate Flexwave actually started to sound good??? my Soldano soumded crazy killer with them. and @ 300 watts per speaker you can do anything with them,,hell,,your bass player could use them!!

and if you go to KPODJ (google search) and register (free) you can pick them up for $206 U.S. each which when compared to top of the line celestions,,jensen's,,webers,,scumbacks,,etc etc,,is actually not bad at all.

good luck with your search!!

 

[IndyWS6]

Thanks

What other cabinet options do you recommend?

 

[racerevlon]

Avoid the Marshall 2 x 12 cabs like the plague. I've never heard one of them that sounds good. All the other advice up top is solid.

Also might want to look into a pair of Mesa 2 x 12's or even the vertical Mesa's if you can find a pair.

Cheers,

 

[IndyWS6]

Thanks for the info - are the Mesa cabs really that much better (e.g. worth the big price increase) over an Avatar or Lopo cabinet?

 

[troublehead]

I second the Splawn recommendation. I have used a ton of 2x12's and these are my favorite. Having said that, I'm not a fan of the Small Blocks. I pulled them out and traded them shortly after I got them. I MUCH prefer Celestion Heritage Greenbacks (but of course that only gives you 50 watts). But I even like the Emi Private Jacks and Legend GB12's over the SB's. Those will give you 100 watts.

A cheaper alternative would be the WGS 50 watt Reapers. Not my first choice, but really good sounding speakers.

 

[Motorpud]

The best sounding 2x12 I've owned was a port city, I had to get rid of it for an emergency but I still kick myself every day. Splawn cabinets are also great for the money.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I second the Splawn recommendation. I have used a ton of 2x12's and these are my favorite. Having said that, I'm not a fan of the Small Blocks. I pulled them out and traded them shortly after I got them. I MUCH prefer Celestion Heritage Greenbacks (but of course that only gives you 50 watts). But I even like the Emi Private Jacks and Legend GB12's over the SB's. Those will give you 100 watts.

A cheaper alternative would be the WGS 50 watt Reapers. Not my first choice, but really good sounding speakers.

You can get a loaded Splawn 2x12 for cheaper than other companies charge for an empty 2x12. Aren't the Small Blocks made by Eminence? If so I wouldn't use them either, I've never liked anything by Eminence.

 

[glpg8o]

I second the Splawn recommendation. I have used a ton of 2x12's and these are my favorite. Having said that, I'm not a fan of the Small Blocks. I pulled them out and traded them shortly after I got them. I MUCH prefer Celestion Heritage Greenbacks (but of course that only gives you 50 watts). But I even like the Emi Private Jacks and Legend GB12's over the SB's. Those will give you 100 watts.

A cheaper alternative would be the WGS 50 watt Reapers. Not my first choice, but really good sounding speakers.

yeah those speakers have something to them that they are picky with the amplifiers of choice IMHO - the small blocks i tried out were traded shortly after i had the chance to try them due to the same reason to the owner - sounded great with what i had going, not so great with his style or gear preference. really depends on what the amplifier is voiced to i believe and what volume you play at.

FWIW to the OP - the big blocks that splawn carries are herritage 30 copies with the same tweaks - 5 watts more headroom than the small blocks.

 

[Motorpud]

I second the Splawn recommendation. I have used a ton of 2x12's and these are my favorite. Having said that, I'm not a fan of the Small Blocks. I pulled them out and traded them shortly after I got them. I MUCH prefer Celestion Heritage Greenbacks (but of course that only gives you 50 watts). But I even like the Emi Private Jacks and Legend GB12's over the SB's. Those will give you 100 watts.

A cheaper alternative would be the WGS 50 watt Reapers. Not my first choice, but really good sounding speakers.

You can get a loaded Splawn 2x12 for cheaper than other companies charge for an empty 2x12. Aren't the Small Blocks made by Eminence? If so I wouldn't use them either, I've never liked anything by Eminence.

Yeah the Small blocks are an Eminence greenback clone and the big blocks are heritage 30 clones except for they're 60 watts instead of 30.

 

[IndyWS6]

Thanks for the information...

What's the consensus on an Avatar G212H Traditional cabinet?
According to their website, I can get the cabinet (in Orange Tolex and Wheat grill cloth ) for $399 with a pair of Celestion Vintage 30's, G12H30's, G12T75's, Greenback's, Classic Lead 80's or Hellatone 30's, 60's or G12K100's. $39 shipping on top of that and it looks like a very solid cabinet choice for $440. I assume that you could mix the speaker choices, but haven't checked...

 

[glpg8o]

i did some research on avatar once and didnt like hearing outsourcing for alot of it. dont quote me on that word for word though because its been a while since i researched their company in detail - but could not get a 100% clear answer as to exactly who makes their cabinets or where they are made.

maybe i need a refresher from someone in the forum, or to go topic diving in the RT section - but i remember talking about this topic once before here on the forum.

 

[6string40]

I've owned 2 Avatar 212 Traditional cabs...still using 1 of them right now. They are definitely good quality cabs at a reasonable price. They are outsourced as someone mentioned above, but they still seem to be built really well whoever is making them.

The cab I have now has Eminence Super V (150w each) speakers in it and I had nearly the same set up as you for awhile...11R into a 2:90. I like the Super V speakers...they are similar to the Eminence Legends, but handle a lot more power. The Legends are similar to Celestion Vintage 30s, but with a little more midrange IMO, just to give a bit more of a reference.

What I found with the 11R was that I preferred running it direct using the cab emulation rather than through a power amp and into my own cab...as weird as this sounds, since this way is completely digital, it sounded a little more natural to me that way.