Top/Bottom

[D-Rock]

I've

 

[stephen sawall]

I always prefer top/bottom over X pattern.

CL-80 is a great speaker. Favorite Celestion for open back cabs.

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

The only X pattern I've liked is my current 4x12 loaded with Celestion Cream back neos and Splawn small blocks. They are similar and Green backish but really add a 3d effect in an X pattern in my Schecter USA 4x12 1960B copy. And if mixing with V30'S, I always prefer V30'S on the bottom.

 

[Kagami]

I had top/bottom in my 412 before and I couldn't even tell the bottom speakers were playing anything so it's useless at least for me since I play right next to it.

T75 is a great speaker to mix with the CL80 though, same with the K100.

 

[ultimatemetalguitartones]

Same here - I much prefer Top - Bottom vs X pattern.

 

[Braciola]

If your speakers have different sensitivity ratings, then it's usually best to install the higher sensitivity speakers on the bottom and the lower sensitivity speakers on the top.
If the sensitivity ratings are the same (or very close), then it's a matter of preference whether to go with an X-Pattern or Top/Bottom.

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

Yes I agree but I've found speaker efficiency ratings to be a cruel mistress. I know they are all doing 1m/1w testing but some speakers are just louder in person than others with the same rating. Likely due to dominant or deficient freqs in each speaker and our perception of loudness. But isn't that what really matters in the end?

V30s are 100dbs but sound like they're 103dbs.
Texas Heats are 100dbs but sound like they're 98dbs.
CL80s are 98dbs but sound like they're 100dbs.
The Jensens are 96dbs but sound like they're 98dbs.
My G12T75s are 97dbs but sound closer to 96dbs.
My Veteran 30s are 98dbs but sound like they're 100dbs.

Again, freqs play a role in perception, but my perception is really all that I care about. I've found that just because a manufacturer says one speaker is the same loudness as another that it doesn't always translate to being true when standing in front of them playing your own rig.

Spl does not reflect frequency response. V30'S are flat out cutting and loud because they accentuate the frequencies guitar lives in the most. Also cab design effects frequency response so there are a lot of factors.

 

[JDs Couch]

1980s Mesa Halfback cab (closed both sections). For a while I had V30 and Celestion G12-65 in an x pattern. Recently I got 2 EVM 12Ls, so I took out the V30s and put the EVs in the bottom, and 65s in the top. It hasn't been long enough to see if I strongly prefer this setup, but the V30 spikiness was wearing on me with my Mark IIC+.

 

[dave74]

Depends on speakers but I'm more likely to use X for a slant cab, provided the speakers are not drastically different in perceived loudness.
With a straight cab I'd lean towards t/b and obviously place the "louder" model down.

 

[stephen sawall]

The thing with X pattern is the weird phase stuff that happens when your moving around. If you don't move around much when playing or far enough away from the cab you won't hear it. It's much more obvious with some pairs.

By far my favorite combination with a Vintage 30 is a G12H Anniversary.