WGS speaker suggestion wanted

[chumbucket]

Just picked up another empty 4x12 and am looking to load it in a low budget fashion. I definitely don't like bright or ice-picky at all. I'm thinking Reaper 55hz or maybe an X combo of those with the Veteran 30? I've never heard any of these speakers yet. Suggestions welcome and appreciated.

 

[troublehead]

Both of those are great for non-ice pick. I prefer the Retro 30 over the Veteran 30..........but it is brighter. I actually have a basically brand new pair of 16 ohm Reaper 55hz that I am selling if you are interested. Not enough high end for me. Let me know if you are interested.

 

[chumbucket]

Did you try the Reapers in an X pattern with something else?

 

[troublehead]

Did you try the Reapers in an X pattern with something else?

I X'd them with Retro 30's.........not enough highs for me

 

[sdrootsman]

i have a quad of their green berets and theyre amazing. just as good or better than the real greenbacks imo.

 

[luxxtone]

I just x-patterned the ET65 and Vet30's in a 4x12 and it sounds HUGE! Nice bite, but not harsh or brittle, lots of big lows and solid with just the right amount of compression. Might be my favorite combo of speakers I ever tried.

 

[Guitar G]

Retro 30's. I have a 412 loaded with these and pound on them with a 5153 or a Mesa Roadster. Great speakers with a chewy tone. Hands down better than Celestion Vin 30's.

 

[chumbucket]

I generally like Greenbacks except at high volumes. I was never a V30 guy but the Veterans have peaked my interest. For all the good stuff that i've geard about 65's, ive never played them myself.

 

[chumbucket]

I just x-patterned the ET65 and Vet30's in a 4x12 and it sounds HUGE! Nice bite, but not harsh or brittle, lots of big lows and solid with just the right amount of compression. Might be my favorite combo of speakers I ever tried.

That's the recommended combo from WGS themselves. What kind of amp were you running through this cab? Heavy high gain stuff?

 

[luxxtone]

I just x-patterned the ET65 and Vet30's in a 4x12 and it sounds HUGE! Nice bite, but not harsh or brittle, lots of big lows and solid with just the right amount of compression. Might be my favorite combo of speakers I ever tried.

That's the recommended combo from WGS themselves. What kind of amp were you running through this cab? Heavy high gain stuff?

Running a '79 JMP, so medium gain. The ET65 adds the depth in the lows with a nice greenback type midrange, while the Vet30's add the in-your-face type punch. Obviously the type of head you have will totally affect what speakers are right for you, but this combo kicks ass for me. My other cab is very similar, with just a bit more snarl and a bit brighter. It's 2 Scumback M75's in the top with 2 Celestion V30's in the bottom....it's a Friedman cab. It sounds amazing with all the Friedman stuff.

 

[threadkiller]

I have the Vet 30's and t-75 mixed in a 212 and I like it. Not Ice picky at all but plenty of midrange. Definetely smoother than celestion equivalents

 

[Travis]

WGS...oh, these speakers.

I've had GREAT luck with WGS speakers, I think I have 5 of them. The Green Beret and the Vet 30 in a 2 x 12" is the only expereience I've had with mixing just WGS speakers together in a cabinet and I can say it's the best combination of speakers for me in an Avatar 2 x 12". Plenty of lows, really solid mids that poke you in the chest (or the back of the pant leg if you're really rocking it out), and the highs are very silky. They can be harsh just like any other cabinet if the amp is harsh, but generally speaking the speakers sort of say "Throw whatever effects on it, we'll make sure it would hurt you. Fuzz? Sure. Wah? Go ahead. Wind it up bro. It'll be sweet." I also have an ET65 and an AlNiCo Weber Blue Dog in my Pro Reverb and it's just offensive how good it sounds. You get the smoothness and low end from the 65 and the grindy AlNiCo chewies from the Blue Dog. It sounds like a mix between an AC-30 and a Blackface Fender. Tell your mom I say what's up. Great speakers...

...If you get good ones. This is the only downside I've heard about WGS. They sound great if you get good ones. I've heard they are somewhat inconsistant. I've only bought 2 of the same model speaker from them, so I can't make accurate assessments, but I've heard from a few folks making cabinets that the quality control is a bit off. BUT...Their customer service, enthusiasm and support is really refreshing in a world where your cell phone can't make a phone call in your house. I've only had to sell one of my WGS speakers off (A Reaper 30) because it was not my cup of tea. Sounded Great, but it just wasn't as 'happening' in a Deluxe Reverb like the Vet30 was....

 

[drewiv]

FWIW, I run an X in my Voodoo Amps cab of Veteran 30s and HM75s. I think it sounds great with all my amps. I really like WGS speakers.

 

[JamesPeters]

Great speakers...

...If you get good ones. This is the only downside I've heard about WGS. They sound great if you get good ones. I've heard they are somewhat inconsistant. I've only bought 2 of the same model speaker from them, so I can't make accurate assessments, but I've heard from a few folks making cabinets that the quality control is a bit off.

I've heard a lot of WGS speakers (in my own cabs, and in cabs that friends/customers own), and so far I've heard no indication of poor quality control. It's possible someone got some bad speakers from them, but I'd have to doubt that's an indication of poor quality control so much as shipping damage (or the odd factory defect, which can happen with any product).

Oh, and I really like the Invader. It's my favorite of their ceramic-based lineup so far. I could consider it a cross of greenback and Vintage 30, in a good way.

 

[chumbucket]

I've heard a lot of WGS speakers (in my own cabs, and in cabs that friends/customers own), and so far I've heard no indication of poor quality control. It's possible someone got some bad speakers from them, but I'd have to doubt that's an indication of poor quality control so much as shipping damage (or the odd factory defect, which can happen with any product).

Oh, and I really like the Invader. It's my favorite of their ceramic-based lineup so far. I could consider it a cross of greenback and Vintage 30, in a good way.

You like the Invader with your high gain stuff? I'm using modded Marshall type amps as well as a 5150.

 

[JamesPeters]

You like the Invader with your high gain stuff? I'm using modded Marshall type amps as well as a 5150.

Imagine what a greenback and Vintage 30 combined in one speaker might sound like. (Best of both worlds, that is.) If that sounds up your alley, then you might like the Invader.

 

[Travis]

Great speakers...

...If you get good ones. This is the only downside I've heard about WGS. They sound great if you get good ones. I've heard they are somewhat inconsistant. I've only bought 2 of the same model speaker from them, so I can't make accurate assessments, but I've heard from a few folks making cabinets that the quality control is a bit off.

I've heard a lot of WGS speakers (in my own cabs, and in cabs that friends/customers own), and so far I've heard no indication of poor quality control. It's possible someone got some bad speakers from them, but I'd have to doubt that's an indication of poor quality control so much as shipping damage (or the odd factory defect, which can happen with any product).

Oh, and I really like the Invader. It's my favorite of their ceramic-based lineup so far. I could consider it a cross of greenback and Vintage 30, in a good way.

I totally agree with this. I've had great results with their speakers multiple times. Don't get me wrong! I couldn't possibly think they were that unpredictable. I'm picky, but a Vet30 doesn't sound like a Celestion Vintage 30 to me, even if it's supposed to be sort of a "clone" of it. Their stuff has been great in my experience, and the two Vet30's I have sound exactly the same and the both sound f*cking great. So, sorry for jumping the gun...my bad!!!!

 

[chumbucket]

You like the Invader with your high gain stuff? I'm using modded Marshall type amps as well as a 5150.

Imagine what a greenback and Vintage 30 combined in one speaker might sound like. (Best of both worlds, that is.) If that sounds up your alley, then you might like the Invader.

Thanks for chiming in James. I value your opinion and ears! The Invader seems to have a lot of fans right out of the gate. That might be my pick. Have you heard a Liberator? I've always loved Greenbacks and Blackbacks but the louder I play the less I like them.
FWIW, people are saying that the Invader is a better candidate of a high power Greenback than their other offerings.

I wish that WGS would update their tone chart PDF to include their new speakers, the Invader and the Liberator.

 

[JamesPeters]

Thanks for chiming in James. I value your opinion and ears! The Invader seems to have a lot of fans right out of the gate. That might be my pick. Have you heard a Liberator? I've always loved Greenbacks and Blackbacks but the louder I play the less I like them.
FWIW, people are saying that the Invader is a better candidate of a high power Greenback than their other offerings.

I wish that WGS would update their tone chart PDF to include their new speakers, the Invader and the Liberator.

I didn't try the Liberator because the general sound character of the ET65 (what this speaker is based on) wasn't my thing; I found it too "gritty". So I'll try a Liberator later in a somewhat-less-than-scientific comparison (at someone else's place in one of their cabs, not in one of mine) when I get the chance, but I'm not going out of my way to try it.

I did try an HM75 recently and although I didn't gel with it for my preferences, I could see it catching on. It has a kind of...crackle?...in the distortion which doesn't sound "fuzzy" but sounds very aggressive, and the speaker projects well. It should be suitable for a lot of more modern metal aggressive sounds (newer Exodus and Testament sounds come to mind when I hear this speaker). I prefer my speakers to have more subtlety and warmth, to have the ability to have more "classic/laid-back" response or a more "aggressive" response depending on how I set the amp, what pickups I use, etc.,; the HM75 pushes things a bit past the boundary I appreciate.

The Invader is a speaker I can use for "everything". I say "everything" in quotes because I have a Weber-loaded cab (mixture of Legacy, 12V and Silver Bell speakers) which sounds like a "more true-to-vintage" version of my Invader-loaded cab, so that has its own specific appeal. However I could easily recommend the Invader to almost anyone playing rock/metal/etc., especially if they're not too concerned about the speaker having tons of chime/shimmer, which the Webers are better for. The Invaders punch harder, cut through a mix more "fully", than the Webers, so I think more people on average could appreciate them.

 

[luxxtone]

WGS...oh, these speakers.

I've had GREAT luck with WGS speakers, I think I have 5 of them. The Green Beret and the Vet 30 in a 2 x 12" is the only expereience I've had with mixing just WGS speakers together in a cabinet and I can say it's the best combination of speakers for me in an Avatar 2 x 12". Plenty of lows, really solid mids that poke you in the chest (or the back of the pant leg if you're really rocking it out), and the highs are very silky. They can be harsh just like any other cabinet if the amp is harsh, but generally speaking the speakers sort of say "Throw whatever effects on it, we'll make sure it would hurt you. Fuzz? Sure. Wah? Go ahead. Wind it up bro. It'll be sweet." I also have an ET65 and an AlNiCo Weber Blue Dog in my Pro Reverb and it's just offensive how good it sounds. You get the smoothness and low end from the 65 and the grindy AlNiCo chewies from the Blue Dog. It sounds like a mix between an AC-30 and a Blackface Fender. Tell your mom I say what's up. Great speakers...

...If you get good ones. This is the only downside I've heard about WGS. They sound great if you get good ones. I've heard they are somewhat inconsistant. I've only bought 2 of the same model speaker from them, so I can't make accurate assessments, but I've heard from a few folks making cabinets that the quality control is a bit off. BUT...Their customer service, enthusiasm and support is really refreshing in a world where your cell phone can't make a phone call in your house. I've only had to sell one of my WGS speakers off (A Reaper 30) because it was not my cup of tea. Sounded Great, but it just wasn't as 'happening' in a Deluxe Reverb like the Vet30 was....

Hey Travis! I got the ET65's based on your recommendation after you were at the shop, man was that a good call. So thanks!!!! It added a lot of depth to that Marshall cab and took away some of the harshness I was getting running 4 Vet30's with the JMP. Now that cab sounds huge, but still retains all the classic old Marshall tone without being too modern or scooped sounding, which some speakers with a lot of bottom tend to do.