?? >> Matching Speaker Dynamics to Amp & Cab <&

[lakehaus]

I just picked up a stock ’68 Bassman 50w head that I’ll use for guitar.

I have a 2x12 birch ply cab, currently empty, and in an open back config.

My goal is to use this rig for crisp cleans… mostly bedroom volume.

I will be getting speakers this week or next, each 8 ohms, and wire parallel for a 4 ohm load.

TECHNO-BOOB QUESTIONS:

Should I get speakers designed to handle 50w each, or 25-30w each?

What else do I need to consider WRT speakers to ensure they compliment each other? One alnico and one ceramic is doable… should I stick with the same power rating / same mfr if I go that route?

For a tight bass, can the back be open or should I build a panel to close it?

Are some speakers designed for open or closed back, or does it matter?

Thanks guys...
__________________

[CapnCrunch]

Here's a post to a good resource for speaker related questions. I believe most of your questions are answered at various spots here. If you don't like Weber, you don't need to read it. It is informative however.

www.webervst.com/sptalk.html

[Kregg]

"Should I get speakers designed to handle 50w each, or 25-30w each?"

25-30 will do just fine.

"… should I stick with the same power rating / same mfr if I go that route?"

You can "try" any configuration as long as the ohms match. However, it's a better idea to find a forum where 68 Bassman's have been discussed. The way I would match a pair is by trial & error based on what I've auditioned. When you play through another guitarist rig chances are you'll tweak the knobs in search for your tone ... right?
That said, e-mail Ted with your specific needs; playing style, who's tone you like, guitars, rig and so forth.

"For a tight bass, can the back be open or should I build a panel to close it?"

Many manufacturers post this information you in their cut sheets.
As an observation I don't think many bass cabinets are open, though several are (front) ported.

"Are some speakers designed for open or closed back, or does it matter?"

Closed seem more crunchy and focused to me. But, I like the sound of open back. Mike the rear of your cabinet sometime to hear how different it sounds as it adds to that Fender mojo. Do you prefer driving with the windows open or the AC blasting? Depends on the weather.

[lakehaus]

That's a great ref CapnCruch... most of my questions were answered, except matching a pair of speakers handling capacity to the amp's power rating, which is covered BY KREGG above.

I think that's all I need to know before I buy a set...

THESE FORUMS ARE GREAT!!

[6G6]

If you check at the FDP, Vintage amp section, you can find several discussions on this same subject.
Emminence Red, White and Bules seem to be teh favorate for classic Blackface Fender sound. if thati s what you crave.

[HackRabbit]

"Should I get speakers designed to handle 50w each, or 25-30w each?"

I came across the following while researching speakers, it is from the Scumback speaker web site, http://www.scumbackspeakers.com/faqs.html


AMP Wattage!
Please understand one thing. Most amps are rated for their advertised RMS wattage at clean signals. On most amps that's going to be at 3-5 on the volume knob. So your 100 watt Marshall puts out 100 watts at 4. You like to play it at 7, and if your amp is healthy, that's when it puts out 150-180 watts (or more). The guys at Marshall knew what they were doing when they put the "100" logo in the corner of the cabs, but that still meant that you needed two of them to handle a 100 watt amp that put out 180 watts at the levels you set the amp! Get your amp tested for it's real output wattage, no one likes the smell of a melted speaker, OK? Always figure you need twice your RMS wattage in speaker power handling to safely run your amp on 10.

If you get two 30 watt speakers to run with your 50 watt amp, and dime it, they'll be good to go for awhile. I don't know what timeframe "awhile" is. I've safely done it for 2 hours straight, without issues. I have not done that for extended periods, so you want to take that into consideration with all the OD pedals, clean boosts, and so forth that push speakers to raise your level for solos. Use your good old common sense here. Sure, your old small block sounded great and was running awesome at 8000 rpm for "awhile", then the crank, piston, or connecting rod broke, and you weren't mobile anymore. Use the same common sense judgment with choosing your speaker wattage.

[muchxs]

I just picked up a stock ’68 Bassman 50w head that I’ll use for guitar.

My goal is to use this rig for crisp cleans… mostly bedroom volume.

It certainly will be clean at bedroom volumes. If you're not cranking it just about anything will work for speakers. Two 25 watters? No problem!

For reference look at tweed Twins. They used two alnico Jensens that will withstand 17 watts each on a good day. One would think tweed Twins would have a reputation for eating speakers. Marshalls have a reputation for eating speakers. It's no wonder, most of the '60s amps used 25 watt speakers right at the time everyone starting playing loud. A stock Bluesbreaker has two 25 watt speakers. So there's a precedent for using 25 watt speakers with a 50 watt amp.

Eminence Legend 125s are my favorite low buck 12" speaker for general replacement use. Eminence Legend 10516s are my favorite speaker, period. It saves me the headache of trying to choose between dozens of speakers in the Redcoat or the Patriot series. O.k., if I had to choose I'd grab a Ragin" Cajun because it's a Legend with a smooth cone or a Lil buddy because it's a Legend with a hemp cone. Those are both 10" speakers.

I like Weber Silver Bells. I put a Silver Bell against my favorite 2x10" cabinet with 2x10" Legends. The Silver Bell is a tiny bit louder and it has a top end that's just a little bit more detailed than the Legends. The cool thing either way is that the Silver Bell or the 10516 are a good compromise between an interesting clean tone and a useful dirty tone so they're versatile. If you want to sacrifice a tiny bit of sparkle for power handling go with Legends, at 75 watts each you'll never blow them.

I expect you'll get a better clean tone at bedroom levels with an open back cabinet.