Marshall 50W Speakers-Old Hands Advice Please

[butwhatif]

If the amp does not sound good w/altecs or evms, i would be lookin at the amp, not the speakers. No amount of cover-up speaker 'color' trumps an amp that's got a problem, or is set wrong----just sayin'

[Colossal]

If the amp does not sound good w/altecs or evms, i would be lookin at the amp, not the speakers. No amount of cover-up speaker 'color' trumps an amp that's got a problem, or is set wrong----just sayin'

That is a very good point. Although speaker selection and personal preference is subjective, flat response speakers like the EVs or Altecs should not really sound "bad" per se as they do a great job of just reproducing what's already there.

Joe Bonamassa (and Zakk Wylde) use EVs with Marshalls and other amps. Joe is a good example as he uses a Marshall Silver Jubilee, a Bogner, a Carol Ann, a Van Wielden, etc, all through two closed back 4x12 each split internally into two 2x12s, all with EVM12Ls. His tone sounds like the amps he is playing through...you can hear the character of each amp. He is getting fantastic tone (of course this is subjective as to what's fantastic and what isn't) through the EVs.

This is an older video, but it demonstrates the Silver Jubilee mixed with three other amps through EVs. Skip to 3:13 if you just want to hear the amps:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPeQLaFA ... re=related

[David Root]

None of the links seem to work. Where is it? I lived in Tucson from '04 to '09 and never heard of them.

The video was helpful, that Jubilee sounds great. My amp sounds great clean, so I don't think there is anything wrong with it. Maybe I need to spend more time knob twisting.

[Colossal]

Yeah, Joe's rig definitely sounds great...or I should say, Joe sounds great through it.

FWIW, I have a 2x12 with EVM12Ls that I use to test new amps so I can hear the amp without any additional flavoring. I like the reference because you can hear if there is anything out of place (as Butwhatif suggested) and make any adjustments before introducing another variable such as a lower wattage speaker that might break up earlier or add chime or darkness to the tone. I have found Marshall type amps to sound pretty much like Marshall amps through EVs

[Colossal]

whoops, double post

[David Root]

I use both my EV12L and Fane Studio 12L for amp testing, along with a pair of 15" JBL E130s in a bass cabinet. If anything I think the JBLs are the most neutral.

[Cliff Schecht]

You should be setting the EQ pretty low on that Marshall if you are turning it up a lot. I find that at lower volumes the EQ needs to be brought up and at higher volumes, you have to back off on the EQ to prevent things from muddying up. Mesa recommends this style of knob tweaking in the MkII manual IIRC..

[JamesHealey]

I like the old g12-20s also very nice sounding speaker.

I really like the old mckenzie forte speakers that came in the vertical 2x12 Marshall made in the 70s totally lost gem of the speaker world

[David Root]

Thanx Cliff, I'll start with that.

James, tell us about the Mackenzie Forte speakers. I never heard of them. These are the ones in the PA speakers, is that right?

[rdjones]

Couple more 'lost gems' :

Cinaudegraph (sp?) and Norelco.

I had a late '40s Cinaudegraph Alinco 12" out of a Jukebox that was absolutely wonderful with guitar.
Not much power handling, though, as I blew it up rather easily with the 2x6L6 amp from the Aireon jukebox.

Norelcos got a bad rap from some of the models having whizzer cones.
The ones that had more traditional guitar cones were somewhat Jensen-like if not a bit darker.

rd

[shane]

Hi Folks
I'm currently trying Tayden speakers made here in the UK. They seem to be Britains best kept secret! Quite a few custom builders are using them here too.
They do a good range of speakers equivalent to everything from Alnico blues to green backs, V30's and Fane stuff. all Hand made here and at prices similar to Celestions chinese stuff but of the quality or higher of the heritage range.

Their equivalent of the greenback is the TrueBrit 25 but they do a GreatBrit 50 which is basically a 50W greenback. plus they do a 10" version and a 15" too! check out the web site www.taydenspeakers.co.uk

I've just ordered an ACE 50 which is a 50W alnico supposedly voiced like a Celestion Blue but sounds like a ready broken in one.

I'll let you know how it sounds.
Cheers
Shane

[JamesHealey]

Tayden are horrific avoid like the plague! They sound nothing like old greenbacks like they claim to. All lower mid muddy and fuzzy absolute garbage!

[shane]

Bit harsh Noddy!

Seriously James I've not tried one yet, but read lots of good reviews.
Mind they have been mostly about the Alnico's.

Nice to get an alternative view though. Have you tried any others of their range?

Must have been pretty rough to get such a strong reaction!
Cheers
Shane

[JamesHealey]

Yeah I really didn't like them at all felt like I'd wasted quite a lot of money on them.

[David Root]

Well, I bit the bullet on four '77 G12M blackbacks with bass cones and a pair of Avatar Vintage 2x12s.

Awesome! Full set of Mullards in the amp, real old-school Marshall tone!

And yes, I did have to cut back on the EQ, and the presence too a bit, when cranking the preamp (9). Had to have the master on 2 to avoid blowing my wife and our two cats out of the house!