First Session with Rocket - Speaker and Cab Discussion

[strato17]

On Tuesday, I got to use my recently-built rocket for a session. This thing delivers. SO much balls(when you want it), and it also delivered shimmery cleans when needed. I got endless complements from the engineer and producer(who both want one now.)

However, I have tried four cabs with this amp, and have had mixed results.

Fulton-Webb 1x12 3/4 Open Back with Celestion Alnico Gold:
I really expected the amp to shine with this cab, but I was pretty dissapointed. The midrange was just overbearing, and I like this cab with other amps.

Weber 2x12 Closed back with Scumback M75 65 Watts:
While this cab sounds great with my Express clone, it sounds HORRENDOUS with the Rocket. The top end was not smooth at all, and the low end seemed very loose.

Mesa Boogie 1x12 3/4 Open back with Celestion Vintage 30:
I never EVER thought I would like a V30, and maybe this one was very broken in, but it sounded really good. The midrange was nice, and not near as pronounced as with the Alnico gold. The low end was tight, and not over bearing. Overall, a nice sound with the Rocket

Marshall 8412 4x12 with Celestion G12T-75:
The rocket with this cab was absolute magic. This was, for me personally, the best tone I feel I have gotten in a VERY long time. The low end was super punchy, mids were slightly scooped, and the top end was "every thing I wanted it to be, and nothing that I didn't."


Of course, YMMV. I mostly play either my 1959 VOS Les Paul or my 1969 ES-335. It could be a completely different ball game with single coils.

[IMG:800:600]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/ ... andvox.jpg[/img]

[rawnster]

Weber 2x12 Closed back with Scumback M75 65 Watts:
While this cab sounds great with my Express clone, it sounds HORRENDOUS with the Rocket. The top end was not smooth at all, and the low end seemed very loose.

That's interesting, for I can't really find a bad tone in my closed-back with those same speakers. Tight low-end with loads of sparkle. I've slammed my rocket/scumback combo with LP's, Gretsches, and of course my fav....telecasters (Suhr and Fender custom shop). I made some clips a while back with my rocket and scumback cab. I can dig those up for you if you like.

I'd really be interested in hearing your cab if you have any clips.

Also, give those Fanes a try, especially the AXA. Darin will hook you up.

[M Fowler]

For my Rocket amps I use 212 open back cabs only.

I prefer the vin 30 pair. I have another 212 cab with G12H/25w green back that works well but I prefer the vin 30s cab.

The Dr Z 212 blues open back cab really shines through with the Rocket, but I keep that cab paired with my Stangray amp.

Mark

[passfan]

I like mine through a 2-12 open back Marshall style combo. It had an EV Force 12 and a G12-65 but I swapped out the Foece 12 for a G12-75 and it really came out well. Really nice bluesy type tone.

[Structo]

Yeah, right now I am playing my 6V6 Rocket through my open backed 2x12 with EVM 12L's in it.
I also have a Marshall 412 with some kind of Celestions and a sealed 1x12 with a V30 in it.

Haven't tried the 412. It's like a 1960A but the one that came with the Valvestate amps. So the speakers aren't as nice but it barked pretty good last time I used it. Trouble is, it's buried in a corner under a bunch of stuff.
Might have to dig it out.

Yesterday I built a GGG Tremolo pedal kit.
Pretty cool, I hadn't had a tremolo in a long long time.
The only thing I could think of playing was CCR Born on the Bayou!

[passfan]

Yeah, right now I am playing my 6V6 Rocket through my open backed 2x12 with EVM 12L's in it.
I also have a Marshall 412 with some kind of Celestions and a sealed 1x12 with a V30 in it.

Haven't tried the 412. It's like a 1960A but the one that came with the Valvestate amps. So the speakers aren't as nice but it barked pretty good last time I used it. Trouble is, it's buried in a corner under a bunch of stuff.
Might have to dig it out.

Yesterday I built a GGG Tremolo pedal kit.
Pretty cool, I hadn't had a tremolo in a long long time.
The only thing I could think of playing was CCR Born on the Bayou!

Jus don let dem do whut dey dun ta me.

[M Fowler]

CCR Born on the Bayou!

And the Midnight Special, lots of dripping tremolo on that.

[Cliff Schecht]

Yeah, right now I am playing my 6V6 Rocket through my open backed 2x12 with EVM 12L's in it.
I also have a Marshall 412 with some kind of Celestions and a sealed 1x12 with a V30 in it.

Haven't tried the 412. It's like a 1960A but the one that came with the Valvestate amps. So the speakers aren't as nice but it barked pretty good last time I used it. Trouble is, it's buried in a corner under a bunch of stuff.
Might have to dig it out.

Yesterday I built a GGG Tremolo pedal kit.
Pretty cool, I hadn't had a tremolo in a long long time.
The only thing I could think of playing was CCR Born on the Bayou!

I like the Kay tremolo better, it's much more tube like IMO and sits in front of amps well. Something that makes me giggle though is the fact that using just about any tremolo in front of an Express is an exercise in futility. The only way I can get a trem to sound proper with an Express is to use a compressor earlier in the chain to cut down the volume and dynamic range.

Speaking of compressors, I recommend you build an Orange Squeezer to put in front of an Express. The cleans really do sound fantastic with this setup, very punchy and shimmery. Once I get a pedalboard built, I will definitely be throwing the compressor in the mix.

[rooster]

Hm, yeah, that's weird about those Scumbacks. I've heard rawnster's and its all there, not like what you described. As to that 4/12 working, sure, I can get that.

But tell me something? What are the numbers you put your controls to on your Rocket? Treble @ ?, Bass @ ?, Cut @ ?

[strat_addict]

On Tuesday, I got to use my recently-built rocket for a session. This thing delivers. SO much balls(when you want it), and it also delivered shimmery cleans when needed. I got endless complements from the engineer and producer(who both want one now.)

However, I have tried four cabs with this amp, and have had mixed results.

Fulton-Webb 1x12 3/4 Open Back with Celestion Alnico Gold:
I really expected the amp to shine with this cab, but I was pretty dissapointed. The midrange was just overbearing, and I like this cab with other amps.

Weber 2x12 Closed back with Scumback M75 65 Watts:
While this cab sounds great with my Express clone, it sounds HORRENDOUS with the Rocket. The top end was not smooth at all, and the low end seemed very loose.

Mesa Boogie 1x12 3/4 Open back with Celestion Vintage 30:
I never EVER thought I would like a V30, and maybe this one was very broken in, but it sounded really good. The midrange was nice, and not near as pronounced as with the Alnico gold. The low end was tight, and not over bearing. Overall, a nice sound with the Rocket

Marshall 8412 4x12 with Celestion G12T-75:
The rocket with this cab was absolute magic. This was, for me personally, the best tone I feel I have gotten in a VERY long time. The low end was super punchy, mids were slightly scooped, and the top end was "every thing I wanted it to be, and nothing that I didn't."


Of course, YMMV. I mostly play either my 1959 VOS Les Paul or my 1969 ES-335. It could be a completely different ball game with single coils.

I wonder how much of it was in the fact that the best tone came out of a 4x12, not thinking too much about the actual speakers but the amount of them.

[Structo]

Hmmm, from the description of the Kay Tremolo, it doesn't sound like something I would like.
It says it is un-tube like and choppy sounding.

I prefer the blackface type trem and the EAT Trem pretty much delivers that sound.

[Cliff Schecht]

Oops yeah, it's the EA trem that is tube like (and the one that I use), not the Kay. I was getting confused because I ran a bunch of simulation on the Kay a little while back.

[jaysg]

Crack out the Tommy James songbook.

[rooster]

Strato17 - If the session was a blur, cool, but if not, what were your settings?

[strato17]

If I remember correctly, the amp volume was Noon, treble was noon-1, bass was 9-10, and presence was 1. This I slightly brighter than I would run live, but that always seems to be the case when I get in the studio.

I'm not sure why my scumbacks aren't the ticket with my rocket. Maybe is because they are 65 watts and haven't broken in since I never use higher than 35 watt amps with them?