Help me pick 2 12" speakers!

[cobascis]

So, I sold my Marshall 4x12 and JCM900 MKIII 2100... and sadly spent the money on tires and food.

Anyway, I need a new cabinet. I've decided I'm getting a Dominion 2x12. However, I've been out of the speaker game for a long time. I'll be running a 70s 50W Fender Bassman through it at 4ohms -- so I need two 8 ohm speakers.

I like to play pretty loud, and use a Fender Jazzmaster, which is a bright guitar. I've been toying with the idea of having one speaker be more mid-bass oriented (WGS Reaper 50w?), and one speaker for the bite.

Here is a track that will give you an idea of the tonez I like: https://garrettlinck.bandcamp.com/track/traffic-cones

Any pointers?

Also, it'll mostly be used with the Bassman, but trying to get it roughly match the modded champ clone that I built (mercury magnetics transformers, 3 band EQ, TWEED push pull boost knob, half power switch)

[frigid midget]

Judging on that link, we've got a similar taste in music, and I'm also a jazzmaster guy...So I'll chime in

It's still totally a matter of personal taste and all that, but fwiw...I'm looking to upgrade my Marshall 1960 cab with either a pair of WGS Veteran 30's or a pair of ET65's, and a pair of Celestion G12H30's.

I mainly going on reviews and clips, so I'm also curious about what others will have to say on this...

But the WGS Reapers don't seem to sound like G12H30's at all. And it looks like the Veteran 30 seems to be an improved versions on the Celestion Vintage 30, actually making it more like a G12H30 clone.

If you're on a tight budget and you use lotsa fuzz/distortion, a good ol' vintage 30 and/or even a G75H-75 will also still get the job done imo. Works for the majority of estabmished succesful musicians out there, so why should we be more picky...Right?

[braaandooon]

Well first off, stay away from any of the new fane's. I have two blown up fane medusa 100's. Absolutely no customer support as there are no more american distributors due to lousy communication from the new fane ltd. Weber can't even re-cone the fucking things to spec either due to non exsistent communication. Tonic amps was the last american distributor of the new fane's and also quit carrying them for prior mentioned reasons.

Weber makes awesome speakers but I'm biased as they offer me and some of my friend's local/artists discounts as they are only a 30 minute drive for me. I'm a big fan of their amsterdam's and g12-65 clones.

My favorite speakers are the celestion g12-85's, they were eventually relabled g12k-100 which is what you find in alot of the orange cabs. Whats cool about the 85's is you can find them in older peavey and randall cabs, and some of these cabs show up on craigslist from time to time for dirt cheap. Problem being you need two 8ohm speakers, and these are usually found in 4x12's and rated at 16 ohm.

Outside of that peavey scorpions aren't to bad and and ev's are great if you can afford em I'm real fond of the SRO's

Speakers I really want to try or hear more about are the altec lansing 417's. These were expensive upgrades for jensen's and jbl's long ago.

[cobascis]

Thanks guys. Another question: should the speakers be roughly the same wattage / efficiency (I would guess so). My idea is that it would be better to mix and match 2 same wattage/dif tonal characteristic speakers, but maybe it's better to just go two of the same?

Maybe a WGS Veteran 30 and a WGS ET65? 60 vs 65 watts... I like what I see of WGS pricing as well. Leaning towards two of theirs. g12k-100s look good as well

Actually, WGS Veteran 30 and WGS Reaper HP, 60w and 50w... prices are damn good on these

OR WGS Veteran 30 and WGS Retro 30 for the sparkly sparklies!
So many options

[braaandooon]

Efficiency seems to be the key. The three months that my fane's worked I ran them with weber michigans. The 99db 100w michigan's couldn't hold there own with 103db 100w medusa's.

Really sucks these new fane's seem to have a history of breakdown from what I've learned trying to get them fixed.

As far as wattage that mainly has to due with speaker breakup. I prefer speakers that stay tight,clean, and gobs of bottom. I seem to prefer anything from lead 80's to 400w ev's.

[waltdogg]

Just be aware how speaker wattage works. Multiply the wattage of the lowest powered speaker by the number of speakers in your cab as a rule of thumb. And as brandon pointed out mixed efficiency shows. I think I mixed G12H-100 with G12T-75s at 99dB vs. 97dB it was fairly unbalanced sounding. A V30 and G12H30 type mix works because they're both 100dB speakers. Though they have different cones which could cause phasing issues. Maybe I'm splitting hairs.

[cobascis]

The Retro vs Veteran: 98.61 vs. 98.84 dB. Similar enough right?

[waltdogg]

Oh man that .23 is gonna ruin everything! I'm sure you'll be fine. I mix Greenbacks and G12T-75s in my 4x12 which is 98 vs. 97 dB sensitivity. Close enough for me I have no issues with that cab. But more than a couple dB difference can cause issues IME. That custom Champ head is fucking sweet by the way, I'd love to record with something like that.

[cobascis]

Oh man that .23 is gonna ruin everything! I'm sure you'll be fine. I mix Greenbacks and G12T-75s in my 4x12 which is 98 vs. 97 dB sensitivity. Close enough for me I have no issues with that cab. But more than a couple dB difference can cause issues IME. That custom Champ head is fucking sweet by the way, I'd love to record with something like that.

Thanks! It's really ace for recording. I left it in my friends studio for a year while I was at school and apparently it saved the day many times--it isn't quite is bright as a standard champ and is a but fuller sounding with more control. Good stuff.

[antennafarm]

A pair of Eminence Private Jacks (WHICH I HAPPEN TO HAVE FOR SALE)? 50W Greenbackish... I think they'd probably fit the bill.

[cobascis]

But 2 16ohms dont make 4ohms!

[SteveAlysis]

Eminence governor /swamp thang combo

[The Mad Titan]

2 G12H(55) or a G12H(55) + G12H(75). Sure it'll cost you a little more, but in the end you'll be happy you did. Just looking in there when you wake up and seeing two Greenbacks and a Bassman will make you happy as fuck.

[eaglelyon]

I have a dominion 2x12 on order that's going to have a swamp thang and a texas heat in it. I haven't gotten it yet so I can tell you how it sounds, but Trace was really helpful with any questions I had about speakers and getting the right impedance so he might be able to help you out if you let him know what you're looking for.

[Barracuda]

I am running an eminence swamp thang with a wizard in an avatar 212. Works out just like you describe with monstrous bottom end and low mids from the swamp thang and crispy high end from the wizard. I've been considering the governor paired with swamp thang as well.