Greenback, 55Hz,16-ohm speakers

[1-2-3-5]

I just ordered two of these for a 2x12 I'm putting together. They were way more expensive than the standard (made in China?) Greenbacks. I happened to have found a dirty-ass old abandoned slant cab in an outdoor stairwell. It has an open back on the top half. It's made of somewhat cheap materials. Anyway, I'm looking for some commentary on whether you think I wasted the $100 extra per speaker. They haven't arrived from Amazon yet, and figured I should get some thoughts before I start soldering. Also, I bought some circular mesh grills to cover the speakers. They are designed for use in a car. Bad idea? I'm having difficulty finding anything but hardware for this project. Stuff like wheels, corners, jack plates, handles, etc. For what it's worth, the purpose this cab will serve is to give me something to drag back and forth to band practice.

 

[PDC]

I had a pair of the UK 30 watt GBs in a ported 2x12: one 55hz and one 75hz. They really paired well together and sounded killer. Really vintage-y, open-vocal midrange. I recently swapped a 65 watt Creamback M and a Mesa V-30 in that cab and it definitely sounds tighter, thumpier, more ‘modern.’ I may go back to the greenies. They have a cool and very distinct vibe for sure.

 

[japetus]

I don't believe that you wasted your money on nice speakers, but I do think underestimating how much the quality of a cab contributes to the equation should be brought into consideration.

 

[LPMojoGL]

I don't believe that you wasted your money on nice speakers, but I do think underestimating how much the quality of a cab contributes to the equation should be brought into consideration.

Yeah. Great speakers. Don't fault them if is sounds bad.
I'm finding, even under a close mic, the same speaker will sound different in different cabs.

 

[Rick Lee]

I had them in my 1960AHW cab and they sounded totally awesome. However, be warned. They will blow if overloaded. I thought 120w was enough for a 100w Plexi head running at full tilt. Yeah, it took a lot of hours, but the head eventually overpowered them. I would love to have them again, but I don't want to run two 4x12s with a 100w head.

 

[DarkburstTGP]

I had them in my 1960AHW cab and they sounded totally awesome. However, be warned. They will blow if overloaded. I thought 120w was enough for a 100w Plexi head running at full tilt. Yeah, it took a lot of hours, but the head eventually overpowered them. I would love to have them again, but I don't want to run two 4x12s with a 100w head.

Look into the Scumback H55 PVC. You can get 65w models.

 

[ZEN Amps]

I don't believe that you wasted your money on nice speakers, but I do think underestimating how much the quality of a cab contributes to the equation should be brought into consideration.

This. The cab is a large contributor to overall tone indeed.

On those H55 speakers, I'm not a fan of them for dirty tones. Even after break-in they're bright and edgy sounding and IMO only work well with darker amps. They are nice for cleaner sounds though - they add a nice crispness and have solid lows. Here's a Hendrixy clip:

 

[1-2-3-5]

I had a pair of the UK 30 watt GBs in a ported 2x12: one 55hz and one 75hz. They really paired well together and sounded killer. Really vintage-y, open-vocal midrange. I recently swapped a 65 watt Creamback M and a Mesa V-30 in that cab and it definitely sounds tighter, thumpier, more ‘modern.’ I may go back to the greenies. They have a cool and very distinct vibe for sure.

I considered pairing it, but without much imagination. I like both of these ideas. I just looked up those Mesa Vintage 30's and they're only $145. So, enticing. One more piece of the puzzle is that I'm using a Mark V 35 combo, and it has a Black Shadow in it. The result would be a mix of three speakers.

 

[1-2-3-5]

I don't believe that you wasted your money on nice speakers, but I do think underestimating how much the quality of a cab contributes to the equation should be brought into consideration.

Okay, thanks. I definitely failed to factor that in. Truth be told, though, I can't accurately estimate the quality of the cab. Here are some pictures:

 

[DanTravis62]

Look into the Scumback H55 PVC. You can get 65w models.

This. That is an absolutely amazing speaker.

 

[Scumback Speakers]

Okay, thanks. I definitely failed to factor that in. Truth be told, though, I can't accurately estimate the quality of the cab. Here are some pictures:

Looks like 5 ply plywood in the pics. Not a decent quality grade of plywood, and it's probably mahogany, not baltic birch. Make sure you check to see if the T-nuts that hold the speaker screws are solid, and the machine screws turn freely. Past that, it's a case of how the speakers sound with it. Good luck.

 

[1-2-3-5]

This. The cab is a large contributor to overall tone indeed.

On those H55 speakers, I'm not a fan of them for dirty tones. Even after break-in they're bright and edgy sounding and IMO only work well with darker amps. They are nice for cleaner sounds though - they add a nice crispness and have solid lows. Here's a Hendrixy clip:

Good information, but discouraging, because I play gritty hardcore punk and metal. I assumed the 55Hz resonance would help give a nice foundation to the very high-end nature of my distorted tone. I watched all of the video (not just the Hendrixy part), and it was helpful. As far as tone is concerned, I'm trying to achieve something like early Exodus and Metallica, Accept (Restless and Wild era), S.O.D., and that sort of stuff. Any suggestions on a good speaker for that?

 

[1-2-3-5]

Looks like 5 ply plywood in the pics. Not a decent quality grade of plywood, and it's probably mahogany, not baltic birch. Make sure you check to see if the T-nuts that hold the speaker screws are solid, and the machine screws turn freely. Past that, it's a case of how the speakers sound with it. Good luck.

Yeah, it is. I went and looked after reading your reply. Good observation.

 

[1-2-3-5]

Look into the Scumback H55 PVC. You can get 65w models.

Okay, I will. I have a 60 Watt Vintage 30 on the way. Could I pair this 65 Watt speaker with it. It's the TOTAL wattage that matters, right?

 

[ZEN Amps]

Good information, but discouraging, because I play gritty hardcore punk and metal. I assumed the 55Hz resonance would help give a nice foundation to the very high-end nature of my distorted tone. I watched all of the video (not just the Hendrixy part), and it was helpful. As far as tone is concerned, I'm trying to achieve something like early Exodus and Metallica, Accept (Restless and Wild era), S.O.D., and that sort of stuff. Any suggestions on a good speaker for that?

Just one opinion, many others would disagree so as always trying for yourself is the only way to really know.

For those heavy tones I reckon 80's era G12T-75's are the way to go. I mean V30's are good also, but those early T's are the sound of 80's metal.

 

[1-2-3-5]

Looks like 5 ply plywood in the pics. Not a decent quality grade of plywood, and it's probably mahogany, not baltic birch. Make sure you check to see if the T-nuts that hold the speaker screws are solid, and the machine screws turn freely. Past that, it's a case of how the speakers sound with it. Good luck.

Bummer. I kind of figured, so not too disappointing. I'll make sure the fasteners are solid. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Scumback Speakers]

Okay, I will. I have a 60 Watt Vintage 30 on the way. Could I pair this 65 Watt speaker with it. It's the TOTAL wattage that matters, right?

You can pair the H55-PVC with the V30, you'll have a cab good for 120w. It's calculated by taking the power handling of the lowest wattage speaker in your cab and multiplying by the total # of speakers in your cab. Example: 4 65w speakers, 260w.