I Need Help Choosing Speakers!

[CharFace]

Yep, I'm back in the game!

Long story short I was basically forced to sell off most of my gear after my son was born in 2001 and needed 2 major operations shortly thereafter. After 5+ years of taking him to just about every therapist and specialist under the sun, he finally made it to kindergarten this last August! Thank you public school system for finally providing some help for him that doesn't require a second mortgage on my house

I've budgeted about $1000-$1250 to acquire a modest living room rig. The bulk of my playing is '80's rock/metal (Accept, early Ratt, KEA&RTL Met., Lynch/Dokken, FNM's The Real Thing, etc.) so I'm fairly positive I will be hunting down a used DSL for an amp.

The cab is most likely going to be an Avatar vintage 2x12, but what speakers??? In the mid-to-late '90's I gigged in a cover band that did '90's modern rock/nu-metal type stuff. I used a 5150 into a V30 loaded 1960a, and had no trouble getting the tones needed for That type of music, and I could dial in a convincing '80's metal sound, albeit without that really pissed off midrange honk that I love from the Marshalls.

So... I have been tossing around the idea of using greenbacks... But I have also thought about mixing a V30 and a GT75. I recently owned a Marshall 1936 (major POS in my book) and thought that maybe the GT75 could add a little bottom end to those V30's I used to use???

As always, I appreciate any suggestions you guys may have, as most of you own more gear than I will ever get to audition

 

[PeteLaramee]

Try the Hellatone30s or H30s. More lows than the V30s and Greenbacks and sound more even than the V30s. Obviously only 60 watts total for the cab. I run a modded DSL50 through a 4x12 with Hellatone30s and I love it.

 

[CharFace]

Try the Hellatone30s or H30s. More lows than the V30s and Greenbacks and sound more even than the V30s. Obviously only 60 watts total for the cab. I run a modded DSL50 through a 4x12 with Hellatone30s and I love it.

I've always heard great things about the H30's, I've just never heard or played one in person. I may just order it with 2 of the H30's, they seem popular enough that I'm sure they will make an easy trade/sale if I decide to go a different direction.

Thanks for the reply

 

[PeteLaramee]

Try the Hellatone30s or H30s. More lows than the V30s and Greenbacks and sound more even than the V30s. Obviously only 60 watts total for the cab. I run a modded DSL50 through a 4x12 with Hellatone30s and I love it.

I've always heard great things about the H30's, I've just never heard or played one in person. I may just order it with 2 of the H30's, they seem popular enough that I'm sure they will make an easy trade/sale if I decide to go a different direction.

Thanks for the reply

I don't know if you know about the hellatone30s, but they are H30s that Avatar breaks in for you in advance and they just change stickers/labels.

 

[tnourse]

Try the Hellatone30s or H30s. More lows than the V30s and Greenbacks and sound more even than the V30s. Obviously only 60 watts total for the cab. I run a modded DSL50 through a 4x12 with Hellatone30s and I love it.

+1 to the Hellatones! I have a 30/60 (H30/V30) mix in my G-Flex and I really like how it sounds! The Hellatone 60Ls sound really good as well.

 

[CharFace]

I suppose "most" 2x12's are 8ohm mono, but I have always had much better luck with 16ohm cabs when using a Marshall for some reason. Is there any reason for me not to get this 2x12 as a 16ohm mono???

Hellatones sound like the way I'm going to go, most likely the 30/60 mix (which would still be a 60W cab mathematically, right?)

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

Weber 12-65's? i'd like to hear some of these, kindda matches up with the era for some of the music you listed?


i've still got to try the H-30's, but i'm just not getting all warm and fuzzy for the Chinese Celestions that i have heard?

 

[troublehead]

Weber 12-65's? i'd like to hear some of these, kindda matches up with the era for some of the music you listed?


i've still got to try the H-30's, but i'm just not getting all warm and fuzzy for the Chinese Celestions that i have heard?

The Weber 65's are killer speakers; however, they wouldn't be the best for a low volume rig IMO. They sound really muffled until you push them pretty hard.

My vote goes to either the Hellatone 30's or Warehouse Classic Leads. They both sound great at lower volumes. The Classic Leads being the more aggressive of the two in regards to midrange. They are definately not neutral/stiff like the real Classic Lead 80's. I don't even know why they are named Classic Leads

 

[OneArmedScissor]

If you looking for V30's, Lead 80's or Greenbacks. Try Wherehouse speakers. I have tried all three, and they easily are much better than the Chinese Celestions

I agree. I have 4 Veteran 30s, 2 Green Berets, and I have 2 of the Blue clones on the way. I'd say that the Green Berets are like the Heritage versions of the Greenbacks for literally a small fraction of the price, and the Veteran 30s, though of course this is subjective, are just plain better. They retain the cutting midrange character while being much more even and not "cardboardish," even with very middy amps.

Just get some of those, and a Lopoline cab. They're 15% off until the 31st.

 

[Gainfreak]

I suppose "most" 2x12's are 8ohm mono, but I have always had much better luck with 16ohm cabs when using a Marshall for some reason. Is there any reason for me not to get this 2x12 as a 16ohm mono???

Hellatones sound like the way I'm going to go, most likely the 30/60 mix (which would still be a 60W cab mathematically, right?)

What you are experiancing with running a 16ohm cab with a Marshall is that you are using all the windings on the transformer. I think Marshalls tend to get glassy sounding as you bump down the ohms. There is no problem with you getting 2 8ohm speakers and wiring it for 16ohms. )it can either be 16ohms or 4 depending on how you wire it)

That said, for all of the bands that you mentioned, Greenbacks come to mind But I would not put them in a 2x12 cab. The speaker I would recommend that has a higher wattage rating and has a greenback flavor is the celestion 65 re-issues. Either that or the g12h-80 not the classic lead 80 but the h80 (two different speaker) the h80's are hard to find though.

 

[Gainzilla]

I suppose "most" 2x12's are 8ohm mono, but I have always had much better luck with 16ohm cabs when using a Marshall for some reason. Is there any reason for me not to get this 2x12 as a 16ohm mono???

Hellatones sound like the way I'm going to go, most likely the 30/60 mix (which would still be a 60W cab mathematically, right?)

What you are experiancing with running a 16ohm cab with a Marshall is that you are using all the windings on the transformer. I think Marshalls tend to get glassy sounding as you bump down the ohms. There is no problem with you getting 2 8ohm speakers and wiring it for 16ohms. )it can either be 16ohms or 4 depending on how you wire it)

That said, for all of the bands that you mentioned, Greenbacks come to mind But I would not put them in a 2x12 cab. The speaker I would recommend that has a higher wattage rating and has a greenback flavor is the celestion 65 re-issues. Either that or the g12h-80 not the classic lead 80 but the h80 (two different speaker) the h80's are hard to find though.

I was just going to say " Screw the Thread and just ask Ralph" nothing else to say after that...

 

[CharFace]

Thanks for all of the help guys, I really do appreciate it. I am going to hit the street tomorrow morning and attempt to demo some of these speakers (if possible), and hopefully have a cab on order somewhere before I get home