Recommendations for a 12" speaker for my MusicMan amp?

[jeffree]

Hi, all. I'd appreciate some advice. I've been using a MusicMan RD112 Fifty amp for many years and need to replace the worn-out stock speaker. You may know that Leo Fender started this company soon after he left Fender, and I've had great luck with the combination solid-state/tube design. This 50-watt amp is blistering loud, with a particularly useful clean channel for jazz, basic rock, country, or a modeling processor. With the stock speaker, though, the tone can be a little bitey at high volumes, so I'd like to address that issue with the new speaker. Although I need crunch at times, a clear and silky-smooth sound would be highest on my list.

A reputable guitarist has highly recommended the Eminence Legend V12 as a speaker whose tone rivals the respected EV, but without the EV's annoying weight. Does anyone have any thoughts on the V12... or on any replacement for a small 50-watt MusicMan/Fender type of amp, which I'll be using mostle for jazz-rock fusion?

Thanks for any tips,

J.

[soundchaser59]

Several Eminence speakers are very good, and also look at the Celestion Heritage and Classic series. I put an Eminence Legend in my Fender, and I'm using two Eminence Legends to build a 2x10 cab.

If you email Ted Weber he will tell you which one of his speakers is a great sub for that. Cost more, but Webers are the best! Just google for "Ted Weber Speakers"....I put his Silver Bell in my Vox amp, sounds great!

[espskully]

I have a MusicMan Hd 210 combo. It's old but I've never replaced the speakers. How useless am I?

[Anfontan]

I have the Music Man 65watt w/2 12s and I replaced the stocks with Celestion GM12 70's. All I can say is they made me happy~

[Richard Monroe]

Question- How many ohms is the stock speaker? I've got a 16ohm Celestion vintage 30 I pulled out of an old Marshall cab I'd probably give you for the price of shipping. If you need an 8 ohm speaker, that won't do diddly for you.-Richie

[DogFood]

Eminence Patriot series, I read a lot of good things about the Red White and Blue for a clear Fender-esqe feel or the Texas Heat for a little more break up. Both get positive feedback.

[Clive Hugh]

Originally Posted by DogFood

Eminence Patriot series, I read a lot of good things about the Red White and Blue for a clear Fender-esqe feel or the Texas Heat for a little more break up. Both get positive feedback.

I put them in a box and run a Fender Dual Showman thru it, fantastic, back to the original thread about the amp, I had one and also found the sound too glassy so I got some different 12ax whatevers ( I can't remember exactly, Mesa did the thinking for me) but it changed the sound and it was a really good amp, I traded it in on a Vox ac30 TB and the guy I had originally got it off bought it back from the shop for more than he sold it to me.

[canadianrocker]

I have a 1990 Fender Super 60 (very similar to the Twin sound) that came stock with a "fender special design" speaker that is really an eminence 125. for years it had that high end bite-y sound to it. I recently replace it with a Celestion Vin 30, and it makes the amp alot smoother - took that bite-y sound right out of it. Also cleaned up the low end muddiness a bit. Highly recommended. A g12t-75 has more high end to it, so you'd probably still get the bite-y sound using that speaker.

[Valley Arts Kid]

Celestion.

[Thatupstateguy]

Go to


www.avatarspeakers.com


to the 'Closeout' section,.... several good speakers at very good prices,... Eminence, and Celestion,.....



Other choices at .....

www.mojotone.com


Tell Andy I sent cha....

Steve

[jeff5xo]

Emminence................quality speakers..MADE IN AMERICA!

[jeffree]

Thanks a lot, guys, for the quick and helpful responses. I'm taking notes and beginning to search the recommendations you've made. (I may get back to you about your generous offer, Richard, but not until I've searched all of these options. Very kind of you, though.)

You know, for a forum that has a bit of a reputation for its occasional jabs, I've always found most folks at this place to be particularly helpful. In fact, most of my recent gear has received the general BBS stamp of approval, and I've yet to be disappointed.

So thanks, all~

J.

[Richard Monroe]

Yo Jeffree- one of your fellow homerec'ers has expressed some serious interest in said speaker, but I did offer it to you first- so check the impedence your amp is looking for and let me know soon. Just for the record, I pulled it out, and it's not a vintage 30. It's a 16 ohm Celestion Marshall Heritage G12. Absolutely no damage, known to be not blown. You have about 24 hrs. The clock is ticking- Cephus needs a 16 ohm speaker.-Richie

[punkin]

Avatar speakers...get one Vin30 and one G12H30 the mix sounds great.

[jeffree]

Richie, you're a gentleman and a scholar, and I thank you for your always-thoughtful approach at this forum. Nice of you to offer, but please let the speaker go to our interested colleague. To be frank, the money's not really an issue for me in this case. I'm more interested in learning about various speakers and how they'll affect my sound in the studio and on-stage. I need some patient research here, which I'm actually enjoying a lot. I never realized just how little I know about guitar-amp speakers.

Thanks again, though~

J.

[Richard Monroe]

Thank you for your quick reply, Jeffree. May your search for a godlike speaker end in success. And the winner is- Cephus! You are the proud owner of a 16 ohm Celestion Heritage G12! Check your PM's.-Richie

[soundchaser59]

Originally Posted by jeffree

I'm more interested in learning about various speakers and how they'll affect my sound in the studio and on-stage. I need some patient research here, which I'm actually enjoying a lot. I never realized just how little I know about guitar-amp speakers.

And please forgive me for putting this little bug in your ear, but......

no matter how much "research" you do (exactly the same thing I did!) you will know just as little about guitar speakers until you actually start buying them and playing them in your amps. All the research and descriptive terminology in the world will likely lead you to the right manufacturers (Weber and Eminence and Celestion, throw in EV for good measure!) but none of that will truly let you know what they sound like........and what they sound like is all that matters!

And you can extend that point by experimenting. I put a Weber Silver Bell in my Vox amp, I put a Eminence Legend in my old Champ, and built a cab for the Celestion 70/80 that came out of the Vox. I thought I knew how all these speakers sounded after I played each one for several hours.

But then I looked on the back of my little 20w/channel Traynor baby practice amp and found two speaker out jacks. I plugged that little thing into that Weber speaker and was absolutely stunned at how that thing came alive thru that speaker. Totally different sound than what I get when I run the Vox thru the Weber.....

So dont forget to include "serendipity" as an integral part of your "research".

Your work is cut out for you, Bud......

[jeffree]

Thanks a lot, Sound, for thoroughly depressing me. I guess it helps that I keep hearing that "almost anything" will sound better than the stock MM speaker.

By the way, you don't happen to be a Yes fan, do you? I've always liked that wild 70s song with your name.

J.

[soundchaser59]

Yup! Saw Yes in concert 3 times before I got outa high school......

Depressing? It aint depressing! It's fun! Start out by getting a Weber ceramic 50w Blue Dog. Worth every penny, and you cant go wrong getting a Weber driver. In fact, I kind a wish I woulda got the Blue Dog instead of the Silver Bell. The Blue Dog is probably a bit more "gritty" sounding for my style.

It will sound soooooo cooooooL you will start drooling at the thought of building a cab so you can try more speakers!

[TheRockDoc]

Anyone selling an old MusicMan, I sold a 2x12 65 years ago, and have wanted one back for ever... any other models or thoughts I'd be happy to entertain... just email me

[jeffree]

Originally Posted by soundchaser59

Yup! Saw Yes in concert 3 times before I got outa high school

Me, too. Soundchaser was one heckuvan opening number, eh? Howe's tele absolutely ripped. Cha cha cha, cha cha...

For me, deperession goes hand in hand with inspiration, so I've added the Weber to my growing research list.

Thanks,
J.

[Paul881]

One word....Celestion Made in Britain.

[soundchaser59]

Originally Posted by Paul881

One word....Celestion Made in Britain.

Made in Britain?? Someone tried to tell me those were China made! Hmmmmmpppffff!

Well, no wonder that 70/80 doesn't sound too bad in my "British" Vox amp! If Celestions are not made in China, well I think that's the best news I've heard all day!

[Paul881]

Originally Posted by soundchaser59

Made in Britain?? Someone tried to tell me those were China made! Hmmmmmpppffff!

Well, no wonder that 70/80 doesn't sound too bad in my "British" Vox amp! If Celestions are not made in China, well I think that's the best news I've heard all day!

Check out their website. This is a serious sound equipment company.
http://www.celestion.com/ Just look at their job openings for a clue as to their pedigree. Any company that says that Guitar players would be preferred for an engineering post is okay in my book.

And in anycase, even if they do manufacture in China, its to their specifications and QA process. Their Blue speaker is said to be the finest guitar speaker money can buy. And at these prices, you had better believe it

[metalj]

I second the choice of Eminence. Go with the "Rockdriver Cream" speaker. Very nice and works well with lower watt amps.