First off, really excited about WGS speakers. Always been a die hard Celestion fan but I've been hearing great things about this place. Can't wait to make my first order!!!
Who's got some ideas for the best speaker combination in a 4x12 to get that 80's rock/metal tone? I love the tone of mid 80's Ratt, Dokken, Judas Priest but I also like the thicker, heavier tone of John Sykes and Zakk Wylde. Guess my favorites are Zakk Wylde and Warren and Robbin in Ratt. I've always used Celestion G12T-75s or Vintage 30s. Never mixed speakers in a cab before but I'm really liking the idea after hearing some demo vids on youtube. I want a combo that sounds great with a high gain amp and has that chunky thumpin bass too. Seems like some of the speakers here are similar...some are "beefed up" versions of another so I wanna make sure I get the right combination. Any tips and advice would be much appreciated. Thanks guys! Looking forward to spending alot of time on this forum!
Welcome! We're excited to have ya :-). "What speakers to put in my 4x12" is probably the most posted (and answered) question on this forum. Do a search (using the "search WGS") button on the upper left of every page, and you should find your answer in spades. If not, post back!
Hey Vaughn. Thanks for the welcome. I appreciate it. Yep I've read through quite a few posts about speaker combinations in 2x12 and 4x12 cabs. Guess I was asking more about what speakers would give me the tone I'm looking for. I think the Vet 30 and the HM75 would give me that Vintage 30 and G12T-75 tone that I'm used to but I was curious if any other models would be a good and or different choice for an 80's rock style tone. I'm actually a solid state guy. Yeah, yeah I know. Send all your tube snob emails my way everyone;) It's a stereo Ampeg VH-140C head. 140 watts total....70 watts a side. Does everything from crystal clear clean, to AC/DC crunch to balls out mid scooped modern metal. I know the Vet 30/HM75 combination would be great for my style of tone but was curious to get some thoughts on other speakers in the WGS line that I haven't thought of. Maybe the Reaper or ET65 instead? I always do the Vintage 30 or 75's thing. Wanting to try something different this time around unless that combo is the best for what I'm going for. Thanks again man. You guys got a cool thing going on here and I'm excited to see what all the fuss is about:)
Hey Vaughn. Thanks for the welcome. I appreciate it! Yep I've searched the forum and have read some posts on 2x12 and 4x12 speaker combinations. I guess I was asking more about what speakers would be best for an 80's rock style tone? I've always used Celestion Vintage 30's or G12T-75's and both work great for that tone style but was wanting to try out your speakers and maybe try something different. I think the Vet 30 and HM75 would be obvious since I have always used the Celestion counterparts but reading descriptions and listening to audio samples, the Reaper and the ET65 have for sure caught my attention. Wanted your advice on how those would work for my tone style in a 4x12. Maybe use that combination or with a Vet 30 or HM75??? And also, I'm a solid state amp guy. Yeah, yeah I know. Send all your tube snob emails my way everyone;) It's an Ampeg VH-140c stereo head. 140 watts...70 watts a side. Tons of bass from this amp....very clean tones and very heavy and high gain overdrive tones with tons of range in the mids. AC/DC crunch to mid scooped modern metal. Sticking with the Vet 30/HM75 tones is fine with me but curious to know your thoughts on other models you might recommend for my tone style. Thanks man! Jared
Hmmm ... I'll have to check into that Ampeg SS head. Sounds very interesting. Sonically, you sorta described the old Randall RG80es I blogged about a while back. Check it out!
I just "approved" both of your replies ... even though they are similar, they are also just a tad different ...
You mention "from crystal clear clean, to AC/DC crunch to balls out mid scooped modern metal." ... those are the three distinctly different tones a speaker cabinet is asked to reproduce.
AC/DC Crunch is easy ... it's all nasal mid-range ... load a 1960 cab with Green Berets and ya got it.
Scooped Nu-Metal: again, easy ... go with HM75's
Crystal Clear Clean: this is tougher since the "crystal" needs to be tempered and balanced with juicy warmth to really sound great ... Here, I'd say a pair of ET65's below a pair of either Retro 30's or Reapers ... HP's in your case.
BUT >>> you want it all! Usually, in this situation I recommend the ET65/Retro30 combination ... and in your case I think that would be my suggestion. The ET will give you the organic, warm, juicy bass and the Ret 30 will build upon that with a very nice sparkle and authoritative thump. Give the combo a little break-in time and it becomes very touch sensitive as well.
Post back & let us know how it works out!
Hi
I'm new here and are trying get get teh best speaker combo in my 4x12, to nail the tone of Angus Young (Back in Black)
"AC/DC Crunch is easy ... it's all nasal mid-range ... load a 1960 cab with Green Berets and ya got it."
It depends , they have had some different sounds and playing G12M , G12H and also Vintage30 so I was thinkink maybe a combo of 2 Green Berets and 2 Reaper could do that
Any comments ?