Everybody say Woo-Hoo: Liberator and Invader demos! Your comments requested.
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Notice: unserialize(): Error at offset 0 of 22 bytes in variable_initialize() (line 1202 of /home/wgsusa/public_html/includes/bootstrap.inc).Everybody say Woo-Hoo: Liberator and Invader demos! Your comments requested.
Hey everybody ... all together now, get ready to say "Woo-Hoo". I’m bringing you whatcha been asking for:
video comparison demos of the new Liberator and Invader models! But wait, there’s more; I enlisted my buddy Brad Sample of Run With Bullsto play the licks ... no more listening to my same old stuff. Woo-Hoo,
right? lets begin!
First this quick disclaimer, these videos are meant to be comparison demos of guitar speakers. Brad ain’t tryen to impress anyone here by giving a carbon-copy performance of some 80’s hair band solo. Nuff said? Okay, the next little woo-hoo moment comes now. I’m going to (for the most part) keep my mouth shut and my opinions to myself, at least until I’ve given you, my dear readers, a chance to post your opinions as comments to this blog! Brad voices a few of his opinions during the vids, but me, I’m going to keep my enormous yap shut for now.
Sooo, the first comparison we did was between the new Liberator, and the ET65, which it is loosely based on. With higher power handling and more top end, the Liberator is designed to be used in applications where the ET65 would not be appropriate. Here’s the video behind door #1:
Then we compared the new Liberator to our other new model, the Invader, which is a Green Back flavored speaker. Whoop, here it is:
Then we put the Invader up against the Green Beret, which it is sort of based on. Once again, with a higher power handling and not so narrowly focused mid-spike, it’s intended for applications where the Green Beret might not be appropriate. Lookie, lookie:
Last, but certainly not least, we compared the Invader to our ever popular Reaper; I thought: hey, why not, they’re both ort based on the Green Back sound. Sound like a good idea? Well then, here we go!
Okay, so, like I said, I’m not giving any of my personal impressions just yet. I wanta hear what all of you out there have to say first. Comment away ladies and gentlemen! Next week I’ll be doing some 2-12 demos using the new Liberator and Invader; awesome stuff! See ya then!
- VAUGHN SKOW's blog
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I think they all sounded great but I think of the two new models I prefer the Invader. I use a pair of et65's in a bogner cab and I think the et65 paired with an invader might be a really nice combo!
Yea, the ET65 paired with the Invader would be very cool - the ET providing the solid warm bottom and smoothness, and the Invader giving up the Britt snarl. Cool idea. I'll have to try that ...
Ordered an invader today. I'll throw it in my cab with the et65 this weekend and see how she sounds.
Maybe post a youtube vid...
I will be posting a demo Video soon. I will keep you informed. Thanks again!
P.S. I'm the only classically trained rugby player on the planet!
I just purchased a pair of Et 65s. I got a chance to demo a pair at a local WGS dealer (Mark at Atomic Studios) and they sounded goose bump amazing With my Laney VC 50. I also demoed them with my Mesa Tremoverb and were cool but didn't have the same mojo for me as with the laney. Could you guys do demos with multiple amps and closed and open back cabs? Pairing the right speaker with the right amp is the only way to tone nirvana. I commend WGS for creating variations in speaker flavors! On another note, COULD YOU PLEASE DO SOME COMPARISONS AND DEMOS OF YOUR G12A SPEAKER???
Yours in tone, Michael
Search the blog - I've put the G12 against several other speakers on several occasions.
Thanks for these comparisons, really great choices of which spkr to compare to which. I'm very impressed with the Invader, it was my favorite on these tests, for the type of music I play. It seems like the Invader tone is broader, not so focused as the Greet Beret, in a good way, but it still has the bite where you want it. I also like the changes I heard between the ET and Liberator, for similar reasons; it seems like the tonal range was expanded in both cases.
I'm tempted to snag a couple of the Invaders, but there are two additional comparisons I'd love to hear before I can figure out for sure -- the Vet 30 vs the Invader, and the Retro 30 vs the Invader.
Kudos to Brad for a great job showcasing these speakers... one nitpick though: instead of doing both bridge and neck on a speaker, before switching speakers to do the bridge/neck again, it would be easier to hear differences if the sequence was bridge/switch speakers/bridge/, then neck/switch speakers/neck, that way you're hearing the similar licks next to each other.
Thanks for all the work you guys do to bring these videos to us!
I should have had him compare bridge to bridge, neck to neck - the way for you to do this is by picking the exact spots to go back and forth between on the player ...
I really like that 50w Invader. I agree on the clips, he should have done more direct comparisons and switching back and forth like Vaughn does. Still, I may pick up a 50w Invader to compare to my Reaper HP and Blackhawk 50.
Invader Versus Reaper - The Invader was richer and fuller sounding in the clean samples. Well balanced low to high. Nothing sticking out. Invader was also richer and more musical sounding with high gain to my ears. The Reaper has a British flavor (IMO) aI believe that is a design intention. I hear a bit more british like chime and it is more 'bitey/edgy' sounding in the upper mids/lower treble that I found less pleasing. The Invader was more well balanced top to bottom for both clean and dirty. Score 1 for Invader.
Invader versus Green Beret - Invader again sounds well balanced as described above. Invader offers more clarity in upper mids and treble than the green beret. The Green beret has much stronger midrange and is darker sounding to me. Invader gets way fat on high gain/fuzz. Too much for my taste. Still, score 1 for Invader.
Invader versus Liberator. the Invader has a bit more bark and spank than the Liberator. Invader seems to have more clarity and presence in the midrange. Sweet sounding. really liking the Invader. The Invader sounds more balanced top to bottom. The Invador is sounding like a more all-around great speaker where the others have special niches where they excel. Score 1 for Invader
Liberator versus ET65 - Closest contest for me so far. ET65 sounds a bit warmer where Liberator is more clear in mids and highs. ET65 is fatter sounding, but well balanced. Liberator has low and highs boosted a bit making it a little more scooped and less full sounding. I think I prefer the ET65 over Liberator.
All in all, I think the Invader beats em all for my preferences and style of playing. Not to say the other speakers aren't great and don't have their place. I am a 1x12 kind of player, so I always opt for a speaker that does clean and dirty equally well. Invader is sounding great! ...Then again so does the ET65. But my preference is Invader.
I'm just not smart enough or equipped with a good enough memory to remember what each speaker sounded like on the previous pickup selection! No matter though because I've got my heart set on a retro 30 and will be pulling the trigger on one as soon as I find a job in this fantastic economy)! I better go see if you are still doing the speaker giveaways!
I too would like to hear a comparison between the Invader and the Retro 30... and maybe throw the Green Beret in there too since I couldn't do the back-to-back comparison thing on this one?
Thanks! I am so happy that you guys are making these speakers. I haven't been able to buy one yet, but have listened to every clip you guys have made and SO look forward to ditching this cursed Vintage 30 with the mid spike that is probably responsible for the ringing in my ears when I'm trying to fall asleep!
Hey, would you guys send me a retro 30 to do a youtube clip for the contest with and then pick my clip as the winner, causing me to I win the prize of a new retro 30 (which would be the one you already sent me)? No? Oh well, it doesn't hurt to ask! :P
Hey - 1. I just go back and forth between set points in these clips to compare bridge to bridge, etc. 2. I plan to give away a speaker on this blog next month - good luck! and, 3. Yea, the Retro 30 has became sorta tied for 1st place in the WGS lineup for me personally ... with the ET65 ... depends on the character of the amp and the music style.
Threw my Invader 50 in my bogner cab alongside my ET65 last night. I first covered up the invader and listened to the et65 and then vice versa. The ET65 has more highs and lows compared to the invader but the invader was very nicely balanced and pretty smooth to my ears. With medium and high gain, the ET65 has a big low end, smooth mids, and ripping highs. The Invader seemed to compress just a tad and was nice and creamy with nice lows, sweet mids, and a sweet high end. Together in the same cab they seemed to blend pretty nicely. I have two gigs this weekend and will keep them both in the same cab. I ordered a 2nd Invader 50 as I'm not a huge fan of mixing speakers as I find that it's just easier to EQ the amp with one type of speaker. Plus, the sound man only mic's one speaker anyway. I'll wind up with two Invaders in my Bogner OS 2x12 cab, and two ET65's in a diagonal 2x12 cab. Sort of my Vintage Marshallish tones in those cabs. I have to say that both speakers beat the hell out of the ear fatiquing V30's that come standard in the Bogner cabs! Really nice speakers!
let us know how the combo sounds on the gigs...
Sometimes he mentions the wrong speaker in the demo. Also, your youtube descriptions need to be double checked for accuracy (i.e. you mention the Reaper in the Invader/Green Beret shootout). Sounds good though.
I'm not perfect; but I can understand how you would make that assumption ;-)
I mean it's said to have a fatter midrange and is described numerically as having more mids and less highs compared to the ET65 it's based on. But then it's mentioned to be even brighter than the 65 and said to have more of a scooped response to it. Granted that the Lib is more forward than the rather laid back (even darkish) 65.
I bring this up as I'm looking into something smooth and extended like the 65 for lead and wouldn't want to miss out on the Lib should this be more in line with what I want. Or if I would go with the Lib for rhythm, for instance.
Thank you for taking your time and making these lovely speakers!
Yea ... I get ya!
Sometimes specs don't really accurately predict how a speaker will actually sound in real-world conditions. I probably need to spend even more time with the Liberator ... but I have spend a bunch of time with it since I penned this blog a couple years back. Here's what I've found:
The Lib likes closed-back cabs.
The Lib sounds GREAT on high-gain stuff ... but still cleans up fairly well.
Yes, it is more "forward" than the ET65 (ie: not as organic)
All in all, I would call this a great speaker for ANY tipe of mid to high gain material ... especially modern rock/metal in a closed cab!