Clarity without pain, which speaker with Single coil pickups

[alanfc]

Clarity without pain, which speaker with Single coil pickups ! ?

Do you find any type of speaker to play nicer with single coil pickups?

Specifically, the Telecaster bridge ? I'm just thinking about unmic'ed venues. And the enjoyment of the folks in the front row.

(Just changed my life and started with all single coil. I'm not going back. )

thanks !

[RomanS]

It really depends on the amp, you can't generalize from the pickup type (and some single coils are brighter than others, too).
If you've got a problem with an overly bright amp in combination with the Tele bridge pickup (some amps with EL84 tubes tend to fall into that category...), try the Eminence Cannabis Rex speaker, it tends to smoothen the ice-picky top end of bright guitars and amps; on the other hand, with darker sounding amps it can sound a bit muffled.
Another speaker I like which tends to slightly soften extra-bright amps (but is more in-your-face than the Cannabis Rex) is the Eminence Legend 121.

Oh, and if you've got a problem with ice-picky tone, stay away from Celestion Vintage 30 speakers - those are extremely brash and aggressive (that's why all the metal guys love 'em).

[yegbert]

If you already have a speaker you consider good otherwise, try backing off on the tone control on the Tele and/or the amp. Cost effective, easy and adjustable.

[alanfc]

OK thanks,,, I've had this G12h30/V30 pair for years, with humbucker guitars. ANd I would love a reason to move out that V30 for something else!

I do have an Eminence Guv'nor on -hand. I may try that before buying something. Its never been in this particular cab before.
My Rivera is a bit low mid heavy, so could be a challenge with a speaker that is 'smooth' ..but it would be sharing the cab with the gh1230.

[eugenedunn]

Put some Weber Beam Blockers in there. That will cure any ice-pick condition.

I loved what they did to my Princeton Reverb after I tweaked it for maximum clean headroom. After I put in a really powerful speaker and did various tube tweaks, I found I could really increase both treble and bass without farting out at high volumes.... the bass could increase substantially and have a lot more punch. But to keep up and stay shimmery, I had to increase treble. Putting a Weber Beam Blocker in there immediately warmed up the tone, aided in dispersing the sound coverage.

I recently got my amp recapped and I decided to try it without the Beam Blockers just for kicks..... It made me realize how much effect those things have..... I put the Blocker back in immediately. With my amp at head level, it was sooooo much smoother sounding..... and that is a true acid test when your amp is in your face.

This Electrovoice Force-10 (10-inch) is such a solid performer. Although it's not made anymore, you can find these around in the 10, 12 and 15-inch versions.... They really can handle high volume and distortion smoothly.

[6942]

The Celestion G12H-30 is rated at 100 db SPL.....as is a Vintage 30.
Any speaker you put in below 98 db SPL.....will be lost in the shadow of the G12H-30.
I've used an Eminence Legend 122 (97 db) in the past.
VERY good speaker with a slightly rolled-off top end.

Steve

[alanfc]

OK thanks guys !
I made some beam blockers on my own with cut/shaped light fixture cups and masking tape backing (facing the speaker.. its the closest I could get to Weber's speaker cone material he lines his with)

...and found the sound to be a bit swirly and strange for my tastes. The beams were blocked indeed, and the sound spread nicely around the room. I almost kept them just for their sound diffusion properties alone. I'm in a one-guitar band.
But I only gave em 2 rehearsals. Not long enough.

[giogolf]

Sorry to thread jack, but what would be an bright speaker with American flavor. Maybe JBL or Weber CAli?

[eugenedunn]

Weber California series are inspired by JBL tones and the Weber Michigan series are inspired by Electrovoice tones.

You can find those discontinued EV's and JBL's out there, but if you want new models, those Webers can be tweaked slightly with voicecoil size, cone ribbing and even dustcap style to achieve your own tonal Nirvana.

[jmwjjmwj]

Originally Posted by RomanS

, try the Eminence Cannabis Rex speaker, it tends to smoothen the ice-picky top end of bright guitars and amps;

I play a stock Tele through a '76 Deluxe Reverb and dropped a C-Rex just for this reason. Now the highs are smooth as silk and bottom is much tighter than I ever thought possible with the Tele/DR combination.

[greggorypeccary]

Originally Posted by jmwjjmwj

I play a stock Tele through a '76 Deluxe Reverb and dropped a C-Rex just for this reason. Now the highs are smooth as silk and bottom is much tighter than I ever thought possible with the Tele/DR combination.

+1 I've used a C. Rex in a lot of amps and I think it will be in my "new" 79 DR to stay!