Silly Speaker question: 8 or 16 ohms?

DrummerMan · September 24th, 2008, 02:45 PM

I apologize is this is an ignorant question, but I am somewhat ignorant in the ways of guitar amps...

I'm getting a 10" speaker for an empty cabinet that I already have. The initial use will be for a little Crate solid state head, which says it needs an 8 ohm speaker.

I would like to, eventually, get a low watt tube head to use with this cabinet, though. My question is: will 8 ohms limit me in terms of what kind of head I get? Or is it more likely that most low watt tube heads would use 8 ohms for a single speaker? or is there not a definitive answer and I'll just have to pick one?

My plan is to get a Celestion Greenback 10", and $100 is my basic budget for this. Does anybody have a feeling as to whether or not this would be a good match with a small, somewhat bright head? or what else would you recommend?

Oh yeah, I play a Partscaster. A variety of styles, but generally I like things to get crunchy/dirty somewhere in the middle, though I rarely do an all-out overdrive.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Singin' Dave · September 24th, 2008, 02:49 PM

an 8 ohm speaker will most likely be the best match to most heads you would run it with, so go with an 8.

As far as speker choice, tone is subjective. Greenbacks a very nice with somewhat early breakup and a famous tone that may like and some dont. The Emi Copperhead gets very nice reviews. For my $100 though, I would look to a ceramic from Weber speakers, sending Ted Weber an email telling him just what tone I'm looking to cop with my cab.

DrummerMan · September 24th, 2008, 02:53 PM

Thanks Singin' Dave!

What I love about the TDPRI is that when I post a question, I don't even have to "come back later" to see if there's been a response. I usually just have to blink twice and some very helpful folks have already given me everything I n need.

Awesome....

4 Strings · September 24th, 2008, 02:56 PM

Having posed hundreds of silly questions myself here I go (not really) answering yours!

What amp heads have you pondered? The Epi Valve Jr? The Orange Tiny Terror?

I haven't tried the Greenback 10" myself, but for the bluesy stuff that I play Ted Weber's AlNiCo speakers (as well as his tips and suggestions on which speakers to choose for different amps) have all worked very well. Besides he has been very patient with my silly questions (he, too), my changing my orders back and forth and so on.

Good luck in finding the right speaker!

DrummerMan · September 24th, 2008, 03:18 PM

The Tiny Terror is definitely a consideration. Maybe the Valve Jr., but I might like something with more tone control.

I used to have a '65 Blackface Champ, which was amazing, but I had to sell it a long time ago. I would love to regain that kind of sound again.

I've already got an Ampeg Gemini I, which really fulfills the "Big" and "warm" needs, so whatever I end up with for this cabinet should be complimentary (i.e. different) from that. Like something Keith Richards or Brian May wold have hiding behind everyone else's giant stacks.

And also, the reason I won't be looking for a combo amp is that this is for my recording studio, so I'll need the speaker mic'd up in another room, but I want the head right next to the mixing board so I can play and hear what the recorded sound will be.

It's going to be a while before I can afford a new amp head (ALOT of things to buy before then), but I'll take any suggestions on those as well. It's always nice to have lots of dream-gear to drool over...

And I just checked out Ted Weber's site. That looks like exactly where I'll be going for a speaker.

Thanks again!

eugenedunn · September 24th, 2008, 03:38 PM

Hey the new Epi Hot Rod Valve Junior coming out in October will have reverb and possibly tone controls..... but it's the 18-watt 6V6 powered Valve Senior that looks groovy.....

Doug Ferguson · September 24th, 2008, 04:48 PM

Quite a few amp heads have 4, 8, and 16 ohm output jacks these days. But since you plan to use it initally with an 8 ohm amp, match the speaker impedance to the amps. Don't know much about the Greenback's tone-wise, but is there any room in the cab for a 12"?

DrummerMan · September 24th, 2008, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Ferguson

is there any room in the cab for a 12"?

Unlikely.

Wouldn't using a 12" speaker move me away from the small, low-watt (ala Champ) amp sound anyway?

September 24th, 2008, 02:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
DrummerMan TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: LA Posts: 55	Silly Speaker question: 8 or 16 ohms? I apologize is this is an ignorant question, but I am somewhat ignorant in the ways of guitar amps... I'm getting a 10" speaker for an empty cabinet that I already have. The initial use will be for a little Crate solid state head, which says it needs an 8 ohm speaker. I would like to, eventually, get a low watt tube head to use with this cabinet, though. My question is: will 8 ohms limit me in terms of what kind of head I get? Or is it more likely that most low watt tube heads would use 8 ohms for a single speaker? or is there not a definitive answer and I'll just have to pick one? My plan is to get a Celestion Greenback 10", and $100 is my basic budget for this. Does anybody have a feeling as to whether or not this would be a good match with a small, somewhat bright head? or what else would you recommend? Oh yeah, I play a Partscaster. A variety of styles, but generally I like things to get crunchy/dirty somewhere in the middle, though I rarely do an all-out overdrive. Thanks in advance for all your help!

September 24th, 2008, 02:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
4 Strings Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Gossip County Posts: 276	Having posed hundreds of silly questions myself here I go (not really) answering yours! What amp heads have you pondered? The Epi Valve Jr? The Orange Tiny Terror? I haven't tried the Greenback 10" myself, but for the bluesy stuff that I play Ted Weber's AlNiCo speakers (as well as his tips and suggestions on which speakers to choose for different amps) have all worked very well. Besides he has been very patient with my silly questions (he, too), my changing my orders back and forth and so on. Good luck in finding the right speaker! __________________ We shall not cease from modifying our amps. And the end of all our modifying will be to arrive where we started and know the circuit for the first time.

September 24th, 2008, 03:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
eugenedunn Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA Age: 55 Posts: 808 37 Photos	Hey the new Epi Hot Rod Valve Junior coming out in October will have reverb and possibly tone controls..... but it's the 18-watt 6V6 powered Valve Senior that looks groovy..... __________________ Ono Boy says "good n' swampy....."

September 24th, 2008, 04:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
Doug Ferguson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 55 Posts: 1,721	Quite a few amp heads have 4, 8, and 16 ohm output jacks these days. But since you plan to use it initally with an 8 ohm amp, match the speaker impedance to the amps. Don't know much about the Greenback's tone-wise, but is there any room in the cab for a 12"? __________________ If you get hung up on just guitar players, you've missed something.... Don't ever get to a point where you just gotta be a guitar player. You hear something, go try to get that note and sound as much like that as you can.-Buddy Guy

September 24th, 2008, 02:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
Singin' Dave Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chicago Age: 40 Posts: 205	an 8 ohm speaker will most likely be the best match to most heads you would run it with, so go with an 8. As far as speker choice, tone is subjective. Greenbacks a very nice with somewhat early breakup and a famous tone that may like and some dont. The Emi Copperhead gets very nice reviews. For my $100 though, I would look to a ceramic from Weber speakers, sending Ted Weber an email telling him just what tone I'm looking to cop with my cab.

September 24th, 2008, 02:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
DrummerMan TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: LA Posts: 55	Thanks Singin' Dave! What I love about the TDPRI is that when I post a question, I don't even have to "come back later" to see if there's been a response. I usually just have to blink twice and some very helpful folks have already given me everything I n need. Awesome....

September 24th, 2008, 03:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
DrummerMan TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: LA Posts: 55	The Tiny Terror is definitely a consideration. Maybe the Valve Jr., but I might like something with more tone control. I used to have a '65 Blackface Champ, which was amazing, but I had to sell it a long time ago. I would love to regain that kind of sound again. I've already got an Ampeg Gemini I, which really fulfills the "Big" and "warm" needs, so whatever I end up with for this cabinet should be complimentary (i.e. different) from that. Like something Keith Richards or Brian May wold have hiding behind everyone else's giant stacks. And also, the reason I won't be looking for a combo amp is that this is for my recording studio, so I'll need the speaker mic'd up in another room, but I want the head right next to the mixing board so I can play and hear what the recorded sound will be. It's going to be a while before I can afford a new amp head (ALOT of things to buy before then), but I'll take any suggestions on those as well. It's always nice to have lots of dream-gear to drool over... And I just checked out Ted Weber's site. That looks like exactly where I'll be going for a speaker. Thanks again!