Need advice on 12" speaker

rick · February 7th, 2005, 11:00 PM

I'm having a local cabinet builder create an open back cabinet for me (out of ash, actually) and I need to figure out what kind of 12" speaker to put in it.

I just had my blown-for-28-years Ampeg SB-12 amp head brought back to life, which, for the time being, will be what I'm playing through. (One of these days, though, I'd like to try building my own amp, probably something lower powered.)

Guitar-wise, I've got a nice parts-caster Tele with Fralins in it.

I'm not sure how to say what I'm after sound-wise, but here goes: The tone I'm after lies somewhere between Jimi's or Stevie Ray's "Little Wing," and Jim Campilongo's twangin' tone on songs such as "Twister."

How do I even go about making a choice?

Any suggestions from all of you who are experienced with this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Rick

Emmitt O. · February 7th, 2005, 11:04 PM

...........is what I have in my SF DR and I love that speaker. It's not muddy on the bottom, doesn't fart out and handles all the highs you could need. I strongly recommend Weber Speakers.

Good luck.
Emmitt O.

marshallmelloman · February 8th, 2005, 12:28 AM

Second on the C12n -good speaker, cheap and loud.

mechanicdave · February 8th, 2005, 02:19 AM

Best tone is from AlNiCo. P12N, Celestion Blue, ect. IMO. Do yourself a favor, make that cabinet a 2x10 setup. Weber blue and silver 10s. Celestion and Jensen P10R, now your talkin!

Big Lug · February 8th, 2005, 10:24 AM

Check out Reverend's 12" Alltone speaker. Reverend is discontinuing this speaker though so it may be difficult to get one as it is a popular speaker.

I have one in my DRRI and really like it. Over time it opened up and smoothed out very nicely.

Now, I always run my amp clean and use effects to colour my sound so I can't speak to how it sounds when overdriven by an amp, but there are many reviews in H-C and elsewhere which would undoubtedly speak to this.

Led Hed · February 8th, 2005, 01:18 PM

I'm another one who's installed a Weber C12N (12F150, in a Classic 30) and I think it's a great speaker, I couldn't ask for anything better as far as what I'm looking for from my amp.

I've also heard lots of good comments on the Blue Dog (offered in both ceramic and Alnico). I'm planning to buy an extension cab from Avatar and thinking about installing a Blue Dog in it. Go to the Weber website and look around, you'll probably be overwhelmed by all the choices though...

WrapAround · February 9th, 2005, 12:05 PM

While it's almost impossible to say which speaker would sound great to *you*, I can tell you that I've gotten consistantly good results by having a 1/2" front baffle board regardless of which speakers I use. In fact, it's more important for me to have that than deciding which speaker to mount in a cab.

12F150 from Weber (a C12n equivalant) is a safe bet but I've found that I like the sound of their AlNiCo speakers better than the ceramic ones.

February 7th, 2005, 11:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
rick TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 32	Need advice on 12" speaker I'm having a local cabinet builder create an open back cabinet for me (out of ash, actually) and I need to figure out what kind of 12" speaker to put in it. I just had my blown-for-28-years Ampeg SB-12 amp head brought back to life, which, for the time being, will be what I'm playing through. (One of these days, though, I'd like to try building my own amp, probably something lower powered.) Guitar-wise, I've got a nice parts-caster Tele with Fralins in it. I'm not sure how to say what I'm after sound-wise, but here goes: The tone I'm after lies somewhere between Jimi's or Stevie Ray's "Little Wing," and Jim Campilongo's twangin' tone on songs such as "Twister." How do I even go about making a choice? Any suggestions from all of you who are experienced with this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Rick

February 7th, 2005, 11:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Emmitt O. Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Mid-Michigan Posts: 272	Weber C12N................ ...........is what I have in my SF DR and I love that speaker. It's not muddy on the bottom, doesn't fart out and handles all the highs you could need. I strongly recommend Weber Speakers. Good luck. Emmitt O. __________________ Leo Got It Right.

February 8th, 2005, 02:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
mechanicdave Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 333	Skip the ceramic, Best tone is from AlNiCo. P12N, Celestion Blue, ect. IMO. Do yourself a favor, make that cabinet a 2x10 setup. Weber blue and silver 10s. Celestion and Jensen P10R, now your talkin!

February 8th, 2005, 10:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
Big Lug Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Lower Mainland, the Great White North Posts: 651	Check out Reverend's 12" Alltone speaker. Reverend is discontinuing this speaker though so it may be difficult to get one as it is a popular speaker. I have one in my DRRI and really like it. Over time it opened up and smoothed out very nicely. Now, I always run my amp clean and use effects to colour my sound so I can't speak to how it sounds when overdriven by an amp, but there are many reviews in H-C and elsewhere which would undoubtedly speak to this. __________________ "Set my compass North I've got winter in my blood." Robbie Robertson

February 8th, 2005, 01:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
Led Hed TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 31	Weber C12N or Blue Dog? I'm another one who's installed a Weber C12N (12F150, in a Classic 30) and I think it's a great speaker, I couldn't ask for anything better as far as what I'm looking for from my amp. I've also heard lots of good comments on the Blue Dog (offered in both ceramic and Alnico). I'm planning to buy an extension cab from Avatar and thinking about installing a Blue Dog in it. Go to the Weber website and look around, you'll probably be overwhelmed by all the choices though...

February 8th, 2005, 12:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
marshallmelloman Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 547	Second on the C12n -good speaker, cheap and loud.

February 9th, 2005, 12:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
WrapAround Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 804 14 Photos	While it's almost impossible to say which speaker would sound great to you, I can tell you that I've gotten consistantly good results by having a 1/2" front baffle board regardless of which speakers I use. In fact, it's more important for me to have that than deciding which speaker to mount in a cab. 12F150 from Weber (a C12n equivalant) is a safe bet but I've found that I like the sound of their AlNiCo speakers better than the ceramic ones.