Speaker suggestions for Marshall 1986 and 1936 cab.

[hwestman]

Hi,

I have started out using my Marshall 1986 with a 1936 cab (212). At home I have used the head through the speaker of my Princeton Reverb 2 (at low volumes) and really like the sound.

Using the 1936 I find the highs unbearably piercing. From looking around I realise this is probably due to the G1275 speakers that come with the cab.

Therefore I am looking for replacement speakers. What I am looking for soundwise is a clear but velvety top end. I find the cabinet a bit boomy so I am not looking for a lot of low end.

I am considering Greenbacks or a combination of a Greenback and a G12H a la Matchless. The Alnico Blues seem nice but cost a lot and would probably be underpowered for the amp (not that I play it at full blast anyway).

Any thoughts?
Harald

[DrewB]

If you're looking for a "velvety" top end, you don't want the Greenback; they can be pretty piercing on high notes with a lot of volume. I run my Marshall 1987X into an Avatar G212H cab with a pair of Celestion G12H reissues, which are sort of like Greenbacks tonally but handle volume a lot better and have a better bass response. Is your 1986 the stock 50-watt Super Bass circuit, or has it been modified to Lead circuit specs? Either way, I think you would like the G12H reissues a lot; they are the classic Marshall sound. Weber VST has some great Celestion-alikes, too.

One thing to think about: if you're turning the 1986 up without attenuation or a master-volume of some sort, you'll likely blow out a pair of G12Hs or a G12H/Greenback combo. Short of that, you'll have a lot of cone cry, which is a speaker's way of expressing pain. I use a Dr. Z Airbrake with my Marshall for almost-transparent volume control, and the G12Hs are fine.

[hwestman]

Thanks Drew,

Regarding volume I don't push the amp anywhere near its limits volume wise so I don't think the power rating is an issue.

But would the Greenback be piercing at moderate volume too?

Regarding the G12Hs I have heard nice things about them but I am afraid they will give too much bass response. I run through the trebly channel of my stock 1986 and reduce bass to 0 and still find it a tab boomy.

How about combining a G12H and a Greenback?

Harald

[DrewB]

Well, in that case, you might like a Greenback better. FWIW, I set the Bass on my 1987X to zero, too, which pretty much eliminates any boominess. The 1986 is supposed to be very similar to a Bluesbreaker, which I also own, and that amp through the Avatar cabinet sounds really good and aren't boomy, whereas it can get a bit shrill with the Greenbacks in its own open-back cab. I'm afraid that's all I can say about that.

[Ben Harmless]

I don't think I'd point to the speakers to solve the boominess issue, especially if your amp is still the original bass circuit. There's only so much speakers can to to reduce that sort of thing, and there's only so boomy a cab can make a tone on its own. I'd take a look at your amp. That bass circuit can have a different voicing that guitar players are looking for, and power tubes and older electrolytics are also possible culprits.

If it were me, I'd go for the WeberVST clones of the G12H30s. I've been hearing horror stories about the consistancy of the newer Chineese-made Celestions.

[Billy Claire]

I have the 1936 cab, too. I loaded mine with Celestion Vintage 30's. When I A/B'd it with other cabs I own (Marshalls with greenbacks/ Oranges with Eminence- all 4X12's) the 1936 was hands-down the best sounding cab!