Eminence Swamp Thang

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Duffy

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I'm considering buying a Swamp Thang to put in my one by twelve cabinet.

I would appreciate any feedback from anyone using a Swamp Thang in their amp or extension speaker cab.

I am only going to use one and it will not be used with another speaker, just by itself.

What type of sound should I expect to get from this speaker?

I will be using my Marshall new style DSL100H and DSL40C as amplifiers to drive this cabinet that will have the Swamp Thang in it.

I am getting the 16ohm version.

Feedback from those with experience with this speaker, is appreciated.
 

OaklandA

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Big, loud, balanced speaker. Very good in Fender BF style amps. Not sure in a Marshall, but I bet it'd sound fine. Generally in a Marshall I'd want to go in a Celestion style speaker.
 

soulman969

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FWIW here's how Eminence describes it and they have some great sound clips on their website if you haven't already discovered them.

SWAMP THANG™ 16

Designed with heavier players in mind, the Swamp Thang provides a thick and chunky tone with loads of sustain. The awesome bottom end will hold up to even the most demanding drop-tune or 7 string players.

Application 12" Open or Closed Back Overall Coloration
Configuration 1, 2, or 4 X 12" Very powerful, thick and chunky tone. Very touch sensitive with good sustain. Awesome bottom end.
Low End Response Aggressive
Low End Shape Fat/Round
Mid Range Response Aggressive Break Up Modes Slow
Mid Range Shape Dark Power Range Up to 150 watts
High End Response Moderate Instrument Lead/Rhythm Guitar
Volume/Power Loudest Genre Very American tone suitable for Blues, Rock and Jazz.

My only question would be do you want a "Very American" sounding speaker in a Marshall rig?
 

wrxmania

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Great in my Modified Fender Concert - ideal for that amp I think.

Beefy, clear and not harsh.
 

harleysr

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I have a pair in a cab. I prefer them with an EL-based head, rather than 6V6-based amps. They have a good, full tone. Very nice for rockier material. Rather huge power handling capacity. Good, usable speakers. Not harsh.
 

Duffy

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I have a pair in a cab. I prefer them with an EL-based head, rather than 6V6-based amps. They have a good, full tone. Very nice for rockier material. Rather huge power handling capacity. Good, usable speakers. Not harsh.


Since this is going to go into a one by twelve cabinet (if I get it), maybe I should get an 8 ohm version of it.

I want to be able to use it with my 100 watt DSL100H head. I currently use an Epiphone four by twelve Southern Cal. cabinet with the DSL head. This is a 16 ohm Epi cab. It is a very dark sounding cab, but sounds good. I have that really deep, dark sound covered. I don't think those Eminence Lady Luck/Epiphone speakers are anything really remarkable. I want to be able to try a different speaker with that amp.

My new style DSL40C has a bright, clear, really decent sounding speaker in it, in comparison. It is the Celestion Seventy/80. Although a lot of guys with this DSL combo don't care especially for the speaker, and replace it; I find it to be a big improvement over the Epiphone four by twelve cab in terms of the overall quality of the sound. It is brighter, clearer, cleaner, and has some decent chime.

These new style DSL's have a lot of treble, so that is why I think a Swamp Thang could be a good speaker to reinforce the low end. Plus the Swamp Thang is supposed to be a clean sounding speaker, with powerful bass.

If I get the 8 ohm version I will be able to use the cab with my Vox AC15c1 as well as with my DRRI, in addition to the two DSL's.

I don't want to spend a lot of money experimenting with all sorts of speakers. I want to get a real decent speaker to begin with that can handle the 100 watt head, and go in a one by twelve cabinet. I would like it to have some decent clean treble response though, plus some good low end power - tight bass. The Swamp Thang seems to fit this description, but I have not heard one and my presupposition could be totally incorrect. That's why I appreciate you guys providing me with this useable feedback. Too bad you can't hear a speaker like this in a music store. I have decent computer speakers, but it's nothing like listening to a real guitar cabinet.
 

Twangbanger 59

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Eminence makes great speakers . I have Rajun Cajuns in my Fender Frontman 25R and Champion 110 combos and I just bought a new Texas Heat 12" which I put in my 1988 Fender Studio 85 amp. Definitely worth the investment if you want good tone.
 

Duffy

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Eminence makes great speakers . I have Rajun Cajuns in my Fender Frontman 25R and Champion 110 combos and I just bought a new Texas Heat 12" which I put in my 1988 Fender Studio 85 amp. Definitely worth the investment if you want good tone.


I put the Ragin Cajun in my Fender Super Champ XD immediately when it was delivered to the house. It made the stock Fender speaker look like a fake imitation. The RC is at least three times heavier with that big magnet and the amp is probably twice as loud sounding; plus it sounds super good.

That RC is probably why I want to try out a Swamp Thang.

I think I should be alright with the Swamp Thang, but I'm trying to get some feedback from those that have used them to gauge what they think about them. What I'll finally decide, I'm not exactly sure yet. I'm still debating the 8 ohm vs. the 16 ohm debate. 8 ohms would be able to match all of my amps.
 

Duffy

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So what's the debate?

It is me debating with myself whether or not I want to get an 8 ohm or 16 ohm speaker. Obviously the 8 ohm speaker would be more sensible, seemingly, because I could use the cab with all my amps.

I'm not sure what the difference would be using an 8 ohm or 16 ohm extension cabinet with my Marshalls. I guess the 16 ohm would be more efficient, but I don't know if there are any other differences. Both amps are powerful enough that I don't have to worry about losing a little efficiency.

If I was a little more knowledgeable about speaker performance I wouldn't be confused about this.
 

strat a various

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I put a Swamp Thang in a MusicMan amp that gets used at gigs about four times a week. This amp has had an EV 12L with the huge heatsink, a Peavey Black Widow, and an old Eminence OEM speaker out of an 80s Dean Markley amp. It's very loud 50 watt amp. So far, the Swamp Thang is the worst speaker it's had , not counting the original MusicMan speaker, which I believe was also an Eminence. The EV was much, much better as a big strong neutral sounding speaker. I like the Dean Markley speaker the most, but I pulled it to use in a better amp. I'm not getting another Swamp Thing, selling this one when I get the time.
 

Duffy

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I put a Swamp Thang in a MusicMan amp that gets used at gigs about four times a week. This amp has had an EV 12L with the huge heatsink, a Peavey Black Widow, and an old Eminence OEM speaker out of an 80s Dean Markley amp. It's very loud 50 watt amp. So far, the Swamp Thang is the worst speaker it's had , not counting the original MusicMan speaker, which I believe was also an Eminence. The EV was much, much better as a big strong neutral sounding speaker. I like the Dean Markley speaker the most, but I pulled it to use in a better amp. I'm not getting another Swamp Thing, selling this one when I get the time.

The Eminence "Commonwealth" is supposed to be like the EV12L and is about half the price. It is not quite up to the EV12L, but is supposed to be a decent speaker.

I suppose the EV12L would put more than one speaker out of the playing.
 

soulman969

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I have a pair in a cab. I prefer them with an EL-based head, rather than 6V6-based amps. They have a good, full tone. Very nice for rockier material. Rather huge power handling capacity. Good, usable speakers. Not harsh.

Well that pretty much covers any potential issues using them with Marshalls doesn't it. :D
 

strat a various

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The Eminence "Commonwealth" is supposed to be like the EV12L and is about half the price. It is not quite up to the EV12L, but is supposed to be a decent speaker.

I suppose the EV12L would put more than one speaker out of the playing.

I've never tried a Commonwealth, but I understood it was a lame version of a JBL E-series. I have been through quite a few JBL D and E series speakers at full time gigs for almost 40 years. I got tired of having them re-coned, so when I get them, I give them to friends who play less frequently and a blow out won't interrupt a gig. The EV isn't my favorite sound, but they are noticeably more robust than JBLs. The only way I blew one was with massive clipping distortion (don't ask).

If you don't want to spring for the $225 or whatever the EVs go for now, they say those Eminence Delta 12s are very close to an EV, for what, like $70 or so?
 

harleysr

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The Swamp Thang will be far smoother than the Seventy/Eighty, based on having owned and compared them.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of EV guitar speakers, but, that's just my preference.

If I were using a Marshall, The ST would be a natural, solid choice for a 112 cab: rocky and beefy. I have some Eminence Private Jacks, too. They are supposed to be approximations of Greenbacks (as I recall) and seem to be in the ballpark. Considerably brighter. I prefer the ST.

The last thing (in a quality speaker) I would use in this application would be a JBL.

Good luck.
 

Duffy

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The Swamp Thang will be far smoother than the Seventy/Eighty, based on having owned and compared them.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of EV guitar speakers, but, that's just my preference.

If I were using a Marshall, The ST would be a natural, solid choice for a 112 cab: rocky and beefy. I have some Eminence Private Jacks, too. They are supposed to be approximations of Greenbacks (as I recall) and seem to be in the ballpark. Considerably brighter. I prefer the ST.

The last thing (in a quality speaker) I would use in this application would be a JBL.

Good luck.


Thanks for the ideas. I am guessing a ST might be a decent speaker for these amps (Marshall new style DSL's). It will definitely handle the 100 watts of the head and should sound good in a 112 cab. I would be able to compare the ST to the internal Seventy/80 and make my personal evaluation.

My 412 Epi So. Cal. cabinet is pretty smooth, but it would be interesting to compare the ST to that cab. I don't think those Epi Lady Luck speakers are all that great, but I could be surprised. They are definitely "smoother" than the Seventy/80, then again it's a 412 closed back.
 

Captain Bb

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My Swamp Thang has resided in a Blues Deluxe, a DRRI and now in my Headstrong Lil' King-S. I get my OD from pedals and it delivers the goods there too. It's the all round speaker of choice for me.

headstrong002_zps32ddc435.jpg
 
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