Best speaker combo for the Mark V?

[Vogelsong]

A head with a 2x12 rec. cab. fitted with v30's or take out a 30 and put in a c90?

I hear this can be a nice combination of the 2 speakers.

A combo fitted with a c90 and a single v30 or EV thiele?

Just curious what you guys think.

 

[eudaimonia02912]

I have a combo (C90) with a EVM-12L Theile. It sounds massive and has chest-thumping bass. The combo on its own doesn't do the trick, though.

 

[YellowJacket]

A head with a 2x12 rec. cab. fitted with v30's or take out a 30 and put in a c90?

I hear this can be a nice combination of the 2 speakers.

A combo fitted with a c90 and a single v30 or EV thiele?

Just curious what you guys think.

v30 + c90 is a great speaker combination.

Consider this: Some sort of open back design is usually better for warm and 3D clean tones. Distortion tones tend to benefit from a more directional close back design. What do you play primarily? If you are into blues and more clean / overdrive stuff, get something that facilitates that. If you are into metal, get something that is close back that will maximize distortion tone.
My take: The Mesa Boogie Road King 2 x 12 is basically two speaker enclosures in one box, a closed back v30 chamber for punch and thump as well as a 3/4 back c90 chamber for open cleans. It is a very even and huge sounding cab which would be great if you want some that is versatile. A 1 x 12 v30 combo paired with a c90 thiele would also sound great too and would also be versatile.
A head is versatile in a different way. You can have a 4 x 12, a 2 x 12, an EV thiele, and an open back cab and you can pick your tools for what you need. Just evaluate your needs and the decision shouldn't be too hard.

 

[Vogelsong]

A head with a 2x12 rec. cab. fitted with v30's or take out a 30 and put in a c90?

I hear this can be a nice combination of the 2 speakers.

A combo fitted with a c90 and a single v30 or EV thiele?

Just curious what you guys think.

v30 + c90 is a great speaker combination.

Consider this: Some sort of open back design is usually better for warm and 3D clean tones. Distortion tones tend to benefit from a more directional close back design. What do you play primarily? If you are into blues and more clean / overdrive stuff, get something that facilitates that. If you are into metal, get something that is close back that will maximize distortion tone.
My take: The Mesa Boogie Road King 2 x 12 is basically two speaker enclosures in one box, a closed back v30 chamber for punch and thump as well as a 3/4 back c90 chamber for open cleans. It is a very even and huge sounding cab which would be great if you want some that is versatile. A 1 x 12 v30 combo paired with a c90 thiele would also sound great too and would also be versatile.
A head is versatile in a different way. You can have a 4 x 12, a 2 x 12, an EV thiele, and an open back cab and you can pick your tools for what you need. Just evaluate your needs and the decision shouldn't be too hard.

This is the stuff I was looking for. There's a Mark V coming home soon and so these are the dicisions I'll be making soon.

I play a lot of blues, with the occasional metal song.

Thanks guys.

 

[YellowJacket]

I know a 4 x 12 is probably not on the radar for you. If it was, I'd recommend considering Celestion G12m 25 / g12H 30 speakers which really add some nice breakup for that style. The trouble is that you just don't get enough power handling unless they are in a 4 x 12.

 

[boogieman60]

I use a combo with the stock c90 and a widebody front ported Thile....sounds great to me...I like to separate them to get a spatial sound...the ext. cab has a c90 in it. These speakers take a lonnnnnng time to break in...at first they sounded harsh but now after a year and 100 or so gigs...they are really great. much more round sounding...

 

[ave]

Hello from England again on the topic of speakers for the Mark five.
Essentially all of the Mark series of amplifiers were designed for gigging in my view, as they make hideously expensive pieces of bedroom furniture and boudoir - onanism is a criminal waste of these instruments.
I speak as a mere novice in these matters having only done about two thousand gigs in nearly 30 years of using Mr Smith's Mark series of amplifiers, however my findings are that they are extremely heavy beasts and a practical approach is required.
All the Mark series combos require an extension cabinet, rooted to the floor to gain spacial awareness,also to avoid inheritent boxyness at the gig and to substantially increase the bottom end (unless of course you are miced up to an exceptionally good PA system).
To this end the closed back Thiele 1x12 is the first choice to perfectly compliment the high end zing exuded by the combo with the low end grunt afforded by the Thiele.
If you can find a vintage 1x12 Thiele loaded with an EV12L do not look elsewhere - you have arrived.
I have four Mesa 1x12 cabinets and the Mark Five head, two are '90s open - backed with EV's and two vintage 1x12 Thieles with the metal corners and EV loaded.
This gives the ultimate in versatility viz:-
Jazz gig - 1x12 open back.
Rockabilly/be bop/rock - 1 Thiele + 1 open back (can be virtual 2x12 horizontal or vertical).
Full on metal - A virtual 4 x 12 using all of them !
All this versatility and none of the weight issues, spread the load, spread the sound, spread the word, spare your rear axle.

 

[babow2]

I've got the stock combo sitting atop the newer closed back widebody 1x12 with an old EVM-12L in it. the cabinet is designed to fit the MkV perfectly and be in the "nature" of the theile- closed/ported concept. Yes, it isn't the theile design specs, I know; but, conceptually it is a closed back, ported 1x12 designed to fit the Mark V. With the EVM in there, I get the low end thump and richness, as others have mentioned. The combo alone sounds anemic now without the EVM under it.

 

[Vogelsong]

Great input, this is a huge help.

Thanks again i love this board.