Help with speaker selection

[heru]

Right now I am using my Hot Rod Deluxe for a speaker cab. I want to upgrade to a 2x12 and I have it narrowed down to two. An Egnater Tourmaster 212X and the Mesa Recto 212.
I like the ability to remove the quarter panel on the tourmaster so you can have an open or closed back cab. But it is larger and use E80's which I am not totally sold on. I like the v30's in the Mesa and it is smaller but only closed back in design.
I play mainly Blues and Classic Rock and would like to hear some opinions regarding these two cabs for that type of music.
I have always used combo style amps so have not dealt with cabs. So any advice is appreciated.

 

[primeholy]

Only thing I can say is, I don't think the v30 is the best speaker for the MarkV. I am a firm believer in the C90 Black Shadows though!

 

[Barry]

Heres the other end of the opinion spectrum . I love V30s and dont care for C90s at all . I own three different mesa cabs and have opted for V30s in all my cabs . The 1X12 cab comes with a C90 but I special ordered it with a V30 . In my opinion the mesa 2X12 recto horizontal cab is one of the best cabs you can buy . Sounds great with the Mark V

 

[screamingdaisy]

I have a couple of C90 loaded cabs that I'm going to be replacing the speakers in with V30s. I bought them with C90s so I could experiment with them, but overall I prefer the V30s.

I think the C90 is a great lead speaker, but I find I can't quite get it to work for me for rhythm guitar.

 

[Rkorn]

What do you guys think of the Stiletto 212 cab? It is so smaller than the recto 212... how does it sound?

I'm also about to get a widebody with c90... lets see...

 

[Vogelsong]

On the other hand I have a V with a 2x12 rec cab. I'm currently doing research to either change the speakers or go to an express cab.

I find I don't need the punch of the rec cab and I like chimier high end. I played it through a tourmaster 2x12 and loved it. That convinced my I need a speaker change. Next week Im hopeing to play it through my friends 2x12 LS cab. I'll make my decision from there.

Good luck with yours.

 

[primeholy]

Well, I guess I should actually try one before I bash it. I have heard clips, and by going by the fact that the v30s put out a lot more midrange. I would like to try a v30 with a c90. My rig used to be Mark IV combo with c90 with a ev12l loaded widebody thiele. I dont like the evl by itself as it is too bright, but with the c90 it was great.

 

[SBG200]

Add me to the V30 camp. I started with the C90 in my combo, started running it along with a V30 in an ext cab, then eventually stuck the V30 into the combo. I find the C90 brighter than the V30, not in a good way.

 

[Rkorn]

On the other hand I have a V with a 2x12 rec cab. I'm currently doing research to either change the speakers or go to an express cab.

Good luck with yours.

An express cab?
What about the Compact series? I thought the compact widebody was de perfect cab for the head (112).

I'm thinking about a compact cab, widebody 1x12, what's the difference between the express and compact? Are there another cabs 112 that i should look for?

 

[heru]

Thanks for all the help. One thing I would like to know is what type of music are you guys playing? Like I mentioned I play mainly blues and classic rock. I rarely play metal type songs.
Also are there some good sound sites out there with speaker comparisons? I think I may have to spend a Saturday at Mesa Hollywood and try out some of the different cabs. The Road King 2x12 looks interesting, best of both worlds type.

 

[screamingdaisy]

An express cab?
What about the Compact series? I thought the compact widebody was de perfect cab for the head (112).

I'm thinking about a compact cab, widebody 1x12, what's the difference between the express and compact? Are there another cabs 112 that i should look for?

The Express 23 is slightly taller and deeper than the Widebody 1x12 (both are the same width). The Express is basically the same cab as a Lonestar 23, minus the Lonestar's vintage faceplate. The Widebody 1x12 is a visual match for the Widebody Closed Back/Ported (most people still call it a Thiele, even though it's not technically a Thiele cab any more).

If you're only looking to get a small open back, I'd go for the Lonestar version simply for the looks. If you're thinking that one day you might add the Widebody Thiele, then I'd get the Widebody 1x12 so that they're a visual match.

Thanks for all the help. One thing I would like to know is what type of music are you guys playing? Like I mentioned I play mainly blues and classic rock. I rarely play metal type songs.
Also are there some good sound sites out there with speaker comparisons? I think I may have to spend a Saturday at Mesa Hollywood and try out some of the different cabs. The Road King 2x12 looks interesting, best of both worlds type.

I could describe them, but it's really kind of pointless because I don't feel you can judge a speaker based on descriptors. If you can, try both and see which you like more. Both are very nice speakers. Just don't be afraid of the V30 being too "metal"... it's actually very good at a broad range of styles.

 

[Barry]

I ordered this 1X12 widebody front ported cab last year for my Mark V . I opted for the V30 and the Boogie badge to match the head . The C90 just doesnt work for me . The V30 breaks up a little sooner as well .

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u92/barry2001/dsc00995.jpg

 

[Vogelsong]

Thanks for all the help. One thing I would like to know is what type of music are you guys playing? Like I mentioned I play mainly blues and classic rock. I rarely play metal type songs.
Also are there some good sound sites out there with speaker comparisons? I think I may have to spend a Saturday at Mesa Hollywood and try out some of the different cabs. The Road King 2x12 looks interesting, best of both worlds type.

Im in your camp musically, blues and classic rock.

 

[ixoye777]

I can never understand why people like the V30 with the V. The V is a very mid rangy amp and the V30 is a speaker with pronounced mids. It is just too much to my ears. When I got my V I took the 30's out of my cab after a week. If you are playing mainly blues you may want to look at a darker speaker. I ended up settling on the Cannabis Rex which is smooth, darker and smoky. It sounds great out of the box but once broken in it just compliments the V incredibly well on all 3 channels.

 

[Rkorn]

Well.
I'm waiting for an answer tomorrow on what they have on stock.
I believe i'll be going for a compact widebody 112. It has a C90 which I really want, mainly because it works very good with a v30 (which I already have).
The compact is cheaper...

Apparently the Lone star 23, the express and the compact are all the same width... all have C90 (some as option) but the compact is cheaper...

I play mainly heavy distortion..

 

[heru]

The V is a very mid rangy amp and the V30 is a speaker with pronounced mids. It is just too much to my ears.

I am leaning away from the V30's. I gigged this weekend and used a friend's Rec. 2x12 and felt it had too much mid range. Very piercing highs. I was also given a sweet deal on the tourmaster 212x. Haven't pulled the trigger yet but I'm close.

 

[screamingdaisy]

I can never understand why people like the V30 with the V. The V is a very mid rangy amp and the V30 is a speaker with pronounced mids. It is just too much to my ears.

The Mark V also has a lot of high and low end, and the V30 rolls off the extreme top and bottom ends. Combine this with a semi-scooped amp setting and you have a thick rock sound that will sit in the mix better than a scooped speaker will. It's not always the most pleasant thing to listen to at home, but in a band mix it's really effective.

It's also a pretty percussive sounding speaker when you palm mute, helped along by not producing a whole lot of bottom end to slow it down.

 

[heru]

One more for you. Has anyone had experience with the THD 2x12? The speakers are custom v30 and lead 80. The cabinet is about the size of the rec. 2x12 and is rear ported with a quarter panel opening.

 

[JOEY B.]

Ported 2x12 you say? Port City, THD, Genz-Benz, Earcandy, etc... Look at Eminence, Weber and Scumback speakers. The EVM-12L is not for everyone or every guitar. I have a nice Anderson guitar that requires a tone knob reduction to play nice with the EV. I cannot get my mind wrapped around using a speaker with pronounced mids (V30), only to scoop it out with the GEQ for channel 3 of the Mark V. It's like putting drag slicks on a Ferrari. :shock:

 

[Vogelsong]

Ported 2x12 you say? Port City, VHT, Genz-Benz, Earcandy, etc... Look at Eminence, Weber and Scumback speakers. The EVM-12L is not for everyone or every guitar. I have a nice Anderson guitar that requires a tone knob reduction to play nice with the EV. I cannot get my mind wrapped around using a speaker with pronounced mids (V30), only to scoop it out with the GEQ for channel 3 of the Mark V. It's like putting drag slicks on a Ferrari. :shock:

While I agree, I can only assume that maybe in channel 1 they aren't running the eq in a clean mode ala Petrucci. He does not use the eq on channel 1. And then in channel 2 they could be using the preset knob and or running the tone stack with a lot of mid.