My new EVM12L 1x12 stinks...any recommendations?

[chipaudette]

Hi All,

I just got a used Mesa Boogie 1x12 closed back (vented) cab off eBay. I got it pretty cheap so I didn't mind buying blind. It arrived yesterday. I played it through my Triaxis/2:90 rig and I really don't like the sound. There's no sizzle or presence at all. I'm looking for some recommendations.

One issue I have is that I don't know if it's the speaker (EVM 12L) or if it's the fact that it's a closed back cab. I've never owned a "proper" closed-back cab before. Other than a couple of crappy home-built 1x12 closed cabs (no thought went into sizing or design or construction), I've always had open-backed combos.

Not surprisingly, this closed back EVM cab sounds REALLY different than anything else I've owned. As I said before, I don't really like it's sound at all. My main problem with it is that there is zero (and I mean zero) sizzle. None. It's all low-mid thump (which is kinda cool) and mid frequency honk. Where is the presence? It doesn't reach out and grab one's attention at all. The question is, is it the cab or is it the speaker?

For comparison, I only have the speaker in my Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue (Jenson?) and those home-built 1x12 cabs from my teenage years. Each of those 1x12 is loaded with a Peavy 12" that I took from an early 80s Peavy 2x12 4x6L6 combo. What's the Peavy label..."Black Widow", "Scorpions"? I forget.

The amps that I'm using to evaluate the cab are my heavily modified DRRI (I added a Mark IV type of high gain channel...the clean DRRI is stock). I also have a Boogie Triaxis / 2:90 setup that I just dragged out of storage. With either setup, this cab is totally unengaging.

Any thoughts? What kind of speaker might be a better choice? I typically play at home with friends, so there's no need for continuous tolerance of 100W+. I like clean, mildly pushed, crunchy distorted, and saturated liquid tones...whatever seems fun that day. Ultra-scooped metal is usually not in my palette (probably because I've never had a proper closed-back cab before). Thoughts?

Thanks,

Chip

 

[Bobby Marshall]

I have had the total opposite experience. My EVM-12Ls just kill. Totally the right speaker when used with a Mark Series amp (used mine with a Mark IV, Studio Pre, Quad Pre).

The only thing that could be the issue IMO is that the speaker hasn't been broken in.

There are some ways to break speakers in by playing certain specially crafted recordings through them.

Burn this to a CD and put it on repeat but read the warning below first!!!!! I took this from a post by someone from Evidence Audio on another forum.

WARNING: Don't click on this and have it play through your computer or whatever without minding the volume level.

This will do a better job than anything but you don't want to play this without having your volume set to zero first and then bring it up slowly.
http://evidenceaudio.com/burn_in/burnintones_loop.wav *READ ABOVE BEFORE CLICKING*[/quote]

 

[MrMarkIII]

Hard to believe an EVM 12L wouldn't be broken in after 20 years or so. I'd try different speakers (I knew liked) in the Thiele. Could be that cab don't float your boat. Nothing says it has to.

 

[mr_fender]

My EVM12L is very bright and clear sounding, as were several others I've heard. Have you opened up the cabinet and checked the speaker and wiring for any damage? Could be a bad speaker or maybe the previous owner did a butcher shop style recone job on it or something. I've also heard of people buying "good" speaker cabinets on ebay and opening them up to find cheap crappy speakers inside. If you haven't checked, do so.

 

[MusicManJP6]

My EVM12L is very bright and clear sounding, as were several others I've heard. Have you opened up the cabinet and checked the speaker and wiring for any damage? Could be a bad speaker or maybe the previous owner did a butcher shop style recone job on it or something. I've also heard of people buying "good" speaker cabinets on ebay and opening them up to find cheap crappy speakers inside. If you haven't checked, do so.

Good idea, better check to make sure it's actually an EV if you haven't already. EVs are very 'faithful' and 'transparent' speakers so maybe you are used to more coloration and that's what you don't like about it (if it is in fact an EV in the cab).

And, by the way, the cab you bought is called a thiele cab. :wink:

 

[chipaudette]

Hey All,

Thanks for the reply. I did open up the cabinet when I got it. As far as I can tell, it really is an EVM 12 L. Check out the pic below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/chipaudette/EVM12LSpeaker#5344176776760155314

Given the likely age for the cabinet and given the roughed-up state of the tolex, I can't believe that this speaker isn't broken in. It might be broken, but I doubt it's not broken in.

As for looking for a bad re-cone job, I'm not sure what to look for. From the front, it looked like a normal speaker. What should I look for?

I've never had a blown speaker before...what does it sound like? Alternatively, I've never had a speaker that needed to be reconed...what would that problem sound like?

Thanks for your help, all!

Chip

 

[edgecrusher]

If the speaker is blown your going to hear it. It's gonna sound raspy, clanky, and nasty. You can check by tapping on the cone, you should be able to hear if it's blown.

The EVM is very hi fi and neutral sounding which tends to make it sound relatively bright compared to most speakers, but it also has bigger, tighter bass. What it doesn't have is that warm crunch and speaker coloration that your probably used to with Celestions. I usually have to turn down the presence when using the EVM's and keep it a bit higher when using my Orange cab. If you don't like the way it sounds I say just sell it and pick up something you do like. I honestly can't decide whether I like V30's or EVM's better; their both great, just different sounding.

 

[screamingdaisy]

I never liked EVM 12Ls. Very clear with lots of top and bottom end. Not much character. I did like it mixed with V30s... not so much on its own.

 

[MusicManJP6]

I just bought an EV loaded thiele cab and it sounds AMAZING with my DC-3 head. I've never heard my amp sound so good. So much depth and clarity!

 

[mrcomputer]

One thing I noticed when I got my first Thiele (I own three now) was the need to reduce mid and bass settings. The EVM-12L in that cabinet reproduces those frequencies easily. Actually made it easier to get the bottom I wanted w/o the flubbiness.

As mentioned by others, the 12L is a very neutral sounding speaker that allows you to determine the amount of grit and sizzle, consistantly - throughout the volume envelope, by your amplifier's settings.

I prefer them to C90's, however they do play well with V30's.

jbw