Quintessential speaker/cab combinations?

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burnsqc
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Quintessential speaker/cab combinations?

Post by burnsqc » Thu Feb 08, 2018 2:37 pm

Hey all,

I'm doing some research before I upgrade my cab. I'd be curious to know what everyone's opinion is on what the "quintessential" cabs are for various amps. To be clear, I'm not exactly looking for "what sounds best" or any favorites, just what the simple default is. I'm also not yet looking for recommendations (though I do welcome them), mostly just looking for knowledge. I'd like to have a clean slate before I start tweaking in any direction. For example, I imagine something like this would make sense:

1959 - 1960A/B - G12M25 (75Hz)
2203 - 1960A/B - G12T75

Anyone have good "typical" vintage (including 80's) stack ideas?

Side note: I joined this community under a different username several years ago when I was in high school and learning to build my first amp. You guys were a ton of help, and ultimately building that amp is what lead me to become an electrical engineer.

Cheers!
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Drew3419
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Re: Quintessential speaker/cab combinations?

Post by Drew3419 » Fri Apr 27, 2018 7:21 pm

For the 2203, look at the Celestion Heritage G12-65s (not the G12M-65s Creambacks (though I'm sure those would be great too)). I haven't tried the new Heritage ones, but I have a quad of vintage 1980 G12-65s in my 4x12 that I pair with my Metro 2203. Sounds great, and the G12-65s were loaded from the factory in the 2203 cabinets for awhile in the early 1980s. Like I said, I'm sure the Creambacks or Greenbacks would work great as well.
Marshall JCM 800 2203x w/ Metro JMP 2203 board w/ Sozo caps, Metro Dagnall Replica OT, and PPIMV.

shakti
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Re: Quintessential speaker/cab combinations?

Post by shakti » Sat Apr 28, 2018 3:12 pm

You'll find diverging opinions on this for sure, and I like to experiment and try new combinations, but over time a few combinations just seem to be unshakeable:

JTM45 + 1960A 4x12 with '66-67 T1221 (G12M 20W 75Hz): alnicos are nice but a little harsh and boxy in a 4x12, and the later 25W G12Ms just sound slightly less interesting with a JTM45. Doesn't matter whether it is an early RS OT variant or the later Drake type OTs, 20H or 3H choke - with a JTM45, only that era 20-watter sounds "right" to my ears. Open back cab is a different story, but with a closed back 4x12 there's no substitue.

1968-69 Super Lead: 1982B 4x12 with T1281 (G12H 30W 55Hz). Works killer for Hendrix and Jimmy Page type tones. Greatly prefer a B type cab with 100-watters. But a slightly more mellow and killer sounding alternative is a 1935B with T1511s (G12M 25W 55Hz). Less high mids, slightly more scooped sounding and less output volume than the G12Hs, but nicer sounding than same era T1221s IMHO. I love this type cab when I am using a 68-69 Super Lead with humbucker guitars.
JTM45 RS OT, 1973 18W, JTM45/100, JTM50, JMP50 1986, JMP100 "West Coast", AC15, AC30, BF Super Reverb, Boogie Mk 1, Hiwatt CP103, DR103

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Re: Quintessential speaker/cab combinations?

Post by chrisom » Sat Apr 28, 2018 5:57 pm

The best answer to your question can be found in Johan Segeborn's YouTube channel of AWESOME vintage Marshall cabinet and amp tops comparison videos. I can watch his demonstrations of his awesome collection of vintage Marshall gear in action for HOURS..! :rock: :shred:

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