which kit for these sounds?

[Roe]

page started using kt88s on the tour after four sticks - he needed more clean headroom for stairway to heaven

[Danhalen]

That kind of amp will do a most convincing Jimmy Page type tone as well, although you probably do know that Page used a custom Hiwatt almost exclusively live from mid-69 through 1971, right? I have a replica, and it's definitely a different beast to play than a Marshall. You can't ride on that compression, there's not much to hide behind...

Interesting... I was just watching the Led Zepellin DVD again this weekend and noticed that his tone on the '70 show and the '73 and '75 shows is quite different (the '73 and '75 are fairly similar to each other). The earlier tone had a different, rounder midrange and was a bit less compressed I'd say. I think the later tone was a little bit brighter with a tighter bottom end. I almost heard a "rangemaster" like quality on the '70 show. Part of the reason for the difference is the recording too though, the earlier one sounds a bit more present (and better I think) to me. As far as the actual tone, a bit of a toss up. I love 'em both! Since I've been loving you sounds particularly good I think too because you hear every possible dynamic level in one song. Similarly, on Dazed and Confused from the '70 show you get a feel for how much he changed his tone just with his knobs and pickup switch. I keep rediscovering how much I love Page! I hope this doesn't derail things too much!

[lunastromoner]

I think Page's guitar sound at the Royal Albert Hall concert is too fuzzed up a lot of the time. I prefer his tone on the MSG and Earls Court concerts much more.

Thank you all for your speaker suggestions! So here's my next question (thank you guys for being so tolerant and welcoming!)... How would a mix of two M55s and two H75s sound? Would I get the best of both worlds?

Also, if I'm only using one 4x12 cab, shouldn't I go with the higher power (65w) option? Even into a 120w cab, with the amp cranked wouldn't I be blowing speakers left and right?

[thousandshirts]

I think Page's guitar sound at the Royal Albert Hall concert is too fuzzed up a lot of the time. I prefer his tone on the MSG and Earls Court concerts much more.

Thank you all for your speaker suggestions! So here's my next question (thank you guys for being so tolerant and welcoming!)... How would a mix of two M55s and two H75s sound? Would I get the best of both worlds?

Also, if I'm only using one 4x12 cab, shouldn't I go with the higher power (65w) option? Even into a 120w cab, with the amp cranked wouldn't I be blowing speakers left and right?

I went with a mix of H55 and H75, all 65w. Jim assured me that I wouldn't notice much difference in the response of the 65w speakers versus the 25 or 30 watt speakers that I was used to. He was right!

I was previously using English made Greenbacks, with M magnets. So I figured I wanted H magnets for something else, to begin with, and because I'd wanted to try them for a long time. AND because I wanted to try Scumbacks. All I can tell you is it was no mistake. The H55/H75 combination is unbelievably good for what I'm after. And with 260 watts of power handling, I can put just about any amp on top of that cab, and let her rip, wide open. I will be going back for a quad of M75s one day. And Scumnicos. Just a matter of when!

I think with the M55s and H75 idea that it would be best to run it by Jim. He could tell you if those will combine together well. The H75 is a fine speaker indeed; I can say that much. The M55 I have not tried, and, most importantly, I have not tried it beside a H75 in combination to say how they work together. The H55 and H75 really balance each other out well in a 4x12 for my liking, though.

[pb23r]

How would a mix of two M55s and two H75s sound? Would I get the best of both worlds?

luna-man...i have tried M55s & H75s together but found that combo somewhat "congested" for pursuing JPage mid-70s tones. Not a bad combo (and i am sure that there are many who like it a lot), but I found that i preferred either a straight quad of H75s or an H55 - H75 mix.

YMMV!!