Mixing Speaker Types?

[BPSUL]

Whats the deal with this? Im talking about using two (or more) different types of speakers in a cab? On one hand it seems like a cool idea... but on the other hand, could you take two great speakers, like say an Emi Private Jack and a Governor, put them together, and end up with a not so nice sound? (I say Eminence because I most likely will buy from their line)

I'm gonna replace the speakers in a 2x12 and need some advice, should I even consider this as an option or pick 1 spearker and buy two of them? Please share your experiences...

[smolder]

Blending speakers is a great idea... especially (IMHO) when you drive them with separate amps. Speakers have different voices and the right combination can ad depth and considerable range of tonality. The thing to watch is that you match the efficiency so that one does not drowned the other out. There are lots of conversations online about mix and match preference.

[Tone_Terrific]

imo, pick two that sound good on their own. Trying to match a 'woofy' one and a 'tweety' one is way too tricky.

[myles111]

I love a V30 and Vox Blue .... one fills in the "holes" of the other. I personally love two different speakers of the same efficiency but that is my own personal taste.

[frmorales52]

Dr. Z does this with his "Z-Best" cabinet. Standard speaker configuration is a Celestion Vintage 30 and Celestion G12H30.

I have one and it sounds great. Sure is heavy though.

[myles111]

Originally Posted by frmorales52

Dr. Z does this with his "Z-Best" cabinet. Standard speaker configuration is a Celestion Vintage 30 and Celestion G12H30.

I have one and it sounds great. Sure is heavy though.

This is a very cool cab. I know a lot of 4x12 Marshall folks that love this cab that use 50 watt plexis and non-master volume Marshalls of this wattage.

With those speakers it is a 90 watt cab and can be used with 100 watt amps as well most of the time.

[Braciola]

Originally Posted by myles111

With those speakers it is a 90 watt cab and can be used with 100 watt amps as well most of the time.

The Z-Best 2X12 is not a 90 watt cabinet, it's a 60 watt.
If you take the lowest wattage speaker in the cab (in this case it's the G12H which is 30 watts) and multiply that by the total number of speakers in the cabinet (in this case 30 watts X 2 = 60 watts)

[myles111]

Originally Posted by Braciola

The Z-Best 2X12 is not a 90 watt cabinet, it's a 60 watt.
If you take the lowest wattage speaker in the cab (in this case it's the G12H which is 30 watts) and multiply that by the total number of speakers in the cabinet (in this case 30 watts X 2 = 60 watts)

OK ... I will go along with that. Some folks might even call it a 45 watt cab taking the 60 + 30 and dividing by 2 as the V30 is a 60 watt speaker.

[Sullivan_Guy]

I have a custom made 2x12 convertible cabinet with a Eminence Governor in the closed chamber and a Man-O-War in the open chamber sounds very nice.

[Braciola]

Originally Posted by myles111

OK ... Some folks might even call it a 45 watt cab taking the 60 + 30 and dividing by 2 as the V30 is a 60 watt speaker.

That also would be incorrect.
It is what it is......a 60 watt cabinet.

[rockon1]

Originally Posted by myles111

I love a V30 and Vox Blue .... one fills in the "holes" of the other. I personally love two different speakers of the same efficiency but that is my own personal taste.

Yep some speakers "fill in the holes" as you put it . The G12H-30 and G12-65 do this wonderfully. Even tough they are mismatched as far as sensitivity ratings go the G12-65 adds just the right amount of midrange punch that the G12H-30 lacks. They blend together seemlessly! Bob

[derekd]

I did this with a 2x12 Avatar cab I bought. 2 Eminence Legends, one brighter than the other. I like the blend.

[Gris]

There are limits to what you can do with speaker 'matching' (mixing more properly). Yes, you can mix a couple of Celestion ceramic speakers like Dr. Z does, but when you add in a loose bottom low power alnico like a Celestion Blue you will lose a lot of your tight bottom and will get compression when you play loud (maybe good, maybe bad). Also speakers with extended high end don't always work well with heavier distortion. So, you kinda have to look at your intended application. Personally, I wouldn't mix in a lower power alnico unless I was a blues rock type player who doesn't rely too much on pedals.

[straticus]

I've been running a couple of 30wt ceramic Webers (one Blue Dog and one Silver Bell) in a 2x12 cab and love the tone.