Fargen JW-40 - Blackface + OD tones: 1x12 speaker advice ?

[soopajeanmi]

I'm getting in a few days a Fargen JW-40 head. As I understand it's a 2 channels amp: one channel is blackface and the other one more JTM-45 like.

http://www.fargenamps.com/fargen-jw-...der-guitar-amp

I'm planning to play 75% at home, and need a portable setup for the occasionnal gig.

So I'm planning to buy a Tube-Town dumble like Cabinet: http://www.tube-town.net/ttstore/pro...12-Dumble.html

This cab seems quite light and the dimension would fit the head perfectly.

My question is: what speaker would you use for that type of amp and cabinet?

Thinking about a Celestion G12-65 but the redplate blackverb thread makes me think about getting a WGS Retro 30. Any opinion or suggestion (keep in mind that I won't be able to push the amp very often) ? The Eminence maverick seems to be a good choice too for adapting the loudness to the situation, but there's not much feedback on how this speaker sounds.

Thanks

[ianb]

The WGS Retro, although not bad, does have a bit of a hi mid spike. It's not as strong as the V30 it's supposed to be modeled after, but still.......

I found my G12-65 to be ok but a little boring.

I much prefer the Scumback M75, which has a little more sparkle and detail, but still the warm fat mids without honk. I just ordered a J75, it is supposed to be a slightly brighter and punchier version, but less so than the H75.

I know, the Scummies are more expensive, but to me, worth it.

[soopajeanmi]

I'm in Europe. Scumbacks are really difficult to find here, or at insanely higher prices than in the US.

Any suggestion within brands easily accessible here: Celestion, GWS, Eminence ??

[ianb]

What character of tone are you after? I need more information before I could give you any sensible advice on other speaker choices.

[soopajeanmi]

Originally Posted by ianb

What character of tone are you after? I need more information before I could give you any sensible advice on other speaker choices.

I love Tomo's tone on pure:

http://www.emusic.com/album/Tomo-Fuj.../11916420.html

I love blackface tones, but not necessarily hyper bright or hyper-scooped ones. For exemple I have a PRRI and I couldn't really get used to the jensen C10R in it. I'm much happier with the weber 10F150T i put in it.

I love Robben Ford tones on Trust, typically cleaner than his usual tone. I love Larry Carlton later period clean tones.

I play with a clean tone 75% of my playing time.

For dirty tones, I like them mid-rangey, raw and warm. More 70's than 80's. Really like the lead tone of Jim Weider...

Thanks for helping!

[gstan]

Emi Wizard. That's what I have in my BlackBird 40, I was skeptical, but just as Ben assured me it is sweet with the BB when broken in.

[Scumback Speakers]

Originally Posted by soopajeanmi

For dirty tones, I like them mid-rangey, raw and warm. More 70's than 80's. Really like the lead tone of Jim Weider...

Thanks for helping!

The J75 Scumback was designed with Jim Weider's input (lots of it). He uses the 100w J75-LHDC with his amp, just to let you know. He's had the first one since April of 2010 when we finalized the design after going through about 4-5 different versions/models.

[ianb]

Well, it sounds to me like what you need from a speaker is quite different for clean or dirty tones. That does make it more difficult.

Of the Celestions, the G12-65 is pretty warm, not a lot of sparkle for cleans. The CL-80 is a more neutral speaker, it has better highs and lows, but less mids, and I think it would give you a good balance between clean and dirty.

Of the Eminences, the Wizard (hi power G12-30 type) is a pretty bright speaker, very efficient and loud. Good for cleans, but aggressive for dirt. Another option might be the Texas Heat, which is a little less bright, and has more mids. This speaker would again give you a good balance between nice BF cleans and dirty tones.

WGS makes several speakers that might work for you, not expensive ether. I only know the Retro, a V30-type speaker which indeed does give you decent cleans, although the mids are fairly strong. The dirty tones will be good, enough mids.

Of all of these, I'm inclined to advise you the CL-80 as a balanced and versatile speaker. But all others mentioned here are candidates.

I hope this helps.

O yeah, congrats with the amp! It's one I have always been interested in trying, but never seen over here.

[soopajeanmi]

Originally Posted by ianb

Of all of these, I'm inclined to advise you the CL-80 as a balanced and versatile speaker. But all others mentioned here are candidates.

Thanks a lot for the advice!

Here a sample of the fargen jw40 that was made with a Bogner Cab and a CL-80:

http://spiraless.com/fender1964/fargen_clean_strat.mp3

Maybe it's the strat used, but I think this is a tad too bright, hard and a bit too scooped in the mids: is that sample typical of the CL-80 tone?

[ianb]

I think the CL-80 is pretty neutral, so it could be the guitar. But BF cleans are kind of mid-scooped, and can be set fairly bright. Perhaps you would like the G12-65 beter, it does have less highs and more mids.

Of the Emi's, I certainly then wouldn't go with the Wizard, but check out the Texas Heat.

If I were you, I would also contact the builder to ask for his opinion.

[Spinoo]

My friend recorded this sample and I can assure you that the clean sound live is much fuller and has lot more harmonics. I would not choose a CL80 for this amp, maybe a G12H or derivative from Scumback.

[bobotwt]

Originally Posted by Scumback Speakers

The J75 Scumback was designed with Jim Weider's input (lots of it). He uses the 100w J75-LHDC with his amp, just to let you know. He's had the first one since April of 2010 when we finalized the design after going through about 4-5 different versions/models.

And IT RAWKS!!!!

Using a 100w J75 with a 30w Fargen Blackbird and its the best the amp has ever sounded! And that is after using a Scumnico for the past 2 years. Jim hit it out of the park with this one!

Josh

[ianb]

Guys, guys. Read first.

Scumback was what I recommended in the first place, post #2, but then the OP said they were too expensive for him.

[pula58]

Originally Posted by soopajeanmi

Thanks a lot for the advice!

Here a sample of the fargen jw40 that was made with a Bogner Cab and a CL-80:

http://spiraless.com/fender1964/fargen_clean_strat.mp3

Maybe it's the strat used, but I think this is a tad too bright, hard and a bit too scooped in the mids: is that sample typical of the CL-80 tone?

It does sound kinda bright...but...what about at a gig? Living room/practice space tones can be mis-guiding. Lots of times I dial-in my amp tones so I get perfection at home..and find that at a gig I am missing some high-end cut that I need. Try the CL-80 live and see how that goes would be my suggestion.

[soopajeanmi]

Originally Posted by pula58

It does sound kinda bright...but...what about at a gig? Living room/practice space tones can be mis-guiding. Lots of times I dial-in my amp tones so I get perfection at home..and find that at a gig I am missing some high-end cut that I need. Try the CL-80 live and see how that goes would be my suggestion.

I appreciate the suggestion. As I wrote, I play 75% of my time at home, so the tone has to be right in my practice room too.

Actually in my experience, at gig I find myself missing more often mids than high-end (in my view, high-end is more the range of the drummer and the percussionnist, I can't compete with cymbals )