10" Speakers....

[Otis5150]

So Saturday my bassplayer and did the usual pilgrimage to a few different music stores, just to see what's new, and he scores the deal of a lifetime: two used, top-notch, SWR cabs (4x10 and 1X18) in great condition for $400! I was excited as he was because it was an unbelievable deal.

We went back to my basement to hook 'em up and, just for fun, decided to hook his old Avatar 2x10 up to my head (Hughes&Kettner Switchblade) along with my Mesa Vertical 2x12. We were floored at the improvement in my sound! I love my Mesa, but adding the 2x10 gave my sound a top-end clarity that i didn't know I was missing, especially for clean stuff. And this is just a cheap Avatar cab...

Now I'm considering buying a better 2x10. Anyone else have experience using 10" speakers with their rigs?

[againstthewind]

Got me the strangest woman
Believe it, this chicks no sinch
When I wanna get her goin
Then I whip out my big ten inch

Record of the band that plays the blues
Well the band that plays the blues
She just loved my big ten inch
Record of her favorite blues

Last night I tried to tease her
I gave my love a little pinch
But she said now stop that jivin
Now whip out your big ten-inch

[twonabomber]

i bought a 10" Eminence to run my Valve Jr. through. i like it.

[homeunit]

I think you'd be better served with 12" speakers IMO. What kind of speakers are in your 2x12?

I'm right in the middle of upgrading my 4x12 and through my reseach I've found that a 12" gives (rock) guitar a good representation of the frequencies that a guitar deals with. Which 12" is th key. The only way I've found that's working for me is trying out a ton of different cabs with my rig.
John

[AT]

I've studied the differences between 10" and 12" speakers very little. Like the post above states, it's been my understanding that 12" speakers handle the overall frequencies of the guitar better. The former bass player in my band, though, once insisted I plug a Tele into his SVT rig and play it clean through the 8x10. He wasn't kidding--it was balls out; the tone was very "tight," if that makes any sense.

[homeunit]

it was balls out; the tone was very "tight," if that makes any sense.

...and no balls, right?

[homeunit]

the other thing to find out is what your head was designed for. In my case my head was designed around V30's, which normally sound like ass to me, but big suprise, they sound great with my head, so do your homework.
John

[Zahzoo]

homeunit doing homework..? Oh MY!!

Sometimes it's an eye opener trying different speaker sizes, types and setups. I would have to agree though that guitars and 12 inch speakers were a match made in heaven. Thing I've always found playing w/ 10" is great for mids and highs. So if your ear and musical tastes lean that way great... but is you like some bottom end with that mid-chunk... 12" is the answer.

[AT]

homeunit doing homework..? Oh MY!!

Sometimes it's an eye opener trying different speaker sizes, types and setups. I would have to agree though that guitars and 12 inch speakers were a match made in heaven. Thing I've always found playing w/ 10" is great for mids and highs. So if your ear and musical tastes lean that way great... but is you like some bottom end with that mid-chunk... 12" is the answer.

I think that was the idea behind the Tele thing I mentioned above. The 8x10 was awesome for a thinner, grinding, crunching Tele tone. Try and get some heavy rock tone out of it... unlikely.

[vanzefflin]

Multiple speakers sound better. Period. The overall response of a 10 verses a 12 is relative to the manufacturer. There are 10's that reproduce a wider spectrum than 12's. Again, depending on brand, cost, etc.. The real question is; What kind of response are you looking for? Celestions were always one of the cheapest speakers to manufacture (pre-Chinese). The paper is cheap. The voice-coil is small and so-on. The appeal to them is there ability to break up easily. For a double stoppin', chicken pickin' multi string bendin', steel guitar emulatin' country picker,.......not so desirable. Subjective to say the least.


I agree with the idea of trying different combinations and finding what works for you.

[Otis5150]

I think that was the idea behind the Tele thing I mentioned above. The 8x10 was awesome for a thinner, grinding, crunching Tele tone. Try and get some heavy rock tone out of it... unlikely.

I think it's the 2x10/2x12 combination that does it. I get a great heavy rock tone now. Of course, it also has to do with my H&K head!

[AT]

I think it's the 2x10/2x12 combination that does it. I get a great heavy rock tone now. Of course, it also has to do with my H&K head!

Interesting...

Do it up! Report back on how things sound!

[Otis5150]

Interesting...

Do it up! Report back on how things sound!

It sounds fantastic! Now I've got a nice clear high-end that i didn't know was missing. It's not brittle or trebbly at all, even with the serious gain that my Hughes & Kettner head can dish out. Just has a lot more presence and cuts through. And the clean sounds are amazing

I think it's the combination of the 2x10 and the 2x12, together. Keep in mind that the 2x12 is a Mesa (vertical) with 90 watt Black Shadow speakers. So I had a nice bottom end to start with.

Combining speakers makes sense though, bass players have been doing it for years and now some manufacturers are jumping on the idea for guitar cabinets. Randall makes a 2x12 + 1x15 for guitarists that i'd be interested in trying:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...net?sku=601011

ISP is taking it a step further ad adding a powered sub-woofer:

http://www.isptechnologies.com/vectorcab.htm

And also a Steve Lukather sub-woofer:

http://www.isptechnologies.com/vectorsl.htm

I'd like to test those out!