Need 12" speaker suggestions for a solid maple half stack!

[Crate50watt]

Hey team, I'm building an 18w tmb head and a slant cab that I've mined from an awesome silver maple slab. I'm looking to get some speaker suggestions. Currently I play through a wgs veteran 30 + wgs et65, on a crate 50w or a jcm800 50w. I like the way those speakers sound, but this cabinet is going to look killer so I was wondering if I should just buck up and throw some celestions in there?
I normally play hard blues, hard rock or rock, but I also enjoy strumming clean chords every once in a while. I play though a mexican strat or strat copy with either active single coils or humbuckers.
I was thinking about throwing a couple creambacks and a couple greenbacks in there. Anyone think al ni co is worth the added cost? Are the new NEO  magnets worth the added cost? With this being solid, and I don't plan on cutting hand holes in the sides, should I scrap the ceramic types because of the weight?

[shooter]

My favorite 2X12 setup is a creamback and eminence legend.
Alnico was worth the money for my HiFi-ish amps, but can't comment on guitar use

[HotBluePlates]

Hey team, I'm building ... a slant cab that I've mined from an awesome silver maple slab. ...

First thing that comes to mind is the cab weight.  Second thing that comes to mind is, "How will the cab's sound differ from a birch ply cab?"

It seems like you ought to test the cab with some speakers you already know well once it is finished.  You'll hear any tendency to emphasize treble or upper mids.

Then you can make a choice about speaker that could mate well with the cab.  Sorry but I have no experience with the Neo mags, though they were the first thing I thought of when you said "Maple Cab".

[sluckey]

The Celestion Heritage G12H(75) and Heritage G12H(55) make a good combination for a Marshall type amp. Don't know how the maple cab will affect the sound, but I would expect it to sound bright.

[Crate50watt]

The Celestion Heritage G12H(75) and Heritage G12H(55) make a good combination for a Marshall type amp. Don't know how the maple cab will affect the sound, but I would expect it to sound bright.

I was thinking the same thing. I can tell you though that this is silver maple. According to the guy at the mill, this is a lot softer than typical hard or sugar maple. I noticed this when cutting it. It cuts almost like pine, which would lead me to believe it should sound warmer...
I guess there is only one way to find out! $$ $$

[jjasilli]

+1 to Hotblue.  Maple is a very bright sounding wood.  This may skew otherwise normal speaker choices.  That said, your original speaker choices seem good for the cab.


IMHO if you're building a half-stack, you've already forfeited the right to further consider weight!      Hence tone is the only factor left standing.

[MakerDP]

Currently I play through a wgs veteran 30 + wgs et65, on a crate 50w or a jcm800 50w. I like the way those speakers sound, but this cabinet is going to look killer so I was wondering if I should just buck up and throw some celestions in there?

What does the  look of the cabinet have to do with speaker choice? You are going to have a really hard time beating that combination of WGS speakers, at any price. Throw them in there and see if you like it before you do anything else. A Reaper would be a good alternative to the Vet 30.

[drgonzonm]

Currently I play through a wgs veteran 30 + wgs et65, on a crate 50w or a jcm800 50w. I like the way those speakers sound, but this cabinet is going to look killer so I was wondering if I should just buck up and throw some celestions in there?

What does the  look of the cabinet have to do with speaker choice? You are going to have a really hard time beating that combination of WGS speakers, at any price. Throw them in there and see if you like it before you do anything else. A Reaper would be a good alternative to the Vet 30.

I believe the sliver maple is a feature of the cab, and skin deep.  The question I believe, being discussed, how does the density, the wood cell structure contribute to how the speaker cabinet will sound.  The thread posters are addressing this.  Just wait for first deep scratches 

[Crate50watt]

I may just end up getting another set of four wgs . The two I have now sound great and are definitely the best value for the money. But man o man at ten pounds each, plus a thirty pound cabinet, and no handholes in the side means this bad boy is a two man lift. haha
Can't wait to get some oil on here and see this grain come out!

[MakerDP]

I may just end up getting another set of four wgs . The two I have now sound great and are definitely the best value for the money. But man o man at ten pounds each, plus a thirty pound cabinet, and no handholes in the side means this bad boy is a two man lift.

Consider doing it as a detuned cabinet. Basically, cut the baffle for four speakers as usual but only put two in there. The theory is that it is just as loud and sounds a little more "3D" and the weight loss is significant.

[smackoj]

My first thought was exactly what Maker just said, use less speakers. IMO the 4x12 cab was made famous when sound systems were over weight and under powered and the musicians wanted to make sure their music reached the back of the hall. I don't think that is an issue nowadays but high paid players still lug them, or their roadies do because they are use to the sound and it gives a 'power' visual effect on stage. I personally have never owned or played thru a four-twelve slant cab, but if I wanted the best sound from an 18 watt Bluesbreaker, I would go with one or two Celestion G75-12 speakers. They love screaming highs and they are plentiful so the price stays very reasonable.   

[tubeswell]

I love Celestion Heritage G12, G12H or G12M.


But if you want smoking' mojo, use 4 x Celestion Blues and keep the amp below 50W

[Crate50watt]

Here is a link to my RCampCO facebook page. I added all the photos to a slideshow for this cabinet. It turned out amazing!

https://www.facebook.com/rcampco/

https://www.facebook.com/rcampco/videos/280794622382649/

[SolidStateCircuitReject]

Congrats, Crate50watt.....

Looks beautiful and you have something unique. I recently made two cabs, one birch and the other solid pine and I prefer the pine one myself. I have been thinking of trying out different woods also... I prefer to learn for myself what something will sound like vs hearsay.

[roseblood11]

Have you tried the Eminence CV-75? I like them better than Celestions for "modern" Marshall sound.

[Crate50watt]

Congrats, Crate50watt.....

Looks beautiful and you have something unique. I recently made two cabs, one birch and the other solid pine and I prefer the pine one myself. I have been thinking of trying out different woods also... I prefer to learn for myself what something will sound like vs hearsay.

Hey thanks man. I appreciate the kind words. I put a TON of work into that damn thing. I have built a couple pine cabinets and they sound amazing. This maple cab sounds similar to what  I would assume the pine cabinet does. Pine is quite a bit softer so would theoretically give you a warmer tone, but I can't really tell much difference (also the pine cabs I've built are only 112 combos, not 412's) . The front and back panels on this amp are 1/2'' birch ply so they really give the speakers some flexibility and this thing gets STOOOOPID loud with this JCM800 on top of it.

I can get some pretty gnarly solid pine lumber for relatively inexpensive from a local lumberyard so I will probably just  stick with that in the future. The maple, oak, cherry, walnut, birch etc... is great looking but pretty expensive... Not to mention, it seems as if the prettier the wood, the harder it gets.


I keep forgetting to thank Mr. Hoffmann for providing all these schematics and information for us to have fun with. Because of him, I now have my dream amp and a sick ass looking 412 combo to go with it, ALL HAND BUILT!

Have you tried the Eminence CV-75? I like them better than Celestions for "modern" Marshall sound.

No roseblood, I have not tried the eminence speaker... My thought was that if I tried to sell this cabinet (which I will absolutely do for the right price) It would move faster with the celestion speakers in it. I was torn between WGS setup and the celestions but decided on the latter. I am not disappointed AT ALL!

[plumcrazyfx]

I know it is very small compared to what you are doing but I have a Vibro Champ cab made in Maple with a Jensen P8R that I have my Bassman 20 mounted in.  My experience is Maple is bright and the notes seem to jump out of the cab.  I don't think the cab itself adds a ton to the sound other than reflecting the sound (and reflecting a lot of the highs and responding fast) - it doesn't vibrate with the speaker as much and lets the speaker do most of the tone work.  I could see going one of two ways - either compensate by going with a warmer speaker or going with the natural tone and looking for a very articulate speaker.  I could see that ending up with constantly turning down the treble to not sound harsh.  I think maple would be great in that way if you wanted to play country or modern metal.  If it were me I'd be careful to not go overly middy and I could see it getting very hollow sounding pretty easy with something like a Vintage 30.

[Crate50watt]

I know it is very small compared to what you are doing but I have a Vibro Champ cab made in Maple with a Jensen P8R that I have my Bassman 20 mounted in.  My experience is Maple is bright and the notes seem to jump out of the cab.  I don't think the cab itself adds a ton to the sound other than reflecting the sound (and reflecting a lot of the highs and responding fast) - it doesn't vibrate with the speaker as much and lets the speaker do most of the tone work.  I could see going one of two ways - either compensate by going with a warmer speaker or going with the natural tone and looking for a very articulate speaker.  I could see that ending up with constantly turning down the treble to not sound harsh.  I think maple would be great in that way if you wanted to play country or modern metal.  If it were me I'd be careful to not go overly middy and I could see it getting very hollow sounding pretty easy with something like a Vintage 30.

Dude this amp sounds ridiculous. Not too bright, not too bassy, but juuuust right. The greenbacks and the vintage 30s are a crazy good combo and in this cabinet they really shine!