Best 12" speaker for ODS and Open or Closed-Back Cab

[odourboy]

I'm very curious about the Tonkerlite - could someone tell me a little more about it. How does it compare sonically to a G12-64, EVM 12L or RW&B (all of which I have in my arsenal) or something different altogether?

I'll be doing a 'budget' conversion to something along the lines of a D'lite in a 1X12 combo and the low cost, light weight and small magnet size is very appealing.

[RJ Guitars]

Odourboy... I just won a TonkerLite on an EBAY auction so I'll let you know how it sounds when it gets here and I try it out. 1x12 combo that doesn't break your back... I'm all for it!.

I studied up on these speakers and the other neodymium magnet 12" speakers and they all get pretty good reviews. One common theme is that they don't tend to color the amp tone too much (like an alnico does). However, they do seem to get good full tone and they are apparently pretty efficient.

The only time I've seen anything specifically written about a tonkerlite is in this thread a few notes earlier.

I really wanted to try the Emimence Lil Texas - it sounded like it really favored my tone preferences, but the tonkerlite came up as a good buy for me first. Eventually I'd like to hear them all:

TonkerLite
Lil' Texas
Jensen Neo
Celestion Century

The Jensen Neo gets rave reviews all over the net and I know one guy using the Celestion Century and he says it is the best pure sound 12" speaker he has ever used.

We should start to get some more data on them as a few of us try them in an ODS.

rj

[stelligan]

odourboy,

heisthl makes a little amp that he calls "TweedyVerb" that is about the size of a Super Champ. He uses that speaker in it and it just floored me when I played it while visiting last month. A lot of it is likely the amp, but that was a BIG open sound coming out of the smallest of cabs. And light!! I must qualify that the amp is not a strict d-type. I'm sure you may have been to this Eminence page, but if you own anything on this page it may help you compare it's sonics to what you know - then try to imagine how it would work for you.
http://www.eminence.com/soundclips.asp

From memory I would put it between an RWB and G1265 - more highs and less mids than an RWB, not quite as balanced as the G1265.


RJ Guitars,
Let me know how it goes with the Tonkerlite. I've had my finger on the buy button for a month now. I just have such a roomfull of 12" speakers now I'm ashamed. I need to liquidate some.

[odourboy]

Thanks guys!

RJ - I second Stelligan's request for your opinion on the Tonkerlite once you've ad an opportunity to evaluate it in an ODS application. (My purchase can wait, so I'll likely hold off for a bit).

Stelligan - your report on Heisthl's Tweedyverb sounds encouraging. Maybe he'll chime in if he has anything to add.

[Luthierwnc]

On the subject of weight, the reissue G12-65 is not a very heavy speaker. I think it lists at 11 lbs but it feels like less than half an EVM. With the latter, you get the magnet and you get the cast frame. sh

[ampexplorer]

has anyone tried a JBL E120 in their build? I have one and it seems close to an EV clean but has a more speaker breakup when in overdrive. They are just as heavy as an EV and from what I have seen on line their current equivalent the Liberty 8 is expensive. I got my speaker used.

[Bob-I]

has anyone tried a JBL E120 in their build? I have one and it seems close to an EV clean but has a more speaker breakup when in overdrive. They are just as heavy as an EV and from what I have seen on line their current equivalent the Liberty 8 is expensive. I got my speaker used.

I tried a D120. It's ok, but I found it a bit brittle. I replaced the aluminum dust cap with paper and it's better. Still I'm less than thrilled with it.

[groovtubin]

My Electric 4X12 cab has 2X Eminence ManO`wars, and 2X Celestion G12M70`s, i MIC the Eminence, AWESOME either clean or OD, lovin it!

believe thats a EV copy??


My amp is a 90`s era version of a EL-34 w/HRM..

jim@Omega

[stelligan]

groovetubin',

We're looking for 1 12" that won't break the back and deliver most of the goods. Are you hiring out as a roadie? You 4 x 12 rawk animal you...... What does the Man 'O War sound like on it's own in a combo? The literature compares it to a G12-75. Handles a lot of power doesn't it?

[groovtubin]

groovetubin',

We're looking for 1 12" that won't break the back and deliver most of the goods. Are you hiring out as a roadie? You 4 x 12 rawk animal you...... What does the Man 'O War sound like on it's own in a combo? The literature compares it to a G12-75. Handles a lot of power doesn't it?

Hey Man!! Did i say i like it LOUD!! I CRANK IT AT CHURCH! lol! I have a FOAMED panel in front tho! lol! Otherwise granny would kik me out! FWIW, that speaker in my Diaz TWIN was VERY nice althobeit a 2 x12...open back, that is a early bassman circuit, not far from the 67 plexi! Smooth well defined, clear, not edgy at all to my HUMBLED ears

jimbob

[Funkalicousgroove]

what do you guys think of the swamp thing in a 1x12??

[odourboy]

what do you guys think of the swamp thing in a 1x12??

Unfortunately, never tried the Swamp Thang. What do you think of the Tonker in a 1X12?? If you could only have one, would you go Tonker or Swanp Thang?

[skyboltone]

Knowing what I now know, I don't think D's would work particularly well with AlNiCo's unless it was something like an SRO.

Good point. Before the EV-12L was available, HAD used Altec 417s. There are three types of those with large...heavy...Alnico magnets. The 75W version is the 417-C (used by Santana) and there are a couple 100W versions -- 417-8H (removable cover) and 417-8H II (no cover, painted black). I don't know if HAD moved to EV because the Altecs were discontinued or before, because he preferred them.

I've got an 8C and a 16 ohm 417 no suffix paper coil cover. I've tried them on 6BQ5 builds and they're a bit much. The Dumble modded Fender I had in the '70s had an 8C. For the amps I've been building lately I like the G12-65 and the Warehouse Veteran 30. I'm tempted to either have my 8C redone as a straight 417 or hunt high and low and find another 16ohm 417. The frame is completely different, I don't know about the gaps and magnet structure. Had moved to EV because of product availability problems at Altec. I'm also not sure if Altec ever intended the C to be strictly a guitar speaker. I've spoken to sound guys from the era and they mostly appreciated it for sound reinforcement/PA/monitor use. Not argueing just not sure.

[Bob-I]

what do you guys think of the swamp thing in a 1x12??

Unfortunately, never tried the Swamp Thang. What do you think of the Tonker in a 1X12?? If you could only have one, would you go Tonker or Swanp Thang?

I tried the Tonker, and found it a bit spiky in the mids even after several hours of breakin. Then I tried a Swamp Thang and found it a bit soft/spongy in the mids, but really nice on the top and bottom. At a whim I put one of each in a combo and damn it sounds good.

[Rob Livesey]

Hi Chaps,

Has anyone tried 25w greenbacks? I know the power handling of this speaker in a 2x12 would not handle a cranked 100w amp, but a 50w amp would be comfortable.

From the celestion website: "the G12-65 was originally created as a higher-power handling version of the G12M Greenback."

Cheers,
Rob.