• From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Topic: Hemp Cone Speakers

Anybody have good luck with hemp cone speakers?  hmm
besides construction material, wondering what the draw is. Especially for non-hippy guitar players.


Joe Bonamassa wrote:

In my experience the hemp based product is better for quilts and rope than for speakers.. that's all.. Warren has killer tone and would sound the same through a solid state amp.,..Its in his hands really.. If he likes them that's great.. I know Carlos Santana uses them too.   I might be in the way minority.. but on this forum I always give my frank and honest opinion.  I'm not right all the time but I will say this my 100 watt amps burned the hemp cones up in about 15 mins.. granted I was using two instead of four but it didn't take long.. They are a lot of money so if it helps people narrow down their options I've done my good deed for the day..
Joe B

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2007-11-04
  • Posts: 404

Re: Hemp Cone Speakers

I would trust any suggestion from Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, and Santana.  I've played thru amps with these speakers and they sounded fine.  I absolutely would put them in my amps but the speakers I have in them now sound fine. I've been told they have a very warm quality to them.

Joe doesnt like them but he has a particular way he likes his amps... loud as hell.  Putting a hundred watts thru about any speaker is a good way to blow them.  EV's are built to take the volume. 

I've never needed a hundred watts to sound good. My AC 30 has been great. I'd love to try the tone tubbies in that and see what happens. I just dont have the expendible income.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Hemp Cone Speakers

If 100 watt amps fry a hemp cone speaker,
Is it ok to have a 55watt tube amp drive a 50watt hemp cone speaker?

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2007-11-04
  • Posts: 404

Re: Hemp Cone Speakers

I would contact TONE TUBBY and ask them. I am pretty sure they are the standard for hemp cone speakers.
From my understanding just because you have a hundred watt amp doesnt mean 100 watts is running thru the speakers at all time. Doesnt marshall use 25 watt greenbacks in their cabinets.  I think they also use them in the 2x12 combos.

Anyway i'd ask because there is no way i'd trust anyone other than the maker with the chance of blowing 200 dollar speakers.

  • Registered: 2010-03-21
  • Posts: 197

Re: Hemp Cone Speakers

Well when you play on 11 they get really hot and the smoke tends to mellow the audience  big_smile  I kid I kid.

Being a hippy at heart I believe Hemp is pretty much a wonder plant so would support any use of it as a material. It really is a wonderful plant with so many uses. Obviously you have the ecological/enviromentaly friendly aspect but as for the actual performance of the cones I will have to leave that for the experts

'A ROBIN REDBREAST IN A CAGE SETS ALL OF HEAVEN IN A RAGE' - William Blake
  • doc
  • Bronze Member
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  • Registered: 2009-10-19
  • Posts: 48

Re: Hemp Cone Speakers

i've heard the 50 watt tubby's in a carr ranbler--cranked.  very warm--really handled the drive well.  this amp has been running hard for the past 3 years--no issues yet.  & on clean, very nice.  i still like ev's & jbl's for my 100 watters, but i'm still gonna try some tubby's in a 2x12    cool

  • macg1
  • BONAMETAL
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  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Hemp Cone Speakers

I have a Cannabis Rex in my 1965 Gibson GA-20 RVT MInuteman and it is a heavenly tone.  Now it is  alow wattage amp so that may be part of it.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Hemp Cone Speakers

I think they'd be cool in a lower-wattage application.  Sounds like they don't take the abuse that Joe puts on his speakers well.  If I had a small Tweed combo or Fender I'd be willing to give them a fair shot.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.