1 (edited by Burstbucker 2011-06-10 07:08:46)

Topic: Please suggest a pair of 12" speakers for my Traynor BassMaster 50W.

Hi guys, this is my first post here (if you don't count the one in the "introduction" area.)

I'll start with a gear question and end with a bit of a personal note, if anyone cares to read that much.

I used to have a mid 80s "Canadian edition" of the JCM800 50 watter, it had the JMP-style metal toggle switches on the front panel and extra internal fuse protection on the circuitboard (CSA mandated apparently).  I also had a 4x12" Marshall cab with original made-in-UK Greenback 12" speakers but I found that the amp sounded really stiff and sterile unless I had it dimed and that's not something that I usually get a chance to do.  The amp sounded great when cranked but I got this bright idea to sell it and now I'm thinking that that was probably a mistake.

I do however still have a 50 watt 1970 Traynor YBA-1 BassMaster head (with old Sylvania 6CA7 power tubes) which is basically a close cousin to the Bassman/JTM45 type of amp.  When hooked up to that Greenback 4x12 Marshall cab, it actually nailed old-school Marshall better then the JCM800 head that I now don't own anymore.

I found a used 1x12", Peavey 112SX closed back cab which has a Sheffield speaker in it.  I had heard good things about this speaker but I'm starting to think that I should get something else to do justice to my Traynor BassMaster head.

A 4x12 cab is just too big for me to transport, so a 2x12 cab would be more practical.  I liked the Greenbacks a lot but I"m not sure if a pair of Greenbacks would handle the 50 watts from my Traynor head.  I seem to recall that the Greenbacks are only rated 25 watts each, so they might be on the verge of frying when hit with a full fifty watts.  Am I correct or could the Greenbacks hold up in this application?

What the heck, if I see a used 4x12 Marshall cab going cheap, I might just buy it anyways and just use it in my house and get a smaller cab if I decide to play out.  Just looking for suggestions here.

BTW, I've been on the Joe Bonamassa band wagon ever since I bought my first JB CD four or five weeks ago.  I started out with Dust Bowl, then got Black Rock and finally, The Ballad of John Henry.  I didn't know much about this guy Joe Bonamassa but I had a good feeling that he's one of those guys that doesn't put out crap albums, and I was right thankfully.  His music is worth every cent.

If you read this Joe, thanks for that beautiful tune "Bird on a wire", it actually moves me to tears when I hear it! 

Last night I went out and bought the Black Country Communion CD (this is for my wife to give to me as my birthday gift to myself next week.)  I thought that since I'm turning the big 50 next week, I could get myself something really big and splashy like a new amp, etc... but as it turns out, my son turned 16 two weeks ago and I had to blow all of my cash on a bass guitar and bass amp for him, and now I'm broke!  8^)

Oh well, I have lots of gear already, just looking for more toys, you know how it is.

Re: Please suggest a pair of 12" speakers for my Traynor BassMaster 50W.

I honestly would go with EVM 12L's now that I own them.

I put them into a vertical 2x12 cab, and they sound ace. I didn't feel like taking up with my entire 4x12 (had V30s in it) in my trunk anymore.

The bad thing is even though EVMs sound the best to me, they are the heaviest speaker you can get, so you're not saving much in weight.

Celestion makes a super light speaker called G12 Century that would be the lightest speaker.
http://www.google.com/search?q=celestio … mp;bih=967

Most people around here would probably endorse a V30 or Alnico Blue, but it's all what you can afford and how you want your sound colored. The EVM's are going to be some of the most expensive, heaviest, but also most rugged and uncolored tone of all the choices....

- 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