• From: Aarhus, Denmark
  • Registered: 2013-01-05
  • Posts: 27

Topic: Okay guys, I need your opinion on this :-)

Hi everybody

In fear of making this post incomprehensible, I will try my best to make it readable. I sometimes stray in too many directions.

Okay here goes. I have a very elaborate idea about my guitar rig. Before I get to my question I will tell you about my current rig, and then where I'm intending to go with it. I run my guitar into my pedalboard which holds a:
Mad Professor SBOD -> Peterson Strobostomp tuner -> volume -> wah -> Boss flanger -> Boss delay, which then goes to my Mesa/Boogie Single Rectifier head running 4x12 with Greenbacks (I know, not the obvious choice).

Ever since I started playing with to amps simultaneous, I have always felt something lacking in playing with one amp only. I have done this with my second amp, a Marshall 2150 combo but that amp is awaiting repair. My sound is very mid-heavy with a fair amount of gain. I usually don't have my gain over 12 o'clock though, so playing at very high volumes gives it the last "soaring into feedback" that I love. A bit like Tool and Mastodon but a little less aggressive.

With that out of the way, here is my question: Do you think that running my Marshall 2150 through a 1x12" or 2x12" speaker cab loaded with EVM 12L's will sound good? Since I run both amps at the same time I know it's hard to estimate the outcome, but knowing what to expect from the Marshall - EVM 12L combination might help me a lot. I don't feel like having two 4x12 cabs, and as I already have a 1x12" cab it is just a matter of getting the speaker (and money for that too).


Phew ... I really hope that makes sense. English is not my native tongue, so if I need to rephrase something to make it clear just ask me smile

martindamm's Website

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

Re: Okay guys, I need your opinion on this :-)

I think you're asking the difference between 4x12 Greenbacks and 2x12 EVM 12L's.

I think you will hear a difference. EVMs will be cleaner, and won't breakup even at high volumes "soaring into feedback" like Greenbacks. Greenbacks are a lower wattage and will have "speaker breakup" similar to distortion. EVM have a much higher wattage, and will pretty much only distort when driven by a gain channel or a pedal.

If you like a loud clean tone, EVM can give you clear sparkly tone, where Greenbacks would have an over-driven edge to the sound. Eventaully, Greenbacks will fail, break, or blow up at louder volumes. EVM speakers are pretty heavy duty and I have never heard of one breaking.

I have never owned greenbacks, but have used them quite a bit. I personally prefer my 2x12 EVMs over 4x12 Greenbacks. Even thought the 2x12 EVM cabinet will weigh more!

- 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
  • From: Aarhus, Denmark
  • Registered: 2013-01-05
  • Posts: 27

Re: Okay guys, I need your opinion on this :-)

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

I think you're asking the difference between 4x12 Greenbacks and 2x12 EVM 12L's.

I think you will hear a difference. EVMs will be cleaner, and won't breakup even at high volumes "soaring into feedback" like Greenbacks. Greenbacks are a lower wattage and will have "speaker breakup" similar to distortion. EVM have a much higher wattage, and will pretty much only distort when driven by a gain channel or a pedal.

If you like a loud clean tone, EVM can give you clear sparkly tone, where Greenbacks would have an over-driven edge to the sound. Eventaully, Greenbacks will fail, break, or blow up at louder volumes. EVM speakers are pretty heavy duty and I have never heard of one breaking.

I have never owned greenbacks, but have used them quite a bit. I personally prefer my 2x12 EVMs over 4x12 Greenbacks. Even thought the 2x12 EVM cabinet will weigh more!

Ouch, my back hurts just thinking about the weight. As if a 4x12 didn't weigh enough as is. wink

I'm really torn on this one. My Marshall doesn't have endless gain on tap, and paired with my Rectifier it may be too clean sounding with EVM's. Perhaps I will benefit more with the Marshall running the Greenbacks to include a little speaker distortion to the sound, and let the Rectifier power the EVM's. The Rectifier is only 50 watts, so I'm a little unsure wether or not the sound will be weak, or even sterile?

On the other hand Joe is not sounding sterile at all. If I was to look for a Celestion, which one would you think came closes sound wise? They are cheaper and more available where I live.

Thanks smile

Edit: When you say "won't break up even at high volumes = soaring into feedback" do you mean that they won't do feedback no matter what?

martindamm's Website

4 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2013-01-09 10:31:41)

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

Re: Okay guys, I need your opinion on this :-)

Sorry I was unclear. It will feedback just like any normal speaker... no different there. I get nice controlled feedback from mine. My comment was more a comparason to GReenbacks. I was talking about the Greenback or V30 speakers distorting because they're being driven so hard by the amp. Their tolerance of EVMs are super high, the speakers won't distort because of being driven "too hard" by the amp like Greenbacks are famous for doing. if that makes any sense.

The speakers will not sound sterile. EVMs allow the personality of the amp to come through without "coloring" it with speaker personality. EVMs are pretty transparent and will only sound as good as the amp.

I've put a 15 watt Fender Blues JR tube amp through 2x12 EVMs and it sounded great. I don't think 50 watts would fail! I've even put those little Marshall micro stacks and cigarette box guitar amps through it just for fun, and it still is enough to make it loud.

You could go with 1x12 EVM if you're concerned about weight and 50 watts not being enough. Cheaper too! But in my experience, 2x12 cabs do a nice jobe "filling the room"...

- 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