TSA15H Speaker choice?

modulator

So I have just taken delivery of an Ibanez TSA15H amplifier (nice price off RARU), using a Marshall Haze 40 as a cabinet for the interim. Question: For a dedicated cabinet, what sort of speaker should I consider to source? I play indoors, bedroom mostly, would in all probability never play a gig, and if so, small venue only. I was thinking a 12" driver, but I guess a 10" would work too. Any ideas? 2 x 8"? All I read is confussing, this mellow there and that tight there and so loose here words of no help and meaning. Every turn has a "greenback" pasted on it, but surely, for the cash-strapped guitarist ( = buying TSA15H and not Blackstar 1 Watt or Marshal JMP1 amps) there must be suitable alternatives? Celestion TEN 30? Seventy 80? Rocket 50? Some odd WEBER?

Oh, how does it do? Still a long way to answer that, but a Strat-alike is good, I like the Tube Screamer effect, and the valves-only has a nice valve sound, I still have to evaluate humbuckers on it. And yes, so what, it all depends on the speaker and cab and playing style and attack and strings and guitar setup and room size and amp placement and so forth, as well as personal preference and so on.

But it seems to be an amp I can use. It has a "Standby" switch, which many other smaller amps lack. Built-in TubeScreamer circuit, giving all the distorted waveform I would ever want, so need for that type of pedal in line. 3 dB Gain switch, which does add a good bit of body to the sound of the Single Coil guitar. Multiple speaker outputs. Handy. 5W - 15W power switch. Which I still have to evaluate. According to the circuit diagram I have, almost every part of the amp has several fuses. No reverb, whatever that might be, never used it. I would miss chorus and echo effects, but for now, let just sort out the amp settings. It is quiet. I hope it stays like that.

V8

I'm a fan of the laney 2x12 cub cab and that comes with a a pair of Seventy 80's. Nice size and it sounded pretty good when we tried : laney cub 12 head, the Micro Terror and a homemade 2w transistor head.

Nice size of cab too, I'd consider that portable (and I hate carrying things).

Heard good things about the vintage 30 - a tone fiend recently bought a creamback (R5000!) to replace his tired vintage 30 - he swapped them out and the the next day put the vintage 30 back in.

For me I'd go 1x12 for the bedroom and rare gig or 2x12 if I needed to fill a bigger room or wanted more presence (more more air).

JGP

Hi Modulator

I assume you will you be building your own cab? I would suggest the Celestion V Type as a great value option. R1,900 incl. VAT plus delivery outside of Gauteng. A G12M Greenback is always an option for lower power valve amps at R2,575. If you really want to keep cost (and size) down the Ten 30 punches well above it's price of R875.

Rocket 50 is a real entry level 12" speaker best suited to solid state amps. Seventy 80 is a very neutral sound which works well with modelling amps or for those looking to get their tone out of pedals or other electronics as opposed to overdriven valves or specific speaker tone.

Meron the Creamback is a very different sound to the Vintage 30, not better or worse, just different. It is also way less than 5K, more like 3. Alnico Cream is just over 5K

modulator

JGP

Useful info, the estimated costs... I was considering the Ten 30, but at that price I might as well build a 2 x 10 cabinet. 12" would be nice, but I read that a 10" might deliver a "tighter" sound. Please PM me with info of where I actually order these toys or obtain a price list of the Celestion series?

V8

JGP wrote: Hi Modulator

I assume you will you be building your own cab? I would suggest the Celestion V Type as a great value option. R1,900 incl. VAT plus delivery outside of Gauteng. A G12M Greenback is always an option for lower power valve amps at R2,575. If you really want to keep cost (and size) down the Ten 30 punches well above it's price of R875.

Rocket 50 is a real entry level 12" speaker best suited to solid state amps. Seventy 80 is a very neutral sound which works well with modelling amps or for those looking to get their tone out of pedals or other electronics as opposed to overdriven valves or specific speaker tone.

Meron the Creamback is a very different sound to the Vintage 30, not better or worse, just different. It is also way less than 5K, more like 3. Alnico Cream is just over 5K

Great info JGP, thanks & Thanked!

I got the info thrid hand via a mutual friend so the details might have gotten lost in translation ?

modulator

JGP

I checked, the speaker in the amp I am using as a cabinet for the TSA15 is a Celestion G12T-66. Don't see that in the catalogue, only have a G12T-75. How would your recommendations compare with the G12T-66?

Wizard

There are different reasons for an "upgrade":
- Wanting to get "that sound" you've got stuck in your head; that your current amp/speaker isn't delivering
- One speaker just being better than another on some more measurable basis

JGP wrote: Meron the Creamback is a very different sound to the Vintage 30, not better or worse, just different. It is also way less than 5K, more like 3. Alnico Cream is just over 5K

Agreed.
The gent being quoted is definitely hunting for a particular sound in his head that is closer to the Vintage 30 than to the Alnico Cream he just bought.

At one stage I had a BlackStar HT5 which was good for me - but not great.
A fellow forumite had a Fender SuperChamp XD which was good for him - but not great.
We did a straight swap - and both got much happier.
It's about the sound you're looking for.

I have very limited experience & only know what I like & don't like:

- before I sold my Laney Cub 10 I replaced the stock speaker with a 2nd hand Celestion vintage something.
Massive difference - a speaker can make a very big difference to the sound of a system.

- recently built a little amp based on the LM386 IC / "Ruby" amp.
When played through a small portable radio speaker it has one sound. Small. Heavily over-driven.
On a whim I hooked it up to a 50 year old speaker from my Valve amp labelled "Fender Musical Instruments | Special Design Speaker".
Holy moly - it sounded unbelievably fabulous.
A speaker makes a massive difference to the sound of a system !!!
In this case, size does matter.

- After re-listening to my valve amp with above speaker, was suddenly conscious that the bass notes were soft & flabby.
I thought I'd broken it by using it with my homebrew amp. With hindsight though I think I've just become more aware of sound after playing with amp builds.
Fabulous Graham from Gear Junkie trialed me a 12" speaker he'd pulled out of a dead Marshall Valvestate.
Which sounds amazingly fresh, new & tight - highlighting that my "Fender Special Speaker Design" is probably a bit tired after 50 years and needs some maintenance.

- So far I've preferred all 12" speakers to 10". I just like the "feel". It hits you in the chest harder & I like that feeling.
I have no experience of 2x10 compared to 1x12. Something to try.

I'm a fan of the laney 2x12 cub cab and that comes with a a pair of Seventy 80's. Nice size and it sounded pretty good when we tried : laney cub 12 head, the Micro Terror and a homemade 2w transistor head.

Indeed. That was a big day.
That experience triggered the build of the LM386 amp.
And the quest for a stand-alone cab.

JGP

I checked, the speaker in the amp I am using as a cabinet for the TSA15 is a Celestion G12T-66. Don't see that in the catalogue, only have a G12T-75. How would your recommendations compare with the G12T-66?

The G12T-66 is a special build for Marshall, I have no idea what it sounds like so regretfully cannot suggest alternatives.

MoJo-JoJoe

I have the Ibanez TSA 1x12" cab in black (very scarce) loaded with a Seventy/80 from the factory. It's a great match for your head. I'm not using it so if you're interested in buying it, send me a PM and we can discuss.

modulator

I am looking into building a cab to my requirements, but will keep your cab in mind. Probably less work...

modulator

I should be ashamed, but the 12 inch cabinet is not built yet. I have been playing this amp through that 10" cabinet with the Celestion Ten-Thirty, always knowing I am missing something. I have (Thanks JohanP) located a Celestion G12-35XC, forced it into the 10" cabinet, and tried it with the pointy guitar. I really enjoyed myself, it was the first time since I bought that guitar I experienced it's true character. Amazing. The amp is nice too.

I shall soon, soon, build the 12" cabinet, and try some speakers there. I have fitted a Celestion A-Type in the Marshall Haze 40, made a hufe difference as well. Separate thread for that one.

Yes, well, speaker choice does matter, it really does.

Makeshift, flimsy, carboard reiforced baffle.

Tight fit.

guidothepimmp

I have 2 1x12 cabs. One has an eminence.. the other has a v30 celestion. The v30 sounds muuuuuuch nicer to my ears than the eminence. Similarly.. my JP le Roux combo came with a v30... and it is also epic sounding imho. My old laney lc30ii was loaded with a 70eighty. Not bad sounding.. just found it a bit jarring.. a bit harsh sounding. Dont know if it was the speaker or the amp.

Dont know if that helps any.. but yeh. A 1x12 should suffice. And the vintage 30 is solid imho

modulator

The 12” cabinet is still lines on paper.

The Celestion Ten-Thirty was not bad, but not quite there yet. I ordered a Celestion 10 inch Greenback, as well as a G10 Vintage, resisted the G10 Gold lure, and they arrived this weekend. Unfortunately, I am in the process of testing bias settings on my Marshall amp (long post on that to follow), so, patience will be required before I can start evaluating the new speakers. May want to re-do the baffle to allow "front loading" to ease testing.

modulator

I did get time to fit the G10 Greenback, and give it a quick test. Initial impression is that is indeed quite bright, I get a lot of chime/sparkle with the Ibanez. I think it will be a bit much with the single coils. I shall evaluate and report my findings. Postponing the 12 inch cabinet build indefinately...

modulator

Previous post revisit. The Greenback went into the 8" cabinet for tests with the 5F1 amp. It did not impress there. It is back in the 10" cabinet, bolting the 8" Baffle to the 12" baffle until such time I find plywood for a new baffle, or make an adapter ring.

The Greenback may stay. It works well with this amplifier and cabinet. It does sound better with the Ibanez than with the Squier Strat's single coils. The single coils gets glassy very easy.
Next up will be fitting a new G10 Creamback into this cabinet, to evaluate that, before I fit it into the VOX AC10C1.

Regret to report that the 12" cabinet is still not built. I shall keep this cabinet with 10" speaker, and when required, build a 12" cabinet for that G12-35XC.