Celestion Rocket 50s

[BobF]

Suck or not?

[Squier]

> BobF <nos...@please.spam> wrote:

> Suck or not?
>

the suck bad. real bad.

the only inexpensive (cheap?) bargain budget speaker that
Celestion makes that I give a pass to is the Seventy-80 speaker
which can actually sound fairly good in a closed back cab although
as a single speaker even in a closed back there are far better options out there.
But in a multiple configuration (2x12 closed back or 4x12 close back)
they can make an affordable and usable alternative to higher priced speakers.

But the Rocket 50 -- you might as well toss your money away on
something else... like pizza or burgers and be far more satisfied.
The Rocket 50 sounds like cardboard and there is no helping it.
If you don't believe me - then buy one and try it out and you'll
be here again warning others to not get that speaker.

Never cheap out on speakers. Yeah - I know some old timers here
will tell you that they bought some $10 speaker and it's the best
thing since sliced bread. And I suppose if you are after that lo-fi
crappy sound then in certain circumstances that might be desirable.
But for most it just ain't so.

If you want another budget speaker option that truly sounds good
take a look (or listen) to the Jensen MOD series of speakers.
These are (imho) some of the best bargain priced speakers out there
and perform and sound like much more expensive speakers. Good stuff!

Give a look to the Jensen MOD 12-70. It's a nice all-around speaker
that can sound good clean to mean. And it's priced very afforably.

The other 'bargain' brand that also sounds and performs very good
are the Eminence "Legend" series of speakers. My favorite from the
Legend series is the Legend GB12. A great speaker!

ok - that's my 2 cents.

[BobF]

I was told you might respond here, Squier. Thanks for the input.

What's your take on WGS?

Right now I have the cheap Acoustic 4 x 12, with Acoustic labeled speaks.

I use this with a Blackstar HT5R head and it actually sounds pretty
good. When I bought the cab I actually took my head in and played it
thru a buncha cabs and this one made the most sense.

The speaks are 8 ohm ... I've experimented with various configs; 1 x 12,
2 x 12 and 4 x 12.

Since I don't gig, the 4 x 12 is more than enough. I would like to
settle on a decent 1 x 12 and a 2 x 12, BUT loudness is not something I
need.

I'm not even sure if different speakers would do much for me :)

[Squier]

WGS speakers can be excellent! But I would not consider them 'budget' speakers
since their pricing (although lower than the Celestion counterparts they tend
to emulate) is not exactly cheap.

But yes - you can save quite a bit by buying WGS speakers.

here's my own take on WGS speakers (and I have had the pleasure to play
almost every speaker they offer). If you are looking for 12 inch speakers
my own favorites are the tried and true WGS Veteran 30 for a 1x12 cab.
It's a smoother sort of Celestion Vintage 30 type of speaker that still
gives a forceful punch without the overly mid peaky sound of the Celestion V30.
The other speaker I like for a 1x12 cab is the WGS ET65. It's a little more
softer in the bottom end and has more 'round' sound to it than the Veteran 30
and works well for all sort of music (although it's a little too soft in the
bottom end for heavier rock and metal). But it's a very nice speaker for
practically anything else and has a nice 'feel' to it when you play.

Now for a 2x12 I like to use a mix of speakers. This way when playing
unmic'd - the blend of 2 different speakers sounds like 1 huge speaker
and puts out a great sound (stand back from a 2x12 about 12 feet away or more
and if you still hear that cab as 2 different speakers - then that's not good.
The 2x12 should blend into one sound where it doesn't sound like 2 speakers
but one big speaker... hopefully that makes sense).

Anyways - it all depends on what you want.

I have used a mix of WGS HM75 (one of the best speakers for modern music and
heavy rock and metal) although it won't do mid honk bluez or mid punched leads very well) and
the WGS Veteran 30. Each speaker complimented the other and I could use this
2x12 configuration for all sorts of music playing both rhythm and leads.

If you want more of a 'classic' setup then go for the 2x12 using
the WGS Reaper 55Hz cone speaker and either a Veteran 30 or ET65.
You can't go wrong with this combination for most any type of music
although if you mostly play modern stuff, high gain or metal then
use the WGS HM75 in pairs or HM75 and Veteran 30 mix.

Now if you want a brighter and snappier type of "Vintage 30" speaker
that stays a little tighter than a Vintage 30 or the WGS Veteran 30
than use the WGS Retro 30. The Retro 30 is actually voiced much like
the original Vintage 30 speaker. (Even today's Celestion Anniversary Vintage 30
while keeping the "Vintage 30" name on the speaker is no where near the same
as the original sound of the Vintage 30). Anyways - the WGS Retro 30
actually captures what the original Vintage 30's sound like (and you might
like this or not). Again - it's a brighter, snappier sound with a very
tight bottom end and more 'upper mids' than lower mids.

I would avoid the WGS Green Beret unless you are ONLY ever going to play
at home. These speakers have a very nice "Greenbac" type of feel and sound
but as they break in they become a little too "smooth' and lose that
Greenback 'raunch' that happens to keep them in a band mix effectively.
But the "Green Beret" speakers as they break in start to lose that edge
and although a home player might like a smoother sound - when playing live
with a 2x12 of these - they got lost in the mix - where actual 2x12 with
Celestion Greenbacks stay in the mix and keep that 'raunch' and edge to them
(many home players have not had a chance to experience what types of sounds
actually work well in a live band mix and many home players do not like
sounds that might sit in a band mix perfectly but seem abrasive when playing
at home).

I think your idea of having a good 1x12 and 2x12 setup are very good.
And I think that if you set yourself up with a 2x12 you will start to
gravitate playing a lot through the 2x12. Not necessarily for volume
but for the sound and 'feel' you get playing through a rig with multiple
speakers. There's something that even the best 1x12 setup cannot approach
the sound and spread and 'feel' of a 2x12 or 4x12 (or 2x10 or 4x10).

Another tip from my experiences: Do not expect a new speaker to have
to some great metamorphosis or some huge change after a break-in period.
Yes - certain things will happen - the bottom end can tighten up - the
mids can soften up and the top end can sound a little smoother and sweet
but don't expect massive changes --- if the speaker(s) you choose to use
are not even 'in the ballpark' of what you want to hear - then even during
a break in period - they are not magically going to change into something else.

However, if you decide on speaker(s) and they are 'in the ballpark' of what
you want -- then when they break in they will get even better.
it takes time to 'break in' a speaker - take a sheet of paper and
ball it up - then unball it - then ball it up again and then open it up
and do this a lot -- that piece of paper starts to soften up and feel like
tissue -- this is an exagerated analogy of what a speaker goes through as
it gets played for hundreds (thousands?) of hours as the suspension and
paper cone gets moving in and out -- -but the speaker will soften up.
Don't think that playing at moderate volume for a few hours suffices for
deeming a speaker 'broken in'. Personally you might never truly properly
break in a speaker playing a low volumes no matter how long its played -
and playing at moderate volumes where you actually start to move the cone
a bit might take 50 or 60 hours of playing just to start the break in period
along its way. So it takes a while... be patient. The changes are evident
if you are paying attention and then the speaker 'settles' in where the
degredation occurs so slowly that it's hard to tell if anything more is changing.
So you're all set to go from there. The speaker(s) will essentially sound the
same to you at this point and remain sounding as they are for a long time.

Good luck with your project - I think having a good 1x12 and 2x12 setup
is essential for anyone that wants to take their playing seriously and
will have you ready for all sorts of music and possibilities.

Last bit of advice: Have your 2x12 setup sound different than you 1x12 setup.
Perhaps have your 1x12 setup able to get all the nice clean and slight overdrive
sounds... Fendery type stuff (for want of a better way to describe it here).

And then let your 2x12 unleash the overdriven stuff and be able to handle
it and compliment those styles using a different selection of speaker choices.

No use having 2 cabs with the same speakers that sound the same.

Sorry if I type way too much. Just trying to give a good reply back to you.

[BobF]

Squier -

No apology necessary for typing too much ... I appreciate you taking the
time to provide a thoughtful response to my question.

My experience so far agrees with your recommendation for 2x12. My 4x12
spends most of it's time wired as a 2x12.

I never play out. I'm fortunate enough to have a 20x20 dedicated to my
music and no neighbors closer than 1/4 mile.

Thanks again for the specifics. I've saved this for future reference.

BobF

[Pt]

I hope you are not running your 4X12 at 2 ohms.

Pt

[BobF]

On 4/25/2014 10:08 AM, Pt wrote:
>>>
>
> I hope you are not running your 4X12 at 2 ohms.
>
> Pt
>

Why would I do that?