Some Speaker help

I'm looking to get some new speakers for my 4x12 guit fiddle cab. Currently I have a hodge pogde including a coupla black widows and a coupa others I can't even remember. I was wanting to go with celestion greenbacks but I'm confused as to the type. I know how to properly wire the speakers to achieve any of the common desired loads, but this still leaves me with many choices. 8 ohm or 16 ohm, serial or parallel?

I'm looking for a vintage vibe and I'm wondering if you kind folks can explain to me what each configuration might give me tone wise and amp strain wise? My head is able to accomodate 4 ohm, 8 ohm, stereo 16 ohm, or 16 ohm.

What general sound can I expect. I really don't want to buy both the 8 and 16 ohm speakers to test each configuration.

My gut feel is to get the 8 ohm'ers and wire it for 8

Anyone have input here? I realize this is an open question but bear in mind I'll only take these responses in general terms and will hold noone accountable

Thanks in advance

I say put some car stereo speakers in like Derek Trucks. Heck, they dont even EQ his tracks half the time, how much better do you want the tone to be? :eek:

I'd suggest you take a look at the Eminence Patriot and Red Coat series before spending a ridiculous amount on Celestion speakers. I used to have 2 Eminence Wizards and 2 Governors in my Marshall 4x12 cab. That was a very nice combination. I ran 16ohm speakers, and the cab was wired so that it could be run 4 ohm mono, 16 ohm mono, or 8 ohm stereo. Whether it's wired series or parallel won't have an effect on the tone in the least bit. The different wiring just allows you to change the load.

I've decided to go with speakers made by a guy named Ted Weber. I found out his suff is the s***. ~ $100 per speaker but these a custom made and broken in.

That is also a very good choice! LATS will be proud.

I would go with the 16 ohm celestion greenbacks parallel. :cool:

The really cool thing is Ted Weber's shop is in the town where my brother lives. I asked if I could have a tour, he replied "Sure, stop by anytime"
I'd love to see that place in action

That's awesome bud! Be sure to let us know how that goes.

I wouldn't use car stereo subwoofers in a guitar rig. They use too much wattage (A POS Dirt-cheap one runs at 150W RMS @ 8ohms) and their frequency response is better suited to a bass guitar. Plus car-audio speakers are only designed to work in enclosed cases (or ported) and it'd be foolish to put them in a free-air cabinet (All guitar cabinets are free-air cabinets) because it reduces their wattage handling and nobody can figure out an equation on how much since it varies indefinitely (between speakers).

In a bass cabinet built to the proper size (Recommended by the speaker manufacturer, usually 1.5 cubic feet per subwoofer), it might not be a bad idea if you could find an amp powerful enough to drive 4 of them; I always wondered about hooking a mono-bloc amp to 120AC and seeing if I could use it to power a home-made cabinet (you'd get no EQ though).

Originally Posted by: GargyI wouldn't use car stereo subwoofers in a guitar rig. They use too much wattage (A POS Dirt-cheap one runs at 150W RMS @ 8ohms) and their frequency response is better suited to a bass guitar. Plus car-audio speakers are only designed to work in enclosed cases (or ported) and it'd be foolish to put them in a free-air cabinet (All guitar cabinets are free-air cabinets) because it reduces their wattage handling and nobody can figure out an equation on how much since it varies indefinitely (between speakers).

Derek Trucks seems to like it... :rolleyes: