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Post by zerofivefour on Mar 10, 2017 10:44:42 GMT -5
Hi all,
New member to the board, and soon to be new owner of the quickrod.
Few questions regarding speaker pairing for the QR.
I have 2 cabs currently, a 4x12 and 2x12. Both are Mesa cabs, both loaded with V 30s. The 4x12 is the traditional, (marshall sized cab, not oversized), the 2x12 is a recto cab. After reading many forums and threads, I came across a few that stated V-30s are not the speaker of choice for the QR. I also noticed some are using the small blocks.
I emailed Scott Splawn, and he suggested the Creamback M's. I do intend on taking his advice and eventually getting a splawn cabinet loaced with Creambacks, but it is out of my budget currently.
My goal for QR tones are the classic 80's hair tones, lynch, de martini, takasaki, lead and rhythm etc...I do love a good clean as well.
Anyone that cares to share their experiences regarding speakers is appreciated.
Using 2 charvels with SD RTM, and JB in the bridge, as well as EBMM lukes with EMG 85s in the bridge.
Thanks much,
Cheers,
Tom
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Post by gtrjunior on Mar 10, 2017 12:09:48 GMT -5
When I got my QR I had a 2x12 Marshall with 12t-75's....not the right speaker imo. Soon after I ordered a Port City OS 2x12 and got a set of small blocks for it. Amazing speakers. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to you. One of the other members here (briman) recently got some Creambacks so he could tell you more about them than I could.
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Post by splawndude on Mar 10, 2017 12:58:43 GMT -5
Hey 054 Welcome to the board and welcome to the family. There is a wealth of information here so if you don't find something that you are looking for you can simply create a new thread for it. We could use the activity TBH as it has been slow lately. You can also feel free to PM me if you can't find something. First of all, I do not have any direct experience with Creamback M's. If Scott personally recommended those for your situation then I've got to believe he's right - as he plays mostly the same kind of stuff. For reference, I like 70's, 80's, 90's, and modern rock and metal (metalcore/nu-metal) and I like my cleans to be pretty clean. In other words, I'm all over the board. I'm also just a basement wannabe I have a Mesa Trad 4x12 with V30s and I also have Splawn 2x12 with Small Blocks. I gotta say, for what I do, this covers everything. I primarily run my Mesa Rectoverb into the Mesa cab and Splawn into Splawn. That said, as you've heard, the the Splawn does not sound all that great into the Mesa 4x12 (w V30s) BUT the Rectoverb sounds great into the Splawn 2x12. Question: Are you going to be just running the 1 - Quick Rod, or do you have other amps that need cabs? I ask for several reasons. If just the one amp, then do you plan to run it into 2 cabs (for gigging or whatever). If multiple amps, do you need to run both maps/cabs together for any reason? So it sounds like you plan to get a Splawn cab with Creamback M's at some point down the road but you are wondering what you can do in the meantime for the tones you after that is more budget friendly? If that is the case, I would consider something from Warehouseguitarspeakers or Avatar. Avatar sells re-labled/broken-in Celestion speakers for cheap. Their Hellatone 30 for example might be worth a look or the WGS Vet 30. Put those into your 212 Recto cab for now. Should be very easy to flip. I'd leave the Mesa Trad 4x12 alone unless you only will have the 1 - Quick Rod. Sorry for the long message - hope that helps a bit too, and good luck. I too am also super interested in the Port City stuff that GTRJr brought up, so don't rule that out and check out briman's phone clip at the end of the 'phone' thread down in off topic section or whatever. His Creambacks (and his tone) are to die for
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Post by zerofivefour on Mar 10, 2017 17:13:18 GMT -5
Gtr Jr, and Splawndude, Thanks a lot guys. Appreciate all the advice and suggestions, and the warm welcome. I have a few mesa heads, and a stereo rack preamp/poweramp rig that currently share my 2 mesa cabs. I don't have a multi amp rig. After I get the QR I may consider a head switcher, but that is very far down the road at this point. I no longer gig, so it's all for at home use and absolute self indulgence now. The Speakers/Cabinet that I am considering are going to be dedicated only for the Quickrod. I want to optimize the "hot rodded marshall vibe" with the perfect Speaker cab. I only plan on buying one cabinet as well. More than likely a 4x12. I guess I was hoping you guys would tell me not to worry and that V 30s would sound fine, but I suspected it was not the case. If I wasn't using my 2x12 and 4x12 for my current stereo rack rig I would do the speaker swap as you suggest, that's a great idea btw! Splawn cabs are reasonably priced and I most definitley plan on getting a matching Splawn Cab to match the head. It's just out of the budget right now. Thanks again, Cheers, Tom
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Post by briman on Mar 10, 2017 18:47:10 GMT -5
Hey Tom welcome! I have a Splawn 2 x 12 with Creambacks and a 4 x 12 with greenbacks. For what you are describing, you will be happiest with creambacks but they are pricey. They sound very similar to a greenback but tighter. Greenbacks breakup real early which is great for Van Halen tones. Creamies do Van Halen well also but lack the bite the greenies have which give it the early VH character. In the meantime i would use your v30's and just warm up the eq settings on your QR. I have seen vids on youtube of v30's with Splawn that sound cold and brittle and others that sounded great. The smallblocks will sound very similar to greenbacks. If your going for 80's metal a la whitesnake, dokken, priest and Ratt etc......go creamies when you can afford it. Guaranteed you will love em.
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Post by briman on Mar 10, 2017 19:06:16 GMT -5
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Post by briman on Mar 10, 2017 19:08:46 GMT -5
Here is a great demo of what i am talking about when i say a greenback breaks up quicker for that VH 1 character compared to creamies.
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Post by zerofivefour on Mar 11, 2017 7:59:03 GMT -5
Hey Tom welcome! I have a Splawn 2 x 12 with Creambacks and a 4 x 12 with greenbacks. For what you are describing, you will be happiest with creambacks but they are pricey. They sound very similar to a greenback but tighter. Greenbacks breakup real early which is great for Van Halen tones. Creamies do Van Halen well also but lack the bite the greenies have which give it the early VH character. In the meantime i would use your v30's and just warm up the eq settings on your QR. I have seen vids on youtube of v30's with Splawn that sound cold and brittle and others that sounded great. The smallblocks will sound very similar to greenbacks. If your going for 80's metal a la whitesnake, dokken, priest and Ratt etc......go creamies when you can afford it. Guaranteed you will love em. Briman, Thanks much. Very helpful info. The video you posted is extremely helpful, thanks. Great side by side comparison. I love how the creambacks sizzle and cut, the are brighter and tighter, more focused. The green backs sound like they have more low mids, ie: warmer, to me, at least on my tiny monitor. Honestly I can see enjoying them both for different reasons But I do tend to favor the Cream backs. I appreciate your advice on eq'ing the v 30s as well. I wanted to add that I have not been this excited about getting an amp in a very long time. The QR seems to be exactly the amp I've wanted and have been chasing for many years. I seriously consdered at least 5 other amps from 4 different manufactures before deciding on the QR. Now it's time to finish my first cup of coffee, time go get things started for the day. Thanks again. Cheers, Tom
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Post by splawndude on Mar 11, 2017 10:03:33 GMT -5
Yeah, he brings up a good point about EQ'ing. If you are more interested in waiting and saving up for the Creambacks so you can have what you want there is nothing wrong with that. It's not like it sounds terrible with Vintage 30's I think it has more to do with how the Mid frequencies work against each other. At least that's how I have heard other describe it. The QR has a fair amount of 'honk' and you add that to the V30 honk and it can be too much. Hard to explain. I remember, thinking to myself that it can't be that bad. Then when I hooked it up to my Mesa Trad 4x12 all of the sudden I could hear what other people were saying. Granted I did NOT mess with EQ'ing. I'm more of a set and forget kind of person. That said, an EQ in the loop can be invaluable. Now that I know you've gigged and have rack gear etc etc - you probably already know that. Are you getting a new or used amp? Do you post on any other forums? I sometimes post on Rig-Talk and UG but I spend much less times on forums these days. Make sure you do a NAD thread with lots of pics. We love that ish. These run together is pretty amazing
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Post by briman on Mar 11, 2017 10:49:30 GMT -5
Yeah Tom if your buying the new one and love VH tone like me.....i hope your getting the voltage drop b+ option! It sounds incredible with greenbacks! Sounds great with creambacks too. Very spongy warmness lol.😆
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Post by briman on Mar 11, 2017 10:58:49 GMT -5
Here is a demo of a guy playing Friedman BE and a Quick Rod through V30's. He has it tweaked pretty nicely to smooth out the harshness but a creamback or greenback would sound way better. www.youtube.com/shared?ci=k2YC8XSNhf8
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Post by gtrjunior on Mar 11, 2017 12:00:21 GMT -5
+1 on the B+ option....worth every penny
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Post by zerofivefour on Mar 11, 2017 16:12:36 GMT -5
~Splawndude, Nice rigs! I'm a long time mesa user and can appreciate their tone for sure. I want the Quickrod for "the Hot rodded Marshall" part of the tone spectrum as well. New vs Used: At first I considered used as there are some really great deals to be had as I'm sure you guys are fully aware of, but after discovering the new options, especially the B+, (totally agree with all of you regarding having this as an option), as well as wanting to customize the look of the head to my liking I had to go for a New one. Most used heads I've come across are plexi cases with gold faceplates, the classic and timeless look, I love it, but ...I prefer something a bit more tailored to my personal style. With the many options Splawn offers, how can I resist personalizing it a bit, right? In short, I am getting a New 2017 QR, Fully loaded. B+, Old/New, mid scoop. I figured I'd want to have all of the options from the get go, as I've read it is not possible to retrofit some of the older heads with the new options. Re: forums I used to post on Huge Racks Inc often. I joined it late in its life cycle as It's is no longer live. It is there for reference only now. I also post on Ernie Ball Music Man and the Grailtone Boogie forums occasionally. I played boogie heads for many years, then I went full rack with a preamp power amp, (CAE 3+SE-Boogie 2:90), and now I'm coming full circle to heads again. There is just something to a Head and a 4x12, in Mono, that is unbeatable imho. I also just recently started posting on TGP, in the "Rack Space" Section. I'll definitley post some pics! ~Briman, thanks for the vid, and B+ suggestion. The BE 100 was in my top 3 list of heads I was considering prior to deciding on the QR. ~GtrJr also appreciate your prompting to get the B+. B+, yes indeed! Thanks guys for all the input really appreciate it. Cheers, Tom
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Post by gtrjunior on Mar 11, 2017 16:34:24 GMT -5
Ahhh! Fully loaded brand new QR!! I had the same thought process when I got mine too. I liked being able to get exactly what I wanted!!
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Post by zerofivefour on Mar 11, 2017 18:51:10 GMT -5
That's a mighty nice looking rig and geeter you got there sir!
Cheers,
Tom
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