Seeking PM Speaker Recommendation

[ronmail65]

Picking up the speaker topic from my other tread on PM settings...

I've got a 2007 PM head that I've been running with an Avatar cab - split with Vintage 30s and G12H30s. Sounds great but can be too bright at times.

By contrast, I just got one of the first StreetRods, which I'm told is basically a QR with a 1x12 Eminence Small Block 25. This amp sounds a lot warmer and smoother. Not sure how much of that is the amp or the speakers.

Anyway -- I'd like to move my PM sound in the direction of the SR sound (a little warmer / fuller). Will different speakers make a difference? And, if so, what would you recommend?

[chops]

I have a PM and a QR. Both are run into 4x12 cabs with all SB 25's. I have had Mesa cabinets and Marshall cabinets in the past that had Celestian Vintage 30's and thought it was the best tone until I got the Splawn cabs with SB's. I can't say enough about the SB's. I have a friend who has a Splawn cab with X pattern, SB's and BB's. The BB's seem to give it a more "modern" tone. Darker if you will. If you love the combo tone, you'll love SB's. My opinion but I think you'll find most of the Splawners here like the SB's over any other speaker. Good luck man.

[DonaldDemon]

Mar 1, 2010 10:22:53 GMT -5 chops said:

I have a PM and a QR. Both are run into 4x12 cabs with all SB 25's. I have had Mesa cabinets and Marshall cabinets in the past that had Celestian Vintage 30's and thought it was the best tone until I got the Splawn cabs with SB's. I can't say enough about the SB's. I have a friend who has a Splawn cab with X pattern, SB's and BB's. The BB's seem to give it a more "modern" tone. Darker if you will. If you love the combo tone, you'll love SB's. My opinion but I think you'll find most of the Splawners here like the SB's over any other speaker. Good luck man.

Yep. I sold my Bogner 4x12 with V30’s to get a Splawn w/ Sb25’s. Not one regret, it sounds much warmer now.

[LooseCannon]

Definetly SB-25, best speaker for Splawns.

[Ayton(e)]

I thought the Street Rod was made with a Big Block?

[chops]

I also thought the combo had a Big Block speaker. Unless ordered otherwise perhaps?

[ronmail65]

Mar 1, 2010 22:16:07 GMT -5 Ayton(e) said:

I thought the Street Rod was made with a Big Block?

I looked inside the amp last night. The speaker is labeled as a 16ohm Splawn Small Block, 55 watts.

[philm]

sb25 huh? It seems to be a pretty unanimous choice so I'll take your guys word for it. I usually don't like Greenback types that much but I didn't mind them when I had a Quickrod. I little flubby on the low end though. The sb25s hold together better? I'll be using them with a Pro Mod this time around, not a Quickrod...

[philm]

It seems pretty unanimous. 4x12 slant with sb25s incoming...

[ronmail65]

Over the weekend, I ran my new SR into my existing 2x12 and 4x12 Avatar cabs (split Vintage 30 and G12H30). And, I ran my PM head into the SB speaker in the SR combo cab. I realize that comparing 1 speaker versus 2 or 4 isn't going to be the same experience -- but I was looking to see how much of a difference in warmth might be coming from the SB versus the other speakers. My hopes were to warm up the PM tone a little bit by switching to SBs.

Verdict... no difference. The warmth and fullness of the SR sounded the same through the Avatar cabs, and the brightness / tightness of the PM sounded the same through the SB speaker. I'm not going to say they sounded exactly the same -- but to me, I had to listen very closely to notice even the slightest difference. Certainly not enough of a difference for me to buy new speakers.

[philm]

I'm running mine through the larger Mesa Recto 4x12 with V30s. I'm thinking I'll hear a difference once the Splawn cab breaks in.

That Street Rod sounds like a cool amp. I considered ordering it as a head.

[ronmail65]

Mar 15, 2010 8:39:09 GMT -5 philm said:

I'm running mine through the larger Mesa Recto 4x12 with V30s. I'm thinking I'll hear a difference once the Splawn cab breaks in.

That Street Rod sounds like a cool amp. I considered ordering it as a head.

Regarding speakers, I was kind of disapointed. Not that I wanted to spend more money on speakers, but I was looking for a way to get a little more warmth from my PM. What I'm beginning to think is.... maybe I'm becoming a QR convert since the SR is supposed to be more tonally consistent with the QR...? I'm sticking with what I've got for now.

And, yes, I am really digging the SR. It sounds great and, although it is heavier than a head, it's a lot more portable than a head and cab. I can see myself selling the PM and my cabinets at some point in the future. There's no need for a 120W amp and 4x12 cab (or 2x12) in the venues I play. The amp is just a stage monitor that's mic'd through the PA -- but if I really needed the volume projection, then it's got that too.

[philm]

I sold my Quickrod in May and just got the Pro Mod. I don't think they're that different. Pretty darn similar, though I obviously don't have the opportunity to A/B them. I'm guessing some of the warmth you're hearing is coming from the EL34s but a lot I'm sure has to do with the 40 watt output. Not all that much quieter than a 100 watt QR I'm sure, but the smaller output has got to do something to the circuit. For example, does the Streetrod use the same transformers or smaller ones?

I guess I don't mind carrying the larger cabs around and, monitors or not, I've never gotten along with 1x12s on stage. I can do a 2x12 but I'll be 40 in a few years. I will do 4x12s for at least the next 5 years, DAMMIT! ha ha ha then I'll shrivel up and die...

[ronmail65]

I agree with you on PM vs QR. I did own my PM and a QR at the same time and A/B'd them extensively. There was very little difference and both could be dialed in to sound identical. At the time, I preferred the tonal depth and tightness of the PM -- but again only a very subtle difference. I don't think the SR and PM can be dialed in to match each other.

If my memory of that experience is accurate, then I'd have to say that the SR has a warmth and fullness that is unique and beyond that of a QR. It will be interesting to hear what QR owners have to say about the SR.

[F-Bomber]

Nobody has brought up the fact that the SR combo is "open backed" which to my ears, does not have as much punch, but def warms up the tone.