Re: Speaker Recommendation

[Ray Beltran <rbeltran@xxxxxxxxxx>]

George;
Thanks for doing the homework for us here. You and I share the same taste in
sound...not the "traditional" Chicago sound, but something that is more
"horn-like" that can be pushed into some sort of breakup when needed.

I'm afraid that the standard speaker recommendation for harp players along
with tube swaps and modified-for-harp circuits has a negative cumulative
effect on the final sound that ends up mostly all crunch, distortion, and/or
breakup achieved WAY too early with absolutely little or no headroom.

Headroom is so important in the style of blues I play. It affords me
flexibility, dynamics, etc.

Once again, thanks.

Ray.
www.fatdaddyblues.com
ray@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2003 15:10:12 -0500
> From: George Brooks <gbrooks@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Speaker recommendation
> 
> Many thanks to Jim Rossen for his comprehensive and detailed reply to my
> query.  Choosing a speaker can be frustrating.  If I could try all of the
> speakers I am interested in in a 4 X 10 cab, I would know what is best for
> me within minutes.  As it is, it's like shooting in the dark.
> 
> I called Weber VST yesterday and spoke to someone (not Ted Weber; the
> person's nickname was T.A., I think).  He was steering me in the direction
> of a P10R with a straight cone and the "H" dustcap, which seems to be a
> sort of standard recommendation for harmonica players looking for a 10"
> speaker.  But he suggested I email Ted, which I did.  I explained that I
> was not looking for the Chicago sound but, rather, something that stayed
> clean and articulate until pushed hard.  And, since I play the whole range
> of the harmonica using a mic without a lot of high frequency roll-off (a
> late 60s Shure 545), I was concerned that the speaker not sound shrill.
> 
> Ted's recommendation, for those interested, was a P10R with the Q-type
> (ribbed and seamed) cone (Weber VST model #10A100T) and the "H" dustcap.
> His comment on the P10R with straight comb (Weber VST model #10A100) is
> that it breaks up early and is very crunchy at higher volumes.
> 
> By the way, the person I spoke to advised that the Signature Alnico 10
> (favorably mention by Jim), although not listed on Weber VST's website, is
> still available.  This, he explained to me, is a P10R (Weber VST model
> #10A100) with slightly less precise tolerances.  Weber VST intended to set
> up an assembly line to produce these at lower cost than the fully
> hand-built-one-at-a-time speakers, but this has not happened yet.  If you
> want one or more, they will build them for you to order.  The price, if I
> recall correctly, is $50.00 per speaker.
> 
> George   
> 
> ------------------------------