Zilla Speaker Pairing?

matt.drink73

Got a zilla fatboy 2x12 that I'm looking to upgrade the speakers in. It's currently got a Celestion V30 and a G12H30 anniversary, nothing wrong with it at all but just looking to upgrade a little. I'm potentially going to keep the G12H30 and replace it with a 75w creamback over the 65 in order to keep vol levels the same. I run it with a Friedman PT20 so the obvious pairing for a Marshall would be a greenback but are there any that would keep up with the G12H30? By no means an expert on speakers so any advice appreciated!

ICBM

If you keep the G12H-30: Greenback.

If you keep the V30: Classic Lead 80.

If you go for a G12H-75, also get a G12M-65.

No point in mixing a G12H-30 with a G12H-75, they're very similar sounding but totally mismatched for power rating, so you'll have to push the H30 too hard before the H75 has a chance to do much. (The same reason as why I don't like the H30/V30 combination.)

The sensitivity difference is much less important than you might think, a G12H-30 and Greenback sound exactly the same volume in a cab, as do the two different Creambacks - it's because the apparently quieter one is more midrangy. The H30 with a G12M-65 would probably sound fine too.

For an amp of only 20W for more of a classic rock rather than hard rock sound, I'd go for the H30/Greenback no question.

In my opinion...

Dan

Ive got a G12H-75 and a G12M-65 in a 2x12 Zilla modern cab. Sounds great to me.

matt.drink73

ICBM said:

If you keep the G12H-30: Greenback.

If you keep the V30: Classic Lead 80.

If you go for a G12H-75, also get a G12M-65.

No point in mixing a G12H-30 with a G12H-75, they're very similar sounding but totally mismatched for power rating, so you'll have to push the H30 too hard before the H75 has a chance to do much. (The same reason as why I don't like the H30/V30 combination.)

The sensitivity difference is much less important than you might think, a G12H-30 and Greenback sound exactly the same volume in a cab, as do the two different Creambacks - it's because the apparently quieter one is more midrangy. The H30 with a G12M-65 would probably sound fine too.

For an amp of only 20W for more of a classic rock rather than hard rock sound, I'd go for the H30/Greenback no question.

In my opinion...

Cheers! I'll have a look for a G12M then and see how I get on

paulmapp8306

Ive got a G12H-75 creamback with a V30 in my Zilla.  I did run a V30 and G12H-30 for a long time, but wanted a similar sound but with better power balance.

Sounds great to me - BUT, id be interested if @ICBM feels the G12H65 would go better with the 75 - and what the downside of the V30 is with my cur@ ;

FWIW Im powering it with a Fryette Power station - so up to 50w.

ICBM

I haven’t tried the V30 with the H75, but I don’t see any particular reason it shouldn’t work well. If there is a downside it will just be that V30 upper-mid ‘spike’, which is still noticeable when it’s paired with a Classic Lead - which is my favourite combination with the V30.

The G12M-65 and G12H-75 together is something special though...

ragingben

Couldn't agree with @ICBM more - I have a Fatboy with a V30 and a CL80 sounds awesome! Really thick, very clear, just a great compliment to each other. Mines wired with two jacks to have a CL80 in the right hand jack at 16ohm, the V30 on the other at 16ohm (with a patch cable connected to nothing in the right jack) and both at 8ohm with just a jack in the left. Although this might not be relevant for you, I did find it helped me realise what each speaker is adding, and both together sound better than the sum of their parts.

Creed_Clicks

Hi guys. Not sure if it's out of order to semi hijack this thread or not, but it's along the same lines as my query. I am looking at a Zilla 1x12 cab, potentially a Dinky, and looking for some speaker ideas. Like the OP, I will be running a 15 or 20 watt head through, but also a Quilter 101 mini head. 
A V30 as well you think?

ICBM

Creed_Clicks said:

Hi guys. Not sure if it's out of order to semi hijack this thread or not, but it's along the same lines as my query. I am looking at a Zilla 1x12 cab, potentially a Dinky, and looking for some speaker ideas. Like the OP, I will be running a 15 or 20 watt head through, but also a Quilter 101 mini head. 
A V30 as well you think?

I wouldn't. As a rule of thumb V30s sound least good in small 1x12" cabs (and even worse front-loaded and/or open-back) and with low-powered amps. They're best in multiples in big closed cabs with high-powered, fairly open-sounding amps.

I would go for something looser-sounding and with less mid and more bottom and top - like a Classic Lead 80, G12K-100, or Creamback H75.

djspecialist

I'm very happy with (in my Zilla vertical 2x12):
* WGS ET-65
* WGS Reaper HP
8 ohms each, wired in series.

matthewwensor21

I have a Zilla which has a H75 Creamback in, I would highly highly recommend it, the perfect frequency balance IMO and is such a versatile speaker for everything from Metal to jazz.