Eminence Tonker-Lite thoughts

jzucker · #1 05-23-2011, 07:48 PM

I've been happily using the ceramic tonker in several amps/cabs. The regular tonker is very efficient and sounds equally good for clean jazz as it does overdriven fusion stuff.

The tonker weighs 11lbs.

I've grown tired of lugging heavy cabs around was less than satisfied with the various light weight cabs that tried. For several years I've been looking for a lightweight neodymium speaker which is not honky or midrangy like the weber, jensens, celestions and emi delta-lites I have played through.

I just received a Tonker-Lite in the mail today. It weighs 4lbs it's hard to believe that there could even be a speaker in the box which weighed more than the speaker.

I installed the tonker-lite in a 12x24x18, open back cab. I plugged my Evans head into it and was pleasantly surprised.

The good:

No honkyness at all.
Very bright and relatively open sounding.
very good clean
very good overdriven.
very good bass
very good treble
relatively flat midrange.
very efficient
sounds similar to ceramic Tonker

The bad

missing the ceramic Tonker's "magic"
sounds good but not fabulous

More thoughts later...

jorgemg1984 · #2 07-08-2011, 04:37 PM

Hi!

Still enjoying the Tonker-Lite? Have you tried with other amps? I was thinking of putting it on a light cab to use with my jazzmaster ultralight! I am also curious about the lil texas...

Little Jay · #3 07-09-2011, 01:35 AM

Do you think a pair of Tonker Lites would sound well in a Twin Reverb?
I would love to knock some pounds off mine..... (using Jensens C12K at the moment).

Franz 1997 · #4 07-09-2011, 05:37 AM

Interesting. I have the same desired characteristics in a speaker, but have found the delta-lite to come the closest to those heavy ceramic altecs, evs etc which were the 'benchmarks' for me ( admittedly haven't tried this one though). The emi delta=lite has a pretty flat eq curve, whereas the tonker lite seems to have a big midrange dip at about 1.5khz. and more treble emphasis, from the emi chart. Still, eq charts don't always tell the full story..
I always avoid any description which says ''british flavour'' ( = distortion??) even though I come from London....

jorgemg1984 · #5 07-09-2011, 06:53 AM

I think the best neo speaker is the Tornado! But in this case I would like to try something new because I will have on in a Bandit 65 and probably in a 2x12 to use with the jazzmaste ultralight. Theres a guy in the Kurt Rosenwinkel forum that has two tornados in a Twin and loves it! They are really light and balanced (go up to 6hz which is really close to an EV)

Still curious with the Tonkerlite and Lil Texas.

Didnt you find the Delta-Lite very dark like the Betas that come in Henriksen / Evans / Polytone? It only go 4 hz right?

jzucker · #6 07-09-2011, 08:44 AM

12L doesn't go to 6k
http://www.srl.utu.fi/~tke/MesaBoogi...evm12L-eds.pdf

the delta lite sounds harsh to my ear. The tonker lite sounds better for jazz *and* rock IMO.

jorgemg1984 · #7 07-09-2011, 08:55 AM

http://archives.telex.com/archives/E...20II%20EDS.pdf

http://www.electrovoice.com/sitefile..._SellSheet.pdf

EV Speakers - EVM-12L Guitar Speaker - Electro Voice speaker model EVM-12L. Full line of EV speaker components.

They always say 7 khz in this websites which is what I always have heard, but I think some people claim it doesn't go that high. Maybe the Mesa Boogie ones had different specs

jzucker · #8 07-09-2011, 09:19 AM

notice the -10db. The original spec I published is more realistic. What you want to look for is the flat response at 0db. If it's -10db, it's effectively "not there" for all practical purposes.

jorgemg1984 · #9 07-09-2011, 10:10 AM

Thanks for the tip Jacl.

Did you ever tried the Tornado or Lil Texas and compared to the Tonkerlite?

jzucker · #10 07-09-2011, 12:20 PM

i have not heard the tornado. I'd like to but speakers are expensive to try! I have not heard the lil texas but Myles Gorman (NY City Guitarist) has one in a 1x12 cab and he really likes it. I'll probably stick with the tonker lite for now.

jorgemg1984 · #11 07-09-2011, 12:40 PM

Yes, speakers are indeed expensive, that's exactly why I asked you about the eminence neos. I have also talked with some other guys that have tried tons of amps and speakers and the tornado is almost always referred as the best neo of all.

I think I would like the Lil Texas better than the Tonkerlite - I am affraid this last one would be too bright for my taste, the Lil Texas is probably more balanced.

I will have one on my Bandit 65 soon and will probably have one in a 2x12 cab and another in a lopo lightweight 1x12 to use with my fender jazzmaster ultralight head and then I can report to you.

Thanks for your input.

jzucker · #12 07-09-2011, 02:43 PM

tonker lite doesn't sound bright at all to me.

kris · #13 09-01-2011, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzucker

tonker lite doesn't sound bright at all to me.

I'd like to buy Tonkerlite and put it to my Peavey classic 30 amp.
I think it will be good for arch-top...more acoustic sound.:-)