Speaker Wattage

[mtierney]

Hello everybody:

If I have a forty watt amp, how will the tone be different between a sixty watt speaker and a 30 watt speaker? Would a lower wattage speaker be damaged by my amp? Would a higher wattage speaker sound bad/not work? I've come to understand ohmage, but speaker wattage confuses me a bit...

Also, if I have a 212 with switchable ohmage and I wanted to make it a 112 to make it lighter, would that hurt the speaker? Would it sound bad? Assume that I have the ohms matched properly between the amp and the single speaker.

Thank you everybody

[spiral]

Match the ohms. 1x12 should be fine if impedance is matched but your sound spread will be more narrow. Have you considered neo speakers? 2 neos would be lighter than one alnico or ceramic.

Yes speaker could be damaged. No harm in having a higher rated speaker vs the amp wattage. I'm running a 100w speaker in my 20w combo and it sounds fine. You probably originally had 2 x 30w speakers to equal 60w?

More detailed explanations:
Amp wattage vs speaker wattage - Gearslutz.com

possible effects of impedance mismatch - Gearslutz.com

guitars amps and cabs, how to match?ohm watt etc - Gearslutz.com

[mtierney]

I was actually considering the G12 Century Vintage (neodymium speakers) that Celestion makes, have you heard anything good from them?

[jorgemg1984]

Yes be sure you match impedance. I think you don't have a problem using a 30w speaker on a 40w amp IF you don't turn it very loud... But this is only option if you really need the 30w speaker tone, otherwise go with the 60w one.

[spiral]

Originally Posted by mtierney

I was actually considering the G12 Century Vintage (neodymium speakers) that Celestion makes, have you heard anything good from them?

Ha! Guess who is selling one!?
FS: Celestion G12 Century Vintage - neodymium speaker
If you are interested i would cover shipping.

I have a Jensen Neo100 as well and they sound fairly similar: little more hi-fi, smoother across all frequencies, less spikey in the upper midrange. I was going to use it in another amp that i ended up selling. It sounded similar enough to the Jensen (which i love and is my main speaker) that i decided to just sell it since i don't need two speakers.

[mtierney]

Woah. I might be very interested. Hah. How much did you use it? How would you describe the frequency ranges? I'm currently using an AC30 and a PRS custom 24. I'm really skeptical about buying speakers blind, but I understand that that's the only way..... Any recommendations on how to choose speakers blindly?

[mtierney]

Also, Spiral, would we take it to eBay if you were to sell to me, or how would we do a fair money/trade system?

Thanks

[spiral]

Originally Posted by mtierney

Also, Spiral, would we take it to eBay if you were to sell to me, or how would we do a fair money/trade system?

Thanks

I'll PM you.