HempDog 12 Jazz Guitar Speaker

**jorgemg1984** · 01-22-2016, 06:24 AM

NAMM 2016: Eminence and Pete Anderson Create HempDog 12 Guitar Speaker | GuitarPlayer

This should be perfect for jazz - 150w and a cross between the C Rex and the EV 12.

**Klatu** · 01-22-2016, 07:15 AM

Good find. On paper it looks like it could be a real winner.

**Little Jay** · 01-22-2016, 07:53 AM

Interesting! Doesn't look like a light weight speaker though, so not really for your ultra-light portable jazzcombo ;-)

*edit: a whooping 16.3lbs/7,4 kg
Speaker Detail | Eminence Speaker

**jorgemg1984** · 01-22-2016, 07:58 AM

Wow heavy. But I had EVs (similar weight) on both Henriksen and Mambo and it was worth the extra weight...

**Klatu** · 01-22-2016, 09:50 AM

Would it be possible to create a hemp coned speaker with a neo magnet in order to cut out some of the weight?

**Little Jay** · 01-22-2016, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by Klatu

Would it be possible to create a hemp coned speaker with a neo magnet in order to cut out some of the weight?

Of course. Magnet is magnet, no matter what it's made of. It might sound a bit different, if magnet material has an influence on the sound (I really wouldn't know, although I am tempted to say that magnetism is just magnetism, no matter how it's generated, just as capacitance is capacitance when it comes to tonecaps in your guitar).

**57classic** · 02-14-2016, 06:29 PM

Any experiences yet with this speaker?
I'm really curious.

**jzucker** · 02-14-2016, 06:36 PM

magnet material makes a *HUGE* difference in sound. If they didn't people would have just switched over 100% to neodymium magnets. A magnet is like a pickup.

Nobody's been able to design a neo guitar speaker that sounds like a JBL or EV yet. Too bad.

**neatomic** · 02-14-2016, 06:50 PM

exactly correct...neo mags have extremely high magnetic strength..as a result,only a small sized magnet is needed to equal the gauss of less magnetic magnets like (vintage) alnico and ferrite...but it does change things..a laser beam is a tiny but strong beam of light, but you don't see too many people lighting their houses with it!! haha

cheers

**MaxTwang** · 02-14-2016, 07:57 PM

IIRC Ted Weber's opinion was that neo's performance in a speaker is similar to alnico. If that's the case then the problem is people trying to replace ferrite in high-powered speakers with neo and not getting the same sound.

**KirkP** · 02-14-2016, 09:30 PM

Excerpt from the Eminence FAQ:
"If you are comparing speakers that have the same magnetic flux, but generated from different magnet compositions, you probably won't notice a difference in tonality. Differences in tonality that are often attributed to the magnet material probably have more to do with the positioning of the magnet and resultant differences in magnetic flux within the motor structure."
http://www.eminence.com/support/faq/
In other words, it's more a function of design than material.

**jzucker** · 02-14-2016, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by MaxTwang

IIRC Ted Weber's opinion was that neo's performance in a speaker is similar to alnico. If that's the case then the problem is people trying to replace ferrite in high-powered speakers with neo and not getting the same sound.

he wishes it was that easy. If it was as easy as emminence and weber were publicly stating, they would have converted all their speakers over to neo by now. Major speaker manufacturers including weber and eminence have been trying for almost a decade and I have not heard a single one that sounds as good as the best ceramic (or alnico for that matter) speakers. Ironically, what most of the manufacturers have done is take an existing speaker and simply substitute a neo magnet for the ceramic. CLEARLY, that hasn't worked.

If emminence believed their own verbiage, this new speaker would be neo and not ceramic and would weigh 3-4lbs instead of 12-15lbs.

**MaxTwang** · 02-14-2016, 10:50 PM

There's been a couple problems in developing neo speakers:

1) The market for lightweight guitar speakers is small/nonexistent, guitar players don't seem to mind heavy amps and heavy cabs (unlike bass players).

2) China is the source for 85%, or more, of rare earth materials and until recently China created an artificial shortage, including neodymium: China was keeping the rare earths for local production or to force foreign manufacturing to China to obtain the materials. Speaker manufacturers have been dealing with material shortages and skyrocketing prices - Atomic used the 'shortage' to justify a $400 premium for the neo version of the CLR.

With China's failing economy there has developed a surplus in rare earths and we may see speaker manufacturers venturing into neodymium again.

BTW Why would it be possible to make excellent neo bass & PA speakers but not neo guitar speakers? I suspect guitar players are just resistant to anything that didn't exist in the 50's and/or 60's - including new materials and new designs. Some speaker manufacturers have tried new designs with neo, but guitar players demand, and are willing to pay for, 1950's technology.

**GNAPPI** · 02-14-2016, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by MaxTwang

There's been a couple problems in developing neo speakers:

1) The market for lightweight guitar speakers is small/nonexistent, guitar players don't seem to mind heavy amps and heavy cabs (unlike bass players).

Dunno there, there are a lot of valve combo guys that wouldn't mind losing some weight.

HempDog? Sounds like they're targeting weed smokers.

They also need a proofreader on their web page...

"the added warmth only a help cone can provide"

A HELP cone? I can use one of those :-)

**neatomic** · 02-15-2016, 12:22 AM

the late ted weber -rip- & his son (who now runs things) actually stopped production on neo mag speakers for a long while after encountering many problems with them...

the classic alnico magnet speaker that was used all through the 50's until the early-mid 60's was only replaced when the the price of nickel went up, and speaker companies looked to a cheaper alternative...ie ferrite/ceramic...most "advancements" in the instrument/audio industries have been due to pricepoint not increased fidelity!

max thang is correct in that the chinese corner the market in neodymium magnets, so it's eventual success is still unknown..based purely on $$$, audio integrity aside

hemp cones offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to paper, as well as being a bit more sturdy than paper cones...their increased thickness/stiffness is why they are generally perceived as being warmer

cheers

**DustyRusty** · 05-26-2016, 07:07 PM

Oh wow. I've been searching for a 12" hemp speaker over 100W, suitable for jazz and over 100DB. My dreams just came true. Will order this tonight.

**jorgemg1984** · 05-26-2016, 07:12 PM

Please report back

**DustyRusty** · 05-26-2016, 07:14 PM

Will do. Will take a few weeks to arrive since I'm in Australia. But will let you know what I think.

**Cavalier** · 05-26-2016, 09:18 PM

Love my Deltalite II 2515 in my Fender Twin. If you like your amp's sound absence of tone coloration by the speaker it is a good thing.

**docdosco** · 05-26-2016, 10:54 PM

I am going to ask my guy at Eminence (how pretentious! ... "*my guy*") about this new speaker. Maybe he has some insight.

**Klatu** · 05-27-2016, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by neatomic

hemp cones offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to paper, as well as being a bit more sturdy than paper cones...their increased thickness/stiffness is why they are generally perceived as being warmer

cheers

Surprising. I can't think of a reason why it wouldn't be possible to manufacture a paper cone of the thickness and rigidity of hemp.

**MaxTwang** · 05-27-2016, 10:08 AM

Would love to see a NEO mag version, 80 ounce magnet gets heavier every year

**wildschwein** · 05-28-2016, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by MaxTwang

There's been a couple problems in developing neo speakers:

1) The market for lightweight guitar speakers is small/nonexistent, guitar players don't seem to mind heavy amps and heavy cabs (unlike bass players).

2) China is the source for 85%, or more, of rare earth materials and until recently China created an artificial shortage, including neodymium: China was keeping the rare earths for local production or to force foreign manufacturing to China to obtain the materials. Speaker manufacturers have been dealing with material shortages and skyrocketing prices - Atomic used the 'shortage' to justify a $400 premium for the neo version of the CLR.

With China's failing economy there has developed a surplus in rare earths and we may see speaker manufacturers venturing into neodymium again.

BTW Why would it be possible to make excellent neo bass & PA speakers but not neo guitar speakers? I suspect guitar players are just resistant to anything that didn't exist in the 50's and/or 60's - including new materials and new designs. Some speaker manufacturers have tried new designs with neo, but guitar players demand, and are willing to pay for, 1950's technology.

Everything you are saying is really informative and I agree with it all except for the guitar amp weight thing. Most of the forums I visit seem to be filled with people wanting high-volume, high-headroom guitar amps they can fit on the head of a pin. I think the proliferation of lunchbox type amps is sort of reflective of this too.

**DRS** · 05-31-2016, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Klatu

Surprising. I can't think of a reason why it wouldn't be possible to manufacture a paper cone of the thickness and rigidity of hemp.

Hemp is stronger than the fibre used to make paper. There's one reason. Do we need another?

**docdosco** · 05-31-2016, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by MaxTwang

Would love to see a NEO mag version, 80 ounce magnet gets heavier every year

I called Eminence today but Kobi wasn't there. Tomorrow, I'll try again. If all us old men & women jazz guitar players gang up on him (come at him like grandpa in the Simpsons) maybe he'll make a suggestion to R&D