Small universal cab?

**asedas** · 05-16-2018, 08:20 AM

I plan to buy new amp. The main constraint is to have it light and versatile (play mostly jazz but from time to time sth modern with FX loop). The power is not so important because mostly have PA anyway on stage.

I thought about head + cab instead of combo but... found it hard to get light set (when compare to combo). So for now I think will go for DV Mark little jazz head (50W + FX loop) and some cab. And here is the problem - light one (<= 10kg). What more, I would like to use this cab also with other head from time to time (i.e. 25/30W tube amp head) so it should provide enough power.

Any suggestions? There is not much choice for light cab 8ohm :/

**Woody Sound** · 05-16-2018, 08:33 AM

You will probably want a neo speaker, correct?

**asedas** · 05-16-2018, 09:35 AM

yep that would be the best (= light). am I right?

**Woody Sound** · 05-16-2018, 12:10 PM

Stick with non-plywood solid pine. They are probably around 10-12 lbs (around 5 kilos I think). If you are a bit of a DIY'er, something like this should do with a neo speaker:

1x12 solid Pine, Raw wood Extension Guitar speaker Empty cabinet G1X12SL RW | eBay

rawcabs Blues Junior III empty 1x12 pine combo cabinet project handcrafted D.I.Y | eBay

I have dealt with the second guy before. Very nice, honest, will make whatever you want at a reasonable cost.

Add a coat of semi-g poly for protection.

**Woody Sound** · 05-16-2018, 12:27 PM

ps - You didn't specify speaker size, so I assumed you meant 12". 10" would be a little lighter of course.

**asedas** · 05-16-2018, 02:57 PM

hmmm that's not a bad idea. However I don't think will find time for that. Will think about it, thank you.

In the meantime I've found sth nice:

DV MARK | Products | DV NEOCLASSIC 112 SMALL

the speaker can always be changed if won't be "perfect"

**jzucker** · 05-16-2018, 03:04 PM

i've never heard a neo speaker in a non FRFR, non tuned power amp application that sounded clear and transparent for guitar.

I have tried the celestion century vintage neo, jensen and several emminence including their neo pa as well as guitar speakers. They all shared a sharp / middy peak that could not be dialed out with a non parametric eq setup.

In a tuned cab with digital control, it's possible to tune the enclosure and power amp to get a flat sound. This is what folks like Xitone do when they use a neo speaker. Unfortunately, if you buy the passive version of their cabinets, all bets are off.

**marcwhy** · 05-16-2018, 07:12 PM

This would work for you.

**sgosnell** · 05-16-2018, 10:32 PM

It might work, but shipping might be a problem. He's not in the US.

**asedas** · 05-17-2018, 03:53 AM

what do you think about 8"? I saw some cabs with 8" (i.e. DV MARK | Products | DV JAZZ 208, very light) but never heard any of this and am wondering if will have enough mid/bass there...

**LtKojak** · 05-17-2018, 04:24 AM

Originally Posted by asedas

what do you think about 8"?

I've been there... don't go anything smaller than 10" for guitar in general, even more so specifically for a big box Jazz hollowbody.

My FRFRs are 10".

**medblues** · 05-17-2018, 06:54 AM

Originally Posted by asedas

I plan to buy new amp. The main constraint is to have it light and versatile (play mostly jazz but from time to time sth modern with FX loop). The power is not so important because mostly have PA anyway on stage.

I thought about head + cab instead of combo but... found it hard to get light set (when compare to combo). So for now I think will go for DV Mark little jazz head (50W + FX loop) and some cab. And here is the problem - light one (<= 10kg). What more, I would like to use this cab also with other head from time to time (i.e. 25/30W tube amp head) so it should provide enough power.

Any suggestions? There is not much choice for light cab 8ohm :/

When it comes to weight and space, hard to argue with the 10" Alto TS210 (22 lbs) and the preamp of your choice (tube, solid state, multieffect, amp modeling etc.)

**jzucker** · 05-17-2018, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by LtKojak

I've been there... don't go anything smaller than 10" for guitar in general, even more so specifically for a big box Jazz hollowbody.

My FRFRs are 10".

Disagree. Plenty of jazz guitarists use 8" speakers. Kleinhaut uses a raezer'd edge 8" cab and I used their 2x8 cab for years on hundreds of gigs.

**jzucker** · 05-17-2018, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by medblues

When it comes to weight and space, hard to argue with the 10" Alto TS210 (22 lbs) and the preamp of your choice (tube, solid state, multieffect, amp modeling etc.)

The only argument from me would be the 8" version of that product which has 280W and weighs 12.5lbs!

**hans halmackenreuter** · 05-17-2018, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by LtKojak

I've been there... don't go anything smaller than 10" for guitar in general, even more so specifically for a big box Jazz hollowbody.

My FRFRs are 10".

I have made different experiences! I think 8" speakers can be awesome speakers, especially for archtop guitars. I've build an 8" cab inspired by RE 8" cab and if speaker and cab-design are chosen wisley, there is no lack in bass response and mids.

**jzucker** · 05-17-2018, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by hans halmackenreuter

I have made different experiences! I think 8" speakers can be awesome speakers, especially for archtop guitars. I've build an 8" cab inspired by RE 8" cab and if speaker and cab-design are chosen wisley, there is no lack in bass response and mids.

Agreed. In fact, with a 10 or 12 you get too much bottom end in an archtop. Actually 6" speakers are ideal for archtop. It's just that they don't move a lot of air so you need to have at least 4 of them in a cab to sound good IMO...At least if you are playing out.

**marcwhy** · 05-17-2018, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by asedas

what do you think about 8"? I saw some cabs with 8" (i.e. DV MARK | Products | DV JAZZ 208, very light) but never heard any of this and am wondering if will have enough mid/bass there...

I like 2x8 cabs, and have two different models. Plenty of sound, IMO.

**hans halmackenreuter** · 05-17-2018, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by jzucker

Agreed. In fact, with a 10 or 12 you get too much bottom end in an archtop. Actually 6" speakers are ideal for archtop. It's just that they don't move a lot of air so you need to have at least 4 of them in a cab to sound good IMO...At least if you are playing out.

D'accord!

**sgosnell** · 05-17-2018, 09:35 AM

I also agree that 8" is plenty of speaker. I have a Raezer's Edge 6/8 and it does fine, plenty of bass without being muddy. I'm currently trying to sell it because it's heavier than I like because of the extra 6" speaker, not because it's too small. My DV Mark Little Jazz sounds great at 15 lb for the combo, with an 8" speaker, and is more than loud enough for me.

**fabienlag** · 05-17-2018, 09:36 AM

If you get a DV Mark Micro Jazz amp you'll need a guitar cab, not an FRFR. It's a guitar amp, not a modeller.
I believe DV Mark cabs are tuned to their amps, at least that's what I would expect.
Ciro Manna sounds great on a Micro CMT through a 1x12 DV Mark cab with a neo speaker
From 3:12 on this video (Ok, no hollowbody but still):

Other users of neo speaker cabs from DV Mark are Dean Brown and Bireli Lagrene, the latter with hollowbodies.

**asedas** · 05-17-2018, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by marcwhy

I like 2x8 cabs, and have two different models. Plenty of sound, IMO.

what cabs are you using?

**mr. beaumont** · 05-17-2018, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

I also agree that 8" is plenty of speaker. I have a Raezer's Edge 6/8 and it does fine, plenty of bass without being muddy. I'm currently trying to sell it because it's heavier than I like because of the extra 6" speaker, not because it's too small. My DV Mark Little Jazz sounds great at 15 lb for the combo, with an 8" speaker, and is more than loud enough for me.

Count me in as another 8" speaker lover/user (Redstone cab)

Particularly with a group, they're great. If I'm playing solo, I'll probably still bring my old Polytone for a little more bass thump...but that depends, too...

**jzucker** · 05-17-2018, 10:29 AM

I don't totally agree. If you play clean jazz stuff, you'll be fine with the FRFR PA style cabinet. I did this for years and the advantage is that if you play any classical or steel string acoustic stuff it'll sound amazing.

I will say that If you use overdrive, you will dislike the buzzy sounds you will get that occur above the 5k range which is normally not heard in a guitar speaker.

Originally Posted by fabienlag

If you get a DV Mark Micro Jazz amp you'll need a guitar cab, not an FRFR. It's a guitar amp, not a modeller.
I believe DV Mark cabs are tuned to their amps, at least that's what I would expect.
Ciro Manna sounds great on a Micro CMT through a 1x12 DV Mark cab with a neo speaker
From 3:12 on this video (Ok, no hollowbody but still):

Other users of neo speaker cabs from DV Mark are Dean Brown and Bireli Lagrene, the latter with hollowbodies.

**sgosnell** · 05-17-2018, 10:39 AM

I have a Yamaha PA speaker that I bought for very cheap, which I used as a cabinet for guitar while I was looking for a good guitar cabinet. It's not quite as good as the RE cab I eventually bought, but it sounds ok. It's big, though, too big to schlep around, and not worth trying to sell, so it's in the closet, but I don't think a purpose-built guitar cab is absolutely essential. Better, but not essential.

**fabienlag** · 05-17-2018, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by jzucker

I don't totally agree. If you play clean jazz stuff, you'll be fine with the FRFR PA style cabinet. I did this for years and the advantage is that if you play any classical or steel string acoustic stuff it'll sound amazing.

I will say that If you use overdrive, you will dislike the buzzy sounds you will get that occur above the 5k range which is normally not heard in a guitar speaker.

Jack you are correct, the low pass effect of guitar cabs are much more important with overdrive tones, but still an electric hollowbody without cab sim or real guitar cab can sound 'piezo' like which is far from Metheny or Mongomery tones.
My DV Mark has a headphones output but no cab sim, it's unusable in my opinion even with clean tones.