my 2203 deserves a proper cab!

[jeffp]

Which Marshall cab is the” right match”cab for a 2203? in late 70’s,early 80’s rock music?
Be it 2x12 1936 or 4x12 1960A what are the preferred speakers for same era rock n roll?
We’re talking classic!

 

[fitz]

Go "V".
I'd get a G12 Vintage cab over T-75's.

 

[Deftone]

1960 with 65w creambacks.

 

[SonVolt]

I'm using a 1960AV with my 2203x. It's a very bright cab, can be fatiguing to the ears. I've got a 1960AX on the way with Greenbacks to see if that helps.

Love the 1960AV w/my Mesa amps.

 

[jeffp]

what about G12-65’s?

 

[jeffp]

i already have 2 heritage. ?

 

[Deftone]

I'm using a 1960AV with my 2203x. It's a very bright cab, can be fatiguing to the ears. I've got a 1960AX on the way with Greenbacks to see if that helps.

I agree with this....I prefer my 2204 with G12T-75's, GB's or CB's over V30's.

what about G12-65’s?

Can't speak for those, I have not tried them personally. I think they would be correct for the period, though. I think G12T-75's would be the next closest. Maybe the older vented version.

 

[Kinkless Tetrode]

During the late 70s and early 80's the G12-65 (not be confused with the G12M65 Creamback) replaced the G12M25 greenback. It's a wide dust cap speaker which attenuates the treble a bit and the 2203 needs that in my experience. There was actually quite an evolution of the G12-65 with about 40 subvariants up until it was superseded in about 1984.

But today there's the reissue G12-65 Heritage which was developed for Robin Ford. Warehouse Guitar Speakers also has a version called the ET-65. Scumback has a wide dust cap 65 watt speaker too. But if your after the late 70's to early 80s era defining speaker it would probably be a G12-65 type.

 

[79 2203]

I’ve tried the following with my stock 79 2203…..

1960ax x2
Orange quad with V30’s
Avatar 2x12 with Heritage 12-65’s
Late 70’s/early 80’s slant with original 12-65’s
77 slant with original 55hz 30 watt Blackbacks on top and V30’s on bottom.
68 straight with July 68 Pulsonic 25 watt Greenbacks.
68 straight with Aug 68 Pulsonic Greenbacks.

The Pulsonics are by far the best for anything 70’s, including the hard rock of the late 70’s and early 80’s like Scorpions, Def Leppard, MSG etc. The July cab being the fave with that amp.
The previous #1 with that amp was the Blackback/V30 cab. That cab beat out all the rest, but honestly, it’s average compared to the Pulsonic cabs. They are punchier in the low mids but don’t have any boominess in the bottom end. Way more midrange and plenty of sizzle in the highs without being harsh. And that high end compresses nicely when you dig in.

 

[Dogs of Doom]

small cheque' 1982 w/ blackbacks... ...

edit: I did a quick search for that - I know the guy that sold that:

https://Reverb(dot)com/item/70496219-1978-marshall-1982b-checkered-cabinet-with-original-black-backs

 

[V-man]

I have V30s & BBs and had 75s.. I have all these and 65s w IRs. 2203s use all of them well. The 65s are good… sort of a middling speaker between GBs and 75s… smoother than the latter. I would rather have the two cabs over the 65s, though.

 

[SonVolt]

small cheque' 1982 w/ blackbacks... ...

edit: I did a quick search for that - I know the guy that sold that:

https://Reverb(dot)com/item/70496219-1978-marshall-1982b-checkered-cabinet-with-original-black-backs

Are the G12H-30's that are in the 1960AHW cabinet considered "Black Backs"?

 

[Dogs of Doom]

Are the G12H-30's that are in the 1960AHW cabinet considered "Black Backs"?

the magnet covers are black - there's none blacker... ...

if you're talking the new one's w/ the greenbacks, then no, they're not blackbacks...

 

[SonVolt]

I dunno, I just know the speaker in the new 1960AHW cabs are called "G12H-30". Was asking if any speaker with that model number was considered a "black back". This is all new to me.

 

[Dogs of Doom]

I dunno, I just know the speaker in the new 1960AHW cabs are called "G12H-30". Was asking if any speaker with that model number was considered a "black back". This is all new to me.

they aren't...

tbh: it's just the plastic cover, , like green, grey, black, cream or red.

In some periods, greenbacks were different 20w, 25w, 30w

The plastic covers, could overlap, from one speaker, to the next, depending on what they had on hand, or not...

That said, all greenback, heritages, etc. are not the same. Differences in cones, magnets & power ratings, etc., come into play.

The current H30 is supposed to be a remake of the H30 of old, like the blackback, but, many would argue, that the new ones aren't the same...

You'll probably hear opinions all over the place.

Is it because they have wear & break-in & have settled over the years? or are they inherently different? same arguments that are made between a 2203 from 1977 vs one in 2024...

 

[jeffp]

hmmmmm?

 

[Gutch220]

Do what I do and mix speaker cabinets. I usually mix & match between G12T-75's, Vintage 30's, and Redbacks.

 

[jeffp]

i have a 1960aHW with the G12H-30’s… not the one
i have 4x12 G12M Heritage (20w)…..not the one
i thought the G12-65’s were period correct?
don’t have any G12T-75’s?
not a fan of vintage 30’s
whatever i get will be in ori will put it a 1960slant

 

[79 2203]

Are the G12H-30's that are in the 1960AHW cabinet considered "Black Backs"?

The Blackbacks, named after the magnet cover colour(just like Greenbacks) were only made from about 75 to 78 and corresponded with the change from Pulsonic cones to Kurt Mueller cones.
So the GH30’s in the 1960AHW are a reissue of the 60’s Greenback

 

[jeffp]

During the late 70s and early 80's the G12-65 (not be confused with the G12M65 Creamback) replaced the G12M25 greenback. It's a wide dust cap speaker which attenuates the treble a bit and the 2203 needs that in my experience. There was actually quite an evolution of the G12-65 with about 40 subvariants up until it was superseded in about 1984.

But today there's the reissue G12-65 Heritage which was developed for Robin Ford. Warehouse Guitar Speakers also has a version called the ET-65. Scumback has a wide dust cap 65 watt speaker too. But if your after the late 70's to early 80s era defining speaker it would probably be a G12-65 type.

Agree about the 12G-65’s just have two . I had a pair years ago in a mesa 2x12 Horizontal cab. with an orange th-30 it was indeed late 70’s hard rock . thinking on that or a 1936?