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Topic: Speaker cone materials - what's the big diffie? |
David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 7 Nov 2008 5:03 am |
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I am going to put together a small & light practice amp cab (guitar teaching and bass & steel practice needs mostly, no drumming req.  ). The speakers I'm looking at are the neodymium Eminence CA2010 and CH2010 10" bass speakers. They are available with either hemp or aluminum cones - both handle 150 watts. It looks like the aluminum has more high frequency range? For my use, warm would be better than brittle... (?) |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 7 Nov 2008 5:08 am
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David, I've tried a few types of aluminum-cones for steel and didn't care for them at all - far too much top end and a weird upper-mid emphasis; must be the popping/slapping bass playing style they were really developed for. I don't like them for bass either!
Bass drivers with hemp or other paper-type cones are the way to go IMO if you're going to use it for both.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 7 Nov 2008 8:02 am
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| My experience is opposite of Jim's. The highs that aluminum caps seem to add for me provide sizzle and sparkle and clarity rather than the hard, piercing, ice-pick highs. I'm thinking of JBLs and Black Widows. The aluminum caps seem to add a touch of hi-fi highs that are just the right amount to compensate for the fact that it is basically a one-speaker woofer system, with no mid-range or tweeter, which for me are too harsh for steel and guitar. Some guitar speakers without aluminum caps seem muffled on top, but still deliver the hard, ice-pick highs. But there are many other factors that affect the mids and highs: cone shape, cone material, power handling, amp EQ, cabinet type, etc. Unfortunately it seems really hard to judge how a speaker will sound by the design and specs alone. |
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Olli Haavisto
From:
Jarvenpaa,Finland
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Posted 7 Nov 2008 8:15 am
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David, the speaker in question is available with an aluminum cone (not dust cap ie. dome). Remember Hartke bass cabs ?
I agree with you on the aluminum dome/paper cone issue... I have a bunch JBLs and Weber Californias. Great steel speakers !
_________________
Olli Haavisto
Finland |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 7 Nov 2008 8:34 am
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Oh, well in the words of Rosanne Rosannadanna on the old Saturday Night Live, "Never mind." 
I have tried pedal steel through a Hartke bass cab with aluminum 10s. It sounded harsh, likewise bass cab two-way systems with horns. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 7 Nov 2008 9:56 am
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For pedal steel and guitar, you probably wouldn't like aluminum cones. When used for higher frequencies than a bass (which is what they were designed for), they're very brittle and harsh. And besides, using 10's, you're probably going to want all the "mellow" you can get! 
IIWM, I'd use at least a 12" neo. And if you're going to be using it for bass occasionally, I'd also use a closed-back enclosure. The 10's in an open cab have about zippo bottom end. |
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Lynn Oliver
From:
Redmond, Washington USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Nov 2008 10:04 am
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| David Doggett wrote: |
| Oh, well in the words of Rosanne Rosannadanna on the old Saturday Night Live, "Never mind." |
You mean another of Gilda Radner's characters: Emily Litella, "What's all this fuss about Soviet Jewelry?..." |
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Steve Feldman
From:
Central MA USA
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Posted 8 Nov 2008 8:52 am
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| Lynn Oliver wrote: |
| David Doggett wrote: |
| Oh, well in the words of Rosanne Rosannadanna on the old Saturday Night Live, "Never mind." |
You mean another of Gilda Radner's characters: Emily Litella, "What's all this fuss about Soviet Jewelry?..." |
Hair on soap!
_________________
"...An admission of interest in protracted commentary is certainly no reason to capitalize on surmised aberations that do not exist." - BH |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 8 Nov 2008 1:49 pm
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Um..., yeah, I was trying to remember if it was Rosanne or Emily who did the "Nevermind" thing. I had a 50% chance of getting it right. But as usual, 50% is not good enough for someone with my luck.  |
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Micky Byrne
From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
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Posted 9 Nov 2008 2:38 am
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I agree with David on the Aluminium dust cap. I have a Nashville 400 and an old Evans Fet 500 lv...Both these amp have been altered to a head and seperate cabinet configuration. The Evan's cab has the eclipse speaker....I can use either head with either cabinet for comparison on tone. The Nashville 400 though the eclipse speaker doesn't sound as good as through the B/W, and likewise if I plug the Evans through the B/W cabinet....the "sparkle" arrives 
Micky Byrne United Kingdom
www.micky-byrne.co.uk |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 9 Nov 2008 1:42 pm
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So, when a speaker with a hemp cone blows out, can you roll it up and smoke it?  |
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Micky Byrne
From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
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Posted 10 Nov 2008 12:37 am
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Richard....I tried that, wasn't quite the same...silly me 
Micky Byrne United Kingdom
www.micky-byrne.co.uk |
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Jim Strawser
From:
Montana, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2008 9:56 pm Speaker suggestions
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Try WEBER speakers, all custom made and a fine fellow to deal with. Good Luck.....Jimbo
_________________
"Steel players are like fine wine, we get better with age" |
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