I'm looking for a British voiced speaker to work with my 5E3 Tweed Deluxe. I'm hoping to get more of a Marshall-style overdrive tone out of it but still retain some of the Fender chime on the cleans. I prefer a smoother overdiven/lead tone. I'm going for the classic Marshall classic rock tone (AC/DC, Free, etc.). The Tweed Deluxe is a 1x12 open back pine cabinet. I set the amp up for edge of breakup tones and push it into hot-rodded Marshall territory using a Rockett 10 Ton Hammer. Speakers I have tried include:
Celestion Greenback Reissue - love how it cuts through the mix but lacks bass and has too much treble/harshness/fizz in the open back cab.
EV12L - a bit too neutral in the mids and doesn't cut through the way I would like for it to.
Eminence Cannabis Rex - too smooth and dampened sounding. Doesn't cut through a mix with another guitar.
Jensen P12Q - great cleans but not good overdriven; loose bass, harsh treble.
Mesa Black Shadow MC90 - just didn't sound quite right.
Celestion 70/80 - too harsh/trebley.
Based on those I have tried, the Greenback Reissue has been my favorite in terms of recording and sitting nicely in a mix but I really wish it had a more solid low end, smoother top end, and maybe just a bit less mid range and that it worked well in an open back cab. Based on the research I have done, a few people report great results with the G12H30 so I am interested in the Reaper. I'm open to any information and recomendations!
Here are two links to clips of my 5E3 with a Greenback Reissue. I really like how this cuts through and sits nicely in the mix, it can just be harsh with a loose low end when pushed for solos and really looses it's definition. Also the Greenback Reissue really doesn't handle the cleans well at all. Although it puts me in the Marshall realm for the overdriven tone the cleans really suffer.
https://soundcloud.com/shaneriling/test-rockett-10-ton-hammer-sweet-emotion
https://soundcloud.com/shaneriling/test-rockett-10-ton-hammer-unchained
Been covered so many times here ... the Blackhawk IS (!!) my choice for a tweed Deluxe. It's EVERYTHING you want.
Sorry if I've taken a while to answer your question. I've been fighting Pneumonia the last couple of weeks!