I have been seeking my tone for quite a while, and have been trying out a few amps and way too many pedals (especially OD), but never paid that much attention to speakers. That until I bought a used Mesa Thiele EV12 cab.
i have been using a Fuchs TDS 50 w amp with a Fuchs 2x12 cabinet (two eminence rwb), and have been happy, but never relly excited. The "new" mesa cabinet made me realize that cab/speaker has a bigger impact on the tone than I thought. Then I began searching for guitar speakers, and found wgs.
After searching the site I ended up ordering a pair of et65/vet30 and installed them in a 2x12 diy cab. And this is awesome.
But when go through all the speaker descriptions and forum, it makes want to try more combintions, to see if there is a even better combination for me. Or for different styles. I have been trying to make some kind a matrix to get an overview of different speaker and what they would pair well with, but nothing that is really good came out of it.
Therefore my idea is to build 4 1x12 cabinet, 21"x19x13", each one with a 3-pice convertable back install a different speaker in each, and work my way through different combinations.
The question is regarding the cabinets. I prefer 1x12 for portability and it is easy to try different combintion, but would a et-90/reaper combo sound as good in two 1x12 cabs as in one 2x12?
The size of the cab is simply a guess from looking at different brands, nothing scientific in that.
How do you guys test speakers and/or combinations?
I have ET-65/Vet 30 mix in 4X12 1960A. I also have FUCHS Lucky 7. I have two other QUALITY Cabs, to include 4X12 Blackbacks (EVH). Another boutique 2X12.
The Lucky 7 combined with WGS is my FAVORITE all time tone. The sound is perfect. Not too bright, not too dull.
Tone is TOTALLY subjective. And it's a gamble. If you already have a mix set up, I suggest going with a matched set. You'll go crazy mixing and matching. Been there, done that.
Combining single Cabs is probably best solution as long as your amp matches combined and single impedances. 16 and/or 8 Ohms. I think single Cabs are a waste of $ when you can simiply push sound through a 2X12. I had a Crate V Series 2X12 which allows you to play mixed set at 8 Ohms, or singles at 16 Ohms. Invader and Reaper HP. But I got tired of playing around between the two and sold it for nearly what I paid for my used boutique 2X12 which is Alnico/Ceramic mix.
You can go that route, also. Two single Cabs, one alnico, one ceramic.