Question:
Hi I have a Crate TD50c chorus (2x10") (2x25watt=50watt) and I was wanting to replace the factory speakers with the best 10" speakers I can buy that is compatible with 50 watts. The Crate TD50c has the clearest clean channel I've ever heard. So I'm wanting speakers that will bring out accoustic clarity but at the same time be able to handle high gain and heavy distortion. Also this amp has one tube and I'm wanting to replace it as well. Any ideas on which tube would be the best for this model of Crate? Thanks for your help. Matthew.
Answer:
If you have a 12AX7 tube, you probaly want to keep it in there. What's your issue with the speaker? Distorting early? Or do you want something brighter and clearer?
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Hi. I've been reading lately that upgrading your speakers can make a huge difference. I really like the sound of my Crate but I'm always thinking it can be just a bit better. The clean is great but the distortion I've always thought could be alot clearer although it can produce some great harmonics.
Answer:
Originally Posted by berean532000 Hi. I've been reading lately that upgrading your speakers can make a huge difference. I really like the sound of my Crate but I'm always thinking it can be just a bit better. The clean is great but the distortion I've always thought could be alot clearer although it can produce some great harmonics. this could be as much a limitation of your amp circuit as it is of the speakers
Answer:
Originally Posted by berean532000 Hi. I've been reading lately that upgrading your speakers can make a huge difference. I really like the sound of my Crate but I'm always thinking it can be just a bit better. The clean is great but the distortion I've always thought could be alot clearer although it can produce some great harmonics.
Yeah, you're not giving us very many specific facts to work with. Only that you want your amp to sound "better". What does "better" mean?
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Hey. Well I have nothing bad to say about my clean sound. I guess my main problem is my distortion has no life to it. It sounds muddy and dead. But when I play a solo the individual notes come to life and it's so easy to get really cool harmonics. I have a metal zone footswitch that I use. When I use that it seems to have way too much top end and the speakers can't handle enough low end without having an fibrillation attack.(no the speakers aren't blown) I also have a Marshall AVT50 (1x12) Celestion G12T-75 and also a Marshall 8240 Chorus (2x12) Celestion G12T-75's and I hate both of the sounds these amps produce. So I'm wondering if maybe the Celestions just don't agree with my ear or maybe it's just the amp circuitry. I know everyone always down grades Crates but I really enjoy some of the things this old amp can do but I'd like to make it have clearer distortion. Something with alot of bass, no mid and alot of treble.
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let's see, it's a crate, you say? considering their reputation for tone it could just be the circuitry. G12T-75's are supposed to be very good speakers, so i'm not thinking they're the problem. i'm betting it's the amp itself.
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Aha, so I'm starting to get what kinda amp tones you like. I personally don't like the solid state-y distortion gotten from those Crates, but you do.
So it's not the Marshalls' speakers that you don't like, I'm guessing. It's the amp's tube-ish tone.
Now with this amp, yes you'll want higher powered speakers. A 12"er will be better able to reproduce bass frequencies.
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is the TD50 also a hybrid? he said something about it have one tube in it...
while switching from a 2-10" config to a 12" config will give you more bass end, it'll kill the usefulness of the chorus on the TD50 I would think...usually chorus amps have two speakers like that simply for getting a really good chorus tone.
replacing those 2-10" with better 10"s may solve the problem. also, it might just be the EQ settings of your MT-2. I know i've heard lots of MT-2s in live situations that were all mid scooped with mostly top end and very little noticeable bottom end. have you played the MT-2 through an amp and gotten the sound you wanted? if so, what kind of amp was it?
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Originally Posted by thesteve is the TD50 also a hybrid? he said something about it have one tube in it...
Ah, true. Well, it probably has more of a Mesa-esque voicing than a Marshall.
while switching from a 2-10" config to a 12" config will give you more bass end, it'll kill the usefulness of the chorus on the TD50 I would think...usually chorus amps have two speakers like that simply for getting a really good chorus tone.
replacing those 2-10" with better 10"s may solve the problem. also, it might just be the EQ settings of your MT-2. I know i've heard lots of MT-2s in live situations that were all mid scooped with mostly top end and very little noticeable bottom end. have you played the MT-2 through an amp and gotten the sound you wanted? if so, what kind of amp was it?
I actually have to disagree. The "Stereo Chorus" really only works when you're in close proximity to the amp. Though each speaker is working independently, byt the time you get 20 feet away, the stereo effect is almost completely gone. However, a two speaker setup will seem louder.
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wouldn't the more important feature of a stereo chorus (though i have no idea if this amp is true stereo) is that the speakers would be operating independently, thus allowing a fuller sound overall?
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This amp is true stereo. And the feature that makes a stereo chorus in stereo is having an amp in true stereo. However, it's really like a stereo delay, once you get far enough away from the amp, it really doesn't matter whether the amp is in stereo or not.
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Granted, but what if he wanted to mic the amp at close range? Wouldn't the stario chorus then be applicable through the miced amp? Just a thought.
How about attaching the amp to an external cabinet and see if you like that better. Also, is your curent combo cab open back? (I"m guessing it is) getting a closed back cab could help with bass reproduction (But I woulnd't try to just close the back of your cab without some profesional help, the cab must be properaly set to get the effect of deep bass without damaging the drivers, I think...)
my 2cents
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Originally Posted by 4Glory Granted, but what if he wanted to mic the amp at close range? Wouldn't the stario chorus then be applicable through the miced amp? Just a thought.
Only a dual mic'ing to a stereo recording deck will yield a stereo sound from the amp. A dual mic'ing at a venue won't do much, as the audience doesn't recieve the sounds in stereo.