Avatar Speaker Cabinets - Opinions?

[Hotcrazyfruit]

Has anybody had any experience with avatar speaker cabinets? Even if you've heard something id like to know

I'm currently looking into a Vox ac4 and then getting a 1x12 loaded with an alnico blue. At the same time, i'm considering a 2x12 with green backs so i can use it with my Marshall as well (50 watts). Still deciding which path to go.

I have never played through an alnico blue, so any opinions on the speaker and its highs and lows would be great!

Nick

http://www.avatarspeakers.com/

[madgt621]

when I was still up in San Francisco, my brother picked up one of the bass cabs. The NEO 212 model I think it was, with the adjustable tweeter control. We hooked up a vintage Fender Super Bassman modded head by Torres Engineering, also with a swapped selection of tubes, also jumped of course, to it. Awesome for a bass sound, far from sterile, awesome grit. But the real magic was when we plugged in a simple Mexi Strat with Dimarzio Area 58's. Probably one of the best clean sounds I've ever got with that amp. Full bodied, not at all brittle, and still responsive to volume control. I had before hooked up that amp to a Mesa 4x12 as well as a Marshall 1960a lead cab, and both didn't yield comprable results.

The vintage Super Bassman has since died due to unsuccessful heart (transformer) transplant, but we have since hooked it up to an Orange Bass Terror with stellar results.

Avatar cabs are highly recommended. And they also are top quality, despite the price.

[Hotcrazyfruit]

Excellent. The price made me kind of worried about the quality of the cabinets. It also made me wonder how you can make a 112 with a celestion blue in it for just 430 dollars

Any other stories? Good and bad! I'm leaning towards a 212 with greenbacks.

Nick

[necjamc]

Originally Posted by Hotcrazyfruit

Excellent. The price made me kind of worried about the quality of the cabinets. It also made me wonder how you can make a 112 with a celestion blue in it for just 430 dollars

Any other stories? Good and bad! I'm leaning towards a 212 with greenbacks.

Nick

Have you played through greenbacks much. Too me they are a definitive sound that doesn't always work. Of course that entirely my personal opinion. I like the vintage 30's better with my Marshall.

[sunburst79]

Have a pair of the Blues in my late nineties Vox AC30 TB RI. They sound great. Fat, Smooth, Warm and Round. Nothing bad to say say about the speaker.

Avatar.... I snagged a Rienhardt Super High Gain out of the Kansas City GC while on vacation. It was red and had been traded with both a 2 -12 Rienhardt Angled Cab and a 2-12 Avatar with (I presume) V30's. Both the Avatar and the Rienhardt cab sounded great. In the end I took the Rienhardt Cab because it matched the head. Had I had room for both I would have snagged the Avatar also. Well made stuff. It would be hard to go wrong with a Celestion Blue in a Avatar cab.

A quick search for Avatars in GC's used gear catagory showed a couple potential bargains BTW.

[Hotcrazyfruit]

Originally Posted by necjamc

Have you played through greenbacks much. Too me they are a definitive sound that doesn't always work. Of course that entirely my personal opinion. I like the vintage 30's better with my Marshall.

Not MUCH, but i have used them a few times and i really dig the sound. However you are correct in that they aren't always right for the job. The early breakup ruins clean tones IMO. Iv read that V30's are mainly only good for Metal or thrash. Which I am definitly into, but i really like my 11R for jamming thrash. Im looking for a speaker and cab for blues and rock, which is what makes me consider a celestion blue or gold.

Nick

[sunburst79]

I've got a pair of the 1997 Marshall Anniversary 4-12's with greenbacks and I am not all that much of a fan. I think the Vintage Thirty sounds better for classic rock or bluesy stuff. Which is ironic since much so classic rock was recorded with greenbacks.

[Hotcrazyfruit]

Originally Posted by sunburst79

I've got a pair of the 1997 Marshall Anniversary 4-12's with greenbacks and I am not all that much of a fan. I think the Vintage Thirty sounds better for classic rock or bluesy stuff. Which is ironic since much so classic rock was recorded with greenbacks.

Very helpful! Im trying to find comparisons of all the celestion speakers. Has anyone tried out the golds? I love the idea of blues. But only 30 watts really doesnt attract me much unless i get a 412 for use with my marshall, which would be upwards of 1400 after shipping and tax. A 212 with golds would only be 800 or 900, and have a higher wattage rating. However, if you want to get the good stuff i suppose you have to shell out the cash for it, right?

Nick

[necjamc]

You might be better off finding a used 212 or 412 cheap and buy the speakers yourself. This way if after some time you want a different set you'll have options to sell the speakers or hang on to them if another empty cab comes along. I have a few cabs and I get use out of them all depending on the project. Even a 112 empty through in a gold and if you love it buy another etc. In the end it's probably not cheaper but you'll gain a lot of first hand knowledge and quite a collection.

[moff]

One of the guys I play with has an Avatar 2x12 with Greenbacks and it sounds wonderful.

I absolutely HATE Vintage 30s, and will pull them out of a cabinet at the first opportunity. I yanked them out of my SuperSonic and out of my Mesa cabs, in favour of G12T-75s (the stock speaker in a Marshall 4x12). V-30s have an upper-mid spike that, at least to me, is very unmusical. I far prefer T-75s or Greenbacks.