Robben Ford Discussion

guitar-head · New Member Joined: 29 Feb 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Toronto

Hi there everyone. I am new to the forum. I just saw Robben twice this weekend: Friday in Toronto and Saturday in Buffalo. Same set list each night. Both equally amazing!

Does anyone know the make and model of the speakers Robben is using in his 2x12 cab on this tour??

Thanks in advance for your help!
Cheers!

renico00 · Member Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 32

I'll bump this and maybe Daved will fill us in. Robben has had a lot changes in speakers recently. I think that cab has two Celestion 65 speakers, but not sure. He tried the reissue 65s and I don't think he liked them.

Jeff

tonemaster2_11 · Member Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 37

I asked Daved when they were in Cleveland two weeks ago and they're Celestion G12-65's

Aeolian · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2004 8:23 pm Post subject:

I'd heard that Robben was blowing the 65's up and had resorted to 75's. Maybe he found some more. These speakers are rapidly becoming mythical. The reissue didn't work out so there's only so many. I heard that the Two Rock folks were scouring e-bay to come up with these for customers. I have a 2-12 with them and they are the quickest most responsive guitar speaker I've ever played. They have a wonderfully natural but colorful midrange. No honk or nasal things, nor are they scooped. Just clear, but with enough subtle resonances going on to add life and color. For a production speaker you can buy today, I like the G12H Anniversary. Not quite as open or quick as the 65's but very close, and a bit more beef on the bottom end. Although with the 100 watt Dumble cranked, Robben gets the bottom end going just fine.
_________________
There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

juspasinby2003 · Senior Member Joined: 18 Dec 2003 Posts: 255

That's the trouble. At low to moderate volume, the G12-65's sound way too thin and lack bottom. You can still find them aplenty, though. Just shop for mid-80's Marshall 4x12 cabs. You'll probably find 4 of them inside.

kirk95 · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2004 11:26 pm Post subject:

Check out Weber speakers:
http://www.webervst.com/crossref.htm

AlNiCo 1265
G12-65 Tone with AlNiCo characteristics
12", 40oz AlNiCo magnet with ceramic booster, 65 watt, 1-3/4" voice coil..$165 plus shipping. British Kurt-Mueller ribbed cone and large screen dustcap. Similar to the G12-65, it is recognized by the large screen dustcap that diffuses and partially absorbs the high end making it warmer, slighlty smoother, and it takes the edge off of high frequency distortion. Compressed and fattened at higher volumes.

Scott Lerner has a these and they sound great!
_________________
www.hendersounds.com
http://soundcloud.com/davidhenderson
Please Donate - Keep These Forums Alive

tonemaster2_11 · Member Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 37

Yeah but I'd try the ceramic Weber version for tighter low end and less compression under breakup. Been thinking about trying them myself.

Aeolian · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 9:49 am Post subject:

I yanked the Tone Tubby because I didn't like the compression and the "thhhkkkttt" sound it made when you laid into a note. I think AlNiCo speakers are relevant in a vintage style amp that compesses in the output and speakers. But I like the Fuchs because it doesn't do this. The idea of a Webber "reissue" of the 65 is intriguing. Of the two I have in my cabinet, one has an oversize dustcap. I thought it was some odd recone. I agree with JustPassingBy that they are pretty bright but Robben's DR has one and sounded really warm. Maybe it's just a well tweaked DR (played by an incredible player).
I think I'll try one of the Webber ceramics and swap it for my G12H reissue. Compare it to a friends Two Rock cab with one real 65 in it.
_________________
There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

JingChiFan · Member Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 44

I had 65's in my 2x12 for 3 or 4 months. Sold them to Joe at Two-Rock, and went back to my g12H-30's. 10 out of 10 people who heard both liked the 30's better. The 65's have an annoying mid hump in them. the 30's are more even.

I might have a different opinion if I played a 100 watt Dumble at Robben's stage volumes night after night.

Mike

scottl · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 11:01 am Post subject:

I just recorded this video on my THD 2X12 cab loaded with 1 Lead 80 and 1 alnico G1230 from Weber. The G1230 has the warmer 55hz cone. I think the tone is great Smile

The speakers compliment each other beautifully. I have half the back open on the cab as well.

http://www.scottlernermusic.com/cd/ScottLerner-SubwayDivxVideo.avi

You need the DIVX codec to view

Fwiw, Daved told me on Friday that Robben has the Celestion G1265 speakers.

Scott
_________________
www.scottlernermusic.com

Aeolian · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 11:48 am Post subject:

tonemaster2_11 · Member Joined: 07 Dec 2003 Posts: 37

Although it sure sounds like Robben is playing LOUD on the Yoshi's recording he was playing at a pretty reasonable volume when I saw him in Cleveland. I was about five feet in front of him and I don't think he was playing any louder than I do at home on a Sunday afternoon! (I have great neighbors and all the windows are closed!)
I use Vintage 30's and G1280 Celestions just because it's what I've ended up with over the years. If the 65's have a bump in the midrange then one might do well to check out the Boogie 90w version od the G1280 since to my ears they also had a pretty significantly pronounced midrange. It's always a plus if you can build your sound around something which is easily obtainable/replacable and I think they're reasonably priced.

Aeolian · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 4:41 pm Post subject:

The hump in the Boggie Black Shadow 90's is lower down. Closer to the bass region. These can really fatten up an annemic amp. Put one in a Hot Rod Deluxe and look out. It will sound like it has real transformers in it. These are also really efficient and will make things like a Peavy Classic 30 into real contenders. They can get a little "woofy" in the wrong cabinet, and where they "woof" the 65's bark.
At the Yoshi's stand, Robben was so loud, you could feel the bottom end coming from the stage. There was barely any guitar in the mains. In fact the soundman kept turning Robben's vocal mike off, much to Robben's annoyance when he forgot to turn it back on. Friends who have played there say that the stage is really dead and so there is a tendancy to turn up. It's murder on drummers who feel like they're in one of those over-padded 70's isolation booths.
_________________
There are no such things as wrong notes, there's only the look on your face.
My Stuff: www.stevekirbymusic.com

davidS · Member Joined: 17 Feb 2004 Posts: 34 Location: Dallas

I bought a pair of Rola Celestion G12-65s after hearing Robben's Deluxe Reverb at one of his clinics. They are installed in an old Fender Deluxe 2X12 ext cab - almost same dimensions as a THD. The speakers seem to be very clear, open, and neutral in tonality. When connected to my DR it seemed like a blanket had been lifted off the amp. I just received my Fuchs/Traynor mod last week and am using it with the G12-65s. It sounds amazing. I haven't tried the Fuchs with any other speakers yet - but I might not need to. I gigged with the Fuchs/1265s the day after I received it and it sounded great in a live band context with brass and keys. Plenty of bottom and cut.

JingChiFan · Member Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 44