I have Blues and a Cream here, and based on Joe's excellent clip, it sounds like the A60 sits somewhere between those two. There seems to be more low-mid than the Blue, and a nice present, but more rounded top end in the A60. It actually sounds a littler closer to the old Silver Alnico to my (albeit bad) ears. I wonder if you'd concur with those thoughts Joe, since you know........you've now actually played a A60 :).
Your knowing glances at the camera are hilarious. This speaker just made the top of my list for a stereo aluminum-nickle-cobalt extension cabinet project. Thanks JP!
Aha thanks! If you look in the description under the video (and in the Q&A video that comes out tonight!) there's a discount code for use on the Fane website if you want 10% off :-)
I was writing that I thought the Tele and Dr. Z combination were exceptional as you said it yourself, sounds so rich and clear. Awesome demo, Joe, I appreciate your attention to detail when making comparison videos. Cheers!
Thanks :-) Yeah, it really worked in that amp...I might have turned the 'Cut' control down slightly more when playing the full 6-string chords at the start of that section, but for the neck pickup & riffy stuff at the end, it was just divine!!
Huge fan of OX4s - no matter what guitar you’re putting them in Mark Stowe always recommends his low-wind A4s. I have in a ‘57 Historic Goldtop and it’s now the best sounding LP I’ve heard in person, putting another set in my 335
Hi Joe - I really like the professionalism and thoroughness you put into your speaker comparisons. I'm a bit of an Alnico nut myself. I'm trying to put together a 4x12 set up for the ultimate Alnico buzz. I love the sweetness and chime but also the clang. However, no one speaker will give you all that. I've currently set up with a 2x12 containing a JBLD120F and a (unfortunately reconed) Altec 417b. Currently unused is an Alnico Gold in a 1x12 and a further 1x12 which is unoccupied. To get the recipe right for running all 4 together I'm having a hard time filling that last 1x12. I mostly like sparkly fender cleans and tweedy overdrive tones (I know these are 2 very different things - I switch between 2 preamps). This is why I haven't gone for a Blue as I feel it would choke the Fender cleans. Do you think the Fane would let me have my tonal cake and eat it?
The Fane is definitely a very balanced speaker and doesn't have as much upper-mid 'snap' as the Celestions do. It sounds incredible with clean tones, and really does seem to 'fill in the gaps' around other speakers for a more full-frequency sound. It's _probably_ my favourite speaker I've ever played, so it's definitely one I'd recommend for most applications! :-)
Thanks Youssef - have just moved to using a new camera, so I've changed things up a bit. Still ironing out some bugs...the reflections of the lights on the guitar's pickguard, etc. But I'm getting there slowly! :P
There's a video out in a few weeks about how I make videos, and I talk about it a little in there. But there's a good chance I might make a follow-up video to this one answering people's questions, so I'll answer it in full then. But in short - no delay compensation; just getting the mic placements right to begin with & double checking by looking at the Pro Tools waveforms. 👍
Loved the playing, Joe. But if I'm honest, when it comes to speakers, overwhelmingly the thing that matters is singing lead tone. So as Celestion does, you have the series of audio clips comparing the speakers in this mode. Maybe it's a wrong assumption, but I would hope that if the lead sound is there - generally all the other characteristics you mentioned would be there as well?
I think I was just having too much fun hammering out the rock riffs in this one :P But I can confirm that the lead tones are outstanding too - it's in my H&K currently, and whacking it with something like the Origin RevivalDRIVE and a touch of delay sounds unreal! I doubt this'll be the last video I make about the A60 - so I'll try to include more soaring leads in the next!
The A60 is 60W, but they also do an A90 which is a 90W Alnico with a different voice. Also, their N30 was somewhat intended to be a cheaper, lighter 30W speaker with a similar voice to the A60 - I'm going to be comparing the two of them soon, so it'll be interesting to hear what the differences/similarities are :-)
Some really nice tones there. The Tele into the Cornell was my favourite. That combo was superb. BTW - how do you manage to crank the amps in that room?
I agree - the final clip is with the amp dimed and the EQ dropped out, so it's nice and honky just like an old Champ (albeit a 10W one with a 12" speaker!) and it sounded gorgeous! Fortunately the nearest neighbours are a little way away so I can crank amps for short periods without anybody getting too upset (though it does hurt my ears in such a small room!!). I only run one cranked at once too - when I'm running two amps for demos, they're generally loud enough to be 'working' properly but not taking my head off :P
Really enjoying your A/B comparison videos! Will the sound of the 8-ohm version differ much from the 16-ohm version of the A60? Does it depend on the amp? Mine can take 8 or 16.
I've never compared directly myself. Some people say they do sound different; though I suspect a lot of what differences there might be will come from using more of the amp's output transformer at 16 ohm. Some people say British amps (Marshall, Vox, etc) sound more 'right' at 16 ohms...but I've never bought into that too much myself. 8 ohm speakers usually give you more wiring options in a 2x12 cabinet, too, should you ever want to use one.
Joe, I'm grateful that you made this video. My mates & I have been debating 12" speakers lately. It's difficult to find one that does it it all: articulate, willing to take distortion, thumpy lows only when desired, etc. This sounds like a contender for overall greatness. I'd love to hear this in infinite baffles, acoustic suspensions, Thiele labyrinths, 2x12, 4x12, etc. I presume that all your amps have open backs. Did you find this high power handling speaker to be quiet? The 10-watt amp seemed to drive it well but how does the volume compare to the stock speaker? Thanks, and have a great day!
Glad it was useful Bill :-) I've only really got 1x12 combo amps here (and yes, all open backed), so I'd struggle with those other videos. In terms of power handing...in the room, it was so loud with the H&K my ears are still ringing 3 days on! :P The 'stock' speaker in the Cornell is a Celestion Blue that I put in there last year (didn't like the original ceramic Jensen!) - seemed to be much the same in terms of volume. I was really surprised how great the Fane sounded in that amp considering its 60W rating...certainly didn't sound like it was 'just' ticking over!
Thanks for the video, mine just arrived. i'm a bit curious how to solder the wire to the lugs. there are two open holes on each terminal. did you push your wire though both holes and solder each hole for each terminal? or did you just solder through one hole for each terminal? thanks!
Great stuff! :-) Most amp connectors have clips that just slot onto the terminals on the speaker - but some do occasionally need soldering. Any metal-to-metal contact has always done the trick, in my experience - so yes, poking the wires through any of the holes on the terminals and then soldering them in place should do you (though of course, +ve goes on one side; -ve on the the other!!) Let me know what you think of the speaker! :-)
The three close mics were running through the Miktek MPA-201 and the WA73-EQ. The room mic was straight into the interface. The better preamps seem to give a more accurate 'realism' to the sound and bring it closer to what I was hearing in the room. In my experience, cheaper interface preamps often add a fizzy midrange that isn't present in the room and can give a false impression of how things sounded...plus, that midrange can often sound like the audio is clipping when it isn't; it can be quite grainy.
P90’s and Tele’s sound so great. The A60 really brings out the character of the pickups.
Lovely review Joe - I hope you can find time to do some comparisons of the Fane with the different Celestions. Thanks!
I think a video where he compares the alnico blue, gold, and the new one would be great.
It's possible (though speaker demos like that take a good few days to put together, so I'll have to pace myself!! heh)
I have Blues and a Cream here, and based on Joe's excellent clip, it sounds like the A60 sits somewhere between those two. There seems to be more low-mid than the Blue, and a nice present, but more rounded top end in the A60. It actually sounds a littler closer to the old Silver Alnico to my (albeit bad) ears. I wonder if you'd concur with those thoughts Joe, since you know........you've now actually played a A60 :).
@@GCKelloch the Blue would work nicely there then.
Your knowing glances at the camera are hilarious.
This speaker just made the top of my list for a stereo aluminum-nickle-cobalt extension cabinet project.
Thanks JP!
Aha thanks! If you look in the description under the video (and in the Q&A video that comes out tonight!) there's a discount code for use on the Fane website if you want 10% off :-)
I have a couple of Fane AXA12s and I finally put them in a cab... Fane makes some great sounding speakers!
Just found this video - I've been looking for a well-balanced alnico that will pair well with many different amps. This looks like the ticket!
It's a killer speaker! I believe if you're buying directly from Fane the code PERKY10 is still good for 10% off :-)
I was writing that I thought the Tele and Dr. Z combination were exceptional as you said it yourself, sounds so rich and clear. Awesome demo, Joe, I appreciate your attention to detail when making comparison videos. Cheers!
Thanks :-) Yeah, it really worked in that amp...I might have turned the 'Cut' control down slightly more when playing the full 6-string chords at the start of that section, but for the neck pickup & riffy stuff at the end, it was just divine!!
Also props to those OX4 low wind A4s in the SG. I've got a A4 OX4 set in my Les Paul and they are brilliant.
Couldn't agree more - now they're dialled in with a proper setup, they're the perfect pickups for that guitar....pair together so nicely!! :-)
Huge fan of OX4s - no matter what guitar you’re putting them in Mark Stowe always recommends his low-wind A4s. I have in a ‘57 Historic Goldtop and it’s now the best sounding LP I’ve heard in person, putting another set in my 335
@@CenterThePendulum Couldn't agree more :-)
Hi Joe - I really like the professionalism and thoroughness you put into your speaker comparisons. I'm a bit of an Alnico nut myself. I'm trying to put together a 4x12 set up for the ultimate Alnico buzz. I love the sweetness and chime but also the clang. However, no one speaker will give you all that. I've currently set up with a 2x12 containing a JBLD120F and a (unfortunately reconed) Altec 417b. Currently unused is an Alnico Gold in a 1x12 and a further 1x12 which is unoccupied. To get the recipe right for running all 4 together I'm having a hard time filling that last 1x12. I mostly like sparkly fender cleans and tweedy overdrive tones (I know these are 2 very different things - I switch between 2 preamps). This is why I haven't gone for a Blue as I feel it would choke the Fender cleans. Do you think the Fane would let me have my tonal cake and eat it?
The Fane is definitely a very balanced speaker and doesn't have as much upper-mid 'snap' as the Celestions do. It sounds incredible with clean tones, and really does seem to 'fill in the gaps' around other speakers for a more full-frequency sound. It's _probably_ my favourite speaker I've ever played, so it's definitely one I'd recommend for most applications! :-)
Like that new angle of filming, I think the lighting is better that way.
Thanks Youssef - have just moved to using a new camera, so I've changed things up a bit. Still ironing out some bugs...the reflections of the lights on the guitar's pickguard, etc. But I'm getting there slowly! :P
The LB4 & LP sounded amazing, almost a Lynrd Skynrd sound.
100%! With a slightly brighter setting/brighter guitar - and more room mic - I think it'd be dead on for the Gimme Three Steps intro tone!
Hi Joe. The Fane sounds great! Could you describe a bit how you balanced the 4 mics into phase - delay compensation vst? Cheers
There's a video out in a few weeks about how I make videos, and I talk about it a little in there. But there's a good chance I might make a follow-up video to this one answering people's questions, so I'll answer it in full then. But in short - no delay compensation; just getting the mic placements right to begin with & double checking by looking at the Pro Tools waveforms. 👍
Sounds great!! How would you compare it to Celestions Gold or Cream?
There'll hopefully be some comparison videos coming in the next few weeks (though on first impressions, the A60 is certainly ballpark!)
Loved the playing, Joe.
But if I'm honest, when it comes to speakers, overwhelmingly the thing that matters is singing lead tone.
So as Celestion does, you have the series of audio clips comparing the speakers in this mode.
Maybe it's a wrong assumption, but I would hope that if the lead sound is there - generally all the other characteristics you mentioned would be there as well?
I think I was just having too much fun hammering out the rock riffs in this one :P But I can confirm that the lead tones are outstanding too - it's in my H&K currently, and whacking it with something like the Origin RevivalDRIVE and a touch of delay sounds unreal! I doubt this'll be the last video I make about the A60 - so I'll try to include more soaring leads in the next!
Definitely sounds good Joe I can see why they are your new favorite But I guess they don't come in different wattages or sizes ??
The A60 is 60W, but they also do an A90 which is a 90W Alnico with a different voice. Also, their N30 was somewhat intended to be a cheaper, lighter 30W speaker with a similar voice to the A60 - I'm going to be comparing the two of them soon, so it'll be interesting to hear what the differences/similarities are :-)
Some really nice tones there. The Tele into the Cornell was my favourite. That combo was superb. BTW - how do you manage to crank the amps in that room?
I agree - the final clip is with the amp dimed and the EQ dropped out, so it's nice and honky just like an old Champ (albeit a 10W one with a 12" speaker!) and it sounded gorgeous! Fortunately the nearest neighbours are a little way away so I can crank amps for short periods without anybody getting too upset (though it does hurt my ears in such a small room!!). I only run one cranked at once too - when I'm running two amps for demos, they're generally loud enough to be 'working' properly but not taking my head off :P
Really enjoying your A/B comparison videos! Will the sound of the 8-ohm version differ much from the 16-ohm version of the A60? Does it depend on the amp? Mine can take 8 or 16.
I've never compared directly myself. Some people say they do sound different; though I suspect a lot of what differences there might be will come from using more of the amp's output transformer at 16 ohm. Some people say British amps (Marshall, Vox, etc) sound more 'right' at 16 ohms...but I've never bought into that too much myself. 8 ohm speakers usually give you more wiring options in a 2x12 cabinet, too, should you ever want to use one.
Also - I believe the discount code PERKY10 is still active if you buy any speaker from Fane directly :-)
@@JoePerkinsMusic The code indeed works, but I am in the USA, and apparently Fane does not ship here.
@@JoePerkinsMusic Good to know. Thanks!
@@WillfulThinker Ah...might be worth an email to see if they can!
Joe, I'm grateful that you made this video. My mates & I have been debating 12" speakers lately. It's difficult to find one that does it it all: articulate, willing to take distortion, thumpy lows only when desired, etc. This sounds like a contender for overall greatness. I'd love to hear this in infinite baffles, acoustic suspensions, Thiele labyrinths, 2x12, 4x12, etc. I presume that all your amps have open backs. Did you find this high power handling speaker to be quiet? The 10-watt amp seemed to drive it well but how does the volume compare to the stock speaker? Thanks, and have a great day!
Glad it was useful Bill :-) I've only really got 1x12 combo amps here (and yes, all open backed), so I'd struggle with those other videos. In terms of power handing...in the room, it was so loud with the H&K my ears are still ringing 3 days on! :P The 'stock' speaker in the Cornell is a Celestion Blue that I put in there last year (didn't like the original ceramic Jensen!) - seemed to be much the same in terms of volume. I was really surprised how great the Fane sounded in that amp considering its 60W rating...certainly didn't sound like it was 'just' ticking over!
Leave it in the Hughes and ketter, like it's made for it.
It does sound great in there! Might have to get another for the Z-Wreck ;-) haha
Hey! Thanks for the video! Do you think it’s a bad idea to have a 60w speaker for a 60w amp head! Thanks!!!
Theoretically should be absolutely fine - though the speaker will be right at its limit, so will likely be compressing a good amount.
Thanks for the video, mine just arrived. i'm a bit curious how to solder the wire to the lugs. there are two open holes on each terminal. did you push your wire though both holes and solder each hole for each terminal? or did you just solder through one hole for each terminal? thanks!
Great stuff! :-) Most amp connectors have clips that just slot onto the terminals on the speaker - but some do occasionally need soldering. Any metal-to-metal contact has always done the trick, in my experience - so yes, poking the wires through any of the holes on the terminals and then soldering them in place should do you (though of course, +ve goes on one side; -ve on the the other!!) Let me know what you think of the speaker! :-)
@@JoePerkinsMusic Speaker sounds great!! thanks again for the help!
Sounds Awesome Lord Perkins! & at $270 usd..it better LOL!
Thanks :-) Price is pretty ballpark for an AlNiCo speaker...they're always about twice the price of ceramics (but worth it, if you ask me!!)
How much did the Z Wreck cost?
Varies by territory with import duty, etc - just pop it into google and find a local dealer :-)
Did you use Neve preamp on this record?
The three close mics were running through the Miktek MPA-201 and the WA73-EQ. The room mic was straight into the interface. The better preamps seem to give a more accurate 'realism' to the sound and bring it closer to what I was hearing in the room. In my experience, cheaper interface preamps often add a fizzy midrange that isn't present in the room and can give a false impression of how things sounded...plus, that midrange can often sound like the audio is clipping when it isn't; it can be quite grainy.
Nice
something about a left guitar thats so backwards
No clue what that could be...
@@JoePerkinsMusic a guitar for south paws looks wrong
Fane A60 alnico dollars..!! ?¿
Prices are on the Fane website: www.fane-acoustics.com/category/398/The-Ascension-Series
('PERKY10' will give you 10% off, too!)