I took my Masco 17 for a walk the other night at practice. It was junk night at rehearsal so we brought all the Silvertones and Tweeds out for an evening of fun. For whatever its worth, the Masco was set up by Skip Simmons.
I run my Masco 17 through a cabinet with two 10" Weber speakers, one has a ribbed cone (10A125) and the other cone is smooth (10A125-O).
I was interested in what other Masco owners at this forum use. I am particularly interested in any experience with 15" speakers. I am looking to build something in the new year and want to explore a number of options. Maybe a cabinet with a 15" speaker or maybe a 10" and 2 - 8" speakers. Many thanks for your advise.
With my Masco ME-18 I used a stock Epiphone Valve Jr cab with the 12-inch Eminence Lady Luck speaker. I liked it, and I was surprised that I liked it. I paid something like $80 at Guitar Center for the used cab.
The 1x12 configuration does not get a lot of love around the blues harp world for some reason, but it sounds great to me. My Mission 32-20 is also 1x12.
That rig had a really fat tone, the deepest I have heard in a harp amp. Here is a sample from the jam at Ziggies. Dan Solem is playing my Masco and his SJ.
@ JD. I don't recall exactly how Skip set it up, a restoration or a harp build. I told him I was a harp player, what kind of music I played and liked and what I was looking for for tone. I left it up to him, its my inclination to put myself into the hands of "the sushi chef", they are the experts. It came with two 6SN7 tubes and one 6SL7. He told me to play around with those and see what configuration I would prefer. I use both 6SN7's. What else would you use other than an SN or SL tube ? As for the speakers, sounds like your Masco can push multiple speakers.
@ Rick - That's a great A/B test. I see the Masco was miced thru the PA and the Sonny Jr was not. Is that correct? The Masco has a nice rich, creamy, deep tone. I'd love to post a sample but I have problems posting Youtube clips, I only can provide the address unlike what you do, LOL!
As for 12" speakers, I have a Tweed Deluxe that I use two different speakers in: the original Jensen P12R-C5916 (dated 220749) and a Jensen PM (stamped 8T 361 PM 12C C2174.) The P12R is blue and has a bell over the magnet. The PM is silver with no bell and I was told it was part of a PA system on a battleship (nice story, whatever.) Both speakers were reconed by Ron Neal @ Neal Speaker Service. I think 12" speakers work great.
If someone can tell me what those speaker number mean, I'd appreciate it.
@Greg, your cabinet is similar to mine. I wonder how it would sound with two 8"s replacing one of the 10".
Last Edited by on Jan 17, 2013 11:13 AM
6SN7, you said: I run my Masco 17 through a cabinet with two 10" Weber speakers, one has a ribbed cone (10A125) and the other cone is smooth (10A125-O).
Coincidentally, I have the Ron Holmes PA head and I had those same speakers in the cab -- just last night I took the ribbed 10A125 out and replaced it with a Sig10F I had in the closet -- I liked it a lot better -- how to say?-- "more alive?" -- "fuller," still with great "break-up" -- seems like with both alnicos it was more "compressed." Just my ears.
Also coincidentally, I have a Skip MA 17 on order, so seeing this thread at the top of the list at lunchtime got my attention -- how did he set up the speaker jack(s)/ohms for you? @JD: same question about speaker jack/ohms on yours. THANKS.
Last Edited by on Jan 17, 2013 11:39 AM
If you go on guitarcenter.com and look under used gear they have a ma17 cabinet. Suitcase style two tone with jensen p12rs. I had this same cabinet awhile back and i regret selling it all the time. Something about old speakers too me plus those cabs look so cool and they dont weigh much at all.
@Teton John- whats a Sig10F? I see a Sig10S, is yours ceramic or alnico? I assume its an alnico, but just making sure....
As far as the ohms thing, there are some screws with a wire you hook up depending what ohms your speakers are. I guess thats what your talking about. 1/4" jack input for mic and a 1/4" input for speaker. No line out, do you know if you can do that?
@Bigtone_ I like old speakers but who knows whether they need to be recone. Seems they always need it...
@6SN7 Regarding Sig10F, Weber now uses F for their ceramics. Sig is their more budget line. Regarding line out, Skip offered -- I accept -- it's pretty simple I hear. (There is probably some limit in the number of new holes drilled and jacks installed.)
