According to most sources, Townshend prefered the 17000 gauss magnet speakers in his cabs, i.e. the type used in SE4122s.
I now have one of each type cab - a '68/69 Sound City with 17k speakers (non-Hiwatt Fanes, but should be identical or at least similar to same-era Hiwatt cabs...cabinet has exact same construction and the herringbone grille cloth), and a '72 SE4123 with 122231s (14k gauss magnets). The two cabs sound fairly different - the SC is extremely loud, vibrant and sparkling, very little compression. The SE4123 is more focused in the mids, still has plenty bass and chiming highs, but noticeably more compressed and rounded sounding. I'm using either with a SC105/CP103/Custom 100 "The Who" clone and '68 SG Special.
I can't really say which I like more - the SE4123 is better for lead playing, but the SC cab cleans up even better and gives the most amazing clean sound with the guitar volume backed off. Based on what I'm hearing, I'm thinking that Townshend probably used both types. Around '68-69 his sound was cleaner and less compressed, so I'm guessing the cabs he used then were more similar to my SC cab, whereas around Live at Leeds he had a more compressed sound which was more fluid, so SE4123s may have been more prominent in the equation.
Or could it be that I'm also hearing the difference between a birch ply back and no rear port (in the SC cab and possibly also the earliest Hiwatt cabs) vs. particle board and rear port? Also, may there have been a difference between SC and Hiwatt-labeled Fanes of the time ('69-70)? I'm speaking strictly about the 17k gauss speakers now.
SE4122 vs SE4123 for Townshend/The Who?
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OldSchoolDave
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Re: SE4122 vs SE4123 for Townshend/The Who?
A few more factors to consider:
Model 122142 speakers preceeded model 122231's by a couple of years. In early Hiwatts, one either had the ill-fated 22 watt models or the 122142's.
It's difficult to draw conclusions when listening to Studio vs. Live recordings. And, in the case of Live, mic'ing, room acoustics and overall volume can vary significantly.
Hiwatt labeled Fanes were definitely developed for and unique to Hiwatt. Other OEM's may have varied a little or a lot.
I do feel that the rear ported cabs breathe easier than a sealed cab and that can impact the overall clarity. I'm less inclined to attribute differences to construction materials, unless one or the other is insufficient (i.e. too thin) and resonating.
Dave
Model 122142 speakers preceeded model 122231's by a couple of years. In early Hiwatts, one either had the ill-fated 22 watt models or the 122142's.
It's difficult to draw conclusions when listening to Studio vs. Live recordings. And, in the case of Live, mic'ing, room acoustics and overall volume can vary significantly.
Hiwatt labeled Fanes were definitely developed for and unique to Hiwatt. Other OEM's may have varied a little or a lot.
I do feel that the rear ported cabs breathe easier than a sealed cab and that can impact the overall clarity. I'm less inclined to attribute differences to construction materials, unless one or the other is insufficient (i.e. too thin) and resonating.
Dave