The Red Coats Big Ben The lone 15 in the new Eminence lineup, the Big Ben ($100 retail/$90 street) sports a heavy-duty cone made in England (hence its Red Coat designation). To control high-volume breakup, this cone has 29 closely spaced ribs that cover its full span, and the surround is given a moderately heavy doping treatment. With its big 2½" diameter voice coil, 56-ounce ceramic magnet, and 225-watt RMS power rating, a single Big Ben can handle just about any guitar amp on the planet. In an open-back 1x15 cab, I was immediately impressed with the Big Ben’s balanced full-range sound. The tone is indeed big, bold, and strong, with a moderate presence peak in the 2kHz range that enhances detail and articulation. Despite its high power rating, it sounded surprisingly lithe and responsive when driven with a 20-watt Fender Deluxe. If you’ve been looking for a 15 that can cover a lot of sonic territory, it’s time you clocked in with Big Ben. (Available in 8O only; 12.75 lbs.) The Governor The 12" Governor ($100 retail/$90 street) has a British-made cone with eight ribs, a moderately light doping treatment on the surround, and a Celestion-style hemispherical fabric dust cap that covers its 1¾" Nomex voice coil. The Governor’s ceramic magnet weighs a hefty 56 ounces and the power rating is 75 watts RMS. The Governor’s frequency response rises gradually with a slight upward tilt from the lower bass through the midrange. The smooth transition through this critical region gives it a nice sense of balance, with a focused low-end and a complex and finely detailed midrange. The treble response begins to rise more dramatically at around 1.5kHz, with several peaks in the 2-4kHz region that enhance top-end clarity and impart a lively 3-D quality to the soundstage. While not quite as heavy in the low-end as a Celestion Vintage 30, the Governor sounds smoother and more refined through the midrange and has a sweeter top-end chime. At higher volume levels its breakup is also predictably pleasant. If you want to get acquainted with the Red Coats, the Governor is a great place to start. (Available in 8O or 16O ; 11 lbs.) Private Jack Named after a British canine war hero, the 12" Private Jack ($95 retail/$85 street) uses an eight-ribbed cone, its surround has a moderately heavy doping treatment, and it’s fitted with a Celestion-style dust cap. The 1¾" voice coil is wound on a plain paper former, and the ceramic magnet weighs 38 ounces. This noble beast can handle 50 watts RMS. Compared to the Governor, the Private Jack rises more gradually from the bass through the midrange, with a stronger presence peak around 3.2kHz. The Private Jack also has a lighter and more open midrange than the Governor, with an extended and more delicately detailed top-end. While not as aggressive sounding as the Governor, the Private Jack is more responsive to a lighter touch and better suited for clean and mildly overdriven tones. Compared to a Celestion greenback, the Private Jack is noticeably louder, with a thicker midrange texture and a tougher crunch when overdriven. (Available in 8O or 16O; 8 lbs.) Ramrod As the only 10 in the Red Coat group, the Ramrod ($65 retail/$55 street) flaunts a unique British-made cone that’s reinforced with eight ribs that span its entire surface. The surround is lightly doped and the dust cap is fabric. Like the Patriot’s Ragin’ Cajun, the Ramrod uses a 1½" voice coil, a 30-ounce ceramic magnet, and is rated for 75 watts RMS. The Ramrod’s aggressive British voicing excels with high-gain tones. A great choice for a mini stack or combo, it has a slight bump in the bass, balanced mids, and several presence peaks in the 2-3kHz range. Its low-end is deep and thick, with plenty of percussive slam for chugging metal chords, and its midrange growls and crunches with wicked authority. It also has just enough treble bite to shred through the densest textures without sounding spikey, harsh, or brittle. The Ramrod lives for high-gain, and it hangs tough at higher volume levels. If you’re craving a stout-hearted 10 that was born to rock, you’ll dig this speaker. (Available in 8O only; 6.25 lbs.) Red Fang The 12" Red Fang ($140 retail/$130 street) uses the same eight-ribbed British-made cone as the Private Jack, but with a more lightly doped surround. It also has a British-style hemispherical dust cap over its 1¾" voice coil, which is wound on a heat-resistant Nomex former. Among the Patriot and Red Coat speakers, The Red Fang is the only one to sport an alnico magnet—and it’s a hefty 35 ouncer. Be careful with the power, however, as the Red Fang is only rated for 30 watts RMS. The Red Fang’s frequency response has a slight bump in the bass with a gradual rise to 800Hz. It has a moderately deep notch at 1.5kHz followed by treble peaks at around 2.2kHz and 3.3kHz. Compared to a Celestion Blue, the Red Fang sounds a bit stronger in the mids and a little more solid in the low end. The Red Fang also sounds smoother with distortion, but its top isn’t quite as extended or as complex as the Blue’s. The Red Fang is a tempting alternative for those seeking a slightly more robust British-style alnico sound. (Available in 8O or 16O; 9 lbs.) Stonehenge Like the other Red Coat 12s, the Stonehenge ($95 retail/$85 street) uses a classic eight-ribbed British cone. In place of the traditional Celestion-style hemispherical dust cap, however, the Stonehenge is fitted with a larger 3¾" dome. Its surround has a moderately heavy doping treatment, and it uses a 1e" Nomex voice coil and a 38-ounce magnet. Power rating is 75 watts RMS. The Stonehenge’s frequency response plot shows three prominent peaks centered at 1kHz, 2.5kHz, and 3.5kHz. Compared to the Private Jack, the Stonehenge sounds significantly brighter, with a more aggressive top-end bite that can enhance the detail of high-output humbuckers. The top end really sizzles with single coils, and its toothy upper-midrange can rip its way through the densest mix. If you’re searching for shred-worthy articulation, the Stonehenge’s razor-sharp attack cuts with the precision of a laser-wielding neurosurgeon. The brightest of all the Red Coats, the Stonehenge is bound to attract a faithful following of dedicated treble worshippers. (Available in 8O or 16O; 8 lbs.) The Stonehenge's cut very well with all amps used. I honestly couldn't get a bad tone no matter what I tried. This speaker didn't seem to care what amp I used, everything just worked. After trying the whole RedCoat line I can't really say which is better. I think everyone just needs to try them all and form their opinions. Personally, I'm very pleased with the Man'O'War, Private Jack and Govenor as all around speakers for what I like to play/use. On the American amp tones, I would recomend the Tonker (most headroom) and the Wizard for more of the Vintage twang. The Tonker The 12" Tonker ($100 retail/$90 street) sports a classic eight-ribbed British cone, a large diameter dust cap, and a moderately doped surround. Like the Swamp Thang, it boasts a 2" Kapton voice-coil, a huge 59-ounce ceramic magnet, and a 150 watts RMS power rating. The Tonker’s frequency response has a very slight upward tilt from the low bass to about 1kHz. It also has a narrow notch at 1.4kHz, and twin-peaks at 2.5kHz and 3.5kHz. The Tonker has a huge low end, with a distinctive midrange bark, and a smooth top end. It thrives on heavy overdrive, as its uniquely voiced, full-bodied midrange becomes more prominent with a distinctive throaty howl. The Tonker’s weighty low end could fatten-up a 1x12 combo, or tame an overly bright Tele. It can sound as thick as country gravy with heavy-sounding humbuckers, and it’s tough enough to handle just about any amp you can throw at it. If you’re seeking a powerful British voice with massive low-end girth and devastating headroom, the Tonker may be just the ticket. (Available in 8O or 16O; 11 lbs.) Red Ryder The Red Ryder holds together amazingly well with high power amplifiers. Anyone wanting a high power speaker with a ton of headroom, and less breakup, this is it. The tone is very warm, no highend harshness what so ever. I started with a 100watt Marshall Masterlead. With both volume controls wide open the Ryder's (pair) held together on low notes with no muddy compression. The speakers have a very British sound yet no crackling in the top end like most speakers do with a master vol amplifier. I would put this speakers performance somewhere in the ballpark of the Tonker, but I find it better suited for British sounding amps with or without master volumes. The Tonker is better suited IMO for Fender style circuits. A 200watt Sound City, Blackface Showman, and Marshall Major finished off the testing. The Ryder's results were equal with all amps. With the Fender the tone was great, but I like this speaker on the British tones much better. The Tonespotters were very balanced, breakup is smooth. I would certainly put their tone somewhere in the Govenor/Wizard/Stonehenge area, but the topend is not as sharp or upper mid heavy as the Govenor. I liked these best with non-master volume amplifiers. I also used a Rocca Rockie, Custom 18 and found the ToneSpotters worked well with EL84 tube type distortion. Very smooth tube OD without any strangeness. Loved them. The Patriots Black Powder The Black Powder ($67 retail/$57 street) sports an unusual cone with 20 tightly spaced ribs, a lightly doped surround, and a relatively springy compliance. The 12" speaker also has a 1½" voice coil, a 30-ounce ceramic magnet, and is rated for 75 watts RMS. Possessing a strong peak in the 2kHz region, the Black Powder sounds bright and tight, with a punchy and percussive attack. Though not quite as loud as some of its siblings, clean tones are still conveyed with an abundance of hi-fi definition and plenty of bite and sparkle. It’s a great choice for humbucker guitars, as its hi-fi resolution can improve note separation when playing complex chords. And with a Tele’s bridge pickup, it delivers a snappy cluck that cuts like a knife. Ideally suited for fast and articulate chicken pickin’, the Black Powder’s firm low-end, aggressive top, and tightly controlled breakup also make it a great choice for vicious metal tones. Lean, mean, and crispy clean, it’s impossible to deny the Black Powder’s explosive presence. Blue Tick Hound As with most of the Patriot and Red Coat 12s, the Blue Tick Hound ($75 retail/$65 street) sports a lightweight cone with eight reinforcing ribs. The surround has a moderately heavy doping treatment and the suspension is rather stiff. Although the Blue Tick Hound’s lightweight 20-ounce ceramic magnet is the smallest among the 12s, it has a heavy-duty 1½" Kapton voice coil that can handle 75 watts RMS. The Blue Tick Hound possesses a remarkably smooth frequency response, with a slight bump in the bass, and a moderate rise in the treble. It has a compressed attack and the lowest output per-watt of all these 12s. Its bottom sounds full and round, the lower mids are thick and chunky, and the highs are smooth and pleasant. Warm and relaxed with an early breakup, the Blue Tick Hound would be a great companion for a low-volume recording amp. Cannabis Rex Boasting a specially made cone that’s reinforced with hemp fibers, the 12" Cannabis Rex ($100 retail/$90 street) promises mellower mids and smoother highs. Known as “the world’s strongest natural fiber,” hemp can help to control a speaker cone’s resonances and breakup modes, thus contributing to a smoother, mellower texture. These moderately thick cones have eight ribs, and Eminence abstains from adding any doping to the surround. The 1½" voice coil is wound on a vintage-style paper former and is rated for 50 watts RMS. The ceramic magnet weighs 38 ounces. The C–Rex sounds warm, smooth, and balanced through the bass and mids, with a rising treble response that peaks at 2.5kHz for a pleasantly complex high-end texture. Clean tones are open and chimey without sounding harsh, squeaky, or excessively bright. Overdriven lead tones are thick and buttery smooth, and power chords ring with richly detailed kerrang. Feed your head a Cannabis Rex and settle into a cool tone zone. The Copperhead The 10" Copperhead ($60 retail/$50 street) features a lightweight seamed cone with five ribs, an un-doped surround, and a moderately stiff suspension. A porous fabric dome covers the 1½" voice coil, and the ceramic magnet weighs 20 ounces (all of the other 10s reviewed here have 30-ounce magnets). The Copperhead is rated for an impressive 75 watts RMS. The Copperhead’s frequency response is very evenly balanced, with just a slight rise in the treble region. It has an enticingly rich vintage flavor: the low-end is full, firm, and finely detailed, and the midrange is solid yet nicely complex. The top-end rings with a tasteful jangle (although it’s not quite as bright as some original Jensens or Jensen replicas), and it responds to subtle pick inflections with a lively dynamic feel. Equally well suited for clean or overdriven tones, the Copperhead is a good choice for open-back 2x10 or 4x10 combos and cabinets. Its voice complements the fullness and warmth of 6L6s, as well as the complexity and chime of EL84s. The Copperhead is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a vintage-voiced 10 that sounds great in a variety of situations. Delta Demon Originally developed for Cajun bluesman Tab Benoit, the 10" Delta Demon ($65 retail/$55 street) uses the same vintage-style #451052 seamed cone as the Copperhead. However, to increase power handling and durability, it has a more robust 2" diameter voice coil and a vented back plate. Instead of a porous dust cap like the Copperhead’s, the Delta Demon is fitted with a small diameter hard paper cap that’s glued directly to the protruding voice coil former. This tough little devil sports a beefy 30-ounce ceramic magnet, and it’s rated for an astonishing 100 watts RMS. The Delta Demon sounds exceptionally deep and full for a 10. The high-end response begins to fall at 1kHz, so it’s much darker sounding than the Copperhead. Its plump low-mid fatness adds body to chunky chords, and imparts a smooth thickness to single-note lines. The Delta Demon holds together admirably well at high volume levels, and it absolutely thrives on high-gain distortion. It’s a great choice if you’re looking to beef-up your 1x10 combo or tame some bright single-coil pickups. Ragin’ Cajun The 10" Ragin’ Cajun ($65 retail/$55 street) has a seamless, non-ribbed cone that’s thicker and heavier than the lightweight seamed cone found on the Copperhead and Delta Demon. It has a rather large 3¾" diameter dust cap, and its surround is lightly doped. Other specs include a 1½" voice coil, a 30-ounce ceramic magnet, and a 75 watts RMS rating. The Ragin’ Cajun has a nicely balanced frequency response from the lower bass through the upper midrange, with a gradual rise in the treble region that peaks sharply at 3kHz. Compared to the more vintage-flavored Copperhead, the Ragin’ Cajun’s low-end is a bit leaner with more twangy detail, and its midrange has a more forceful punch. The Ragin’ Cajun’s narrower treble emphasis gives it less complexity and shimmer on top, while its midrange conveys a bolder and more assertive kerrang. The Ragin’ Cajun is a great choice if you’re looking for a versatile speaker that works equally well with both overdriven and clean tones, yet still sounds rooted in the vintage tradition. Red White & Blues The 12" Red White & Blues ($75 retail/$65 street) has a traditional eight-ribbed cone, with an almost transparent doping treatment on the surround. Like the other Patriot 12s, it has a large 3¾" diameter fabric dust cap. Its 1¾" voice coil is wound on a Kapton former, and its ceramic magnet weighs 38 ounces. This heavy-duty speaker boasts a formidable 120 watts RMS power rating. From its bottom through its midrange, the Red White & Blues has a remarkably flat frequency response with treble peaks in the 2-3kHz region. Its even balance and sparkling top is reminiscent of a vintage Jensen C12N, but with more midrange muscle and better low-end depth and control. Always sweet and never nasty, the Red White & Blues has a punchy and lively dynamic response, and its low-end and resilient midrange remain firm and well focused when overdriven. If you’re looking to revive a tired old combo, the Red White & Blues can bring it back with flying colors. Screamin’ Eagle The 12" Screamin’ Eagle ($70 retail/$60 street) offers an eight-ribbed cone, medium-density doping on the surround, and a 1¾" voice coil on a plain paper former. The ceramic magnet weighs 38 ounces and the power handling is 50 watts RMS. Compared to the Red White & Blues, the Screamin’ Eagle has a more extended and detailed top-end, along with more chime and crispness. If you’re looking for a speaker that can better reveal high-end content with humbuckers, shift a cabinet’s tonal color in a brighter direction, or complement a dark sounding speaker in a 2x12 cab or combo, the Screamin’ Eagle is an excellent choice. Swamp Thang The heavyweight champ of the Patriot line, the 12" Swamp Thang ($85 retail/$75 street) has a moderately lightweight eight-ribbed cone with a lightly doped surround. A large 3¾" diameter fabric dust cap conceals its heavy-duty 2" Kapton voice coil, and it sports a massive 59-ounce ceramic magnet. Power handling is a staggering 150 watts RMS. The Swamp Thang’s frequency response rises gradually from the low bass and peaks at around 1kHz. There’s a moderately steep dip at 1.5kHz, and then the response shoots back up, peaking at 2.5kHz with a secondary peak at 3.5kHz. When combined with the Swamp Thang’s powerful motor, this fairly aggressive frequency response portrait conveys king-size clean tones that are seasoned with authentic American charm. Its low-end is deep yet defined, its articulation is precise and crisp, and its dynamic punch will knock you on your heels. In a nutshell, the Swamp Thang successfully combines Jensen sweetness with the authority of a JBL. Texas Heat The 12" Texas Heat ($70 retail/$60 street) features the same eight-ribbed cone as the Screamin’ Eagle, a similar medium-density doping treatment on the surround, and the same 38-ounce ceramic magnet. The main difference is its larger 2" Kapton formed voice coil, which increases power handling to a whopping 150 watts RMS. The Texas Heat has a relatively broad bass bump below 200kHz that’s followed by a slightly rising response through the midrange. It has a moderately deep notch at 1.5kHz and a single presence peak at 2.5kHz. It sounds like a beefier and more assertive relative of the Red White & Blues, with a huskier midrange and a fuller low end. It’s not as sparkly or as extended in the top-end as a vintage Jensen C12N, but its chunkier low-mids bring a more weighty girth to overdriven textures. If you’re looking for a heavyweight barroom brawler that still speaks with a Jensen accent, you might warm up to this loud-talkin’ Texan.