Speaker recommendations?

[Iron1]

After getting my Mesa Lonestar 19 cab, I decided I wanted a second one. But, after looking they're ridiculously expensive for a 12" cab (got mine for $200 - haven't seen another for less than $425...). My father-in-law builds cabinets so he and I got to chatting, watching some YT vids, and talking to a local guitar cabinet builder and figure we can build a nice one for a fraction of the price of buying another Mesa.

And, it opens up an analysis-paralysis variety of speakers I can pair with the 19, which is equipped with a 12" Mesa Black Shadow (made by Celestion.)

In my old stack, I had V30s in my top cab and these deep, throaty cab-thump-for-days JBLs in the bottom. So, I want to find a different 12" speaker for this new cab that compliments the Black Shadow.

Other than making sure it's another 8ohm speaker, the sky is kinda the limit here. I'm tempted to just go V30 and move on, but figured it was worth seeing what y'all think.

Any suggestions?

[Chris]

I am still all aboard the C90 hype train for metal. I think they sound fantastic, and after 30 years of listening to V30s it's nice to change it up.

That said, I have V30s in my new(ish) Soldano cab and of course they sound great too, because that's what V30s do.

[bigdave]

I'm not familiar with Black Shadows, but in general get something with a different sound so they each cover areas the other might not do as well. Many speakers pair well with a V30 if they are darker.

[Iron1]

I'm not familiar with Black Shadows, but in general get something with a different sound so they each cover areas the other might not do as well. Many speakers pair well with a V30 if they are darker.

The Black Shadow is a Mesa branded Celestion C90 from what I’ve read.

[Webdood]

I quite like the neo creambacks and as a bonus they are very light weight

[RevDrucifer]

My dad bought a bunch of WGS Retro 30's for cheap that I threw in a 2x12 and really dig them. They're like a not as harsh V30 that's been broken in for a long time. Seriously seemed like I played through them for an hour and they were already broken in, but they were minty new when I installed them. I've been meaning to shoot some IR's of it, I'm just lazy.

I've been hearing about a lot of people using Greenbacks for metal stuff lately, which was unheard of when I had my Legacy cab with Greenbacks. I'm interested to try it out again as Vai was as heavy as I got back when I had it.

[metalheadpunk]

The new eminence DV77 sounds awesome IMO, I have one on the way for my snakeskin cab

[lespauled]