JonnyBoy wrote:I totally agree. I have a 2x12 JBL e120 cab, a JBL k110 2x10 and a 1x12 k120. the K120 is what I like to use most. I also have the commonwealths loose right now but I used them for 6 months in a 2x12 and loved them. I still do. I like the mids and upper low end they add to the mix, actually something that is usually missing from JBl's at low volumes. But even with that slight difference, they sound almost identical to the JBLs and do the Jerry thing really well. They sound sweeter than the e120's IMO and the overdrive/distortion is much sweeter than the e120, prolly closer to an alnico k120 in that respect even though they are ceramic speakers. I think Eminence tried to embody the JBL sound but also sweetened the speaker to be better suited for guitar. That would be my guess....anyway, They are really good speakers.
I'd have to agree with you here, especially on the distortion. I use a Hermida Zen Drive in front of the preamp, and it sounds VERY sweet! Also, the upper=bass hump you mention blends well with the zero-bass Jerry preamp settings, keeps the preamp from sounding too hard. Eminence was definitely going for a JBL thing with the Commonwealth, but unlike the Weber California it allows for warm overdrive. My only complaint would be that heavier overdrive settings tend to sound muddy unless you put a compressor in front of it. Overall, I really love the sound. The Mesa is a far cry from a Macintosh, but has some of the over-engineered hi-hi qualities of the Mac, pretty transparent. It came with JJ KT77 tubes, which IMHO lack the clean glassiness of the 6l6's, but that will be corrected shortly.
Thanks for your feedback!
G