[OsamaKeefe]

Hey all
Looking for recommendations on good lightweight speakers. I have a Mesa Boogie Mkii that I’m getting tired of breaking my back lifting it. Not really looking for a Jerry/JBL thing, just a good all around speaker that’s not super heavy
Thanks!

[Jon S.]

Here are my faves:

Celestion Copperback
Jensen Tornado (or their discontinued 12-100)

If you can be more specific about what you're seeking tone wise, it would help in making the best recommendation(s).

[lbpesq]

Agree with Jon S. My favorite Neo speaker is the old Jensen Neo 12-100. The Celestion Copperback 250 is quite good, too.

Bill, tgo

[OsamaKeefe]

Thanks guys. I suppose what I’m looking for is a speaker that can handle cleans very well. The gigging I do is a lot of jazz and jazz adjacent music, and the occasional classic rock/country gig. A speaker that could cover ground in those areas. I have a Pink Floyd style band I’m going to be joining in the near future so that’s what has me thinking about it

[Jon S.]

That helps. The 12-100 is quite clean. It's balanced with a bright but sweet top end and somewhat scooped mids. The Tornado, relative to the 12-100, is a bit more attenuated in the highs and has a bit more mids (but, to my ears at the chimey upper mid frequencies as opposed to the middle or lower mids that some might call "oboe like"). The Copperback, to me, sounds and feels EV-ish (caveat: I've only owned one EV-loaded combo and that was quite a while ago.) Of course, all this is subjective. I'll be curious how Bill comes out on these speakers' characteristics. Oh, and I should add, the Copperback is rated at 250W, in case that matters!

[Slewfoot2000]

I recall the Tone Tubby ‘Purple Haze’ that Brad Sarno and others like to be very lightweight.

Trey used them at GD50 as a JBL alternative.

[strumminsix]

You have a 60# amp which probably has a 14# speakers and you're looking to reduce the weight with a 8# speaker. It's fine, and technically lighter, but it's not gonna be a drastic difference.............. Cuz it's a heavy amp in a heavy, well constructed, cabinet.

There are plenty of lightweight options ESPECIALLY if jazz is your thing. If I was looking for light:
1) Henriksen BlueTen
2) Fender Tonemasters Princeton Reverb

And enjoy that sweet Mesa of yours, as is, with the properly paired speaker, for the gigs with easy load-ins!

[Jon S.]

My understanding is the mii was built with one of five possible options:

EVM 12L
Eminence 150 watt
Black Shadow 150 Watt
JBL D120 (rare)
Altec-Lansing (rare)

Which does yours have in it now? It makes a major difference. E.g., if it's the EVM 12L (19 lbs.), switching to a Copperback (5 lbs.) will yield a very substantial weight reduction that your back will certainly appreciate..

[strumminsix]

My understanding is the mii was built with one of five possible options:

EVM 12L
Eminence 150 watt
Black Shadow 150 Watt
JBL D120 (rare)
Altec-Lansing (rare)

Which does yours have in it now? It makes a major difference. E.g., if it's the EVM 12L (19 lbs.), switching to a Copperback (5 lbs.) will yield a very substantial weight reduction that your back will certainly appreciate..

Right! Your math is spot on. But let's be honest, he'd have to have the heaviest speaker and swap with the lightest speaker and like it to really make any measurable difference. Most Mii's I see have the Black Shadow at 10.5 # and even the Copperback's reduction of 5# won't be all that noticeable.....

Knowing his current speaker is also sorta needed to give good replacement recos.........

[Jon S.]

In that case, maybe instead two knee replacements? :p

[OsamaKeefe]

Very valid and realistic points you guys make about negligible difference in speaker weight. It’s absolutely going to be heavy. It’s a 1981 Mkii B, the speaker in it when I bought it is a Reverend All-Tone 1250. Which I’m seeing is already on the light side. At risk of sounding… young - I’m 24 and my knees and back still work (sorry fellas. I know it won’t be that way in time.) I’m in good shape and I can lift things with relative ease at the moment. I’ve been kicking around the idea of pulling the speaker out completely and just using a separate 1x12 cab. Splitting up the weight has been a dependable plan. In the meantime… more pushups and squats