Now I need a 10" speaker (with poll)

[Walter Broes]

Actually what made me think of it is the fact I've seen Italian amps like Farfisas and Geloso, that had Jensens as original equipment.
I'm probably mistaken about the "made in Italy" part I guess...?

The current Italian made Jensens have a very bad reputation they don't fully deserve IMO - some of the speakers in the current line are perfectly OK, and they're cheap too. I've been using the C10Q's for years in Super Reverbs, and two of those mixed with something else can be really nice.

I posted this on the wrong thread, btw..

 

[capnjuan]

Actually what made me think of it is the fact I've seen Italian amps like Farfisas and Geloso, that had Jensens as original equipment.

Were they badged like the one above?

I've been using the C10Q's for years in Super Reverbs, and two of those mixed with something else can be really nice.

You and thousands of professional musicians because the C10Qs/C12Qs make 'that' sound and can take a beating.

 

[Walter Broes]

Yep, one was a ceramic (C12R) with that gold badge, other one I remember was an alnico 8" in a Farfisa amp, with the regular sticker you always see. (no bell) Didn't look at the time if there was a country of origin on the speakers.

And the current C10Q's actually sound better the more you beat them up - brand new, they're a little ice-picky, but some stage time takes care of that. :mrgreen: I have yet to blow one though!

OTOH - I have a pair of current Italian made P10Q's, and they're horrible speakers - no clean headroom whatsoever, and they don't break up nicely, just a trebly, fizzy mess. Weird, bad speakers, total waste of money.

 

[Default]

<lunch post>

I have the 4 ohm Jensen in the maggie, but the ell80 doesn't push it hard enough. It's a good sounding speaker, but in the wrong amp at the moment.

 

[capnjuan]

... I'm probably mistaken about the "made in Italy" part I guess...?

Would be easy mistake to make; the print is along the right edge and is tiny. You'd have to look at it pretty close up.

I posted this on the wrong thread,

I think that's a Yellow Card ...

 

[Walter Broes]

<lunch post>

Smakelijk! I just finished dinner.

John, that Farfisa amp belongs to a harp player friend of mine, and I think he still has it. I'll take a closer look next time I'm at his place.

Just got an "almost new" pair of Ceramic Weber Cali 10's btw, I have no immediate use for them, but the price was too good to resist.

 

[capnjuan]

Just got an "almost new" pair of Ceramic Weber Cali 10's btw, I have no immediate use for them, but the price was too good to resist.

Speaking of 'almost new' speakers, I just bought these two P12Qs off ebay today:

The one on the right is cosmetically challenged but there's a local speaker shop I can take them to get them cleaned up and tested. Paid about 50% of what the two P12Qs went for in the post above. A little nastier looking ... but both have fresh cones.

 

[Walter Broes]

Very nice! "Fresh" as in "mint", or re-cones?

If I had a dedicated low wattage recording amp, I'd probably invest in a nice old speaker with the original cone, but I've blown every vintage speaker I've ever used on stage...

 

[fungusyoung]

Gotta agree with the Weber Vintage series options. It's worth it. I had an 8F125 in my Champ, and it was a great speaker for 70 bucks. One thing to note, though, is these bigger magnets are a LOT bigger than the stock speakers so in some cases with my Champ I was unable to change the tubes to some of the newer (larger sized) options.

 

[capnjuan]

... "Fresh" as in "mint", or re-cones?

Hi W: they're re-cones. Once broken in, my ears aren't sophisticated enough to appreciate any distinction.

... but I've blown every vintage speaker I've ever used on stage...

Not that I get on stage but that's the reason for not objecting to new cones. There is web-lore discussing how after years of use, the molecular structure of the magnet is favorably changed ... but ... who knows. You can always mic the amp but then you're listening to the PA....

 

[capnjuan]

Gotta agree with the Weber Vintage series options. It's worth it. I had an 8F125 in my Champ, and it was a great speaker for 70 bucks. One thing to note, though, is these bigger magnets are a LOT bigger than the stock speakers so in some cases with my Champ I was unable to change the tubes to some of the newer (larger sized) options.

Hi Michael; not sure about how the Fender baffles fasten to the cabinet but in the Gibson tweed series 16" H cabinets, fitting 12" belled Weber speakers can require both a new baffleboard with a lowered center of the speaker cut out and sectioning the bottom speaker baffle batten to allow the lower speaker lip to practically touch the inside bottom of the cabinet. If the Gibson amps had belled speakers originally, this isn't necessary.

You're right; the large bells can cause headaches and because the magnets measured diagonally are about the dimension as the diameter of the bell so taking the bell off doesn't give much relief; or, if it does, it means making sure that the speaker mounting studs are arranged so the magnet sides are parallel to the sides / top / bottom of the cabinet reducing the total space it consumes. Because Gibson used 1/4" Cheesewood for its baffles, justifying the expense and effort of a new one isn't difficult; particularly when the new baffle is mated to the new speaker ... it makes a noticeable difference.

 

[jp]

Hey AJ,

If (or when) I ever get a Princeton Reverb, I always planned to make a new baffle and install an efficient 12" speaker, perhaps ceramic. I once heard one modded in this fashion, and it sounded amazing.

Also, here's a cool thread about a simple mod that I've heard is a nice improvement, and you don't even have to pull out the soldering gun! Buy new tube, remove old tube, install new tube. :mrgreen:

Oops! I've gotta retract my statement. The ever vigilant CJ pointed out to me that this isn't just a simple tube drop-in mod. There will be some minor soldering to change a cathode resistor. The bias value needs to match the 12AU7 half of the 12DW7/ECC823. The impedance differs from a 12AX7.

My thanks to the gentleman for saving me from steering you wrong.

 

[Default]

BTW, on the TacoChamp the baffle is NAILED IN.

:?

 

[capnjuan]

BTW, on the TacoChamp the baffle is NAILED IN. :?

Baffling alright ... but sturdy too, no?

 

[Default]

BTW, on the TacoChamp the baffle is NAILED IN. :?

Baffling alright ... but sturdy too, no?

No rattling at all, but I have a certain 4 ohm 12" speaker I wouldn't mind trying in it.

 

[capnjuan]

BTW, on the TacoChamp the baffle is NAILED IN. :?

Baffling alright ... but sturdy too, no?

No rattling at all, but I have a certain 4 ohm 12" speaker I wouldn't mind trying in it.

What about writing to FMIC/Mehico City ... see what they have to say? Nailed out-to-in from the front w/ nailheads under the grillcloth?

 

[Default]

That is correct, sir. :x

 

[capnjuan]

Yep, one was a ceramic (C12R) with that gold badge ...

Hi W: I don't know exactly when the Muter Company bought Jensen but these speakers are out on eBay and I thought this might be helpful. The speaker on the left is a Jensen Special Design blue/white C12PS 220223, 23rd week, 1962 with a bell. CTS put plastic bells on the speakers they sold to Guild; the ones with the original red Guild label are exceptionally cool. The one on the right is a Jensen / Muter Special Design gold/brown C12PS 220523, 23rd week, 1965. The Muter name can barely be made out on the right edge of the badge; that's where Recoton put its name too. According to the folks at Weber, the only function of the bell is as a dust cover; no other significance. (Jensen speaker code data)

 

[capnjuan]

That is correct, sir. :x

Hmmm .... can you tell if they are box nails with flat heads or finishing nails with a little nub/cup? If the latter, you could nail punch them clean on through ... leaving holes in the four corners showing you where the nails used to be should you forget. Of course, there's brute force ... I guess there really isn't any other kind ... from the inside ... 12" to 18" piece of 2"X4" hit with a hammer ... this is ugly .. cherry bombs taped inside?

 

[Default]

Looks like my best option is a speaker jack. :?