Speakers!

[dave_mc]

Hey, guys!

As you may know I bought my Epi Valve Junior Head a little while ago. It's a bit loud through my 4x12, and the vintage 30's in it aren't really getting pushed enough anyway to get great tone. I have a little vox pathfinder practice amp that I'm thinking of converting into a 1x12 speaker cab.

Which speakers, then? I'd prefer a little speaker breakup in my tone, I'm after pretty much a classic rock kind of tone. so I'm thinking the lower the wattage, the better. I'd prefer a nice warm, vintagey british rock tone to the speaker.

Here's what I've come up with so far:

Celestion Greenback G12M (£47): would seem to be a decent choice for all around rock. Pretty decent value too. 25 Watts.

Celestion G12H (£50): again, would seem decent, I'm assuming it's a bit similar to the greenback. According to Celestion, this is a bit like a cross between a greenback and a V30, so maybe I'd just prefer the greenback, for a bit of a change as I already have v30's. 30 watts.

The Heritage versions of these two- only problem is, they're like £90. Seems a bit steep for running a £105 amp through...

Eminence Alnico Red Fang (£110 or so): alnico magnet, which would be cool, but then I'd be in the unenviable position of using a speaker that costs more than my amp. 30 watts. (eminence don't seem to do any other speakers that would seem to be a low enough wattage for what I want)

Celestion Alnico Blue (£150 or so): ditto red fang. 15 watts.

Jensen P12R Alnico Vintage (£58 + postage): This looks like it might be a nice choice. Problem is, I'm afraid it's a little too Fendery (I'm after more of a British Rock crunch), and also, it's almost too cheap to be true, for an alnico speaker- I'm guessing maybe it's not all that great quality. I could be wrong though. 25 watts.

I'm guessing there may be other speakers I've missed- Weber, guys like that.

If you have any ideas/suggestions/comments, that' d be cool. Thanks for any input!

:drink:

[Hell Hound]

H30! It's one of my favorite, it can do both vintage rock tone and the heavy low tuned modern thing. I can't say much, I just love it :lol:

[Fubar]

I'm currently considering doing the same and going for the alnico blue, i've loved them ever since playing my mate's blue-loaded AC30. One of the nicest amps ever, just so smoooooooth!  :D

[dave_mc]

^ ^ do you mean the heritage h30 (the price would kind of put me off), or the normal (chinese) h30?

^ again, the price is the problem. It's not that I can't afford it, it's just it seems a little extreme putting a £100 amp through a £150 speaker!

thanks for the replies!

:drink:

[hunter]

H30!

+1

And get the Hellatone one from avatar

[dave_mc]

^ hellatone?

(just to point out, buying from avatar would presumably involve crippling shipping and customs)

[hunter]

They are Celestions that get broken in by Avatar and they put their Hellatone sticker on them, they are cheaper than Celestions, but indeed Customs/shipping comes on top (could still pay off if you order some).

[Ratrod]

I love Jensens but they are too 'American' for what you want. Maybe a Celestion Bulldog for a classy Vox vibe.

[Hell Hound]

I meant chinese H30, they're good enough I think. Or try to get a UK one second hand on eBay or something...

[dave_mc]

They are Celestions that get broken in by Avatar and they put their Hellatone sticker on them, they are cheaper than Celestions, but indeed Customs/shipping comes on top (could still pay off if you order some).

what would be the difference to me just breaking them in myself (other than bother)? Just out of interest. I also only need one, so yeah, shipping and customs is the major problem...

I appreciate the suggestion, though. :drink:

I love Jensens but they are too 'American' for what you want. Maybe a Celestion Bulldog for a classy Vox vibe.

:drink: (i assume you mean a blue by bulldog)

I meant chinese H30, they're good enough I think. Or try to get a UK one second hand on eBay or something...

:drink:

[Fourth Feline]

I love Jensens but they are too 'American' for what you want. Maybe a Celestion Bulldog for a classy Vox vibe.

+ 1 on everything you said above Ratrod  :D

I have a penchant for the clean Fender amp type sounds, and Jensens have added a lovely clarity and headroom to a couple of very 'middy' combos for me. As you say though, on this occasion the opposite voicing may be required.

I do love my Jensens though  8)

FF.

[dave_mc]

^ thanks for the input, feline. It's nice when several people kind of confirm your suspicions- as long as they aren't just humouring you!

:drink:

[Fourth Feline]

Fear not Dave, I would not "just humour" you. Tone (at the right price) is of serious concern to all genuine musos.

I had in fact responded to Ratrod's comment, without remembering you had even considered a Jensen - so my input was very spontanious. I have the ceramic types, and of course the Alnico would be slightly softer sounding - but the sound of a Jensen comes from the very stiff cone they have. This makes them sound as brisk as a handslap and as clean as Grandma's kitchen table. In a word "Chillin"   8)

The price does not reflect poor quality, but rather that they are built in Italy where the materials and labour rates are still affordable. Jensens get used in Car Hi-Fi applications too...

You will usually find accurate tonal descriptions at watfordvalves.com

Happy hunting !,

FF.

[dave_mc]

^ Cheers, feline.

:drink:

[38thBeatle]

For what it is worth Dave, I have Jensons in my Laney VC30 and I think they are pretty sweet.I can't measure them against anything else tbh so my comments are pretty much worthless but I gather that, when looking for VC30's, the Jenson loaded ones are sought after. They have a nice warmish sound if that makes sense.