Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: luthierwnc on December 15, 2021, 03:29:09 am
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Hi All, I know this has been discussed many times before but new technology keeps rolling in. My winter project is pretty modest this year. I'm building a Blackface 6V6 amp along the Robinette lines with just two 12AX7s. A Keeley Hydra will provide the verb and trem. I'm trying to keep this light and wanted opinions if there are any neodymium speakers currently on the market that can do this amp justice. Two 20 watt projects in 2021 used the excellent Eminence Alessandro ceramic speaker. I would use that or a Cannabis Rex otherwise but thought I'd better ask if the neos have gotten good enough to shave 4-5 pounds off the heft. It could have a British flavor too.
Thanks for looking, Skip
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Here's something to consider:
-The Celestion Neo Creamback is a 60W speaker that some people think sounds pretty good and it weighs 4.2 lbs.
Celestion Neo Creamback - 12 inch 60W Neodymium Speaker (https://celestion.com/product/neo-creamback/)
-There's a new Jensen Blackbird 40 that is an alnico magnet 40W speaker that weighs 4.4 lbs.
12" Blackbird 40 | Jensen Loudspeakers (jensentone.com) (https://www.jensentone.com/jet-series/12-blackbird-40)
With similar weights I'd lean towards the alnico speaker because of the proven "better" tonal quality of alnico.
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The new silverface Pro Reverb Reissue uses the neo Creamback I believe. Would be worth listening to demos of that on YouTube probably. I have a modded Princeton that I’ve tried a lot of speakers in but never the neo. It sounds good with many of my Celestions. I go back and forth between a Jupiter 12LA and a Dr Z eminence custom speaker. As much as I want to prefer the alnico, that eminence sounds so great. From what I’ve read the DRZ speaker is about as close as it gets to the Alessandro. So I don’t think you can go wrong there. Jensen has some neo options as well but I’ve never tried them.
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It's not easy to compare things on YouTube but how does the neo Creamback compare to the ceramic version? sh
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Not sure. I have the M and H creamback a but never played the Neo. Zilla Cabs does real good comparison videos. Lots of content if you search their channel.
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Good call Jordan86, Zilla had a comparison of the two along with several others. There was a DR with a neo Creamback as well. Good sounding speaker but I expect single-coils will need a hair less on the tone knob. Mojotone is out of them right now so I'll keep my ear to the rail for when more are coming. Thanks to all, sh
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The Jensen Blackbird sounds great!
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I just finished the build and tried a WGS Invader (because I had one). I had wondered about a British sound and this is third cousin to a Greenback. It doesn't work for that amp and my playing but I'm glad I tried since that probably eliminates the Creamback neo. My alnico SRO did sound really good although you can't get further from "light" with a single speaker. I've got a combo with a 1962 Jensen P12N and another with an Eminence Alessandro SC64 that I can plug in as well. For this amp I'm thinking big and clean gets it done. Thanks again to all for your comments, Skip
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Weight is an issue for me too. I'm only building head units for that very reason. Looking forward to hearing what Neo speaker you decide on.
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I played it (briefly) through the Alessandro and the old P12N. Both had their high points. That's definitely the direction I'll head. It might not be a neo but I'll post whatever I end-up with. sh