Jensen C12RL

[jeff]

 My grandma is getting rid of a cabinet type record player with speakers and said I could have them if I wanted them. It has two Jensen C12RL's.
I believe:
 C  = ceramic magnet
 12 = 12" cone
 R  = 25 watt
 Does anyone know what the "L" stands for?

 Are these good to use as guitar speakers?

[FYL]

The C12RL was a mid/woofer, with a more limited treble response than the std. version. It could be OK as a guitar speaker.

[bigdaddy]

Terrible guitar speaker. The RL probably means it has the 1.5" VC and a weaker R magnet but I could be wrong. Usually the alnico versions had that 1.5" VC and metal on the sides of the horse shoe over the magnet, I'm not 100% sure the Ceramic ones had the bigger VC. But it does have that small magnet for sure.

The paper is not right for a guitar, it's heavy and lose. The spider might also be lose too and the SPL could be a few DBs less then a similar C12R which is a great speaker in pairs with low wattage amps. Also having that 1.5" VC isn't too great for a weak 12. The C12R has a 1" VC and tighter spider and they kick in pairs for a Deluxe type amp or similar, even a Princeton reverb pushing a pair would be great!!!!!

If it's cheap try it, if you don't like it you have recone options. You can choose a lot of different types of paper and spiders. If it has the 1.5" VC then get the lighter paper and a little tighter spider which also means it would need a little more time to break in with that spider.

[FYL]

All speakers in the same series use the same motor and the same type of VC. A C12RL and C12R both use 1" VCs and small magnets. C12Qs 1.25" and medium magnets, C12Ps (medium/large magnet) and C12Ns (large magnet) 1.5" while the "new" C12K is fitted with a 2" VC and a heavy magnet. Ditto for the P Alnico drivers: R = 1", Q = 1.25", P and N 1.5".

Rs are good in MI apps for 12 W at most, Qs for 15, Ps for 25 and Ns for 30 or so.

As you've noted, dedicated bass/mid speakers use a heavier cone and a more compliant surround/spider; bass drivers were fitted with pleated cloth surrounds and heavy cones. All of them can be reconed and transformed into very nice guitar speakers.


 

[bigdaddy]

Sorry but that is not correct. I have had many different old Jensens with different sized motors even though they were the same magnet. For instance the P10RL has a 1.5" VC. I just sold a set of P8QF that have a 2" VC that were reconed by Ted Weber.

[FYL]

My remark was re. 12" drivers. BTW, I've never seen P10Rs with 1.5" VCs or P8s with 2". Have you got some pix or info on these?

[bigdaddy]

I just sold some on ebay, a pair of P8QF with 2" VC Ted Weber reconed for me before he passed.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260691515745&ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT

I have owned just about every Jensen made from the mid 1950s on. Except for a P10Q which is super expensive because everybody wants them for their tweed bassmans. Checkout ebay, on their vintage electronics section. All kinds of odd Jensen speakers. They made many different models for many different uses. A lot were inexpensive ones for stereo speaker systems or organs. Like so many 4 ohm brown C10N with heavy smooth paper used as woofers in Hammond organs.

[jeff]

 I just tried them out. Took me a while because I had to modify an old 1X15" my dad found on the side of the road and it wasn't easy. I had to build a new baffle and cut the old one out.

Warning: when using a heat gun to tighten up the grill cloth be careful, don't give it too much heat. It was pretty much tight but not being smatr enough to leave well enough alone I went for one more pass. I melted a small hole in it, what a drag.

 I don't know what the L stands for but they sound great. Thanks guys and thanks grandma.