Tone Tubby report

[jojokeo]

I just want to share a fairly recent experience regarding Tone Tubby speakers. I recently put a 12" alnico TT I had from maybe 5 or 6 years ago back into service and I'm really glad I did. The tone and response is outstanding. Maybe it's my more experienced ears or making better amps these days but whatever it is I'm really digging on this one. In the past I thought they were a bit high-end challenged and always did love the mids but I also felt that some of the harmonic complexities were being muted to a certain extent. But I have to say that this is not the case at all and that I stand corrected.

I put it into a 5E3 Tweed cabinet but I gutted the old circuit (not a tweed design) and completely redesigned it with a new layout and even tested all the caps for finding the outside coil to install them properly throughout and with an optimal grounding scheme as well. I put pots in three of the four input holes and made a fairly simple circuit w/ a gain control between two stages then a tone stack into a LTPI along with a vol after the tone stack and a PPIMV. Finally a presence control on a switched pot. All fairly run o mill stuff, basic, and simple but GOOD. On this amp I have plenty of gain so I'm using a NOS 12aY into a NOS 12aT for the pi and using the modern Tung Sol 6V6s.

I was running one of my fav speakers - a Celestion 30w Heritage Greenback 55hZ cone and it sounded great clean, kind of 3D-ish with lots of bass and treble both. Almost too much of both really as I kept both controls dialed at about 9 o'clock. This speaker is deceptively loud IMHO because you just don't realize actually how loud you really are when playing it. With high gain drive it sounded pretty good and stayed fairly clean which is how I wanted it using my pedals for "coloration". I swapped in a Weber 12a125a 30w but it broke up too much and too quickly. I've also had a few others but before with old circuit like a Celestion blue, Emmi Red Fang, etc... So I remembered how the Tone Tubby had a higher alnico wattage w/ the reduced highs and gave it a try. BINGO! It sounds fantastic clean, has very nice headroom for an alnico and when driven breaks up just how it should. I can even run the controls at about the same as with the green back with just a slight reduction in bass is all. If you've ever played and heard a Tubby in action you know what I mean and if not, you really should try to hear it live and in person somehow? Listening over your computer just won't do it justice... anyway, hopefully some may find this helpful some time in the future when looking for that special tone?

[smackoj]

Nice job JoJo. I remember back when I first heard of Tone Tubby spkrs. the talk was how all the greats were using them in their rigs. I couldn't say if that is true or not but I do know an amp builder who does actually know the head man at Tone Tubby. David over at Vintage47amps has worked closely with TT to get his own line of spkrs. fitted with hemp cones made by TT.  His info. says that TT is the only maker in the US that uses US produced hemp cones. All other copy cat hemp cone spkrs. are fitted with cone material made in China or Quam or even Nam, who really knows?

Just thought it was worth adding to JoJo's post since the real Tone Tubby spkrs. are at the top of the price range but do perform up to expectations as witnessed by Mr. JoJo and many others.

 

[Willabe]

I have a 12" red alnico TT that I got, mmmmm, 5, 6 years ago? Looks like the same speaker as yours. They went through a few different versions early on. The new 1's might be a little different than what you and I have? (I found about them in a Tone Quest Report mag. review some years ago. They loved it.)

I've been using it with my 5E3 and 5G9 builds. I think it sounds great. It is a loud speaker.

I just tried it with my new Gibson GA77 build and it sounds very good/great with it also. Although I'm thinking I'm liking the WGS alnico 15" I bought for it a little better, less mids and not quite as loud. It was voiced by Gibson with a Jensen 15" alnico.

I read something a few years ago by Ted Weber on hemp speaker cones. (I can't find it now on their web site)

He said what they don't tell you is how much hemp is used in the mix with traditional wood pulp derived paper. IIRC he said it was as little as 2%. So he thought it was more hype than a true difference in tone.   

Still that TT sounds great to me, what ever it's cone is made from % wise.

I have a 10" red TT alnico hemp cone still sitting in it's box I haven't hook up yet. I want to build a Champ for it.


                Brad   

[Platefire]

Who makes the TT anyway? Can't remember? I have a Eminence Cannabis Rex that I like a lot. It's not alnico mag but I installed one in my Silvertone 1482 and it was a perfect match. Thinking of getting one for my Peavey/DR conversion. Platefire

[jojokeo]

Who makes the TT anyway? Can't remember? I have a Eminence Cannabis Rex that I like a lot.

Tone Tubby makes them aka a brown soun - http://tonetubby.com/a-1.html  TT worked together with Eminence to develop that speaker and supply the cones for the CRex. A Cannabis Rex is basically a hemp coned green back.

[Platefire]

Yeah, I've been looking at them on e-bay---pretty high dollar for the 50 watt. I seen a 12" 25 watt one for $125. new. That might work in my Peavey Pacer/DR conversion--I think rated at 22 watts--cutting it kind of close! but I never push it to the max. Platefire

[jojokeo]

Those are a good deal, however I've seen some 50watters used in that price range on a rare occasion. In comparison with the H1E you'll lose some on speaker efficiency and headroom. If that's something you like or are okay with then at least you'll know ahead of time and be prepared for it then when assessing it and you'll be able to compare it more fairly to other stuff. These take some breaking in so it'll be some time in between if you do buy but please report back if you go forward with one?!

[Willabe]

I liked my TT from the get go, only getting better.

I have 1 of their 25w alnico 12" sitting in a box I need to hook up.   
             

                             Brad   

[Platefire]

Well I like the Cannibis Rex and I was thinking the TT might even be better. Im trying to find a speaker to quail the extreme brightness in my DR conversion. The circuit components are pretty much identical to AB763 DR. I removed the Carvin British Series 12"/100 watt that was a harsh speaker. Installed a Weber 12" specially made by Ted for the Silvertone 1482 but found the Cannabis Rex sounded better in the 1482. The Weber Helped the DR but I'm thinking maybe the CR or TT would take it to awesome land--hopefully. Platefire

[jim]

I have A  ceramic TT in my Deluxe Reverb.  The ceramic can be very bright when it is brand new but after a short while it mellowed to just bright enough even when driven hard. It cuts through.  It is definitely not a dark creamy sound.   Jim

[jojokeo]

I have A  ceramic TT in my Deluxe Reverb.  The ceramic can be very bright when it is brand new but after a short while it mellowed to just bright enough even when driven hard. It cuts through.  It is definitely not a dark creamy sound.   Jim

Normally they can take a good while to break in but? I like the TT ceramic also!
 

... but I'm thinking maybe the CR or TT would take it to awesome land--hopefully. Platefire

Plate - wondering if you got anything to try yet???
 

[Platefire]

Naw, haven't got one yet. I got GAS for a white strat and that took priority I guess(Cheap Guitars that sound good). My Peavey DR conversion still needs help. The hemp cone really helped my 1482, so I figure it could maybe help my DR too. Platefire