Princeton Reverb speaker.. which one would you suggest?

[occam25]

Hi,
I am looking for a 12" speaker for the princeton reverb amp I am building. I have seen several ones like the Jensen C12R (ceramic), Jensen P12Q (AlNiCO), Celestion G12-35XC... but I am a bit lost since I don't really know how to evaluate which one is best just from specs (sadly I can't try them out before buying!)

I play mainly jazz and blues. I know it is a matter of taste but, is there any well known speaker that you know will sound great? Which one would you choose?   

Thanks!

[mresistor]

I've been using a Weber 12F150 with my Princeton Reverb and like it. It seems to be a very all around versatile speaker. But, I think I would like one of Webers 12A models better for jazz and blues.

[tubeswell]

I use a Weber 12A125A (30W version*) in my personal BFPR clone. Paired with a deluxe reverb (25W) 6k6 OT. Its a keeper. 7 years and counting and heaps of jam sessions, gigs and the odd bit of recording with it in that time.


* Don't get the 20W version - it has a nomex coil former and these crap out (permanently) when the coil gets hot. The 30W version has a kapton former.


(Sorry can't load up soundbites - 1Mb maximum limit)

[occam25]

Thanks for the answers!
Sadly, Weber speakers are not easily available in Europe. My supplier (tube town) doesn't sell them and, although I found them in another supplier, they are quite more expensive (because of importing issues, I guess) and, if possible, I would prefer to buy all the parts from the same supplier.

I will have to choose a speaker from Jupiter, Celestion, Eminence or Jensen manufacturers

[sluckey]

I have a Jensen C12N in my Deluxe Reverb and a Jensen P12N in my 5E3. Both amps sound very Fendery to me.

[occam25]

I have a Jensen C12N in my Deluxe Reverb

Jensen C12N is 50W and princeton reverb amp is around 15W, right? isn't the speaker oversized?

The Jensen C12R, for example, is 25W (lighter and half the price) and it still has 10W margin. Is there any benefit from putting a bigger speaker? (my back disagree!)

Thanks!

[sluckey]

What is oversize? Some would say any 12" speaker is oversized for a Princeton Reverb.

There's no requirement to match a speaker power rating to an amp power rating. In fact a 15 watt PR could likely destroy a 15 watt speaker.

Jensen has sound samples for their speakers. Other manufacturers probably do also. May be helpful to you.

https://www.jensentone.com

[bnwitt]

Jensen C12Q, Reverend Alltone 1250

[tubeswell]

Thanks for the answers!
Sadly, Weber speakers are not easily available in Europe. My supplier (tube town) doesn't sell them and, although I found them in another supplier, they are quite more expensive (because of importing issues, I guess) and, if possible, I would prefer to buy all the parts from the same supplier.

You should email CJ Sutton at Weber and get an estimate for shipping. Cut out the middlemen. IIRC, I paid US$68 combined for shipping 2 x 12" speakers (plus the cost of each speaker) last time (and that is air-freight shipping from USA to NZ). The price point of Weber speakers means that even with shipping, they can work out cheaper than Celestion (at least in my corner of the globe), and the quality of the speakers makes it worth it. (The 12A125A is US$110 and can be rated for 20W or 30W, and has an Alnico magnet. Their ceramic magnet range is cheaper still. Far superior in quality to the Italian-made reissue Jensens, and buck for buck better value than Celestion blues, for a fraction of the price).

[occam25]

even with shipping, they can work out cheaper than Celestion (at least in my corner of the globe), and the quality of the speakers makes it worth it

good to know that! I will ask Weber directly for prices and shipping costs. If, as you say, Weber speakers are better quality than Jensen or Celestion it could worth it

thanks tubeswell for the advice!

[jojokeo]

Is there any benefit from putting a bigger speaker? (my back disagree!)

YES!!! I'm not a fan of speaker break-up. I want a speaker to keep it's act and my sound together giving the clean punch and drive that I build into my amps. When I want output tube distortion (and preamp tube and effect distortion) to reveal the true character and nuances along with guitar & pickup tones to be kept intact. For me, speaker distortion ruins and muddies up these things.

[mresistor]

Is there any benefit from putting a bigger speaker? (my back disagree!)

speaker distortion ruins and muddies up these things.

I feel the same 

[Willabe]

Is there any benefit from putting a bigger speaker? (my back disagree!)

speaker distortion ruins and muddies up these things.

I feel the same

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Depends on what kind of sound you want.

Some guys like speaker break up/distortion.

In the mid 80's I got to be Johnny Winters roadie for 1 night at the Chicago Blues fest, 70K to 100K people. Johnny didn't bring his amps and was renting from a back line company, a BFSR and a BFTR.

I went to the Grant Park band shell the day before to play through the 2 amps to make sure they were working and had with no sound problems. He told me NO JBL's and NO Celestions. Ev's were ok, but he really wanted Jensen's.

He ended up playing through the SR that night. I don't know why he chose the SR, when we walked out on stage he told me to plug him into the SR. (He was an albino and was pretty close to being blind.)