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Post subject: Fender Pro Reverb Silverface 1974 - Valves & Speakers
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 1:24 pm
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My Silverface Pro reverb has the original tubes and I want to replace all of these. I am looking to obtain the classic fender clean, round, responsive, complex sound with plenty of headroom using an old strat. I prefer to get breakup from pedals.

The original speakers Oxford 12L6 in the amp are sounding well tired and fart out. I thought I would start with a recone (Wembley loudspeakers) and if not happy keep hold of them but install replacements. So far I like the sound of Celestion V30s clean & overdriven, dynamics and power handling. I have an EVM12L in my Boogie and this is a great responsive detailed speaker at all volumes clean and overdriven but these are pricey and extremely heavy.

Does anyone have any suggestions on tubes and specific manufacturers ? I happen to have a NOS Mullard GZ34 that i could replace the 5U4GB with. I usually buy from Watford Valves based here in the UK also suggestions on speakers ?
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Post subject: Re: Fender Pro Reverb Silverface 1974 - Valves & Speakers
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 3:11 pm
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Those 12L6's are not worth the cost of a re-cone. On the best day they ever had, they still didn't sound as nice as a pair of Chicago-made Jensen C12NA's or Jensen Vibranto's. Take a look at some of the contemporary offerings from Weber, WGS, Kendrick, or Celestion (specifically, the latter's alnico Vintage Gold).

Or, if you're a terminally-afflicted tone junkie, hold out for those vintage Jensen's.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender Pro Reverb Silverface 1974 - Valves & Speakers
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 6:19 pm
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" I happen to have a NOS Mullard GZ34 that i could replace the 5U4GB with. "

I like the tone of the GZ34 over the 5U4GB. Be sure to check the idle bias and plate voltages after swapping rectifiers.

May want to inspect the main filter caps under the doghouse. Prolly need replacing, if they are original.

Very nice amp! Good luck.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Pro Reverb Silverface 1974 - Valves & Speakers
Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 10:31 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
May want to inspect the main filter caps under the doghouse. Prolly need replacing, if they are original.


+1

Mercifully, the amp isn't an ultra-linear model so standard cap values will apply. Check the electrolytic bias and bypass caps as well -- replace where appropriate.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender Pro Reverb Silverface 1974 - Valves & Speakers
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 3:52 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Those 12L6's are not worth the cost of a re-cone. On the best day they ever had, they still didn't sound as nice as a pair of Chicago-made Jensen C12NA's or Jensen Vibranto's. Take a look at some of the contemporary offerings from Weber, WGS, Kendrick, or Celestion (specifically, the latter's alnico Vintage Gold).

Or, if you're a terminally-afflicted tone junkie, hold out for those vintage Jensen's.

Arjay


Thanks for taking out time to give your advice again, much appreciated. The recone cost is coming out at around £65 a speaker so will look for replacements. The traditional and 'in keeping' choice I suppose is Jensen, I will look/listen into this. Have a listen to this http://youtu.be/jWK0sa7tlfI I prefer the V30's/Swamps & EVM over the Jensen or Celestion alnicos on this test, what do you think ?

In regards to vintage Jensen's is it acknowledged that reconed vintage Jensens are 'acceptable' ?

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Post subject: Re: Fender Pro Reverb Silverface 1974 - Valves & Speakers
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 4:20 pm
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For the two guitar samples, Celestion's V30 and Alnico Gold tied for the best sounding speakers to my ears, with the Greenback a close second. There was no stipulation re the Jensen so I'm assuming it was a contemporary imported re-issue. And no "real" JBL was sampled which is quite curious. Of course any sonic judgement must be tempered by the amp used for the demo's.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender Pro Reverb Silverface 1974 - Valves & Speakers
Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 3:15 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
Those 12L6's are not worth the cost of a re-cone. On the best day they ever had, they still didn't sound as nice as a pair of Chicago-made Jensen C12NA's or Jensen Vibranto's. Take a look at some of the contemporary offerings from Weber, WGS, Kendrick, or Celestion (specifically, the latter's alnico Vintage Gold).

Or, if you're a terminally-afflicted tone junkie, hold out for those vintage Jensen's.

Arjay


It turns out that after replacing the pre amp valves with some JJ's ECC83(temporarily) the speakers are not blown and are in good nick. The also sound pretty decent but I will spend some more time with the amp and do more listening to alternative speakers.
[url][URL=http://s1159.photobucket.com/user/Marshall50w/media/IMG_5667-1.jpg.html]Image[/url][/url] [url][URL=http://s1159.photobucket.com/user/Marshall50w/media/IMG_5685-1.jpg.html]Image[/url][/url]

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Post subject: Re: Fender Pro Reverb Silverface 1974 - Valves & Speakers
Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 5:04 pm
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You may also have a look at the Weber alnico or ceramic speakers.

I have recently played one of my amps through a 2x12" box loaded with Weber 12F150 and was pleasantly surprised with the punch, lows and overall sound. (I then try to order a pair direct through their web site but fond their customer service and overall communication to be poor ... so I lost the interest in the speakers). :mrgreen:


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