It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:22 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Fender Speaker Recommendation
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 8:01 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:45 am
Posts: 61
Hello all,

I posted this question over on The Gear Page, but want to ask you all as well. I need a speaker recommendation: I recently built a Tube Depot 5E3 kit. However, I've significantly modded it - upgrading to larger OT, went to 6L6s with a solid state rectifier (a plug-in type, so I can easily go back to 6V6s with a tube rectifier when I want a traditional 5E3). I play primarily clean jazz with a 335 and Ibanez hollowbody. I originally installed an Eminence Cannabis Rex because I had one laying around, however, it was too mid-rangy and too punchy - great for rock and blues, but no so much for jazz. I borrowed a speaker from my 1970s Twin Reverb - a Fender Special Design - and love how it makes the amp sound! It gives it a nice sparkly high end, tight bottom end, and good balance, almost Blackface sounding. So, what do you all think? What 12" 8 ohm speaker(s) should I look at for the 5E3 that has these characteristics?

Thanks much, guys.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Fender Speaker Recommendation
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 8:59 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
SkipBurz wrote:
I play primarily clean jazz with a 335 and Ibanez hollowbody.


For this musical genre and those instruments, I'd recommend a vintage JBL D120F or a Cetec-Gauss PS12.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Speaker Recommendation
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 7:33 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
Hi Skip, I built the same 5e3 kit and I put a Weber 12A125A in it and it sounds amazing. The thing is, mine's a stock build I just upgraded a few parts and run 6V6 power tubes.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Speaker Recommendation
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 8:36 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:45 am
Posts: 61
63supro wrote:
Hi Skip, I built the same 5e3 kit and I put a Weber 12A125A in it and it sounds amazing. The thing is, mine's a stock build I just upgraded a few parts and run 6V6 power tubes.


That Weber speaker seems to be pretty popular with this amp and is certainly on my list. Thanks much.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Speaker Recommendation
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 9:37 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 3:08 pm
Posts: 2889
I had a Weber 12A150 in my Victoria 20112 (5E3) and it sounded perfect to my ears

Call the fellas at Weber, they are amazing at helping you find your sound.

_________________
Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Speaker Recommendation
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 5:51 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:19 pm
Posts: 8827
BB, those Victoria's are so nice. If I ever got back to gigging consistently again, it would be my first choice.

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Speaker Recommendation
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 7:46 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:45 am
Posts: 61
All great advise. A friend loaned me a JBL E120 just to try. Can't say it's not crystal clear and clean (what the E120s are known for)! However, at 20 lbs, it has doubled the weight of the amp...


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Speaker Recommendation
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 7:58 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
SkipBurz wrote:
All great advise. A friend loaned me a JBL E120 just to try. Can't say it's not crystal clear and clean (what the E120s are known for)! However, at 20 lbs, it has doubled the weight of the amp...


The Cetec-Gauss is even heavier. JBL's D120F is a skosh lighter than their E-series speaker -- about 15½ lbs IIRC.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Speaker Recommendation
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 9:28 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:45 am
Posts: 61
If I stay with the E120 in the 5E3 I'll have to keep an eye on the baffle to make sure it doesn't warp. It's a Mojo cabinet and pretty sturdy, but it only has four speaker mounting posts. I also own a 1980 SF Twin 135 watt ultralinear, which, I swear, has to be the heaviest combo amp on earth!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Speaker Recommendation
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 9:54 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
SkipBurz wrote:
I also own a 1980 SF Twin 135 watt ultralinear, which, I swear, has to be the heaviest combo amp on earth!


Not quite. Fender's ultra-linear editions of the Quad Reverb and Super Six Reverb are significantly heavier.

I too own an UL Twin Reverb with factory JBL D120F's -- it tips the scales right at 116 lbs.

If the baffle board of your 5E3 cab is birch ply (and I believe it to be) you shouldn't have any issues. Just ensure that the retaining nuts holding the speaker frame to it are snug but not overly so. A quarter turn beyond finger-tight should be sufficient (this spec holds true for any brand of speaker).

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Speaker Recommendation
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 10:26 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:45 am
Posts: 61
Great advice, Arjay...Thanks.

And come on...a UL Twin with D120s?!!! Did you have to reinforce your floorboards? Seriously though, how do you think E120s would sound in the UL Twin? Perhaps too clean and bright? My friend deals in used equipment, and has a couple of extras. (Unfortunately, he doesn't have any D120s, only "E" models)

Also, have you done any mods to your UL Twin? I'm always interested in what others have done with that particular model. I haven't done anything except keep it well serviced and I use good tubes. I ignore the bad wrap this amp gets by some. I'm a jazz player (ES-335 w/ PAFs and an Ibanez hollowbody) and love the clean, shimmering sound I get. I roll off the treble a bit and add some mids; with Thomastic flatwound strings, it's great.

Best,
Skip


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender Speaker Recommendation
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 12:39 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:48 am
Posts: 26417
Location: Tombstone Territory
My UL TR is dead stock. I bought it new in February of 1978 and played it exclusively for the next twenty-three years. In January of 2001 it went to the shop for new tubes and new electrolytic caps though at that time there were no apparent symptoms of trouble. Though I still own it, it hasn't seen any significant use since then. I'm now playing smaller (and hence, lighter) Fender combos. As long as the UL TR's master-volume control and pull-boost switch are ignored, the amp functions pretty much like any other Twin Reverb though it is substantially louder. Its switchable output-tranny taps are a nice feature. The amp can safely operate 2Ω, 4Ω, and 8Ω loads at full power with no danger of meltdown.

Arjay

_________________
"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: