Fender HR Deluxe 'speaker upgrade

[Funkfingers]

Looking for loudspeaker upgrade suggestions for an otherwise stock MIM Fender Hot Rod Deluxe combo. Using the forum Search engine yielded some useful ideas but only one loudspeaker was name checked - the Celestion G12-65. (The all-important magnet type indicator letter was omited. As was the nominal impedance rating.)

So, has anybody had successful results through upgrading from the stock Eminence 12"?

I am aiming to get a sound more like that of my HR DeVille 410. Obviously, the tens, the bigger cabinet and the higher plate voltage have some bearing on this issue.

My wish is to lose the low frequency flab.

Thank you in advance.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Fender HR Deluxe 'speaker upgrade

youll never get the hr deluxe to sound like the 4x10 deville for the reasons you mentioned.

a friend of mine replaced the stock with a eminence red, white and blues and i think it sounds much better than stock. also lower the bass control, you dont need it as high as you think.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Fender HR Deluxe 'speaker upgrade

well that flub in a lot of cases is part of the fender sound, but like jeremy said keep the bass low and it's manageable--I usually keep mine around 3, depending on the room and such

As far as the speaker... a v30 is gonna handle the low end the best but I don't particularly like the sound of v30's, especially in an open back 1x12

My favorite so far have been the emi wizard and the weber california. Cannabis rex's are also popular speakers for these amps, but they're a little on the dark side so i don't know that it'd be the best option for you

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fender HR Deluxe 'speaker upgrade

Googling for the CR brought up a link to a Rivera TV You Tube video demonstration of fifteen different loudspeakers powered (one at a time!) by the same amplifier. This video reminded me that I have an EV-12M stashed away as a spare for my MESA 1x12 cabs. I might test that. :naughty:

Of the Eminence range, I am mostly fancying the idea of a Reignmaker or The Wizard.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Fender HR Deluxe 'speaker upgrade

The flubby bass in definitely not part of the "fender sound". The fender/emi speaker is total rubbish. Even the 15w blues junior can make it flab out.
Heres a few choices i have tried that are all huge improvements over the stock one....
1. Celestion G12T75 - big bass but dark top, scooped mids - makes your amp sound more liek a closed back cab.
2. Jensen C12n - classic fendery sound, but very piercing high end.
3. Cannabis rex - nice. fat and warm is a good match with the hrds natural brightness.
4. Lorantz (Australian hand built speaker) 75w greenback style - nice - best of the lot - but probably to expensive to have shipped to the US.

I believe the red white and blues tha jeremy mentioned is a great speaker in the classic fendery style (like a smoother jensen c12n) a lot of boutique amps have these in.

A vintage 30 will sound brilliant for the dirty channel, but i think maybe not the best match for the clean side.

The ev12m will be way better than the stock but also way louder, so keep that in mind. But seeing as you have it lying around...it sure seems like the best choice! Flab definitely gone!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fender HR Deluxe 'speaker upgrade

^
Thank you for this.

I have a NOS 1994 Celestion G12T-75, never been fitted into a cabinet BUT it is 16 Ohm. Might try it just to test the tone before possibly buying one of the correct impedance.

The EV is a monster. It makes my MESA 20:20 rack power amp deafeningly powerful. Thank F that I don't have a Fifty:Fifty power amp!!!

Perhaps, I should be sensible? Keep things simple. Get the Clean channel right and use an external valve overdrive device to get the filthy sounds?

 

[donnievaz]

Re: Fender HR Deluxe 'speaker upgrade

A lot of people like the Eminence Private Jack in the HRD as well. I had one in a Peavey Classic 30 that sounded killer.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fender HR Deluxe 'speaker upgrade

UPDATE
Tested the HRD through the EV12 in one of my Compact Thiele cabinets. Sounded so good that I have not bothered to test the old Celestion.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Fender HR Deluxe 'speaker upgrade

I know they are very different amps but I have a 67 DR. I almost gave up on the amp due to a lack of headroom. On the advice of a friend(thanks Cal) I installed a very old but hardly used Vintage 30 and it worked wonders. The amp has lots of headroom & plenty of balls. With a Tubescreamer it becomes a channel switching amp! I think a Vintage 30(which is rated at 60W) should do very nicely in your amp.