Praise for cheap solid state amps with speaker swap

[jmcorey]

The first amp that I ever bought was a solid state Fender Princeton 112+, (which eventually became the Frontman 65.) Cheap starter amps. It is a bright amp that has great fender cleans but gets shrill and flubs out at high volumes.

My second tube amp, a Traynor YCV-40WR, is a good amp, but the Vintage 30 was far too bright for that open-back amp. Via web searches, I learned that speaker swaps were one of the paths to greatness for that amp, which I had never heard before. So I tried several, including the Eminence Red White and Blues and the Texas Heat. Liked both, and settled on the Texas Heat for that amp.

With the Fender SS and spare, unused speakers sitting around, I got the idea to try the Eminence speaker in those amps. Wow. Ginormous improvement. Great cleans. Able to play at loud volumes without farting out. Overdrive and distortion sound great. (As it turns out, the original speaker in it is an eminence Blue Tick Hound, which is no longer in the Patriot Series).

The Moral of the Story: Even your "cheap" solid state amp may be a gem - it just may need the right speaker to live up to its true potential.

 

[Animal]

Re: Praise for cheap solid state amps with speaker swap

As solid-state amps are usually sold at a lower price point, the components including the speakers will be of lower quality than of their tube wielding brethren. This is also true of extension cabinets that are bundled with solid-state amp heads. They may not be the best match for that amp and sold as a compromise simply because for most people in beginner/budget range, premium speaker selection is not even a consideration.

Speaker upgrades are not just for tubes amps, every amp will sound better with better speakers.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Praise for cheap solid state amps with speaker swap

Most combo amp makers (both SS & tube) use the cheapest possible speakers they can get away with. The higher end amps will have better quality speakers.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Praise for cheap solid state amps with speaker swap

As solid-state amps are usually sold at a lower price point, the components including the speakers will be of lower quality than of their tube wielding brethren. This is also true of extension cabinets that are bundled with solid-state amp heads. They may not be the best match for that amp and sold as a compromise simply because for most people in beginner/budget range, premium speaker selection is not even a consideration.

Speaker upgrades are not just for tubes amps, every amp will sound better with better speakers.

Most combo amp makers (both SS & tube) use the cheapest possible speakers they can get away with. The higher end amps will have better quality speakers.

As often many guitar makers use cheap pickups, or as an afterthought. Odd, considering how important transducers are, and both speakers and pickups are transducers.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Praise for cheap solid state amps with speaker swap

As often many guitar makers use cheap pickups, or as an afterthought. Odd, considering how important transducers are, and both speakers and pickups are transducers.

Important to us, not always to them. Their first priority is profit.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Praise for cheap solid state amps with speaker swap

Might be time to try the Reverend All-Tone 1250 in my Fender Performer 650.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Praise for cheap solid state amps with speaker swap

Yes. I've heard great things about that speaker. May as well see if it improves things (which I bet it will!)