Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

[Robert Delahunt]

Please only post and/or answer this poll if you have a Fender Twin Reverb (I prefer silver face owners, but blackface owners welcome, just specify this) and you have changed the speakers in it or have other-than-stock speakers in yours and have experience with it.

I'm very worried about this decision, so I'll be brief. I want a Twin Reverb tone from my amp. I liked it stock, and I like how the '65 FTR reissues sound also, but I don't want to put the original stock speakers in it. I'm interested in Celestion, Eminence, and Weber (mainly weber). This poll might not have enough options, so pardon me. If what you'd pick isn't listed, please select "Other" and post a reply with what exact model and brand. Thanks! You guys rock!

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

No nibbles? Oh well.

So far I'm considering the Eminence Red White And Blues speaker because there's one, count 'em, one review on musiciansfriend.com for someone who swapped them into a Twin Reverb, and he said they were very clear and punchy. Their power handling is more than I need, and they're made in the USA.

Alas, no sound clips from anyone on this amp and/or speakers. I feel like I'm "flying blind" on this decision. Sure, some people recommended speakers, but somehow I'm not yet satisfied. Don't worry though, I'm very careful about such decisions because I absolutely hate being wrong and hate being disappointed. I also get told quite often that I should've been a research scientist lol.

So anyways, I'll talk to more people and do more research.

 

[Falstaff]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

Go for the Californias. I wrote a bit about them in the earlier thread.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

Go for the Californias. I wrote a bit about them in the earlier thread.

Thanks bro, I'll look at them more.

 

[brisk]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

I believe celestion and Eminence Commonwealth are for the distingtive British sound.

I have Weber 12F150. Great speaker for traditional American sound. Mine breaks up too early.

I haven't tried Texas Heat but I have Red White & Blues, which I like a lot. Very smooth.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

I believe celestion and Eminence Commonwealth are for the distingtive British sound.

I have Weber 12F150. Great speaker for traditional American sound. Mine breaks up too early.

I haven't tried Texas Heat but I have Red White & Blues, which I like a lot. Very smooth.

By the way, NICE avatar "People shouldn't be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people."

Ok, Red White & Blues, sounds nice, I'll remember that.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

How about one Cali and one Texas Heat? No rule you have to use the same 2 speakers. I own a Cali series, a Texas Heat and I had a SF Twin. The Cali series Speaker is very neutral in tone. It has a big open bold sound IMO. The Texas Heats on the other hand have a nice warm bottom,Chimey highs and just enough grit in the mids to add some bite. In my SF Twin I had Celestion G-70M's.I hated the way the amp sounded.:13: I was to stupid at the time that it was the speakers.:smack: I traded the amp to a buddy who promptly put a set of EV SRO coffee cans in it. I was amazed how great the amp sounded. (Although the EV's lack a bit in the chime dept. IMO) If I where to get the amp back from him. I'd go Texas Heat & Cali. Keep in mind most celestion's are very middy speakers, And a SF Twin is a very bright sounding amp. Not good match IMO. Took me 10 years and a moment of sobriety to figure all this out.:laugh2: :eek13:

 

[flank]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

How about one Cali and one Texas Heat? No rule you have to use the same 2 speakers. I own a Cali series, a Texas Heat and I had a SF Twin. The Cali series Speaker is very neutral in tone. It has a big open bold sound IMO. The Texas Heats on the other hand have a nice warm bottom,Chimey highs and just enough grit in the mids to add some bite. In my SF Twin I had Celestion G-70M's.I hated the way the amp sounded.:13: I was to stupid at the time that it was the speakers.:smack: I traded the amp to a buddy who promptly put a set of EV SRO coffee cans in it. I was amazed how great the amp sounded. (Although the EV's lack a bit in the chime dept. IMO) If I where to get the amp back from him. I'd go Texas Heat & Cali. Keep in mind most celestion's are very middy speakers, And a SF Twin is a very bright sounding amp. Not good match IMO. Took me 10 years and a moment of sobriety to figure all this out.:laugh2: :eek13:

that may be a good idea. I still say 2x12 Texas Heats, and i speak from experience with them in my Twin, they sound awesome in there. Better than the JBLs that were in there

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

Thanks everyone for the help. I'm probably going to go with an Eminence Texas Heat and a Red White & Blues. They seem to compliment each other, based on the tone guide on the Eminence web page. They also are highly rated on Musicians Friend, and both are supposed to have an American tone.

 

[B Bent]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

Weber 12F150's all the way!!! The 10" 25 watt versions of those made my Vibrolux sound completely amazing. Speakers WILL have a drastic effect on the tone of your amp.

I A/B a 1974 Vibrolux Reverb that had been completely restored and Blackfaced right next to my 1975 Vibrolux Reverb that had never been electronically revamped. Mine had the Webers and the 74" had reissued Italian Jensens and 3 of the 3 guys standidng there agreed that mine sounded much better. We are talking night and day. I then plugged the 74 into my 75 cab and it then smoked! What an incredible difference.

BTW I don't have a TR, but the result will be EXACTLY the same I guarantee it!! On any amp and especially for guys like you and me with older Silverface amps, good speakers equal great tone.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

Weber 12F150's all the way!!! The 10" 25 watt versions of those made my Vibrolux sound completely amazing. Speakers WILL have a drastic effect on the tone of your amp.

I A/B a 1974 Vibrolux Reverb that had been completely restored and Blackfaced right next to my 1975 Vibrolux Reverb that had never been electronically revamped. Mine had the Webers and the 74" had reissued Italian Jensens and 3 of the 3 guys standidng there agreed that mine sounded much better. We are talking night and day. I then plugged the 74 into my 75 cab and it then smoked! What an incredible difference.

BTW I don't have a TR, but the result will be EXACTLY the same I guarantee it!! On any amp and especially for guys like you and me with older Silverface amps, good speakers equal great tone.

Are they that much better than the Eminence? I mean, better to the point where I should actually consider them?

The 12F150's should be exactly what I need, at $100 each. The California 12 would be even better, but it's outside my price range.

 

[B Bent]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

Are they that much better than the Eminence? I mean, better to the point where I should actually consider them?

The 12F150's should be exactly what I need, at $100 each. The California 12 would be even better, but it's outside my price range.

It's hard for me to say since i have never heard them. The only new emi's that I have heard lately were a ragin cajin and a copperhead mixed. IMO they sounded terrible in the particular amp I heard them in. That doesn't mean they are bad speakers though.

When I hear any kind of Blackface or SF fender amp I want to hear a nice tight bottom end with plenty of clarity on the highs without getting raspy. That is exactly how I describe the 10F125's that are in my Lux. They are not overly boomy, but pack a serious punch. They, in all seriousness, made my amp a little louder as well. I guess it has something to do with the efficiency rating. IMO Ted's speakers for old Fenders are a bargain and sound incredible.

 

[54stratlover]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

I use a mix of v30 and g12h. I like that mix. it is in a '72 twin by the way. I am interested in teh eminence by the way. tel me how yours turns out.

 

[Stevo]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

I have owned a couple of silver faced twins. From my experimenting with speakers in that particular amp, I like the JBL d120f the most.

But I have not tried all of the speakers on your list.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

I personally would not do the Vintage 30/H30 mix only because it's only good for 60 watts that way...the 12F150's are great speakers but to be honest they are underpowered for a Twin Reverb and also have a good bit of breakup on their own.,..not the best choice for a Twin Reverb but they will work. If you want a classic american/Jensen speaker thats good for higher wattage I would personally go with a pair of Weber Ceramic Chicago 12's, those are Ted's High powered Jensen clones. You could also look into the reissue Jensen C12K, Im not a fan of the new Jensens at all to be honest but the C12K is a great speaker and a pair of them is good for 200 watts. Also, if you are on a budget the new Eminence speakers are damn hard to beat but if you can swing it the Webers or the Jensens woudl be a better speaker IMHO...

FWIW, I have been using a SF Twin Reverb pretty solid for over 10 years now...

 

[bigbob]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

I know a guy with an early SF Twin that has JBL's in it and it SINGS! So either used John B's or the Weber copy would be my first choice.

 

[flank]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

Thanks everyone for the help. I'm probably going to go with an Eminence Texas Heat and a Red White & Blues. They seem to compliment each other, based on the tone guide on the Eminence web page. They also are highly rated on Musicians Friend, and both are supposed to have an American tone.

these are good picks, go for it. David Allen uses RWB in most of his amps, and he knows what he's doin! I havent used the RWB, but the TH in my Twin are tremendous sounding.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

I personally would not do the Vintage 30/H30 mix only because it's only good for 60 watts that way...the 12F150's are great speakers but to be honest they are underpowered for a Twin Reverb and also have a good bit of breakup on their own.,..not the best choice for a Twin Reverb but they will work. If you want a classic american/Jensen speaker thats good for higher wattage I would personally go with a pair of Weber Ceramic Chicago 12's, those are Ted's High powered Jensen clones. You could also look into the reissue Jensen C12K, Im not a fan of the new Jensens at all to be honest but the C12K is a great speaker and a pair of them is good for 200 watts. Also, if you are on a budget the new Eminence speakers are damn hard to beat but if you can swing it the Webers or the Jensens woudl be a better speaker IMHO...

FWIW, I have been using a SF Twin Reverb pretty solid for over 10 years now...

Well yeah, I'm on a budget, and the 25% restock fee on Weber's website sort of bothers me, should they not work out for me. I mean, my amp should've had Oxfords in it, so the 12F150's should work, but alas the Eminence are cheaper, so this is why I'm sort of at a crossroads. I don't know from experience if the Weber speakers are worth the extra cost, and I'm on a budget. I could go "whole hog" with Webers, but then have no money for a microphone to record them with lol. Much less I don't really have a recording device yet, or the decent computer software to do it with, but I could sort of "survive" on a microphone and Linux (using Audacity to record).

I'm just not sure, so unless somehow the Webers start to work for me, in terms of reviews and/or someone who's tried those and Eminence, I'd have to go with Eminence. I'm on a budget, and to be honest, this would be a credit card purchase unless/until tax returns come in

 

[B Bent]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

i understand the budget thing. This is my question though. I will preface this by saying I am not trying poke into your finances at all. It's always been my idea or philosophy not to skimp on tone. If the speakers you reeeeeeeealy want cost more cheese than you currently have why not chill out for a while, not get in a hurry and save up for what you know you really really want?

That's what i would do. I have a huge hang up about not skimping on tone.

I have had to wait my fair share and save. Everytime I have gotten in a hurry I have always ended up wasting that money and still had to buy what I originally wanted anyways.


Just an idea. :dunno:

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Speakers poll: '72 Twin Reverb

Hey you guys, I did some more research and thinned down the list of speakers I think I'd be willing to install. I'm going to open a new thread and close this one. Thanks for your help, though!