Reckless Abandon
New member
What did you put in there?
Why?
What where the changes clean and dirty?
Do you use the amp OD or pedals?
Thanks
Why?
What where the changes clean and dirty?
Do you use the amp OD or pedals?
Thanks
Those who replaced a speaker in a HRD
- Thread starter Reckless Abandon
- Start date
Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
Re: Those who replaced a speaker in a HRD
Paging Glenn...
Paging Glenn...
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Those who replaced a speaker in a HRD
i put a c12n in an HRD. I also tried a celestion g12t75 but the best was a locally built australian thing called a Lorantz.
If i was gonna play an HRD again i reckon id put in a texas heat.
The c12n was heaps better than the stocker, but its very cutting and kinda hard.
The g12T was okay but a little dark.
The Lorantz kicks arse but probably costs too much to post to the USA to make it viable. Its supposed to be modelled on a greenback, but wound up to 75watts.
I have texas heats in my twin...I know its not an HRD, but ive had a bit of experience with how my old HRD went with speaker swaps, so i reckon this would work well...they have a nice fat bass and are quite forgiving because they dont have the massive magnet and presence of teh swamp thing. I think itd be perfect to add low end balls instead of the flabby bottom end of the stock speakers, so the amp will sound bigger, but not necessarily louder. Just chunkier and fatter in the bottom- texas heats will swallow up any bass the HRD can produce and reproduce it without breaking a sweat. It will make the mids sound chunkier and smooth the top end. Great clean and driven. HRD's have a reputation for being too loud and/or touchy on the volume, but if you smooth the tops and remove the flab, you can run your amp at your normal volume, but with no complaints or sore ears.
i put a c12n in an HRD. I also tried a celestion g12t75 but the best was a locally built australian thing called a Lorantz.
If i was gonna play an HRD again i reckon id put in a texas heat.
The c12n was heaps better than the stocker, but its very cutting and kinda hard.
The g12T was okay but a little dark.
The Lorantz kicks arse but probably costs too much to post to the USA to make it viable. Its supposed to be modelled on a greenback, but wound up to 75watts.
I have texas heats in my twin...I know its not an HRD, but ive had a bit of experience with how my old HRD went with speaker swaps, so i reckon this would work well...they have a nice fat bass and are quite forgiving because they dont have the massive magnet and presence of teh swamp thing. I think itd be perfect to add low end balls instead of the flabby bottom end of the stock speakers, so the amp will sound bigger, but not necessarily louder. Just chunkier and fatter in the bottom- texas heats will swallow up any bass the HRD can produce and reproduce it without breaking a sweat. It will make the mids sound chunkier and smooth the top end. Great clean and driven. HRD's have a reputation for being too loud and/or touchy on the volume, but if you smooth the tops and remove the flab, you can run your amp at your normal volume, but with no complaints or sore ears.
Last edited:
Reckless Abandon
New member
The Texas heat looks cool. I am in the speculation stages. Not sure what I need/want to change. Just know a lot of people complain about the stock speakers. I am new to fender amps so.....
Btw I have a HRD III with a celestion.
Btw I have a HRD III with a celestion.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Those who replaced a speaker in a HRD
ive not tried the new III series speaker, only the old fender/emi special.
ive not tried the new III series speaker, only the old fender/emi special.
Reckless Abandon
New member
I'm sure played the HRD II but no way for me to compare either.
UberMetalDood
New member
Re: Those who replaced a speaker in a HRD
My brother has this cool HRD with a snakeskin tolex and he uses an Eminence Texas Heat in it. He initially replaced the stock speaker with a V30 and I like how it sounded then, but the Texas Heat is even more to my liking. I just ordered one for my Engl Raider. I'm not sure how it's going to work out in that amp, but I think if it doesn't work out that I can match it up with another speaker in my 2x12 for better results. I'm pretty sure it will do the job.
By the description, you would think the Texas Heat has beautiful highs and lows but doesn't stand out a lot in the mids, but that's not the case. It has a beautiful midrange and the sparkly high end gives it a lot of clarity. I think the Texas Heat is analogous to the Pearly Gates pickup. By the description, the PG has scooped mids, lots of bass and extended highs. However, it's loaded with mids and the bass isn't boomy like a 59.
The Texas Heat produces one of the most beautiful clean tones I have heard in a speaker, but what I really like about it is that it doesn't stop there. You would think it would excel at cleans and gritty blues tones, but it's pretty tight all around and handles thrashy riffs really well. It also lends itself to some pretty neat sounding Eric Johnson violin type lead tones.
Considering that my Raider (has a V30 right now) is a little dark compared to a Marshall, I'm expecting that the Texas Heat is going to reduce the honkiness a little, extend the highs, add midrange detail, add a bit of overall smoothness, and become a little bit tighter in the highs. My Raider has a lot of bass available so hopefully the Texas Heat won't exacerbate it. I'm pretty sure the low end is comparable on the Texas Heat and V30.
I think that you cannot go wrong by getting a Texas Heat. I highly recommend that speaker based on what I know about it. I'm not just saying that because I just bought one my self.
My brother has this cool HRD with a snakeskin tolex and he uses an Eminence Texas Heat in it. He initially replaced the stock speaker with a V30 and I like how it sounded then, but the Texas Heat is even more to my liking. I just ordered one for my Engl Raider. I'm not sure how it's going to work out in that amp, but I think if it doesn't work out that I can match it up with another speaker in my 2x12 for better results. I'm pretty sure it will do the job.
By the description, you would think the Texas Heat has beautiful highs and lows but doesn't stand out a lot in the mids, but that's not the case. It has a beautiful midrange and the sparkly high end gives it a lot of clarity. I think the Texas Heat is analogous to the Pearly Gates pickup. By the description, the PG has scooped mids, lots of bass and extended highs. However, it's loaded with mids and the bass isn't boomy like a 59.
The Texas Heat produces one of the most beautiful clean tones I have heard in a speaker, but what I really like about it is that it doesn't stop there. You would think it would excel at cleans and gritty blues tones, but it's pretty tight all around and handles thrashy riffs really well. It also lends itself to some pretty neat sounding Eric Johnson violin type lead tones.
Considering that my Raider (has a V30 right now) is a little dark compared to a Marshall, I'm expecting that the Texas Heat is going to reduce the honkiness a little, extend the highs, add midrange detail, add a bit of overall smoothness, and become a little bit tighter in the highs. My Raider has a lot of bass available so hopefully the Texas Heat won't exacerbate it. I'm pretty sure the low end is comparable on the Texas Heat and V30.
I think that you cannot go wrong by getting a Texas Heat. I highly recommend that speaker based on what I know about it. I'm not just saying that because I just bought one my self.
Reckless Abandon
New member
Thanks guys. I guess my gas is now serious 
Reckless Abandon
New member
Btw I use a zvex distortron for dirt most of the time. I also use an mxr fullbore metal from time to time.
Re: Those who replaced a speaker in a HRD
You guys know, I was actually being serious...
Ahhhh...there it is. Thanks.
You guys know, I was actually being serious...
Ahhhh...there it is. Thanks.
Reckless Abandon
New member
Thought you were joking formula lol. Sorry
Re: Those who replaced a speaker in a HRD
i wasnt sure if you were joking or not which is why i spelled it out just in case :approve:
i wasnt sure if you were joking or not which is why i spelled it out just in case :approve:
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Those who replaced a speaker in a HRD
i didnt even read the thread but im guessing the term "C-Rex" has come up.
the cannabis rex is an eminence speaker which supposedly kicks all sorts of ass in HRDxs...
I've never ever been interested in one.
mine has a carvin speaker, its like 75 watts or something, its not the best fit for the amp but i like it better than the stock fender one.
what I'm aiming for is a vintage 30, supposedly the amp sounds more full bodied then and much less middy and muddy, the gain channel is too mushy and washy, it lacks lower mids and is too barky.
i didnt even read the thread but im guessing the term "C-Rex" has come up.
the cannabis rex is an eminence speaker which supposedly kicks all sorts of ass in HRDxs...
I've never ever been interested in one.
mine has a carvin speaker, its like 75 watts or something, its not the best fit for the amp but i like it better than the stock fender one.
what I'm aiming for is a vintage 30, supposedly the amp sounds more full bodied then and much less middy and muddy, the gain channel is too mushy and washy, it lacks lower mids and is too barky.
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Those who replaced a speaker in a HRD
I use a boss turbo distortion and a boss super overdrive... in the clean channel, which is amazing.
I use a boss turbo distortion and a boss super overdrive... in the clean channel, which is amazing.
Reckless Abandon
New member
Astrozombie sounds like I use the HRDx like you do, distortion pedal into the clean channel. I do want optimal for the clean channel; does the clean justice but will enhance my dirt pedals.
Reckless Abandon
New member
I emailed eminence. They suggested swamp thing, screaming eagle, or private jack. Thoughts?
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Those who replaced a speaker in a HRD
swamp thing will make it louder - not many people want louder in an HRD. I does sound massive tho if thats what you are after. Huge bottom and cutting top. BEst for modern chugga tones - punch and definition.
Screaming Eagle is supposed to make it more cutting - not what a lot of people are after in an HRD.
Private Jack - (rhymes with Greenback - no coincidence) Nice. Balanced and good with overdrive. 50watts. Not too many people use british style speakers in fender amps, but it works well. I have a 75w Greenback clone in my fender princeton reverb II (22watts) and i think Fuse has a greenback clone in his fender deluxe reverb (again 22watts). Given the amount of bottom end those two 6l6s in your amp can chug out, id probably want a Brit style speaker with a little more than 50w at its disposal. Generally, its nice to have roughly double the wattage of your amp in your speakers..but thats really just personal preference. I like my speakers to reproduce all the bass frequencies without having to strain. Some people like the sound of speakers beginning to break up.
If you do a search of the net youll find a lot of people liking the cannabis rex because being a hemp cone it can pump out a lot of bass and has a smooth top end. Best suited to jazzy/bluesy sounds. This one is 50watts too, but hemp is much more flexible than paper and can handle bass really well.
Texas Heats will do that too, but are slightly less efficient meaning you can crank the amp a bit more and get the same volume. These sound good clean, but also great with heavier overdrive. at 150watts, they will not even break a sweat. Nice.
Celestion classic 30. It will make you amp seem louder, and will give it a lot of bite and cut. Some people love them, some dont. They generally are at their best with overdriven sounds, and happiest in a closed back cabinet where the cab thickens up the bass frequencies.
Hope this stuff is useful.
The real question is: What sounds are you after, and what would you like to change or imporove in the sound you are getting now?
swamp thing will make it louder - not many people want louder in an HRD. I does sound massive tho if thats what you are after. Huge bottom and cutting top. BEst for modern chugga tones - punch and definition.
Screaming Eagle is supposed to make it more cutting - not what a lot of people are after in an HRD.
Private Jack - (rhymes with Greenback - no coincidence) Nice. Balanced and good with overdrive. 50watts. Not too many people use british style speakers in fender amps, but it works well. I have a 75w Greenback clone in my fender princeton reverb II (22watts) and i think Fuse has a greenback clone in his fender deluxe reverb (again 22watts). Given the amount of bottom end those two 6l6s in your amp can chug out, id probably want a Brit style speaker with a little more than 50w at its disposal. Generally, its nice to have roughly double the wattage of your amp in your speakers..but thats really just personal preference. I like my speakers to reproduce all the bass frequencies without having to strain. Some people like the sound of speakers beginning to break up.
If you do a search of the net youll find a lot of people liking the cannabis rex because being a hemp cone it can pump out a lot of bass and has a smooth top end. Best suited to jazzy/bluesy sounds. This one is 50watts too, but hemp is much more flexible than paper and can handle bass really well.
Texas Heats will do that too, but are slightly less efficient meaning you can crank the amp a bit more and get the same volume. These sound good clean, but also great with heavier overdrive. at 150watts, they will not even break a sweat. Nice.
Celestion classic 30. It will make you amp seem louder, and will give it a lot of bite and cut. Some people love them, some dont. They generally are at their best with overdriven sounds, and happiest in a closed back cabinet where the cab thickens up the bass frequencies.
Hope this stuff is useful.
The real question is: What sounds are you after, and what would you like to change or imporove in the sound you are getting now?
Reckless Abandon
New member
Clear defined bass, top end chime, mids that add beef and not too much honk. I want to clean to be able to do the classic fender clean but handle my pedals that are more British flavored. I really want to amp to be real versatile. Tired of having to switch amps when I want different sounds.
I am used I playing Marshall's so the "fender sound" is something I hear on records but have no experience with. For clean sounds I love tom petty and late 60's Beatles (fender twin tones)
I am used I playing Marshall's so the "fender sound" is something I hear on records but have no experience with. For clean sounds I love tom petty and late 60's Beatles (fender twin tones)
Last edited:
