Should I replace speaker in my VoxAD50VT?

[soundchaser59]

perhaps with a Weber 12 inch ceramic 50w Blue Dog?

Anybody know how hard or easy it might be to get in there and R&R the driver in this Vox? It is a sealed cab, 50w rms into 8 ohms.....

I think the speaker that came in it is probably a Chinese Celestion?? Not bad, but I'd sure be willing to try a Weber or an Eminence in there.....

Thanks for any tips or opinions.... SC

 

[Thatupstateguy]

depends on the budget,... but,... if you can find one try a Tone Tubby....








HEMP cone,.... and totally killer sound....... wonderful range of tones,....



Kind of like the Alnico Blue from Celestion,.. or any of the Alnico magnet speakers,... lots of $$$$$ but worth the extra,... look whats in most of the vintage amps,.... Lots of em used Alnico magnet speakers from Fane, or Celestion, or Weber,.... and Jenson,... Tone tubbys are fairly new,.... and they are another alternative...... in my opinion at least as much better as any of the alnicos...over an 'Average' speaker,....why do you want to change the speaker,...??

a Chinese Celestion,.... so is it broken in,.... or you just don't like the sound,... ??? or,..??

 

[soundchaser59]

I was wondering if I could get a tadbit more clarity out of it with a slightly better speaker.......whatever that word "clarity" means.

Also just to convince myself that I actually have hands on experience hearing the difference between 2 or 3 different speakers. Mostly I just want to know if it will make any real audible difference at all, and I'm willing to try it to find out. Celestion, Weber, and Eminence are the names popping up the most everywhere I look and ask. Weber gets a ton of plugs from many guitar players all over, and Weber advertises Eminence on his web site right next to his own speakers. Probably cuz they are both made in the USA.

Do you know what would be the main difference/s between Alnico and Ceramic? What roll will magnet weight play in the rock guitar setup?? And how will the sound change if I use a 75w or 100w speaker in place of my 50w Celestion?

Thanks for the reply!

 

[soundchaser59]

Well, accordingtot he guy smaking the speakers, Alnico is not as loud when it "breaks up".....ceramic sounds louder at the same power setting.

Not sure what role the magnet weight plays, but it does change the response of the speaker more at lower power settings.

Using a higher watt rated speaker will simply make it go louder before it distorts.

All according to a phone call I had with a tech at Weber's place.

The tech at Vox told me they use a Chinese-made Celestion 70/80 in the AD50 amp. He describes it as a standard or "budget" speaker that many factories use because it is considered a middle of the road solution between great sound and price point. It is admittedly not outstanding, but good enough to make the amps sell and cheap enough to meet the price point.

My impression from talking to the amp makers at Vox, Fender, and Traynor and speaker makers at Eminence and Weber is that the manufacturers pretty much expect us axe grinders to replace or customize the amps, and the most expected mod is changing the speakers and replacing the tubes.

I ordered the 12 inch 50w Silver Bell for the AD50. Be here in about 2 weeks. I ordered an Eminence Legend for the old Champ amp.

 

[soundchaser59]

Both speakers are now installed.

The Champ sounds like a new amp, clear, loud, smooth.

The Silver Bell is louder before distorting, clear, bright, smoother mids, much tighter lows, I had to turn the master volume down in order to have the same volume level as the Celestion was.

A Happy Customer!