Speaker for Valve Jr.

[WhiteStrat]

Picked up a used Epi Valve Jr. today--not the combo--the head only. So I figure I'll be making a speaker cab in the near future. And recommendations on a speaker choice for this little guy?

Thanks

WS

 

[zwh]

Depends a lot on what tone you're going for.

About a year ago I built a 2x12 cab for my Valve Jr. head. I loaded it with the famous Vintage 30's replicas off ebay (Warehousespeakers) back when they were $20 (yes, $20!) a pop. I loved them.

 

[scrubs]

Sorry to clutter your thread WhiteStrat, but I actually have the same question. I've been using some crappy Crate speaker, but I'm considering getting the Eminence Cannabis Rex. Anybody used that with the VJ head?

 

[WhiteStrat]

Sorry to clutter your thread WhiteStrat, but I actually have the same question. I've been using some crappy Crate speaker, but I'm considering getting the Eminence Cannabis Rex. Anybody used that with the VJ head?

No problem--glad to share the space! Hopefully we both find some good info...

 

[Anfontan]

I'm a fan of Alnico magnets in my pickups and speakers, when
I upgraded the stock speaker in my 15 watt tube amp I got the Eminence Red Fang. I got the 10" because my amp is a combo-since you are building a cabinet I would get the 12".
They are a pretty efficient speaker-I recorded a before & after sound clip with the same settings and same guitar-there was probably 25 to 30% more output and the sound was much more high fidelity.
Koj-dogg helped me find this speaker-he researched and tried quite a few speakers for his own recording set-up-he's a great guy!

 

[WhiteStrat]

Good to know. Thanks Tony!

 

[antichef]

I have the head - still stock. It's on my project list

I picked up a slant vertical 2x12 sovtek cab running at 8 ohms - I was thinking I liked the 16 ohm sound better, so I put two 8 ohm Weber signatures in it (8 ohm speakers, in series). Sounds pretty good, but now I'm realizing I want to experiment some more. I like the sound through my old 1960A 4x12 cab that has the stock 75 watt celestions in it.

I'll be interested to hear what you think of the VJR - it sounds too dark for most of my guitars, but I've got one that's really bright, and it sounds nice.

 

[soundchaser59]

.......I'm considering getting the Eminence Cannabis Rex. Anybody used that with the VJ head?

Actually, yes I have!

This is a good choice, as is any high efficiency speaker. The higher the rating the better, at least 100. I would think you would get a lot more bite and clarity out of it if you go for the ones that have lighterweight magnets.

http://www.eminence.com/guitar.asp?speaker_size=12

If I were doing this project, that Tonker Lite would be especially attractive. Too bad they dont make a Swamp Thang Lite!

I dont know if Celestion has any decent speakers with a rating of 100 or better. Maybe the Hot 100? That amp also sounds really good thru a low power Weber Blue Dog.

Of course, I should qualify this by saying I did these experiments AFTER I had already done every mod in the book (except the tone stack) to my VJ head. The OT mod being the most important one.....

 

[kojdogg]

I had two EVJ's that I ran with this speaker in a variety of cabs:
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=274402

It sounded really good with this, and also with Celestion Greenbacks (and WGS Green Beret), a different V30, some other Vintage 30 clone (can't remember the name right now... it sounded good though), Weber Blue Dog and Silver Bell ceramics-- all sounded good with different characteristics of course. The only speaker I didn't like was the Emi Tonker.

 

[soundchaser59]

The only speaker I didn't like was the Emi Tonker.

Yeah, I would think that oversize magnet would give the VJ a huffing puffing hard time. But the Tonker Lite only has a 4 oz magnet, I think? The VJ would love that. Normally I really respect the Tonker, but it needs a good bit of power before it starts sounding good. Swamp Thang is the same way.....

But the CRex is easily my favorite top 2 or 3 Eminence speakers ever......

 

[mrface2112]

I too have a stock VJr and I run it through this cab that i built.

It's solid pine and it's got a 10 and a 12 in it (old tweed bandmaster style). I bought the baffle from Mojo Musical Supply (already cut and grilleclothed) for $25 and built the cab around it.

The speakers in it are an Eminence Copperhead (10) and Red Fang (12). Let's just say that the VJr sounds pretty great through it! Well, at least as great as a VJr's going to sound.


cheers,
wade

 

[Gear_Junky]

I too have a stock VJr and I run it through this cab that i built.

It's solid pine and it's got a 10 and a 12 in it (old tweed bandmaster style).

i apologize in advance for hijacking the thread, but I am curious about the mixed 10-12 cab. I've never heard/seen this and always thought that identical (matched) speakers sound best. What would be the practical effect? 10" = clarity/definition and 12" - "beef" and body? How do you go about selecting the specific speakers? Thanks.

 

[scrubs]

Actually, yes I have!

This is a good choice, as is any high efficiency speaker. The higher the rating the better, at least 100. I would think you would get a lot more bite and clarity out of it if you go for the ones that have lighterweight magnets.

http://www.eminence.com/guitar.asp?speaker_size=12

If I were doing this project, that Tonker Lite would be especially attractive. Too bad they dont make a Swamp Thang Lite!

I dont know if Celestion has any decent speakers with a rating of 100 or better. Maybe the Hot 100? That amp also sounds really good thru a low power Weber Blue Dog.

Of course, I should qualify this by saying I did these experiments AFTER I had already done every mod in the book (except the tone stack) to my VJ head. The OT mod being the most important one.....

Thanks!

 

[Anfontan]

I too have a stock VJr and I run it through this cab that i built.

It's solid pine and it's got a 10 and a 12 in it (old tweed bandmaster style). I bought the baffle from Mojo Musical Supply (already cut and grilleclothed) for $25 and built the cab around it.

The speakers in it are an Eminence Copperhead (10) and Red Fang (12). Let's just say that the VJr sounds pretty great through it! Well, at least as great as a VJr's going to sound.


cheers,
wade

Thats a great job on that cabinet, the blond tolex and the vintage hardware make it look like new old stock from the early 60's!

i apologize in advance for hijacking the thread, but I am curious about the mixed 10-12 cab. I've never heard/seen this and always thought that identical (matched) speakers sound best. What would be the practical effect? 10" = clarity/definition and 12" - "beef" and body? How do you go about selecting the specific speakers? Thanks.

The first tube amp I bought when I was a teenager was a Magnatone with a 12" and a 5 x 7" oval speaker. The sound was pretty bad I think, mostly due to my playing in those days though....

Here are the specs of the amp.........
9 tubes and 1 transistor, 3-position tonal color switch for each of the two channels, 2 inputs, 1-high, 1-low gain, Stereo input between the 2 channels, Channels have individual volume and tone control and mellow-normal-bright switch, 12" speaker and oval midrange 5"x7" speaker. Reverb and vibrato controls. The original listed price in 1962 was $299.95
Dimensions: 10.5" wide, 18.5" high, 23.250 long, Approx. Wt. 40 lbs.
Approx. 25 Watts

 

[mrface2112]

I am curious about the mixed 10-12 cab. I've never heard/seen this and always thought that identical (matched) speakers sound best. What would be the practical effect? 10" = clarity/definition and 12" - "beef" and body? How do you go about selecting the specific speakers? Thanks.

You pretty much nailed it--the 10in Copperhead is a very "american" sounding speaker--think "classic blackface Fender" tone. Tons of midrange clarity and punch. The Red Fang is essentially their take on the Celestion Blue--it's got a LOT of low end response and jangly/sparkly high end, but there's not a whole lot of mids.

So in this case, the two speakers complement each other quite well and provide what the other doesn't.

I selected the speakers b/c i had a Copperhead in my '65 Princeton and a Red Fang in a 1x12 cabinet i built. I started using the 1x12 cabinet as an extension cabinet for the Princeton when I needed more volume and was stunned at how good the two speakers sounded together.

So when I saw the baffle for sale at Mojo for far less than I could build one, I jumped on it b/c I figured the two speakers in a cabinet together would be quite nice. I was right.

I've always preferred complimentary speakers in my multi-speaker cabinets, just b/c i haven't found a single speaker that has all of the qualities I'm looking for. I've found that if you want low-end oomph, you typically sacrifice midrange clarity, etc.

Thats a great job on that cabinet, the blond tolex and the vintage hardware make it look like new old stock from the early 60's!

Thanks muchly! That early 60's look was the goal. Since the oxblood w/gold grill cloth was already installed on the baffle, I figured I could go either blond or tweed, and i don't really dig tweed too much (and it's a LOT more expensive than tolex!). I'm in the process of building a matching head cabinet for my modified '74 VibroChamp. I think a 6W mini-piggyback "Vibromaster" would be COOL.

Here's a couple more pics--one of the hardware detail and one "family photo".


cheers,
wade

 

[TWANGthang]

I've got an unlabelled eminence in my modded vj.
I built the amp around that speaker.. then tried a couple of others.
Including a nice 12" weber Sig12 alnico w.bell which I now have on ebay.
Turns out that speaker just didn't fit my mods.
For instance I cut my lows on this head, to get rid of flab and boominess, and this weber hasn't got the same lows as the one I used to mod it.
Rather than change my tone in the amp again, I just went back to the original speaker and I'm gonna keep it.

Warehouse sound is not so cheap anymore, by the way. 45.00 plus shipping.

So modders beware.. there can be a big difference between the stock speaker, which I sold off as not adequate, and others you choose!

TWANG