'69 Deluxe Reverb question

[Trigger_Hare]

Hi!

I have a 1969 Deluxe Reverb I got about a year and a half ago I guess, and it has a 70s SRO speaker in it. I find that it makes the amp sound very harsh and unforgiving... I'd like to put something very close to stock into it, but I don't know what was in it in the first place, since the SRO was in it when I got it.

Also, anyone know where I can get new cables for my reverb tank? Thanks in advance.

Trigger

[stantheman]

someone's gonna suggest a Weber, fine speaker, but the best TONE I've ever heard from a Deluxe Reverb was
the one Ceasar Diaz used to bring to Boston, Ceasar SWORE that the only thing he did to it was install a Celestian Vintage 30.
Those SRO's (as You probably know) have quite a cult
following among Twin Reverb owners - before I'd sell it
I'd try a 12AU7 in the first pre-amp bay - works wonders on warming up "cold vintage reissues" too. 8)

[Tim Swartz]

The first preamp tube only affects the normal channel.

Does the SRO have the big coffee can magnet (it is almost touching the back panel on mine)? Or is it one of the later flat ones? If it is the later one, I can understand the harshness. If it is an early one, they are very smooth and you may want to try plugging the amp into an extension speaker to make sure it is a speaker issue and not an amp issue.

[lenny]

the most coveted origianl speakers are jensens. fender used them til if i recall, 1964, then had a dispute of some sort and switched to (commonly regarded as inferior) oxfords in most cases.
they used the jensens again on some amps in the mid 60's and those are the coveted ones for a deluxe reverb "origial" .. i think.
i have a 1971 deluxe reverb with a jensen "vibranto" that i think is either 1970 or 1980 i can't quite figure it out... anyway, it's exceptionally nice sounding, and i've read that they were commonly used to replace the oxfords. they go for reasonalbe prices 2nd hand. i dont know how much you'd pay for an old jenson with an alnico magnet, might be a lot.
for current speakers weber seems to be making some nice ones...
/shrug :)

[Sounds like Roy]

You can get replacement cables for the reverb tank at Antique Electronic Supply (www.tubesandmore.com). The exact original wire mesh soldered to rca plugs are available as well, but sorry I can't remember where I just saw them....

[Robin Nahum]

Originally Posted by Trigger_Hare

I'd like to put something very close to stock into it.....

I'm not an expert in these things and only acquired a DR a couple of weeks ago - a 68. However, one of the things the tech noticed is that the original speaker has been replaced with what looks like a 50W 'vintage' ceramic, in the style of a Weber 12F1xx.

To me, it sounds fine. His view is that this style of replacement speaker is actually a better fit with the DR and that the original speakers sound a bit thin.

Obviously these things are a matter of taste but it might be worth considering that the original speaker may not be the ideal choice.