Top replacement speakers for a CHAMP

jdfoosh357 · February 22nd, 2005, 01:13 PM

I've been looking at a Weber 8A125...what are some other speakers at the top of the list?

pops_staples1 · February 22nd, 2005, 01:40 PM

http://www.usspeaker.com/jensen%20p8R-1.htm

jensen speaker - with an AlNiCo magnet

JBL also worth hearing before you spend

have you thought of maybe using an extension cab with your champ for a bigger sound, instead of upgrading your speaker?

a-ha!?

jdfoosh357 · February 22nd, 2005, 02:23 PM

I like my champ for it's small convenience. But I'd be nice to have a bigger speaker for a fatter sound if I needed it. I'm not familiar with extension cabnets. How do you use them. Is the Champ pushing sound through its own speaker, as well as the cabnet's? How are they wired together, what equipment would I need? I'm trying to save dough. Thanks for the door opener.

Joe-Bob · February 22nd, 2005, 02:26 PM

You would have to unplug the internal speaker, and plug in a 4 ohm extension cab.

jdfoosh357 · February 22nd, 2005, 02:34 PM

Is there anywhere I'd be able to hear aftermarket speakers before I buy them?

Kelsey · February 22nd, 2005, 06:52 PM

I'm looking for an 8" replacement for my Champ, too. Based on my experience with a 10" Weber replacement for my Princeton, I think my first stop will be either the Weber 8A125 or 8F125.

pfeffermj · February 23rd, 2005, 12:25 AM

I have the 8A125 in my SF VibroChamp and it sounds great.

I started out with the Signature Ceramic, but found that I liked the sound of an AlNiCo speaker much better.

That 8A125 is a beast, and you have to be careful installing it because it *can* get in the way of the power tube.

It's worth it though, imo.

--Matt

mk · February 23rd, 2005, 12:33 AM

The Weber 8a125 by a longshot, in my opinion after hearing several speakers in these amps. True to the basic tone of the amp, but bigger, fuller, and doesn't get farty. The ceramics seem a little harsher, with no real upside in an amp this small. The 8a100 if you want even earlier breakup.

Rob DiStefano · February 23rd, 2005, 07:03 AM

Stop looking and just get the Weber 8A125!

moonshiner · February 23rd, 2005, 11:45 AM

Weber 8A125... tis tha shizzle...

jdfoosh357 · February 23rd, 2005, 01:31 PM

I'm going weber thanks for all opinions and for the pressure Rob.

Later,
Foosh

jdfoosh357 · February 23rd, 2005, 01:46 PM

On their website, weber offers a 20watt and a 30watt speaker (8A125). And I have no idea which one to gett? Does one give more headroom than the other?

pops_staples1 · March 5th, 2005, 10:55 AM

all you need is a cab (check out avatar cabs USA) and a new speaker cable (abt $10)

check the impedance of your champ (read the little plate at the back) it is measured in ohms - depicted by a number (usually 8 on fender gear) and an omega sign

get an extension cab with a matching impedance and a speaker cable (not a guitar cord)

never connect a lower number impedance cab, a higher number impedance will work but you lose some power and tone: the matching number is best

your amp should always be switched off when making or breaking speaker connections

disconnect your built in speaker, connect the cab to your amp's output with the speaker cable

only switch on once everything is connected

never switch your amp on without a speaker/cab connected to it or else it will blow

alabubba · March 11th, 2005, 05:10 PM

I had the Jensen RI, was very nice when compared to the Oxford. However, when I finally sprang for the Weber 8A125 I sold the Jensen on eBay and have never looked back. The Weber is definitely at the very top of the food chain.

Kelsey · March 11th, 2005, 05:54 PM

I heard back from Ted Weber re: my questions for the Champ and a couple of other amps. His first recommendation for my SF Champ was the alnico Sig 8S. He said that the 8A125 would be a little better, but that the alnico Sig 8S would be fine enough for a Champ's output. The price is half the 8A125, so he's got me leaning toward the Sig series after all. I like the Ceramic Sig 8S in my Gibson Skylark (aka tweed champ), so the alnico should be very good indeed. I just wish I could hear the difference between it and the 8A125 myself.

yegbert · March 11th, 2005, 09:38 PM

jdfoosh357, I assume your inquiry is about an SF or later BF. Weber has a footnote on their "Vintage Series" saying they won't fit tweed or early BF. The "Signature Series" will fit those earlier Champs. The 8A125 is in the Vintage Series, the Sig 8S mentioned by Kelsey is in the Signature Series.

I don't know when the BF Champs changed in a way that the Vintage Series will fit, but if you have a BF you'll want to check that out to make sure you're not ordering one that won't fit.

I happen to have a tweed Champ, and I was thinking about a Sig 8S for mine.

February 22nd, 2005, 01:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
jdfoosh357 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 566	Top replacement speakers for a CHAMP I've been looking at a Weber 8A125...what are some other speakers at the top of the list?

February 22nd, 2005, 02:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
jdfoosh357 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 566	extension cab....... I like my champ for it's small convenience. But I'd be nice to have a bigger speaker for a fatter sound if I needed it. I'm not familiar with extension cabnets. How do you use them. Is the Champ pushing sound through its own speaker, as well as the cabnet's? How are they wired together, what equipment would I need? I'm trying to save dough. Thanks for the door opener.

February 22nd, 2005, 02:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
Joe-Bob Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 46 Posts: 4,017	Extension cab for champ. You would have to unplug the internal speaker, and plug in a 4 ohm extension cab. __________________ "German is the language God uses when He really means business." --FZ

February 23rd, 2005, 11:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
moonshiner Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Milyucky, Whiskonsin Posts: 2,171	Weber 8A125... tis tha shizzle... __________________ "Everyone's got to be something... Me? I'm stupid... It's all I ever wanted to be... Shock me again!"

February 23rd, 2005, 01:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
jdfoosh357 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 566	I'm convinced........... I'm going weber thanks for all opinions and for the pressure Rob. Later, Foosh

February 22nd, 2005, 01:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
pops_staples1 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: England Posts: 81	http://www.usspeaker.com/jensen%20p8R-1.htm jensen speaker - with an AlNiCo magnet JBL also worth hearing before you spend have you thought of maybe using an extension cab with your champ for a bigger sound, instead of upgrading your speaker? a-ha!?

February 22nd, 2005, 02:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
jdfoosh357 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 566	Is there anywhere I'd be able to hear aftermarket speakers before I buy them?

February 22nd, 2005, 06:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
Kelsey Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 716	I'm looking for an 8" replacement for my Champ, too. Based on my experience with a 10" Weber replacement for my Princeton, I think my first stop will be either the Weber 8A125 or 8F125.

February 23rd, 2005, 12:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
pfeffermj Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 107	I have the 8A125 in my SF VibroChamp and it sounds great. I started out with the Signature Ceramic, but found that I liked the sound of an AlNiCo speaker much better. That 8A125 is a beast, and you have to be careful installing it because it can get in the way of the power tube. It's worth it though, imo. --Matt

February 23rd, 2005, 12:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
mk Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 253	The Weber 8a125 by a longshot, in my opinion after hearing several speakers in these amps. True to the basic tone of the amp, but bigger, fuller, and doesn't get farty. The ceramics seem a little harsher, with no real upside in an amp this small. The 8a100 if you want even earlier breakup.

February 23rd, 2005, 07:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 63 Posts: 4,915	Stop looking and just get the Weber 8A125!

February 23rd, 2005, 01:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
jdfoosh357 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 566	which wattage........ On their website, weber offers a 20watt and a 30watt speaker (8A125). And I have no idea which one to gett? Does one give more headroom than the other?

March 5th, 2005, 10:55 AM	#13 (permalink)
pops_staples1 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: England Posts: 81	connecting a speaker ext. cab all you need is a cab (check out avatar cabs USA) and a new speaker cable (abt $10) check the impedance of your champ (read the little plate at the back) it is measured in ohms - depicted by a number (usually 8 on fender gear) and an omega sign get an extension cab with a matching impedance and a speaker cable (not a guitar cord) never connect a lower number impedance cab, a higher number impedance will work but you lose some power and tone: the matching number is best your amp should always be switched off when making or breaking speaker connections disconnect your built in speaker, connect the cab to your amp's output with the speaker cable only switch on once everything is connected never switch your amp on without a speaker/cab connected to it or else it will blow

March 11th, 2005, 05:10 PM	#14 (permalink)
alabubba Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Alabama Age: 56 Posts: 123	I had the Jensen RI, was very nice when compared to the Oxford. However, when I finally sprang for the Weber 8A125 I sold the Jensen on eBay and have never looked back. The Weber is definitely at the very top of the food chain. __________________ Aint nuthin like a telecaster and a tube amp.

March 11th, 2005, 05:54 PM	#15 (permalink)
Kelsey Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 716	I heard back from Ted Weber re: my questions for the Champ and a couple of other amps. His first recommendation for my SF Champ was the alnico Sig 8S. He said that the 8A125 would be a little better, but that the alnico Sig 8S would be fine enough for a Champ's output. The price is half the 8A125, so he's got me leaning toward the Sig series after all. I like the Ceramic Sig 8S in my Gibson Skylark (aka tweed champ), so the alnico should be very good indeed. I just wish I could hear the difference between it and the 8A125 myself.

March 11th, 2005, 09:38 PM	#16 (permalink)
yegbert Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Clinton, Maryland (US) Age: 54 Posts: 4,989 88 Photos	tweed Champ? jdfoosh357, I assume your inquiry is about an SF or later BF. Weber has a footnote on their "Vintage Series" saying they won't fit tweed or early BF. The "Signature Series" will fit those earlier Champs. The 8A125 is in the Vintage Series, the Sig 8S mentioned by Kelsey is in the Signature Series. I don't know when the BF Champs changed in a way that the Vintage Series will fit, but if you have a BF you'll want to check that out to make sure you're not ordering one that won't fit. I happen to have a tweed Champ, and I was thinking about a Sig 8S for mine.