Jensen C12R and C12N RI opinions please!

hearmytrain · October 16th, 2003, 11:22 PM

I recently got hold of a mid 70s 100W MV Twin Reverb very cheaply...i have removed the master volume, blackfaced it (electrically and front panel...yeah, i know...) but, am not really digging the stock speakers which i think are Pyles...I don't want to put a lot of money into the amp at this point and have been impressed with the Jensen C10R RI speaker that i put in a Princeton Reverb...so, I am thinking of putting a pair of C12Rs into the Twin...i realized that I am not going to get big clean headroom with these speakers but i am looking more for good breakup characteristics at moderate volumes instead of fat, loud piano-tone bottom....anyone with experience with these drivers?
Brad

Ringo · October 16th, 2003, 11:34 PM

I've tried a few of the RI Jensen 12's, and 10's, and personally I didn't like them at all, way too bright, harsh for my tastes! I've had amps with vintage Jensens, and the RIs just don't sound the same at all to me.

Some other speakers that I like are the Reverend Alltone 1250's, Celestion Vintage 30's, Celestion G12H30's, Celestion G12H80 - killer speaker and pretty reasonable too - good clean tone and OD tone too!
And I've had some of the Eminence / Mojotone Alnico 12's and 10's that I thought were great.
I haven't personally tried them but a LOT of folks like the Weber VST speakers, they are priced reasonable too and there are so many options , alnico, ceramic, low wattage, high wattage ....

hearmytrain · October 17th, 2003, 06:59 PM

[quote="Ringo"]I've tried a few of the RI Jensen 12's, and 10's, and personally I didn't like them at all, way too bright, harsh for my tastes!

Hey Ringo...by chance, do you recall if they were the ceramic or the Alnico versions? i actually found the ceramics to be a bit smoother on the top than the Alnicos...again, i don't want to spend more than about $125 for the pair and that eliminates a lot of options...
Brad

Ringo · October 17th, 2003, 08:40 PM

All the Jensen RI's that I tried were ceramic magnet models, the 10's were C10Q's, 12's were C12N and C12K, all were in new condition, the 10's had been treated with acetone to soften up the surrounds, I still didn't like them at all.YMMV but I'd try something other than Jensens.
In comparison, I had some of the alnico magnet Eminence 10's and 12's, they sounded very smooth, good highs and bass.
Another thought, some folks like to mix and match 2 different speakers for a richer tone, that is what I want to do with a Carvin
2 x12 cab that I have.

Tim Swartz · October 18th, 2003, 02:15 AM

C12Rs will smoke in a Twin Reverb. The C12N has got to be my favorite current production speaker. I just demo'd an amp today (WestLabs PicoFire), and had the ability to footswitch between identical cabs w/ a Celestion blue, a Vintage 30, and a C12N (also a Matchless 2x12 and a cab w 2 blues). It was tough to choose, they all sounded great (the amp, of course had something to do with it). But, because the C12N is half the dough of the V30, and a quarter the dough of the blue, it is the hands down winner IMO.

hearmytrain · October 18th, 2003, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Swartz

C12Rs will smoke in a Twin Reverb. The C12N has got to be my favorite current production speaker.

I started another thread about my experiment last night pulling out the speakers in the TR and putting in a Vintage 30 I had lying around...the amp sounded amazing with only the one speaker in there...so, today I am either going to put another Vintage 30 in there or probably try to find a C12N in town and mate that with the Vintage 30...i may be onto something here

Brad

eryque · October 20th, 2003, 12:51 PM

I usually don't like the C12N RI, but once at my favorite shop I was trying out a guitar and I plugged into a DRRI. What came out was the warmest, fullest, smoothest tone I'd ever heard out of a DR. It had a RI C12N installed. Not sure if there were any other changes.

Tim Swartz · October 20th, 2003, 02:10 PM

I can't say enough good things about that speaker. A few years ago I was involved in a shoot-out involving about 20 speakers mounted in identical cabs, with the ability to switch between any 3 on the fly. The 3 speakers I mentioned in the prior post were consistently the top 3.

Tremo · October 20th, 2003, 04:40 PM

I find the C12N RI to be harsh and ice-picky. I don't like it at all. OTOH, the P12N RI sounds quite nice.

oldave · October 21st, 2003, 01:20 AM

I see some different opinions about the new Jensen C12N,so I thought I`d tell you of my experience with my new Lacquered Tweed Blues Jr.
I will eventually get a Jensen alnico magnet 12" speaker or perhaps 2 Jensen 10" alnico magnet speakers to use with my new Blues Jr,but for now this amp is one kickin` little amp!
The Jensen C12N took several hours of fairly loud playing to break in the new "tightness" in the new speaker.I have always found this through the years...early 1960`s to the present,that any new speaker(s) sound much smoother after 10 hours of playing or so.
This speaker sounds very smooth and has a nice "openess".
I just put in some old Mullard *Blackburn*UK. 12AX7`s in V1 & V2 and Wow!!! these tubes sound so good compared to the "Fender" Sovtek tubes.I have a tube checker and these mid 1960`s 12AX7`s check out on all tests at 83% ,no shorts or grid leakage!!!
I would give the new Jensen C12N a 8 out of 10 on my personal scale of great sounding speakers I have used over the 40 years of playing...Jensen,Marsland,Celestion,Oxford.I do love the sound of Alnico magnet speakers as well,but was surprised at the sound of these new speakers.
Thanks for your time....

oldave

Tim Swartz · October 21st, 2003, 11:17 AM

Like most speakers, they are a bit tight and edgey until they get broken in. A variac makes quick work of softening/loosening them up.

hearmytrain · October 25th, 2003, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldave

I just put in some old Mullard *Blackburn*UK. 12AX7`s in V1 & V2 and Wow!!!

Hey Dave, I was wondering if you have tried the JJ/Tesla 12AX7's and how the the compare to the Mullards...
Brad

Paul B · October 25th, 2003, 10:16 PM

Tim

How do you connect the variac ?

How long do you use it for ?

Can it cause damage ?

Any other infor on this ?

Regards

Paul

Tim Swartz · October 26th, 2003, 01:34 AM

I just hook up the leads, put it in a cardboard speaker box, put that box in larger box, and turn it up until it buzzes nicely. Turn it up too much and you will burn up your speaker. I generally let it go for a few hours.

Kingtone · October 26th, 2003, 12:05 PM

We replaced an original C12N in a mid 60s Danelecto DM25 ( just to save it ) and put in a RI C12N. My son Nate plays his JV strat or SG through a tube screamer,and a Vox wah with the amp and guitar volume dimed. The tone is amazing nice tight bottom with smooth grind and sustain.
No icepick tone here, he has about a month and a half of playing time on this rig ( 2-4 hours a day ) and the speaker is doin fine. I'm not sure how the C12N RI will hold up in a 100w twin but at $35.00 a piece its worth a try....... and I think they'll give you the tone your lookin for...

marshallmelloman · October 26th, 2003, 02:26 PM

I've got a mojotone tremolux repro cab with one reverend alltone 1250 and one c12n. You could try a mix like this. The 1250 is a little more dark and gritty and the c12n is a little cleaner and brighter, band they work great together. They are both inexpensive as well. Good luck.

oldave · October 26th, 2003, 03:58 PM

I am soon to order some JJ Tesla tube,as I aslso want to get their EL84`s for my Blues Jr. I want to try the ECC83`s as well.

Good Luck & Good Music

oldave

hearmytrain · October 27th, 2003, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldave

I am soon to order some JJ Tesla tube,as I aslso want to get their EL84`s for my Blues Jr. I want to try the ECC83`s as well.

Good Luck & Good Music

oldave

I recently put a pair of EI El84s in a boogie F-30 and they are amazing tubes...to my ears, the best EL84s I have heard...
Brad

singlecoil · October 28th, 2003, 08:59 AM

I've had a pair in my sftr for over a year now and they hold up very well. It did take quite some time to break in, but when they did they smoothed out just right. Try the JJ preamp tubes, they seem a little darker and the combination of C12n's and JJ12ax7's made my twin sound much better than the stock oxfords, still bright but not harsh, a nice tight low end that holds up no matter what volume, w/ warm mids. now if it was only 50lbs. lighter it would be the perfect amp LOL. btw i use a jd tele w/van zandts as my main axe and a strat w/van zandts blues secondly and untill the speakers broke in , they did sound too bright and harsh. Give'em some time, because they will sound better

October 16th, 2003, 11:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
hearmytrain Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Marietta Ga Posts: 188	Jensen C12R and C12N RI opinions please! I recently got hold of a mid 70s 100W MV Twin Reverb very cheaply...i have removed the master volume, blackfaced it (electrically and front panel...yeah, i know...) but, am not really digging the stock speakers which i think are Pyles...I don't want to put a lot of money into the amp at this point and have been impressed with the Jensen C10R RI speaker that i put in a Princeton Reverb...so, I am thinking of putting a pair of C12Rs into the Twin...i realized that I am not going to get big clean headroom with these speakers but i am looking more for good breakup characteristics at moderate volumes instead of fat, loud piano-tone bottom....anyone with experience with these drivers? Brad

October 16th, 2003, 11:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ringo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 1,913	Jensen RI speakers I've tried a few of the RI Jensen 12's, and 10's, and personally I didn't like them at all, way too bright, harsh for my tastes! I've had amps with vintage Jensens, and the RIs just don't sound the same at all to me. Some other speakers that I like are the Reverend Alltone 1250's, Celestion Vintage 30's, Celestion G12H30's, Celestion G12H80 - killer speaker and pretty reasonable too - good clean tone and OD tone too! And I've had some of the Eminence / Mojotone Alnico 12's and 10's that I thought were great. I haven't personally tried them but a LOT of folks like the Weber VST speakers, they are priced reasonable too and there are so many options , alnico, ceramic, low wattage, high wattage ....

October 17th, 2003, 06:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
hearmytrain Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Marietta Ga Posts: 188	Re: Jensen RI speakers [quote="Ringo"]I've tried a few of the RI Jensen 12's, and 10's, and personally I didn't like them at all, way too bright, harsh for my tastes! Hey Ringo...by chance, do you recall if they were the ceramic or the Alnico versions? i actually found the ceramics to be a bit smoother on the top than the Alnicos...again, i don't want to spend more than about $125 for the pair and that eliminates a lot of options... Brad

October 17th, 2003, 08:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ringo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 1,913	re Jensen RI's All the Jensen RI's that I tried were ceramic magnet models, the 10's were C10Q's, 12's were C12N and C12K, all were in new condition, the 10's had been treated with acetone to soften up the surrounds, I still didn't like them at all.YMMV but I'd try something other than Jensens. In comparison, I had some of the alnico magnet Eminence 10's and 12's, they sounded very smooth, good highs and bass. Another thought, some folks like to mix and match 2 different speakers for a richer tone, that is what I want to do with a Carvin 2 x12 cab that I have.

October 21st, 2003, 01:20 AM	#10 (permalink)
oldave TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 12	Jensen C12N in new Lacquered Tweed Blues Jr...so..sweet soun I see some different opinions about the new Jensen C12N,so I thought I`d tell you of my experience with my new Lacquered Tweed Blues Jr. I will eventually get a Jensen alnico magnet 12" speaker or perhaps 2 Jensen 10" alnico magnet speakers to use with my new Blues Jr,but for now this amp is one kickin` little amp! The Jensen C12N took several hours of fairly loud playing to break in the new "tightness" in the new speaker.I have always found this through the years...early 1960`s to the present,that any new speaker(s) sound much smoother after 10 hours of playing or so. This speaker sounds very smooth and has a nice "openess". I just put in some old Mullard BlackburnUK. 12AX7`s in V1 & V2 and Wow!!! these tubes sound so good compared to the "Fender" Sovtek tubes.I have a tube checker and these mid 1960`s 12AX7`s check out on all tests at 83% ,no shorts or grid leakage!!! I would give the new Jensen C12N a 8 out of 10 on my personal scale of great sounding speakers I have used over the 40 years of playing...Jensen,Marsland,Celestion,Oxford.I do love the sound of Alnico magnet speakers as well,but was surprised at the sound of these new speakers. Thanks for your time.... oldave

October 18th, 2003, 02:15 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tim Swartz Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan - Tweenst the Great Lakes Posts: 1,881	C12Rs will smoke in a Twin Reverb. The C12N has got to be my favorite current production speaker. I just demo'd an amp today (WestLabs PicoFire), and had the ability to footswitch between identical cabs w/ a Celestion blue, a Vintage 30, and a C12N (also a Matchless 2x12 and a cab w 2 blues). It was tough to choose, they all sounded great (the amp, of course had something to do with it). But, because the C12N is half the dough of the V30, and a quarter the dough of the blue, it is the hands down winner IMO.

October 20th, 2003, 12:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,093 44 Photos	I usually don't like the C12N RI, but once at my favorite shop I was trying out a guitar and I plugged into a DRRI. What came out was the warmest, fullest, smoothest tone I'd ever heard out of a DR. It had a RI C12N installed. Not sure if there were any other changes.

October 20th, 2003, 02:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tim Swartz Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan - Tweenst the Great Lakes Posts: 1,881	I can't say enough good things about that speaker. A few years ago I was involved in a shoot-out involving about 20 speakers mounted in identical cabs, with the ability to switch between any 3 on the fly. The 3 speakers I mentioned in the prior post were consistently the top 3.

October 20th, 2003, 04:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tremo Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,740	I find the C12N RI to be harsh and ice-picky. I don't like it at all. OTOH, the P12N RI sounds quite nice.

October 21st, 2003, 11:17 AM	#11 (permalink)
Tim Swartz Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan - Tweenst the Great Lakes Posts: 1,881	Like most speakers, they are a bit tight and edgey until they get broken in. A variac makes quick work of softening/loosening them up.

October 25th, 2003, 10:16 PM	#13 (permalink)
Paul B Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 274	Variac Tim How do you connect the variac ? How long do you use it for ? Can it cause damage ? Any other infor on this ? Regards Paul __________________ Hipbluesman

October 26th, 2003, 01:34 AM	#14 (permalink)
Tim Swartz Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan - Tweenst the Great Lakes Posts: 1,881	I just hook up the leads, put it in a cardboard speaker box, put that box in larger box, and turn it up until it buzzes nicely. Turn it up too much and you will burn up your speaker. I generally let it go for a few hours.

October 26th, 2003, 12:05 PM	#15 (permalink)
Kingtone Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Camillus, NY Age: 50 Posts: 538 5 Photos	Jensen C12N We replaced an original C12N in a mid 60s Danelecto DM25 ( just to save it ) and put in a RI C12N. My son Nate plays his JV strat or SG through a tube screamer,and a Vox wah with the amp and guitar volume dimed. The tone is amazing nice tight bottom with smooth grind and sustain. No icepick tone here, he has about a month and a half of playing time on this rig ( 2-4 hours a day ) and the speaker is doin fine. I'm not sure how the C12N RI will hold up in a 100w twin but at $35.00 a piece its worth a try....... and I think they'll give you the tone your lookin for...

October 26th, 2003, 02:26 PM	#16 (permalink)
marshallmelloman Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 547	I've got a mojotone tremolux repro cab with one reverend alltone 1250 and one c12n. You could try a mix like this. The 1250 is a little more dark and gritty and the c12n is a little cleaner and brighter, band they work great together. They are both inexpensive as well. Good luck.

October 26th, 2003, 03:58 PM	#17 (permalink)
oldave TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 12	Brad: I`m going to order soon "JJ" tubes... I am soon to order some JJ Tesla tube,as I aslso want to get their EL84`s for my Blues Jr. I want to try the ECC83`s as well. Good Luck & Good Music oldave

October 28th, 2003, 08:59 AM	#19 (permalink)
singlecoil Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SE New Mexico Posts: 219	C12N ri I've had a pair in my sftr for over a year now and they hold up very well. It did take quite some time to break in, but when they did they smoothed out just right. Try the JJ preamp tubes, they seem a little darker and the combination of C12n's and JJ12ax7's made my twin sound much better than the stock oxfords, still bright but not harsh, a nice tight low end that holds up no matter what volume, w/ warm mids. now if it was only 50lbs. lighter it would be the perfect amp LOL. btw i use a jd tele w/van zandts as my main axe and a strat w/van zandts blues secondly and untill the speakers broke in , they did sound too bright and harsh. Give'em some time, because they will sound better