Jensen Neo 12 anyone?

fakeplastic · January 16th, 2008, 08:34 PM

Has anyone here had a chance to try this speaker? Neo speakers sound interesting, but it seems like they seem to be very bright speakers. the Celestion G12 Century was way too bright and icepicky/sterile for me.

I want a clear tone that is balanced and has lots of headroom (lighter weight is always a huge plus as well!) thats why I'm interested in the Jensen.

JohnnyCrash · January 16th, 2008, 11:24 PM

I love my Neo 12"

It is clear and relatively uncolored. Its well balanced from top to bottom.

11 Gauge · January 16th, 2008, 11:47 PM

IMO, the Jensen RI's are a huge gamble, but obviously the current owner wants the connection to the original beloved Jensens of decades ago.

Odds are good that you'll like the neos. This is where Jensen shines, IMO, with their modern designs.

I picked up a MOD 12/70 for peanuts, and was reluctantly amazed by it. Slight lower mid bump, clear top end, no icepick, firm bottom without being boomy. Projects well when clean, and keeps it together when overdriven. I know that Jensen developed these for modelling amps, but they don't have true flat frequency response. These things are a great last salvation for "problem amps" that sound boomy, flubby, harsh, or too middy with other speakers.

While the MODs are bricks compared to the neos, they are lighter than most other speakers with the same power ratings. My 12/70 is the lightest 12" that I own. At 50 bucks shipped, it's cheaper than most of the competition's lower end 10's. And you could get a pair for less than most other vendors' single 12, and still have money for lunch...

BoB/335 · January 17th, 2008, 12:36 AM

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...Neodymium/10/1

dangelico603 · January 17th, 2008, 02:08 AM

I have one in my Ampeg Gemini I and I love it. I play mostly jazz and there is no problem with it being overly bright. I would agree that it sounds really clear not really bright or dark. The light weight alone is worth it. It made me keep my Gemini which weighed a freakin' ton with the old speaker.

Rob DiStefano · January 17th, 2008, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyCrash

I love my Neo 12"

It is clear and relatively uncolored. Its well balanced from top to bottom.

+1

I've used a 12" JenNeo and currently I've got a JenNEo 10" for a 5F1 chassis and a JenNeo 15" for a custom 35watt tube amp. They're just as JC described and boy can they take a lickin' and keep on tickin' - the voice coils are 3" and they're rated 100-150watts !!!

Durtdog · January 17th, 2008, 09:10 AM

Rob and others who have tried the Jensen Neo:

How do you think a pair of these would sound in a SF Twin Reverb?

Rob DiStefano · January 17th, 2008, 09:14 AM

I put a pair of JenNeo 10's in a 1964 Vibrolux Reverb - WOW. I think JenNeo speakers will work for just about any amp.

postjob62 · January 17th, 2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durtdog

Rob and others who have tried the Jensen Neo:

How do you think a pair of these would sound in a SF Twin Reverb?

I'm considering this as well and will be interested to hear opinions.

By my calculations they would save appx. 8-9 lbs. over my stock Utahs, of course a lot more if you're running JBL's or the like.

bo · January 17th, 2008, 02:30 PM

I have a Jensen Neo in my Reverend Kingsnake and a pair in a 2x12 cabinet. What Johnny and Rob said is correct. I'd think they'd sound awesome in a Twin (and yeah, definitely help lighten the load).

fakeplastic · February 7th, 2008, 04:07 PM

how do you guys find the highs and upper mids of the jensen neo's? are all neo's usually brighter than regular speakers or just some? I'm hoping the Jensen is a bit more tame.

and since it has a lot of headroom does that mean its a very 'clean' sounding speaker overall? I mean does it still sound nice with a little bit of drive added from a pedal, or is it too hi-fi?

Rob DiStefano · February 7th, 2008, 04:10 PM

IMHO, the JenNeo's are as close to WYSIWYG as you can get with a speaker - meaning, the tone is in yer fingers, guitar and amp, and the JN's don't color the sound.

JohnnyCrash · February 8th, 2008, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 11 Gauge

IMO, the Jensen RI's are a huge gamble

Based on what?

I haven't got a bad "new" Jensen yet. I've currently got FOUR new Jensens (including a 15" a 12" and two different 10"s). Reissues and new models.

They have been getting bad hype on the net and it is a lot of rehashing of somebody else's opinions instead of FIRSTHAND experience. The "cone rubbing" complaints will forever float around with the mob-mentality trash-talk - until you try a few Jensen RI speakers for yourself.

"Huge gamble" is a giant statment. Russian roulette is a "huge gamble."

Don't be afraid of new Jensens and/or their reissues. I get them at wholaesale prices now, and I intend to buy plenty more - based on 100% satisfaction thusfar. Now if I can only find wholesale Eminence and Celestions... I might not stop buying speakers! HAHA

jh45gun · February 8th, 2008, 03:50 AM

It sucks that they do not make a 4 ohm speaker though!

ramseybella · February 8th, 2008, 08:33 AM

Light!!
But to me sound a little strange in the mid to upper range mix.
Like Kiman pickups I loved them at first but just didn’t seem organic sounding.
We mixed them in a 2x10 cab with a ceramic Tone Tubby and it was fantastic sounding, both complemented each other well.

JohnnyCrash · February 8th, 2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramseybella

Light!!
But to me sound a little strange in the mid to upper range mix.
Like Kiman pickups I loved them at first but just didn’t seem organic sounding.
We mixed them in a 2x10 cab with a ceramic Tone Tubby and it was fantastic sounding, both complemented each other well.

The 12" Neo sounded good to me in the top end, but I haven't had a chance to try the 10".

Mixing the two speakers was a good idea!

tdu · February 8th, 2008, 04:24 PM

The 10" is nice too. I have a 1x12 cab with a 12" in it, and there is a 10" in my Reverend Goblin. My Reverend Goblin sounds HUGE for such a tiny amp, and I am sure that speaker is a good chunk of the reason why.

January 16th, 2008, 08:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
fakeplastic TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: teleland Posts: 74	Jensen Neo 12 anyone? Has anyone here had a chance to try this speaker? Neo speakers sound interesting, but it seems like they seem to be very bright speakers. the Celestion G12 Century was way too bright and icepicky/sterile for me. I want a clear tone that is balanced and has lots of headroom (lighter weight is always a huge plus as well!) thats why I'm interested in the Jensen.

January 16th, 2008, 11:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
11 Gauge Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The East Coast Posts: 3,000 10 Photos	IMO, the Jensen RI's are a huge gamble, but obviously the current owner wants the connection to the original beloved Jensens of decades ago. Odds are good that you'll like the neos. This is where Jensen shines, IMO, with their modern designs. I picked up a MOD 12/70 for peanuts, and was reluctantly amazed by it. Slight lower mid bump, clear top end, no icepick, firm bottom without being boomy. Projects well when clean, and keeps it together when overdriven. I know that Jensen developed these for modelling amps, but they don't have true flat frequency response. These things are a great last salvation for "problem amps" that sound boomy, flubby, harsh, or too middy with other speakers. While the MODs are bricks compared to the neos, they are lighter than most other speakers with the same power ratings. My 12/70 is the lightest 12" that I own. At 50 bucks shipped, it's cheaper than most of the competition's lower end 10's. And you could get a pair for less than most other vendors' single 12, and still have money for lunch... __________________

January 17th, 2008, 12:36 AM	#4 (permalink)
BoB/335 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Long Island Posts: 476	http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...Neodymium/10/1 __________________ BoB/335

January 17th, 2008, 02:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
dangelico603 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 187	I have one in my Ampeg Gemini I and I love it. I play mostly jazz and there is no problem with it being overly bright. I would agree that it sounds really clear not really bright or dark. The light weight alone is worth it. It made me keep my Gemini which weighed a freakin' ton with the old speaker. __________________ "Don't just play something, stand there."

January 17th, 2008, 02:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
bo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 1,766	I have a Jensen Neo in my Reverend Kingsnake and a pair in a 2x12 cabinet. What Johnny and Rob said is correct. I'd think they'd sound awesome in a Twin (and yeah, definitely help lighten the load). __________________ www.bourbondynasty.com

January 16th, 2008, 11:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
JohnnyCrash Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lost Angeles and Orange County Posts: 7,128	I love my Neo 12" It is clear and relatively uncolored. Its well balanced from top to bottom.

January 17th, 2008, 09:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
Durtdog Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 3,439	Rob and others who have tried the Jensen Neo: How do you think a pair of these would sound in a SF Twin Reverb?

January 17th, 2008, 09:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 62 Posts: 4,755	I put a pair of JenNeo 10's in a 1964 Vibrolux Reverb - WOW. I think JenNeo speakers will work for just about any amp.

February 7th, 2008, 04:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
fakeplastic TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: teleland Posts: 74	how do you guys find the highs and upper mids of the jensen neo's? are all neo's usually brighter than regular speakers or just some? I'm hoping the Jensen is a bit more tame. and since it has a lot of headroom does that mean its a very 'clean' sounding speaker overall? I mean does it still sound nice with a little bit of drive added from a pedal, or is it too hi-fi?

February 7th, 2008, 04:10 PM	#12 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 62 Posts: 4,755	IMHO, the JenNeo's are as close to WYSIWYG as you can get with a speaker - meaning, the tone is in yer fingers, guitar and amp, and the JN's don't color the sound.

February 8th, 2008, 03:50 AM	#14 (permalink)
jh45gun Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,011	It sucks that they do not make a 4 ohm speaker though!

February 8th, 2008, 08:33 AM	#15 (permalink)
ramseybella Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Santa Fe New Mexico Posts: 1,044 48 Photos	Light!! But to me sound a little strange in the mid to upper range mix. Like Kiman pickups I loved them at first but just didn’t seem organic sounding. We mixed them in a 2x10 cab with a ceramic Tone Tubby and it was fantastic sounding, both complemented each other well.

February 8th, 2008, 04:24 PM	#17 (permalink)
tdu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 32 Posts: 2,431 11 Photos	The 10" is nice too. I have a 1x12 cab with a 12" in it, and there is a 10" in my Reverend Goblin. My Reverend Goblin sounds HUGE for such a tiny amp, and I am sure that speaker is a good chunk of the reason why. __________________ Torn Down Units brand Rock n' Roll My Solo Stuff: