What's a good 10" speaker cab for 4 watt amp?

I've been interested in getting the VOX AC4TV 4 watt combo amp for a while. But, now I'm thinking that maybe it would be a better idea to get the head and a separate speaker cab. This way, in the future, I can get other small watt heads, like the Marshall, or Valve Junior. I'm a bedroom player, using a Valvetronix AD30VT right now. I enjoy being able to play the different amp models and am thinking that I'll probably want to have a small collection of these little tube amp heads that are available. Who knows? Maybe not. But, I think future proofing my purchase by getting the vox head & a speaker cab might be wise. I realize that Vox has a separate speaker cab available for the AC4. But, I'm wondering if there is a more economical option that I could/should consider. Any thoughts?

I say just get the combo. Its only 50 bucks more than the head, and there is no way you will find a cab that nice for 50 bucks.

The combo does have an 16 ohm external speaker output if you want to use it with a different cab.

You can install a 1/4" speaker jack on there if you want to then you can use the speaker with a different head.

I think that's the most bang for your buck right there.

I own one BTW and I love it.

I second just getting the combo - its the best of both worlds. Like you when I got home I connected the AC4 to every combo of speakers you can think of and you know what? I couldnt improve on the tone of the on board 10" in the combo - they really did their research on this one. The little 10" is by far the way to go over the 8" though. I think the head is a big "why bother" because you can run the 10" combo through anything just like a head, but also be blessed with a well thought out on board 10".

You can install a 1/4" speaker jack on there if you want to then you can use the speaker with a different head.

I hadn't thought of that. It makes sense, I guess. Would it be a difficult thing to do? If I added the speaker jack to the back, then I could run another amp head through it, bypassing the "on board" amp"?

I'm getting the head, but mainly cuz I have a sweet 1x10 custom cab gathering dust.

I also prefer the versatility of owning various cabs/heads, although imo Vox screwed the pooch by making this amp 16 ohm only.

Type in "1x10 cab*" on ebay and you find some cool deals, like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1x10-TV-Front-Cab-laquered-Tweed-AlNiCo-speaker_W0QQitemZ270481839997QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH _DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ef9f9577d

I saw a couple of Champs that were converted to head and cabs - baby piggybacks - and thought it was the coolest thing so I thought about doing it to mine.

But the more I thought about it, I realized that with an amp as small as a Champ (or AC4), there is no practical advantage to make it a head: you can use the combo as the 'head'.

And I agree, unless you move up to a Celestion Blue, you're probably not going to improve upon that stock 10" speaker for the modest difference in price.

Build your own.

I've had a couple of 10" combos, and to me they are all you need 90% of the time. When you need more, you probably need more wattage, but at the least, adding an external cab is a good option. But, I'd build a 12" to go with the 10" combo. If you decide to go with something bigger (ampwise) later, the 12" will serve you well. (Look at old Boogie combos with single 12s and wicker grills for inspiration.)

I.

And I agree, unless you move up to a Celestion Blue, you're probably not going to improve upon that stock 10" speaker for the modest difference in price.


Celestion now do the the Gold, which is the Blue's bigger sister, in a 10" size.

http://professional.celestion.com/guitar/products/alnico/detail.asp?ID=33

Er, an 8-in Elac.

Failing that, the 10-in 30 watt Celestion G10-30 Greenback,

one of which I put into my AD30, and imo better than the Classic G12M-25 Greenback, of which I have a pair, and way better than the stock 10-in Vox original.

Don't waste your money of hideously expensive alnico. Long ago and in a distant land, before it became ceramic, the G12M was an alnico too and was the 'high power' successor to the 15W blue one. No, they don't sound the same, but then nor does the gold one.

With a 5W S.E. job the power output to plate dissipation is 1:1, but once you get into AB2 push-pull it can rise to 100:30, i.e. a '17 watt' valve amp wants a 50 watt speaker (less if you don't max the amp out).

I have a Blackstar HT5 head .I got it as its light and I can hook it up to various cabs at sessions ,saving me lugging round a heavy combo .It also has a headphone socket .At home I connect it to a late 70's Peavey SS Backstage 10" speaker still in its amp .I just made an extension speaker lead with a jack one end and spade connectors the other .it just plugs into the Blackstar .It sounds reasonable but I too need a better 10' speaker as it is a bit raspy .It will also improve the Peavey amp I expect.Its not a bad amp if set correctly .I did note Celestion do a tube 10 but not sure if this would actually be an upgrade .Its not very expensive.