Original speaker for a 1966 Princeton Reverb... Oxford 10L5?

[staceyz]

I have a 1966 Princeton Reverb, and I'm looking for an original 1966 date coded speaker. I've heard there could be 3 speakers that could be original to the amp, a Fender Branded Jensen, a Fender Branded Oxford 10J4, and a Oxford 10L5. Is this info true? Thanks in advance, (I may have found a 10L5, if that is correct)

 

[PooTwang]

The original 66 PR I own came with a Jensen C10n and Better Coil company power transformer.

 

[Wally]

There have been four speakers identified for BF Prin Rev amps….scroll down….

Dating Fender Amps By Serial Number, Part 3

 

[uriah1]

My buddies original had the oxford ceramic.

 

[staceyz]

Thanks... I read the article posted by Wally, and according to the list, the Oxford 10L5 was one of the original speakers in a Blackface Princeton Reverb, ..and I thought it was just for the Vibrolux..

 

[schmee]

The 10L5 or the Jensen C10N would be the best choice for originality as well as sound.
I've not had an Oxford 10J4 that I liked.

 

[staceyz]

Thanks Schmee...

 

[Suckseeder]

original in my ‘65 Princeton Reverb,good speaker

 

[AlbertaGriff]

My early '68 PR has a 10L5, too.

 

[Powdog]

From the Fender Amp Field Guide:

 

[Wally]

From the Fender Amp Field Guide:
View attachment 1321656

That guide is a useful tool. They drew information for speaker models, comments, and the serial numbers from those ‘Dating Fender Amps’ articles in the link in my first post here above.

 

[68goldtop]

Hi!

That guide is a useful tool...

Yes, it´s a great and very useful site - but it has its "errors", too.

In regards to the OP´s question - I don´t think I ever saw a bf Princeton/Reverb with a Jensen C10R, and the C10N they mentioned is not a C10N, but rather a C10NS. It has a noticeably smaller magnet than a C10N - but it´s a very good-sounding speaker no less.

These Jensens with the brown & gold "Fender"-label didn´t carry the "usual" Jensen-codes (like C10N...), but rather a code with a "C" and 4 digits. The most well-known (in mid-60´s Princetons and Vibroluxes) is the C8306 (if I remember correctly...).

cheers - 68.

 

[Jasonpatrick]

From the Fender Amp Field Guide:
View attachment 1321656

They need to update the rec tube lol

 

[robt57]

My SF had a Weber 10F150T in it when I got it. I got my hands on the 10L and like the tone better. I found the amp was less usable though in a mix with the Oxford VS the Weber. The age of the 10L may alone have had a lot to do with that VS a them 25 year newer Weber I've always thought.

Just one hacks opinion in the sea of opinions.

 

[LostGonzo85]

My SF had a Weber 10F150T in it when I got it. I got my hands on the 10L and like the tone better. I found the amp was less usable though in a mix with the Oxford VS the Weber. The age of the 10L may alone have had a lot to do with that VS a them 25 year newer Weber I've always thought.

Just one hacks opinion in the sea of opinions.

Yeah, the Weber 10F150T is one loud 10". Other speakers might sound more vintage-correct in the studio or at home, but that one is tough to beat on a gig. I know the 10" Oxfords supposedly weren't subjected to the changes the infamous 12" models that earned the "Oxfart" moniker went through with regards to the voice coil gap, but still, I'd expect the tolerances on the Weber to be a lot tighter. The 10J4 seems much more likely to have been what the amp came with, but IMO that speaker's proclivity towards speaker breakup is just too limiting. Good studio trick if that particular raspy/papery/ratty sound that was certainly a staple of 1970s recordings is what you're after; otherwise, not something I'd want.

Original C10N, C1ONS and C10P are all getting wildly expensive, and many of them are either already re-coned or in need of one. Unless a date-matched speaker is the only thing keeping your amp away from being museum-worthy, is it worth it? Lots of great current-production takes on the Jensen C10N out there. The experts will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think technically the C10P is the one you want if it really has to be exactly what would've come in the amp.