10” Speaker-68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb

Hossius Maximus

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Hello, I just purchased a near mint 2013 - 2018, 35w ‘68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb for $840 (I expected to pay $1,000-$1,250 plus shipping). With the money I saved, I am going to upgrade the two Ten-30 Celestion speakers. I’m looking for sparkly/chime high and tight low under 6lb each. I play rock/country/pop punk. I have never made a speaker upgrade so I would very much appreciate some advice.
Thank you.
 

schmee

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Some of those in the older versions had Jensen RI P10R's in them. Not a fan of that speaker myself but I did hear one live that sounded very good. Sparkely for sure. Not sure the low end might be wimpy though, but sounded good on that one.

The Emi GA SC64 10 comes to mind.
Weber 10F125 might be good.
 

68goldtop

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Hi!
Hello, I just purchased a near mint 2013 - 2018, 35w ‘68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb for $840
Congrats on your find 👍

Some of those in the older versions had Jensen RI P10R's in them...
No, I don't think so... the current "´68" Custom Vibrolux came/comes with the Celestion Ten 30.
I think they were released in 2014 and are still in production.
The older "Custom Vibrolux" (mid-90´s until sometime in the 2010´s) came with Eminence AlNiCos (early) or Jensen P10Rs (from 2000 or so onwards).

The Jensen P10Rs will definitely match the criteria of "sparkly/chime high and tight low under 6lb each" 😉

cheers - 68.
 

schmee

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Hi!

Congrats on your find 👍


No, I don't think so... the "´68" Custom Vibrolux came/comes with the Celestion Ten 30.
I think they were released in 2014 and are still in production.
The older "Custom Vibrolux" (mid-90´s until sometime in the 2010´s) came with Eminence AlNiCos (early) or Jensen P10Rs (from 2000 or so onwards).

The Jensen P10Rs will definitely match the criteria of "sparkly/chime high and tight low under 6lb each" 😉

cheers - 68.
Yes, I was talking of the Custom Vibrolux. But still the tone comment is the main point.
 

TwoBear

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A couple/few thoughts off the top of my head that I hope may help-
what about two different speakers to complement each other. Outfront, I like to think of it as two singers in unison.
If you’re recording, you can mix them or choose.

Back when I used to gig, I took a, I think it was a black face cream knob, Vibroluxe, probably late 90s or early 2000s? I think they were only made a couple years, was there one designed by some amp guy? I think they came stock w/a pair of blues?

I had borrowed it from our store-that amp sounded beautiful, right out of the gate, barely any knob twiddling, and the guy I was playing with had a Beautiful collection of Vibro’s, SR’s, & Pro’s both BF & Tweed. I remember he complimented me on it before I could even say anything.

I don’t know much about those blue frame 10” speakers, but I can’t think of anything that I played that had them that didn’t sound good.

I have to admit, I don’t know how helpful it is relating a color of frame to sound of a speaker! I apologize it’s almost like telling somebody to ‘play more green’ ha?

I mean, I doubt they work with everything but they seem to work in fender circuits about 40/45watts & under.

I had some good luck with Weber speakers, and I think they may be having a sale right now, I bought some alNico’s years ago and they were much cheaper.
 

gridlock

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I recently put these in my ‘73 Vibrolux. In my opinion, there is not a better speaker for a BF or SF Fender amp.

I’ve had both the 10” and 12” Alessandro’s in a bunch of SF and BF Fender amps. I’ve always got great comments on my tone with these speakers.

05F01142-CE1B-4C99-B7B3-928E2B7830E1.jpeg
 

TwoBear

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Hi!

Congrats on your find 👍


No, I don't think so... the current "´68" Custom Vibrolux came/comes with the Celestion Ten 30.
I think they were released in 2014 and are still in production.
The older "Custom Vibrolux" (mid-90´s until sometime in the 2010´s) came with Eminence AlNiCos (early) or Jensen P10Rs (from 2000 or so onwards).

The Jensen P10Rs will definitely match the criteria of "sparkly/chime high and tight low under 6lb each" 😉

cheers - 68.
I think that VL I played did say custom, possibly in a much smaller font? Black face with cream knobs, in a limited production run, designed by some particular amp guy? I’m pretty sure the one I played came stock with blue frame 10”speakers, and it sounded like an old friend!

Well, to be a little clearer, an old friend that had taken care of their self …sounded great!
 

39martind18

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When I found a non-functioning 1979 VR in a pawnshop about 1.5 years ago, I originally installed a pair of period-correct JBL K110s in it. The sound was killer, but the weight of the JBLs was more than my 72-year-old back and arthritic hands could tolerate. Instead, I installed a pair of Jensen Neo Tornado Jet 100 watt speakers. These have the sparkle and chime the VR delivers, along with tight, focused lows, at a weight of about 7 lb for the pair. These kept the overall weight of the VR down in manageable range. They're somewhat pricey, but well worth the cost, IMHO.
 

Lowspeid

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Hello, I just purchased a near mint 2013 - 2018, 35w ‘68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb for $840 (I expected to pay $1,000-$1,250 plus shipping). With the money I saved, I am going to upgrade the two Ten-30 Celestion speakers. I’m looking for sparkly/chime high and tight low under 6lb each. I play rock/country/pop punk. I have never made a speaker upgrade so I would very much appreciate some advice.
Thank you.
I just bought one as well, but had to swap out the microphonic power tubes right out of the gate.

I have a reissue C10R in my ‘75 Princeton reverb and it sounds absolutely perfect. Chime, detail, and plenty of bass without losing the definition. In the CVR the bass would be even tighter.If I put new speakers in my CVR it’ll be the C10R. I’ve spent big money on “boutique” speakers, but have yet to find a Jensen reissue that I didn’t prefer over every other speaker in a Fender amp. Marshall and Vox is a different story. But for Fender amps, and my ears, the Jensen reissue are “the Fender sound” (and it doesn’t hurt that they are reasonably priced).
 

Tony65x55

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I dropped a pair of Jensen p10R alnicos into my 68 Custom Vibrolux and was absolutely astounded. It went from being ok to being in my top three.

I have a lot of amps (76) ranging from beautiful oldies (1961 Vibrolux, 1961 Bassman) to modern boutique babies (matchless, Tone King, Carr and more.) I don't say this to brag but simply to let you know I know what decent amps sound like.

Small gigs - Fender Princeton Reverb - gigs where I need a great feed to the FOH - Tonemaster PR or DR - outdoors, Bassman or Tone Master Super Reverb. Everything else= 68 Custom Vibrolux with two P10Rs.

I have since changed the speakers in my 1967 Vibrolux Reverb to the P10R and have a pair acquired for a new 2x10" cab for my 1961 Bassman. If I had to whittle my collection down to just three that Vibrolux would be in the keeper pile, GREAT amp.
 

Maguchi

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Hello, I just purchased a near mint 2013 - 2018, 35w ‘68 Custom Vibrolux Reverb for $840 (I expected to pay $1,000-$1,250 plus shipping). With the money I saved, I am going to upgrade the two Ten-30 Celestion speakers. I’m looking for sparkly/chime high and tight low under 6lb each. I play rock/country/pop punk. I have never made a speaker upgrade so I would very much appreciate some advice.
Thank you.
Eminence GA10-SC64. Got one in my Princeton and it's the bomb 💣!

20221213_180924.jpg
 
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InstantCoffeeBlue

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I am open to two different speakers to complement each other if anyone else has suggestions on a good combination.

Eminence Legend 1058 + Eminence Legend 1028k would be perfect.

Emi GA10-SC64 + Emi GA-SC59 if you want the upgrade version.

Pretty much any combination of any of those speakers will be wonderful.
 
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Lowspeid

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Thank you, Lowspeid.
What tubes did you purchase?

@Hossius Maximus I was able to pick up a set of run-of-the-mill EHX 6l6s from Viva Tubes. I’ve always liked the sound of EHX over JJ. To me they sound more “musical” and a bit tighter than JJ; more like the RCAs that were in the vintage blackface and silverface amps I’ve owned or played on. They seem to last a long time as well, and seem less prone to microphonics. I also put a EHX 12ax7 in V1, and new EHX 7025 in V2.
 
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