1963 Fender Brown Concert-Speaker suggestions

[chezdeluxe]

A few days ago I picked up a July 1963 Concert 6G12-A (MG tube chart code-TC 2963 and AB 2963 chassis and cab inkstamps) at a local pawnbrokers. The transformers and choke in my amp are all original.
Power transformer for Australian 240V mains supply 606314 125P32B.
Choke 606323 125C1A
Output Transformer Fender with inkstamp 125 A9A.

The original speakers are gone and it was fitted with 2 modern Fender V1030 s. (a 4 ohm load that has caused no apparent problems)

Any suggestions please from folks who have replaced speakers in a 4x10 concert

 

[slider313]

I had a '61 with a set of Eminence 1028k's. They sounded great and kept the vintage American tone.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Want the old school oxford tone (and my favorite for those amps)? Go with 4 warehouse veteran 10"s.

 

[tonejam]

I have Eminence Copperheads in my Fender, and love them to bits.

I'm a Brisbane guy (just outside). Give us the details, chezdeluxe! Which pawnbrokers? and if you don't mind saying, how much?

pics would be nice, too (heaven knows, I don't ask for much.....).

 

[Bob Arbogast]

Nice score! (Will it be going straight to the pool room?)

You could do a lot worse than to add two more V1030s. On the other hand, I now have one V1030 paired with a Celestion Greenback 10 in my Vibrolux Reverb and it's a good combination. I imagine a pair of those with the V1030s would sound great, very Fendery with a little something extra going on in the mids.

 

[Walter Broes]

Depends on the sound you're after. New Jensens get a bad rap for being too bright, but the current Jensen C10Q's actually sound pretty good in a brownface amp, and they're cheap.

 

[chezdeluxe]

.....I'm a Brisbane guy (just outside). Give us the details, chezdeluxe! Which pawnbrokers? and if you don't mind saying, how much?....

Cash Converters Fortitude Valley Au$700

 

[dannyh]

Want the old school oxford tone (and my favorite for those amps)? Go with 4 warehouse veteran 10"s.

This....

Congrats....that's a GREAT amp

 

[chezdeluxe]

Thanks for all the good suggestions guys. You have given me a number of options to consider. Availability and cost of some speakers here in Australia is a factor some of you USA members may not need to worry about.

I just remembered that I have an unused Eminence Ragin Cajun that came to me as part of a deal on a Henriksen Jazzamp a few years ago.

When my tech has checked over the amp I'm thinking of trying the Cajun with the existing two Fender V1030s (2.6 Ohm load) before deciding on final four speakers. Any thoughts on the Ragin Cajun.

 

[tonejam]

Nice to here you can still score a bargain in a Brisbane pawn shop.

 

[uriah1]

Cajin might have more growl than an Old Fender CTS..
Good or bad..depends on what you like..

 

[chezdeluxe]

I just got my 63 concert amp back from my tech John Ratajczyk.
John discovered that the wrong resistor had been installed in the bias circuit when the amp was first built in 63. He said that the amp ran cold and never hit 'the sweet spot' in its entire life because of that manufacturing error. Now it sounds fabulous !

Nice score! (Will it be going straight to the pool room?)

You could do a lot worse than to add two more V1030s. On the other hand, I now have one V1030 paired with a Celestion Greenback 10 in my Vibrolux Reverb and it's a good combination. I imagine a pair of those with the V1030s would sound great, very Fendery with a little something extra going on in the mids.

Bob , I did go with another two V1030s. I'm very happy with how they sound.

 

[Bob Arbogast]

I just got my 63 concert amp back from my tech John Ratajczyk.
John discovered that the wrong resistor had been installed in the bias circuit when the amp was first built in 63. He said that the amp ran cold and never hit 'the sweet spot' in its entire life because of that manufacturing error. Now it sounds fabulous !



Bob , I did go with another two V1030s. I'm very happy with how they sound.

Sounds like you've got yourself a ripper amp there!

 

[archetype]

Sounds like you've got yourself a ripper amp there!

And an outstanding tech who spotted the issue.

 

[chezdeluxe]

Sounds like you've got yourself a ripper amp there!

And an outstanding tech who spotted the issue.

Outstanding is the perfect word to describe John. I have two of his hand wired EL84 powered "Cream Reverb" amps one 15 watts and the other 30 watts and they are superb. They use John's own transformers, have gain and master volume, tank reverb and tremolo and are power switchable to 1/3 1/2 3/4 and 1/1.Speaker loading for 4,8 and 16 ohms.

Details on John's amps here.

http://www.bjamplifiers.com.au/

 

[Silverface]

Want the old school oxford tone (and my favorite for those amps)? Go with 4 warehouse veteran 10"s.

this^^

I have a '62 and heard another with those speakers installed. It was as close to the original Concert tone as I think you could get with replacement speakers...and those amps have the best Fender clean tone ever created IMO. Remember that whatever you get will need 25+ hours of break in.

More important though - have you taken it to a tech to have it checked out? If it hasn't been serviced in the last 8 years or so don't take chances (if you don't know at all I suggest not playing it until it's checked). Every amp off that vintage needs to be checkout and likely serviced.

I rarely see a used one - especially a pawnshop prize - that's been taken care of, and you don't want your new amp to blow a filter cap and take out an original transformer. I always figure somewhere from $150-350 on top of the purchase price (depending on the amp) to have a vintage amp properly serviced. And having it done right away.

 

[chezdeluxe]

.....

More important though - have you taken it to a tech to have it checked out? If it hasn't been serviced in the last 8 years or so don't take chances (if you don't know at all I suggest not playing it until it's checked). Every amp off that vintage needs to be checkout and likely serviced.

I rarely see a used one - especially a pawnshop prize - that's been taken care of, and you don't want your new amp to blow a filter cap and take out an original transformer. I always figure somewhere from $150-350 on top of the purchase price (depending on the amp) to have a vintage amp properly serviced. And having it done right away.

Thanks for the concern Silverface. I have done that (See my posts #12 and #15)

Cheers Gerry