1x15" or 2x10" Tweed Pro

[Jammin'John]

I just got a Weber 5E5a completed chasis at an estate auction.

It is a low watt,fixed bias,2x6L6 amp.

I want it to be more portable (like a deluxe) than my 2x12" combo's.

I can go 1x15" or 2x10".

I'm guessing that the 2x10" would be louder & tighter.

Would the 1x15" have qualities that are desireable for blues,old country,& rock n roll ?





JJ

 

[JohnnyCrash]

The 5E5-A is very similar to the 5E7 (Bandmaster) or the 5D8 (Twin).

In fact they're practically the same amp.

I built a 5D8 (has an extra preamp tume for one of the channels) head. I built a matching tweed 1x15" cab and used a Jensen reissue P15N AlNiCo speaker.

1. One thing I've noticed is that most folks dislike 2x10"s and prefer 4x10"s. A few do like 2x10"s. I've only experienced 4x10"s myself.

2. The 1x15" AlNiCo is a GREAT speaker. It will not have more bass or "better" bass, contrary to it's having a larger cone. It has a nice midrange and the treble is warm, but still very capable of getting cutting bright if you want it to.

Depending on the sound you're looking for, you can try out the newer neodymium speakers as well. They are super light and will make any amp more portable. Jensen makes some as does Celestion (Celestion's are expen$ive though) and Eminence.

My favorite sounds either come from my Celestion Vintage 30 2x12" cab or my Jensen AlNiCo 15". Very different kinds of sound though. V30s have a honking midrange, P15N's have a nice old school sound... but my 5D8 dimed through the 1x15" can be just as mean as my Marshall through the V30s.

 

[mad dog]

Both formats have their virtues. I use a 1x15 with a tweed pro type sewell, also a 3x10 in my tweed bandmaster type Clark Tyger. Multi-10s have a faster, punchier kind of sound. Very tight bass. The big 15 delivers juicy compression, a real fat sound. Both flavors are essential to me. I have trouble deciding which one to use. I think for tele type guitars, and for 335, the 1x15 is hard to beat. If I'm playing strat I gravitate to multiple 10s.

 

[Rob DiStefano]

I love a good 1x15 - in fact, that's pretty much all I use these dayze - great for any style of music, lotsa fat tones, IMO. VERY pleased with the lightweight 150w Jensen Neomydium 15" driver, too.

 

[telel6s]

Would the 1x15" have qualities that are desireable for blues,old country,& rock n roll ?
JJ

I haven't tried a 2x10 setup, but I can vouch for a 15" sounding great with a tweed 5E3. I've used a Weber 15F125, Weber Chicago ceramic, and a '64 Magnavox/CTS alnico hifi speaker with my 5E3. All three of them sound great. The Chicago gave me enough volume and headroom to gig the amp with a small band with no mics, but it was a bit bland at living room levels. The 15F125 is about the same volume as the Chicago but a bit raunchier and still has life when played at lower volumes. The CTS I bought on a whim from another TDPRI'r and it's a nice smooth sound with well rounded bass...not boomy but does not get farty either. The CTS is definitely quieter than the two Webers.

But all three sound great and I prefer each of them over the Weber P12Q that came with the amp.

 

[Bob Arbogast]

I think 15s are an acquired taste -- a taste I have not yet managed to acquire! To me 15s always seem to have an excess of upper mids. It's the sort of thing that cuts through really well, but it's offensive to my ears. It could be that I just haven't listened to the right 15 yet.

On the other hand, I love the tone of my 2x10 5F4.

Bob Arbogast

 

[Jammin'John]

1x15"

Lotsa LOVE for the 1x15" here !
Not as many speakers to choose from with 15's.
Of course 2x10" will move more air and have the potential for more volume but when I've heard 10's I didn't realy like 'em 'till there were at least 3 of 'em.
A tweed bandmaster & bassman have that big,tight sound.
I don't want to carry one of those.
I already have a couple 2x12" combos.
A nice,more headroom,warm tweed deluxe type amp is what I seek.
I think that I want to have this girl so I can do cathode bias as well as fixed.
Weber makes a 15" Blue Dog that might be very nice in this amp.
So it seems that nobody realy likes 2x10".
Is that safe to say. :?:
If it matters,I play tele's & p-90's.
Would that fact make a 15" a great choice ?

JJ

 

[PhatTele]

A 2x10 version is essentially a Tweed Super. Those are great amps and very portable...about the size of a Deluxe Reverb.

However, if portability is a main concern, I'd opt for a 1x12 using a Weber 12F150 or 12F150T. I bet Mojo or Weber would build you a cabinet with a properly cut opening for that chassis.

I use something similar for gigs...a 5E3 chassis and a 12F150 which is set up with big Allen transformers (w/multitap OT), and a fixed adjustable bias (sort of a compact 5E5). It's a small package that sounds great in small to medium sized clubs (Teles, Strats, and Jaguars).

 

[Jammin'John]

2x10"

I think 15s are an acquired taste -- a taste I have not yet managed to acquire! To me 15s always seem to have an excess of upper mids. It's the sort of thing that cuts through really well, but it's offensive to my ears. It could be that I just haven't listened to the right 15 yet.

On the other hand, I love the tone of my 2x10 5F4.

Bob Arbogast

I am not a fan of the Vintage 30,upper mid spike.
At least in an open back cab........sealed maybe.
There must be some 15" speakers that don't do that.
Weber makes a 15F150 & a 15" Blue Dog that wouldn't do that nasty spike.
What 10's do you play ?

JJ

 

[Jammin'John]

A 2x10 version is essentially a Tweed Super. Those are great amps and very portable...about the size of a Deluxe Reverb.

However, if portability is a main concern, I'd opt for a 1x12 using a Weber 12F150 or 12F150T. I bet Mojo or Weber would build you a cabinet with a properly cut opening for that chassis.

I use something similar for gigs...a 5E3 chassis and a 12F150 which is set up with big Allen transformers (w/multitap OT), and a fixed adjustable bias (sort of a compact 5E5). It's a small package that sounds great in small to medium sized clubs (Teles, Strats, and Jaguars).

I'm lookin' for something different.
I already play a 5F1 w/ceramic Blue Pup,a 5E3 w/12F150,a Brown Deluxe w/ceramic Silver Bell,a 2x5E3 w/ceramic Blue Dog & 1230-55,a LP Twin w/ceramic Blue Dog & Silver Bell !

A 2x10" or a 1x15" would be different 'cause I am used to 12's.
I'm leanin' toward a 1x15".

JJ

 

[jumpnblues]

What JohnnyCrash said, +1, oh yeah, I agree, amen buddy!! I LOVE the Weber 15A150 (P-15N) in my Vicky Tweed Pro. Of all the amp/speaker combinations I've tried over 46 years of playing, it's my fav. Especially for my Tele. Contrary to popular belief they're not bass-y or boomy. For me they have just the right mix of lows, mids and highs. Also goes great with my Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster with Lollar P-90's. The 15" is one of the best kept secrets in "amp-dom".

Tom

 

[Jammin'John]

1x15"

You've never tried the ceramic?
I like ceramics a lot in tweeds.
They stay together longer,have tighter bass,are punchy and LOUD.
Tweeds already compress enough for me.
I don't think that I would want the speaker also compressing.
None of my friends have one that I could try.


JJ

 

[PhatTele]

I had an old Jenson Concert ceramic 15" which I sold recently. It was way too bright and broke up too early. So, I usually stick w/Weber California 15s (Bandmaster Reverb and a sup-ed up Princeton Reverb). They stay clean and warm. I also use a beam blocker and a large dust dome to help disperse the sound. The other 15 I'm familiar with is a JBL that ended up in another sup-ed up Princeton Reverb I built. Great for clean rhythm and small club surf music.

 

[mad dog]

Hey Jammin: I love ceramics in tweeds as well. Have heard Vicky 35115s with vintage Jensen alnicos, and they sounded damn fine. But (at least for me), too much compression and crunch too early. I really like the Weber California paper dome ceramic 15 in my Sewell WC. It's a fine speaker, loud and clear, not w/o warmth. Matches up so well with the gainy, compression rich Sewell. The other favorite for me is Weber 15F150. Heard a smooth coned version of this once in a tweed pro replica ... it's got all that vintage tone and warmth, plus big bass and LOUD. Either one of these would sound rockin in your amp.

 

[Jammin'John]

Big Ben ?

The 15F150 is on my list as is the 15" Blue Dog ceramic.
The Eminence Big Ben gets good reviews even though it is a 225 w speaker.
Weber tells me the Blue Dog is the LOUDEST which is interesting since I will only have around 28 watts with this amp.
I have Blue Dogs in 2 other amps & people seem to like 'em in 5E3's.

JJ

 

[CancerLeoCam]

Weber California AlNiCo 15 by Weber and the RI Jensen P15N are my favs.