Fender Princeton Reverb 68 custom: 10" or 12"?

[Jack Clayton]

I know this is an exhaustively discussed topic, but indulge me once more please.

I've got a 68 custom PRRI coming in the mail. I know many call the reissues inferior, but I've played the 68 many times in shops and I generally like it. That said, while I don't hate the stock celestion speaker, I'm probably gonna swap it out for an aftermarket speaker. Probably a Weber, as they seem to make the most widely agreed upon bang for your buck for fender tone.

I'm debating between sticking with the stock 10" speaker, and getting a 12".

On the one hand, a 12" would theoretically balance out the heavier mids of the 68 custom. It would also add a bit of headroom to an amp which famously breaks up very early.

On the other hand, the heavier mids are part of the charm of this amp, and I could also get a little bonus headroom with a ten incher just by buying something with slightly less efficient output.

Does anyone have specific experience with speaker mods to the 68 custom? Any suggestions on this front? Thanks.

 

[Mark the Moose]

Weber has some good options. WGS G10C. Eminence GA-64 or GA10-64. Celestion g10 gold. All these speakers get plenty of love, so maybe buy them all, break them in, then shoot us a really awesome comparison vid!

 

[Axegrinder77]

10s sand 12s are so different. Get the one you want.

I bought an extension cab and a 12 Greenback and run my 68 into that. Huge difference. Bigger fuller sound.

Nice to have the 10 still in there for occasional situations.

 

[schmee]

More options with 12" it seems to me, but you've already bought the amp right?

 

[gridlock]

I had a ‘68 Custom PR, I loved the stock speaker at lower at home volumes but not so much at higher volumes.
The decision to go with a 10” or 12” speaker depends if you want to mod the cab and keep the amp.

 

[FenderGuy53]

I know this is an exhaustively discussed topic, but indulge me once more please.

I've got a 68 custom PRRI coming in the mail. I know many call the reissues inferior, but I've played the 68 many times in shops and I generally like it. That said, while I don't hate the stock celestion speaker, I'm probably gonna swap it out for an aftermarket speaker. Probably a Weber, as they seem to make the most widely agreed upon bang for your buck for fender tone.

I'm debating between sticking with the stock 10" speaker, and getting a 12".

On the one hand, a 12" would theoretically balance out the heavier mids of the 68 custom. It would also add a bit of headroom to an amp which famously breaks up very early.

On the other hand, the heavier mids are part of the charm of this amp, and I could also get a little bonus headroom with a ten incher just by buying something with slightly less efficient output.

Does anyone have specific experience with speaker mods to the 68 custom? Any suggestions on this front? Thanks.

Sounds like you answered your own question, Jack Clayton.

Moving from a 10" to a 12" speaker in your '68 Custom Princeton Reverb will change its performance and affect its sound, perhaps in unpleasing ways.

If you want to move more air, then consider the '68 Custom Deluxe Reverb, which was designed around a 12" speaker, and costs only $150 +/- more.

My $.02.

 

[Paul G.]

12" speakers sound boxy in the small PR cabinet.

You don't have the amp yet. When your amp comes, play it. Play it a lot. Different volumes, tone settings, etc.

Then make a decision, based on your actual experience.

 

[tarheelbob]

WGS G10C is an incredible pairing with the '68 Princeton Custom.

- Bob

 

[Jack Clayton]

Weber has some good options. WGS G10C. Eminence GA-64 or GA10-64. Celestion g10 gold. All these speakers get plenty of love, so maybe buy them all, break them in, then shoot us a really awesome comparison vid!

Not a bad idea, but if I had that kinda money, I would've likely shot for an original silverface. One thing that attracts me to Weber is their reasonable pricepoint as opposed to the celestion gold, which everyone says great things about, but is nearly twice the money. I may eventually work my way up to it, but I'll see what something lower prices does for me for now.

 

[Jack Clayton]

More options with 12" it seems to me, but you've already bought the amp right?

Yes. Arriving tomorrow.

 

[uriah1]

Ya, play for awhile before you start searching on how to
change baffle for 12. Speaker swap always good too.

 

[8trackmind]

Disregard.

 

[Mark the Moose]

Not a bad idea, but if I had that kinda money, I would've likely shot for an original silverface. One thing that attracts me to Weber is their reasonable pricepoint as opposed to the celestion gold, which everyone says great things about, but is nearly twice the money. I may eventually work my way up to it, but I'll see what something lower prices does for me for now.

Same boat. I look for used speakers on eBay, reverb and craigslist. I’ve played a few 68 custom Princeton’s and thought it was really cool as is.

 

[Jack Clayton]

Same boat. I look for used speakers on eBay, reverb and craigslist. I’ve played a few 68 custom Princeton’s and thought it was really cool as is.

I definitely don't hate all of them as is. And as some have suggested, I'll be sure to play it a fair bit and break in the stock speaker before I jump the gun on a new one. But I've also played one modded 68 custom at the Chicago Music Exchange last year that REALLY blew my hair back. Unfortunately I was in and out on the way to a wedding, and didn't have time to take the proper notes as to what had been done to the thing.

All this to say, they're great stock, but I know they can sound even better.

 

[ProToneThinline]

I run an Emi Ragin Cajun in mine. It's a great speaker for that amp. Personally, I wouldn't bother with trying to put a 12 in there.

 

[mgreene]

I agree with those who say have both - a 12" extension cab. I have both (2 amps) - IMO the 10" is twangier and the 12" is more 3 dimensional (room filling). I like the 10" for everything but I especially like 12" for jazzier things. For a 10" I like the Eminence Copperhead.

 

[schmee]

The Weber 10F150T 50 watt is the go to for that amp. I put one in my neighbors PR and it was like a whole new amp!
I have the GA SC64 12" in mine and it is amazing.

 

[Jack Clayton]

I agree with those who say have both - a 12" extension cab. I have both (2 amps) - IMO the 10" is twangier and the 12" is more 3 dimensional (room filling). I like the 10" for everything but I especially like 12" for jazzier things. For a 10" I like the Eminence Copperhead.

A 12" extension may be a good idea. I'm selling a lot of my other gear, and may end up with this being my only amp, so two speaker options for recording wouldn't suck.

 

[Bluey]

Great Xmas gift that’s for sure !

I was going to do the 12” baffle thing but decided against it after a 40w Alnico G10 Gold trial which I now have my own “15ohm” version on order. Plus I have a good 1x12” extension cab with a 16 ohm V30 for my Marshall.

Yes I know that the 68 Custom is a 8ohm tap & some will say hell will freeze over, however the mismatch won’t overheat the transformer & if there was a side by side tonal comparison on impedance mismatch I doubt you would notice it. On paper yes but to my ears no volume maybe but these speakers are efficient & JJ tubes very forgiving. The speaker jacks on these are wired in parallel ( 8ohm minimum) so with the extension cab it’s optimal 8ohm load. Anyway .. this is my rout & if your not sure don’t but I would encourage you at least try a 40w G10 8ohm.

I noticed some posters on threads complain about how the baffle is stapled & glued or how they had to prise everything apart. Well it’s not it’s a floating baffle with 8 screws that they prob. never noticed. Pics below.

MERRY ROCKIN’ XMAS

 

[Skydog1010]

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