Good all-around Neodymium speaker?

[RaistMagus]

Hello! I'm building a lightweight setup of a 1x12" pine cab (5.5 kg), a Neo speaker (2 kg) and a Vox MV50 Clean amp (1 kg). I will use that amp for Fender cleans / pedal platform. I also have an Orange Rocker 15W head and cab, ideally I'd like to sell the Orange PPC1x12 cab and only keep the lightweight one.

I'm trying to decide what Neo speaker to get, I'm leaning towards the Creamback Neo as it seems to be a good speaker for both Fender cleans (it came in a recent version of the Deluxe Reverb custom I think) as well as for overdriven tones. Am I right in this assumption? Do you think it will work for cleans and heavy distortion?

The other candidate is the Lil' Texas, it is 3-4 dB louder than the Creamback and that's very substantial (smilar to doubling the amp's wattage). But I'm not so sure about its suitability for dirt.

FWIF I will make the cab back adjustable (open/closed).

I've read quite a few forum posts and some safe bet Neo speakers seem to be the Creamback, the Tornado and the Lil' Texas, but if you have other suggestions I'm open.

About my speaker preference, I have owned a Super Reverb with the Alnico speakers that I love, but I didn't like the SRs with the ceramic speakers at all. I've also owned an AC30 with the Alnico Blue speakers but I prefered other AC30s I played with the Greenbacks or some Wharfdale speakers.

 

[ScottTunes]

I have the Eminence Lil Texas in a '64 Blackface Bandmaster 1x12 combo (JDNewell combo cab).

In the studio the Lil T is "missing" something in the "sparkle" department, for clean. But on stage, it's fine. The Bandmaster is kinda bright anyway. So, *I* think it's a good match.

I run the amp clean, and get the dirt from pedals - Timmy Mini mostly. But I sometimes use a Fuzzface (JHW-1) with the whole range - gritty clean-ish to full on Fuzz. The Lil Texas acquits itself well for stage.

I've also driven the Lil Texas with other amps - Brown Vibroluxe, BF Deluxe Rev, Traynor YBA-1, Quilter I45, and Hiwatt 40/20, among others.

I'm not familiar with the Creamback, so can't compare the two.

 

[stormsedge]

I have a Lil’Texas in my Kustom ‘36 Coupe (36w, 6L6 tube). I play mainly at home, but feel it sounds great. The distortion channel on the amp is pretty dark good with this speaker.

 

[uriah1]

I had the original NEO century not vint..that I swore was a JBL..dang good.

I assume their creamback will be also.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

I used a Lil' Texas in my old blonde Blues Jr. for close to 15 years in Classic Rock & Roll, Classic Country, or Blues bands.

I ran amp loud and clean ( with and w,/o OD pedal, depending on gig)
That amp with that speaker, was a 'giant killer!' Full, even-balanced tone

 

[Peegoo]

I've had a Li'l Texas 12 in an extension speaker cab going on around 10 years or so, and it's a peach! Light in weight and sounds great.

Pro Tip: the color of a speaker does not matter

 

[dougstrum]

I've had an MV50 clean for several years now.
To me it sounds best with a speaker that is fairly bright and not to much low end.
I have tried lots of speakers with the MV50 and fender/emi blue frame as well as the emi 10" fender replacement from early 90's sound great with the MV50. I have a 2x10 with blue frames and this cab with a single 10.

Both are super light weight rigs which I use mainly as backup.

I haven't tried a neo cream. I use a neo V type in my 6v6 amp, but bet it would be too boomy with MV50. From what I've read the neo cream is not quite as bright as the V type.
My guess is that the lil' Texas neo would be brighter and work well with the MV50 clean.

 

[Jon S.]

I own a Neo Lil Texas in one amp and a Neo Jensen Tornado in another. The Jensen is the better speaker. I keep the Lil Texas only because the amp its in is a vintage one that requires a 4 ohm speaker.

 

[Wally]

I have been impressed with the Jensen neos I have heard….well balanced to my ear.

 

[RaistMagus]

I own a Neo Lil Texas in one amp and a Neo Jensen Tornado in another. The Jensen is the better speaker. I keep the Lil Texas only because the amp its in is a vintage one that requires a 4 ohm speaker.

That's great info. Which amps are you using with these speakers? How would you describe the differences between the speakers?

 

[RaistMagus]

I've had an MV50 clean for several years now.
To me it sounds best with a speaker that is fairly bright and not to much low end.
I have tried lots of speakers with the MV50 and fender/emi blue frame as well as the emi 10" fender replacement from early 90's sound great with the MV50. I have a 2x10 with blue frames and this cab with a single 10.View attachment 1362945
Both are super light weight rigs which I use mainly as backup.

I haven't tried a neo cream. I use a neo V type in my 6v6 amp, but bet it would be too boomy with MV50. From what I've read the neo cream is not quite as bright as the V type.
My guess is that the lil' Texas neo would be brighter and work well with the MV50 clean.

Very helpful, thanks. I'd like to look up the frequency response of a blue frame speaker and compare it to those of the neo candidates. Do you know of any such blue frame speakers in production with published specs? Is the celestion 12" alnico blue one of them?

 

[dougstrum]

The emi/fender blue frame is a different speaker than the celestion blue.
Eminence made/makes the 1028k, you should be able to find info on the speaker and availability.

They do pair nicely with the MV50 clean and are light weight.

 

[RaistMagus]

The emi/fender blue frame is a different speaker than the celestion blue.
Eminence made/makes the 1028k, you should be able to find info on the speaker and availability.

They do pair nicely with the MV50 clean and are light weight.

I see. I have two of these in my super reveb, I really like their tone.

 

[tomtama]

I've used and liked both the Celestion NEO V-Type and NEO Creamback. Their response curves and efficiency rating are similar. The V-Type is rated at 70w vs 60w for the Creamback.

 

[elpico]

The emi/fender blue frame is a different speaker than the celestion blue.
Eminence made/makes the 1028k, you should be able to find info on the speaker and availability.

They do pair nicely with the MV50 clean and are light weight.

That original blue emi speaker has been unavailable for many years. They've had similar models avaliable that had a more modern construction though. I noticed recently the website says they're reissuing the original this year:

VK1010-20

One of the most celebrated speakers of the 1990s is back and better than ever! Originally introduced in the early Fender Vibro King and Bassman Amplifiers, the legendary Eminence “Blue Frame” speaker has made a triumphant return for 2025! This modern reissue stays true to the design and...

eminence.com

 

[RaistMagus]

I think I'll buy the Vox MV50 clean without a neo speaker to begin with. I'll pair it with my celestion vintage 30 and with the super reverb alnicos and see how I like it. Then I'll be able to make a better-informed decision on the Neo speaker.

 

[dougstrum]

Hey @RaistMagus I ran my MV50 through the
neo V type this morning. It sounds good, I just backed off bass knob.

 

[Telecastoff1]

I recently purchased an Eminence Legend EM12N Neo speaker for a Peavey 112-C cab I had recently purchased. This speaker is Eminence Neo version of the EVM12L speaker. It's an unbelievably lightweight combination, and it sounds so very very close to an EVM12L. I own several EVM12L speakers and this is really a great comparison. I'm pushing this with a DV Mark Little 250M amp head. It sounds very Fendery, punchy and sparkly with my Teles. This is exactly what I was hoping for...and in a very lightweight package. I highly recommend. But YMMV

 

[SnorkelMonkey]

Another vote for the Tornado Classic 100

 

[Tubedrt3000]

The only Neo 12" I have is a Jensen 12" Tornado classic. It's in a 1-12" partially open-back Burriss cab, and makes for a really light rig when paired with my Burriss royal bluesman head. I have another cab just like it that's loaded with a Emi Texas Heat, but if I'm going somewhere, I always grab the neo cab. The Texas Heat is louder, but the Tornado seems fairly balanced and works for what I do. I've run other heads through it as well, including a Morgan Tweed 20 that i play through it often. I wanted a flexible neo 12" and the Tornado just works, and it's 5+ lbs lighter than the Texas Heat.