Slippery Jack
Tele-Meister
I've got a Celestion Alnico Blue and I love the tone and it's easily loud enough to compete with a loud drummer. It's not cheap, though.
Louder Speaker for 5E3 tweed deluxe?
- Thread starter backalleyblues
- Start date
Bear in mind too that speakers need a break in period.....most sound better after they've been played regularly for a few months at some volume...if you can listen to a number of well used speakers of different makes it'll tell you more about tone than new ones out of the box.....I'd look at efficiency first and then narrow down the manufacturer after that
Celestion Creamback (which I used as a "playing" speaker in my 5D3) - or just call or email Thom at Tone Tubby, tell him what amp and a little about your playing(i.e. light or heavy attack, big chords, partials or a lot of laying out/playing fills & solos) and what style(s) you play at what volume level and let him make a recommendation; I've gone that route with a blonde Twin, Princeton Reverb and a couple other amps and he's never failed to come up with the right match...and not automatically the most expensive things he makes.
randomhitz
Tele-Meister
Eminence Cannabis Rex. Popular speaker 102 DB
blues bondsman
Tele-Afflicted
I went the Weber 12A125A in my 5E3 build and it can keep up with any drummer and sounds excellent too.
Keep in mind that a good clean boost is your friend. I use the "Spark"
echuta13
TDPRI Member
Many of the Eminence speakers are 100db+ efficiency. There's a good chance that you could get a 6db+ bump by going that route.
Love my Jupiter 12LA in my Tungsten 5D3. 100db sensitivity and sounds glorious. Def loud enough when playing with drummers (unless you play your amp clean, then you really need an extension cab or more watts or a quieter drummer).
G12H30 anniversary is my second favorite in that amp, and has approx same apparent volume as the 12LA.
G12H30 anniversary is my second favorite in that amp, and has approx same apparent volume as the 12LA.
Dr. Bill
Tele-Afflicted
I've found that the Weber Signature ribbed-cone ceramic works really well in a 5E3--it has a lot more guts than the low-wattage alnicos, but it still sounds like a 5E3. What I didn't want was a bass-heavy speaker because the 5E3 circuit is already rather dark. Quite inexpensive as well. That's what I have in mine.
I can't vouch for how much louder it is, but the Eminence GA SC59 is way more to spec than the Jensen and the tone is fabulous. Designed and engineered by George Alessandro in collaboration with Eminence. Check with Eminence.
echuta13
TDPRI Member
The GA-SC59 has a 100db efficiency which is pretty good. I had a 12" Red Fang once upon a time and it was a great sounding speaker so the GA-SC59 may be a good (albeit expensive) choice.
Another speaker to look at might be the Warehouse speakers G12C/S which comes in around 99.5db efficiency. I haven't bought one of these yet... but I want to.
Another speaker to look at might be the Warehouse speakers G12C/S which comes in around 99.5db efficiency. I haven't bought one of these yet... but I want to.
JustABluesGuy
Friend of Leo's
One option you might want to consider is one of Eminence’s MDM technology speakers. Their efficiency can be adjusted from 92.5to 98.7 dB. They both sound great, though I think I like the Reignmaker a bit more.
They can offer a surprising amount increase or reduction in volume. It does have a large magnet as well as the added MDM housing, so it’s probably not going to fit. Mine is in an extension cabinet.
They can offer a surprising amount increase or reduction in volume. It does have a large magnet as well as the added MDM housing, so it’s probably not going to fit. Mine is in an extension cabinet.
68silverw/black
TDPRI Member
Celestion Blue Alnico sounds great in mine. 100 db sensitivity makes it pretty loud. It can handle way more than 15W.
barsinister
TDPRI Member
i have gb128--works beautiful in 5e3--celestion blue-the cadillac! mojotone bv-30 h sounds to my ear very close to a celestion blue and great highs..all 100 db or so..these amps all go to work..
I recently purchased a used Tone Tubby Purple Haze to try out in my brown Deluxe. While it sounded good, it wasn't what I was looking for in that amp. I decide to try it in my '59 Ampeg Mercury (think 5E9-A Tremolux) where it sounds great. I believe the Purple Haze will match up quite well with most cathode biased tweed based circuits. It made the amp louder and tighter, with more clarity and definition.
old wrench
Friend of Leo's
The 12A125A is what I use in my home-made tweed Deluxe and it does sound pretty loud, but it also sounds just right with the Deluxe circuitry - it sounds better with that circuit than other good Celestion, WGS, and JBL speakers I've tried with it.
If I wanted more and louder of the same, I think I'd try a 12A150A - same cone design but a larger voice coil and a lot bigger magnet
I'd think that if you have a tweed Deluxe, you want it to sound like a tweed Deluxe - some of those other speakers I've tried with it changed the tone to the point where it didn't sound like a real 5E3 anymore - but that's the nice thing about experimenting with different speakers - you can find what you like best
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SamClemons
Poster Extraordinaire
I will make a suggestion no one has made yet. If you have the capability of stacking it with a second speaker cabinet a speaker output, that will give you more ump or even a second amp. Run two amps. Good excuse for another build project. Back in my rock band days, unmiked...a deluxe would have not been loud enough. Twin...super...marshal... I have ran a deluxe reverb with a JBL dimed where it was not loud enough for the room and that is pretty loud. It did sound glorious though.
Kansas
TDPRI Member
My secret is to add a 1 12” extension speaker cabinet like the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe extension. If you sit your combo on top of it that enhances horizontal dispersion of your sound. You’ll get a bigger presence without having a beamy blasting little combo that isn’t going to get the job done regardless of what speaker is in it. It really does make a ton of difference and isn’t that expensive. If you don’t need it one night leave it at home.
Arfage
Tele-Holic
Probably not what you're interested in but I don't care for Jensens of any year or type. I'd say get a Celestion Vintage 30. I prefer Greenbacks but I use more powerful amps than you and either a 2x12 or 4x12 cab. A 65 watt speaker will make a 20 watt amp louder, I know from experience. And the Vintage 30, though not my particular favorite, is a great sounding speaker.
