Neo 12" speaker for Deluxe or Princeton - high-powered with good mids??

[jimfog]

Looking to knock the weight down on my old SF Deluxe and Princeton Reverbs. I currently have a 12" Red Fang in the PR (with 12" baffle), and a Celestion G12H-80 in the Deluxe. I like that both have fairly thick British mids and do NOT break up, even cranked (not a fan of speaker breakup).

But, I'd like to reduce the weight, and especially in the PR, add some chime.

Any suggestions for a good, high-powered NEO 12"

Thanks!

 

[bblumentritt]

The Eminence Li'l Texas is a good choice. I played through one at the Dallas Guitar Show and was impressed by the sound.

 

[DavidP]

...another big +1 for the Lil Texas; have it in my SFDR.

 

[Coop47]

Another big fan of the Lil Texas in SF Fenders.

 

[telemnemonics]

I bought an Emi Tonkerlight after reading that the Lil Texas was too bright, but it seems it's really the Tonkerlight that's too bright.
I almost like it and love Red Fangs which are pretty darm bright but not as bright at the Emi TL, so I'd say the Lil Texas ought to work well.

I wish there were more neo speaker out with fat Brutish mids, but the market seems slow to embrace neo.

 

[nosuch]

And there are good reasons for that. http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150402-the-worst-place-on-earth

 

[NiceTele]

I've put a pair of Celestion Creamback Neos in my Twin Reverb RI and they sound great- more balanced than the stock Jensens,..and makes the amp lighter! I wouldn't hesitate in putting one in a DR.

 

[telemnemonics]

I've put a pair of Celestion Creamback Neos in my Twin Reverb RI and they sound great- more balanced than the stock Jensens,..and makes the amp lighter! I wouldn't hesitate in putting one in a DR.

Well shoot.
I got excited when I read this post thinking that Celestion had cloned the sound of the "Celestion Cream" (90w alnico), but it seems it's a clone of the "Celestion Creamback" (65w ceramic).
The classic G12M65, reissued as the "Creamback" is a pretty good speaker, but not a favorite of mine, and at $160 it's almost double the price of an Eminence neo.
I actually only have an original G12M65 at home and have played through original cabs loaded with them, but didn't really take the time to dial them in or try them with amps I liked. I consider the 65 to be a more balanced speaker where I love the slightly more aggressive sound of the Gold.

Still might be a great choice for many players though, the 65 is a great speaker in the big picture.

Buy lots of them so there will be some used ones on the market soon!

 

[Bristlehound]

And there are good reasons for that. http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150402-the-worst-place-on-earth

The Colbalt in AlNiCo also has a serious problem.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cobalt...cratic-republic-congo-cbs-news-investigation/

 

[telemnemonics]

And there are good reasons for that. http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150402-the-worst-place-on-earth

The Colbalt in AlNiCo also has a serious problem.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cobalt...cratic-republic-congo-cbs-news-investigation/

With children shooting each other by the dozen while we watch on our dozen video streaming devices per home, we may miss out on the fact that our over use and abuse of the planets resources for our viewing pleasure, may ruin our great grandchildren's lives by the millions.
Carry on!

 

[jimfog]

So......I guess I'm looking at:

Celestion Neo Creamback

Eminence Lil Texas

Jensen Tornado

Can anyone compare and contrast these?

My only concern with the Creamback is, it's only 60 watts, and the sensitivity is quite a bit lower than the others. I kinda need clean headroom. In fact, I'll be occasionally running a Bad Cat Unleash with these amps to up the headroom a bit.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[homesick345]

The Eminence Li'l Texas is a good choice. I played through one at the Dallas Guitar Show and was impressed by the sound.

this

 

[1300 E Valencia]

So......I guess I'm looking at:

Celestion Neo Creamback

Eminence Lil Texas

Jensen Tornado

Can anyone compare and contrast these?

My only concern with the Creamback is, it's only 60 watts, and the sensitivity is quite a bit lower than the others. I kinda need clean headroom. In fact, I'll be occasionally running a Bad Cat Unleash with these amps to up the headroom a bit.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

Thoughts? Sure. I've used a DRRI with all of these:

Celestion Neo Creamback 60 watt
Eminence Lil Texas 100 watt
Jensen Tornado 65 watt

The Jensen is surprisingly darker than the C12K, less bottom end (almost any Neo is going to have a bit less bass), a bit scooped in the mids. In short, very Jensen-like, with a slight taste of built-in breakup around the edges. Not as *BIG* sounding as the C12K, but still Fender all the way.

The Eminence Lil Texas is the one for super-squeaky cleans. Almost EVM 12L, but again, less bass.

I currently gig with the NEO Creamback in my Deluxe Reverb. I was wary of a Celestion in a Fender. but it works just fine, thanks. Really tames the blackface ice-pick. It’s 60 watts - more than enough for a 22 watt amp. I normally play on “5”, but I’ve had it up to “7” and the NEO breaks up nicely.

ALL speakers have some breakup built into them. Celestion is probably the best example.
Of these three speakers, the Celestion Creamback has the most natural breakup, followed by the Jensen, then the Eminence.

For my purposes, the Celestion is the most forgiving, by which I mean it rounds off any sharp edges better than the other two. Mo’ better cleans means less forgiveness.
Anyway, that’s my story. YMMV.

Secondly, attenuators have nothing to do with headroom. All they do is allow you to turn the amp up all the way at a lower overall volume. Nothing to do with headroom. Headroom is where the amp (any amp) starts to distort.

Attenuators let you crank the volume regardless of where the amp starts to distort. Doesn't make the amp distort any earlier or later than without the attenuator. Unless maybe it's a poorly designed attenuator.

For headroom, what matters is the design of the amp.

 

[jimfog]

Secondly, attenuators have nothing to do with headroom. All they do is allow you to turn the amp up all the way at a lower overall volume. Nothing to do with headroom. Headroom is where the amp (any amp) starts to distort.

Attenuators let you crank the volume regardless of where the amp starts to distort. Doesn't make the amp distort any earlier or later than without the attenuator. Unless maybe it's a poorly designed attenuator.

For headroom, what matters is the design of the amp.

Thanks for your response on the speakers. Good perspective.

I'm guessing you don't know what the Unleash does?? In addition to being a more typical attenuator, it also can do the reverse.........feed it the signal from a lower wattage amp, and bump it up to as much as 100 watts.

So, I can run my Deluxe at 3, where it's not breaking up, but get a good bit more actual volume.

The Freyette Power Station does the same thing. They're cool devices......especially if you don't want to haul around a twin.

Anyway........so I'm a bit afraid of blowing a 60 watt speaker.

 

[LudwigvonBirk]

I'd like to reduce the weight, and especially in the PR, add some chime.

Please consider a Mid pot. You can easily wire that sucker to be "stock sound" at 0, and if you up the thing it adds a lot of versatility and volume if you want that. This mod is very well documented and discussed in many threads, and is easy to do and reverse if you don't like it.

 

[uriah1]

I had a Celestion century..Not the vintage, but the original they don't make anymore.
Sounded more like EV or JBl in fenders.. Nice..but way too much power and too much clean.

 

[DavidP]

Please consider a Mid pot. You can easily wire that sucker to be "stock sound" at 0, and if you up the thing it adds a lot of versatility and volume if you want that. This mod is very well documented and discussed in many threads, and is easy to do and reverse if you don't like it.

+1 on this; I've done it to my SFDR with the Lil Texas-- a good pairing!

 

[Joe D.]

I have a Lil Texas, I use it with my Quilter 101.

I've played my Clark 5e3 through it, sounds good with it also.

BTW, it's 125 watts.

 

[bluebirdrad]

I am using the Lil Texas 12" in my 1968 Princeton Reverb. Very happy with the tone. Gigging regularly with the amp. It is the perfect size and weight for the amp. Highly recommended.

 

[Teleguy61]

I have a Celestion G12 Century Vintage (link removed) in a Fender Concert II, and it is an excellent sounding speaker that saves a few pounds.