Oxford Speaker Variations

[guitarjesus]

Ok guys I did this thread with Jensens, now time for Oxfords.

My Super Reverb reissue speakers and I've got some vintage speakers that need recones laying around.

The Fender Amp Field Guide states SR amps came with Oxford 10l6 speakers. So I know the letter designates wattage,
K=25 watts
L=30 watts
M=40 watts
T=45 watts.

But what do the numbers mean? 10L5, 10L6.
And then the hypen and proceeding number,
10L6-1, 10L5-4.

What the hell does this all mean. So 10L5 came in the Vibrolux, 10L6 came in the Super Reverb. Was there actually a difference? Or maybe just for Fender to know which amps to throw these in? These were Fender Special Design afterall (although I have a feeling not designed specially for Fender, marketing gimmicks you know).

Yes, I'm a detail freak. I have 2 C10R's from 1965 and 2 10L5's from 1965, and Gordon Kjellberg says the 10L5 was the best of the 10 inch speakers. So I think I may do a blend of speakers. Not concerned with resell value, just good tones.

Long winded yes, but please help a brother out!

 

[Dacious]

They would likely be variations on cone material and possibly straight vs ribbed. Just because one person says 'best' doesn't mean diddly really. The L5 might have come in pre-reverb Vibeys, the L6 in later amps.

I would choose the best condition tightest, least-apparent wear for a higher wattage amp. The floppy ones might be better in a 5-15 watt combo.

 

[schmee]

Yeah, Oxfords are confusing for sure. I thought the numbers after the dash were issue numbers, so the bigger the number the later the speaker, and there may be differences.... but that could be wrong. The 5's are highly touted.
The 10K5's that look like this 12 are very highly prized. The last pair I saw sell on Ebay a few years ago went for $300+, they are actually ceramic speakers, but have a bell cover like alnicos do.

 

[schmee]

By the way, I had a 68 Pro Reverb 2 years ago and had Orange COunty Speaker rebuild the Oxford 12L's for it. When they came back they were big, clean, and bold with excellent low end. Not what one thinks of for Oxfords, but we have all been listening to 50 year old speakers!

 

[Silverface]

The stock 12K5 in my '66 Deluxe Reverb is a tremendous speaker. I've had pretty good luck with both the K and L series Oxfords with original cones I'm not quite sure why they get slammed - now Utah's OTOH, I've found to be consistently mediocre. Or worse.

 

[guitarjesus]

Straight from Gordon Kjellberg:

Hi Jeff,

The Oxford letters indicate the magnet size and the numbers indicate the voice coil size. Example, 10L5 and 10L6 speakers both have 4 1/2 inch ceramic magnets, but the voice coil size is different with the L5 voice coils being 1.271" and the L6 voice coils being 1.518". Most of the black face Vibrolux and Princeton Reverbs have 10L5 speakers and the silver face amps have 10L6 speakers. Both excellent sounding speakers after reconing.

Best to you,

Gordon

 

[alnicopu]

Best speaker out there, to me, in a Champ is the Oxford 8-ev. Right up there with an original Jensen P8R, S or X.

 

[moosie]

I like some Oxfords, sure. But this is a Super Reverb thread. Why are we not talking about CTS alnicos? Dang, that's a great sound.

 

[guitarjesus]

I like some Oxfords, sure. But this is a Super Reverb thread. Why are we not talking about CTS alnicos? Dang, that's a great sound.

Because people want too much money for them

 

[uriah1]

True