Picking a Set of 10s for a Tweed Bassman

[ice_pick]

I'm eventually going to replace the speakers in my Victoria. Right now it has two Italian made Jensens and a couple ceramics. Tone is good, but I suspect it could be better.

Right now I'm primarily looking at Weber, but I'm open to Eminence as well.

What I want:
-Firm, tight bottom end
-Plenty of midrange
-chimey, musical high end

What I don't want:
-Round, loose, floppy farty bottom end
-Shrill high end

I'm likely using a tele. I must not have a shrill speaker, that's what I'm worried about with the British voiced weber 10. I can't have that round boomy, some call 'warm' or woody(?) bottom end. I also want it to be able handle the low E, none of that harmonic E low end cutoff crap the original Jensens had. As you can tell I'm not really looking for a classic American style speaker, more of a Britishy sound.

This is what I'm thinking:

Weber Signature Series

10A150P (alnico)
Basically their high powered 10 with the Blue Pup cone. I'm thinking maybe two of them, but like I said, I can not do shrill. I'm aware I need to break them in for months. I'd really like to hear some feedback about these.

10A150H (alnico)
Same high powered 10 with a hemp cone, described as "smooth high end". A darker flavor.

So I'll likely include one of each of those, then I'm debating whether I should continue the alnico and weber deal, or toss a British voiced eminence in there, maybe a ceramic or two. I'm sort of the opinion that the speaker material and voice coil construction have more impact than the type of magnet used.

Eminece Red Coat Red Fang 10
Their take on a British 10. I have heard a lot of good about these, but some have called them shrill as well. I'm sort of considering a pair of these if I do take the plunge. Id really like to hear feedback about this speaker too.

Otherwise I may add a Weber 10A150, their sort of vanilla vintage 10.

I would especially like to hear from other Bassman owners.

 

[ice_pick]

Bumps. Nobody likes 10s?

 

[jkrischan]

Weber will break the speakers in for you if you ask them. I personally like the Jensens, but if they arent your cup of tea I would go with 2 weber 10a125s and 2 of their 10f125s

 

[JohnS]

4 blue frame alnico Fender 10" like they used in the original reissue (original reissue? wow, made my head hurt.)

 

[JTM45blues]

Get a different amp.

You want tight low end and a British voice from a classic Tweed circuit? You're looking in the wrong place. Get a Marshall 1987x and cut the bright cap, hook it up to a 4x12 with Scumnico speakers.

I love tweed amps, and play them exclusively, Victorias in particular. I am not a fan of them with Weber speakers and the only Victoria that has a really firm low end is the 80212 (which I also have). The 45410 is a fabulous amp, especially with the broken in Jensen alnicos that come stock. I have used mine for country, rockabilly, rock n roll, roots rock, and blues. It has plenty of low end and a wonderful chimey high end and gloroius swirling 3D cleans.

Another question have you worked on really dialing in your amp? Lowering the bass at higher settings? Blending and jumping channels? Using Normal channel? Where is your Presence and Treble set? Do you have good pickups, and pots in your guitar?

If you want tight low end in a Fender maybe look at a Silverface Twin Reverb? But those are pretty bright to my ears.

I know Victoria amps well, I've been using them since 2004. When dialed in properly they will do almost anything in stock form. Mark Baier has phenomenal ears. I'm sure you do too, so use them and spend time dialing in the amp.

 

[refin]

4 blue frame alnico Fender 10" like they used in the original reissue (original reissue? wow, made my head hurt.)

Yep.In my original Bassman '59, I have the 4-10s that came out of the original issue Blues Deville; these might be the same speakers.Anywho, they sound great.

 

[Minivan Megafun]

I recently replaced the speakers in my Bassman LTD, which comes with the same Jensen P10R's that Victoria uses.

I went with the recommendation of CJ at Weber:
Two 10A125's on the top (8 ohm, 30 watts, light dope)
Two 10F150's on the bottom (8 ohm, 25 watts, light dope)

If you do some searching around for this combo of speakers in a 410 configuration, you'll find that this is a pretty popular option - and with good reason.

The difference between the Webers and Jensens is night and day. The cleans are chimey, warm, and just overall awesome sounding! Seriously, in the gigs I've played with this amp since the swap I have actually been in awe of how awesome my clean tone is. It's the best I've ever heard my own guitars sound.

These speakers also sound great when pushed hard. I found the Jensens would get harsh when driven. The Webers sound great!

Basically, what you asked for here:

What I want:
-Firm, tight bottom end
-Plenty of midrange
-chimey, musical high end

What I don't want:
-Round, loose, floppy farty bottom end
-Shrill high end

The Weber combo I mention above will deliver. Go ahead and email Weber and ask the question and describe the sound you want like you did here. I guarantee they'll recommend a pair of 10A125's and a pair of 10F150's.

 

[ice_pick]

Thanks guys.

I don't think I need a new amp. I have another vintage 4x10 that needs new speakers, so the current ones will move to that amp. I use the Victoria the most so it gets the new set. I'm not having farty issues now, I just don't want a speaker that has that trait.

Right now I run the bass pretty tight, about 3 or 4. The mids pretty high about 8-9/12. The presence and treble I usually adjust to the room. Usually treble ends at about noon and I use my tone knob. I haven't gotten a little jumper cable yet but it's a plan.

I need tight, present bass. I don't need chest thumping bass that you get with a closed back Marshall cab. I don't use any effects, but the heavier distortion will likely come from one.

I have a '62 reissue tele and a les Paul with Duncan's, the guitars pickups are set.

I think I will avoid the doping and break them in myself. Not really an issue.

Still considering a pair of Eminence, they are about the same cost as the webers, ~$175 or so. I may end up with 3 or different speakers, ill mic the one I like the best live and have some flexibility in the studio. That was sort of my idea. I can justify spending that kind of money as like I said, the old speakers aren't going to waste, it'll be like getting two new sets when they arrive.

Does weber have flexibility when choosing basket color? I could ask them, but I was just wondering if anyone else picked a sweet color. Those green and white are a little more fun than the traditional blue.

 

[ice_pick]

Do the 10A150's fit in the top? I know most speakers can't have the basket. Trying to get as much feedback before I call Weber up.

 

[BiggerJohn]

I'd go with Weber's 12A125s.

 

[BiggerJohn]

I'd go with Weber's 12A125s.

 

[Minivan Megafun]

Do the 10A150's fit in the top? I know most speakers can't have the basket. Trying to get as much feedback before I call Weber up.

Can't speak for the Victoria, but if the design is anywhere close to the Bassman LTD then the 150's are unlikely to fit in the top. I'm not sure about the A150's though.

Here's the way CJ from Weber described the tone:

10A125 (30w, light dope) -- smooth sweet high end with nice compression.
10F150 (25w, light dope) -- strong tight low end and great headroom

These two different speakers really compliment each other. I like it so much that I've got the same pair (one of each) in my Vibrolux.

Here's a photo of the speakers installed in my amp. You can see the 10A125 just barely clears the chassis.

image removed

 

[Dukex]

Thanks guys.


Does weber have flexibility when choosing basket color? I could ask them, but I was just wondering if anyone else picked a sweet color. Those green and white are a little more fun than the traditional blue.

Last year I ordered a 10A125 and had a choice of a few colors--can't remember the options but I chose green--maybe it was even vintage green.

 

[Minivan Megafun]

Thanks guys.

Does weber have flexibility when choosing basket color? I could ask them, but I was just wondering if anyone else picked a sweet color. Those green and white are a little more fun than the traditional blue.

Indeed they do. I got mine in gold as per the above photo.

 

[homesick345]

Weber signature 10s, into a Marsh tweed bassman replica. It sounds pretty good imho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee0fc5JDDx0

 

[CyanideJunkie]

The stock Jensen P10Rs actually sound pretty good once they've been broken in nice and proper, mine have about 12 years on them. Nothing shrill or ice-pickey about them at all. Of course if you prefer a smoother response out of the box, you could go for P10Qs or the Eminence Blue Frame Alnicos.

 

[BiggerJohn]

I'd go with Weber's 12A125s.

Oops, don't know how the double post happened, or the typo!

Make that 10A125s.