problems with new eminence speakers in silverface Vibrolux Reverb

[sandstorm]

A couple of months ago I replaced the original fender oxford speakers in my early 70s vibrolux reverb with one eminence copperhead and one eminence legend 1058. I've always liked the original fender speakers for their warm, balanced (not bassy and not too bright) sound, perfect for jazz, funk and soul, so I was looking for something similar.

Unfortunately these eminence speakers seem to be very bright compared to the old speakers and can't handle my low output mini humbucker equipped jazz box very well. They are ok for duo and trio gigs, but they doesn't seem to cut it in a quartet or quintet situation with a grand piano and or loud sax player. The speakers just farts and beaks up on the low a and e string.

Is there something wrong with these speakers? I've connected the amp to other speakers and the problem has disappeared, so there is nothing wrong with the amp. Are there any other affordable and preferably light weight speakers that would do the job?

 

[Dave Hopping]

Hmmm...have you tried the Eminences with another amp?

 

[Bob Arbogast]

Both the Copperhead and the Legend 105 use a ribbed, seamed cone that is known for having a certain amount of break-up of its own. In my experience this is certainly the case with the Copperhead. You might try the Ragin Cajun instead of the Copperhead.

Bob Arbogast

 

[Hoodster]

......or even the Ramrod--very balanced and smooth, and even though "Brit" style, it is used by Dave Gries in his Blackface style 2x10's (I bought my Ramrod from him, in fact).

.

 

[milocj]

If you think that the Copperhead is bright, don't try the Ramrod. I've used the Copperhead, Ragin' Cajun, and the Ramrod in my Princeton Reverb and the Ramrod was much brighter with a Telecaster. I didn't try the RC and the Copperhead back to back but I recall them being somewhat similar with the Copperhead coming across as a bit rawer.

My buddy used a Rajin' Cajun and Ramrod combination in his VR and it worked really well for classic rock.

You should try plugging the speakers into a different head or combo chassis if you want to rule out a physical problem with those two.

 

[Hoodster]

I've had all 3 and disagree--RR is NOT brighter than CH or RC. Emi's website tone clips support this IMO.

 

[milocj]

The Ramrod only seemed extremely bright with one guitar, an early '70s Tele with stock 1 meg pots. I don't know if the combination of pots and a more midrange oriented British voicing just didn't like each other or what but it was definitely more piercing than with the Ragin' Cajun back in it. I still felt that overall it came across as brighter (or maybe less full) than with the Copperhead or RC with any of my guitars.

With my Teles and a 10" I guess I just prefer the American voiced speakers.

 

[Hoodster]

Emi soundclips here:

(link removed)

.

 

[sandstorm]

I found the problem. I had mistakenly wired the speakers in series instead of parallel. The speakers sound much fuller and louder now without breaking up too easily.

 

[SamBooka]

Helluva impedance mismatch .. 16Ω instead of 4Ω
Would explain many things

 

[muchxs]

Helluva impedance mismatch .. 16Ω instead of 4Ω
Would explain many things

Yeah, ya think?

I thought something was up when I heard, "doesn't sound as good as the Oxfords". ANYTHING sounds better than Oxfords IMHO.

 

[petebradt]

For a Vibrolux, I'd suggest the Fender Blue Alnicos. Warm as can be.