Speaker similar to vintage Jensen C12N?

[AndyPanda]

I've got an old Fender branded C12N from the 60's (gold and Maroon label) that really sounds great! I was comparing it against my EVM12L and was surprised that I like the Jensen better and it is surprisingly efficient too.

Curious if anyone knows what are good equivalent speakers available today. I know Jensen still makes a current version but does the modern one sound like the old ones?

 

[schmee]

The Weber C12N, now the 12F150 was designed after that Jensen. I would get 50 watt with the same style dust cap your Jensen has. No dope. to emulate that speaker.
Frankly though, an Emi GA SC64 sounds very close to a well broken in 12F150.

 

[gridlock]

I've got an old Fender branded C12N from the 60's (gold and Maroon label) that really sounds great! I was comparing it against my EVM12L and was surprised that I like the Jensen better and it is surprisingly efficient too.

Curious if anyone knows what are good equivalent speakers available today. I know Jensen still makes a current version but does the modern one sound like the old ones?

Vintage Jensen C12N’s and C10N’s in my opinion, are the holy grail speakers, for vintage Fender amps. I’ve owned both the 10” and 12” vintage Jensen’s in old Fender amps, and I’m sorry I sold the amps, mainly because of the speakers inside.

I like the new Alessandro GA-SC64 and the GA10-SC64 speakers a lot and that I’ve put them in three of my Fender amps. Weber’s version of the C12N is also pretty good.

 

[Dacious]

Vintage Jensen C12N’s and C10N’s in my opinion, are the holy grail speakers, for vintage Fender amps. I’ve owned both the 10” and 12” vintage Jensen’s in old Fender amps, and I’m sorry I sold the amps, mainly because of the speakers inside.

I like the new Alessandro GASC64 and the G10GA-SC64 speakers a lot and that I’ve put them in three of my Fender amps. Weber’s version of the C12N is also pretty good.


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+1 on the Emi. Nothing against the Webers, had several different types and they're great speakers. I have the GA10 and i think Eminence nailed it, small magnet and paper voicecoil former coupled with small vc gap. Not big power handling but really nice articulation and beautiful warmth. Esp in a Fender 6V6 amp.

 

[gridlock]

I literally just installed this 10” Alessandro in my new Vibroverb RI.

 

[AndyPanda]

Anyone try the newer Jensen C12N? I was just guessing that they don't sound as good as the old ones but I've got no experience with a new one so I could be wrong. Between the Emi GA-SC64 and a current Jensen is Emi the way to go?

 

[Dacious]

Anyone try the newer Jensen C12N? I was just guessing that they don't sound as good as the old ones but I've got no experience with a new one so I could be wrong. Between the Emi GA-SC64 and a current Jensen is Emi the way to go?

New 'Jensen' speakers are made by Recoton, a big Italian speaker company. They're not terrible but seem a bit modern although the P10 is pretty decent.

 

[Axis29]

Modern Jensens can sound really good. But, they need to be pounded into submission... It takes a while to break them in. I'm not sure a lot of guys give them a chance.

I had a C12N in my Deluxe Reverb Reissue. It was a great combo as far as I was concerned. I've used a lot fo Jensen 10" speakers, P10R's, C10R's, etc. I've liked them a good deal. I have replaced some, but really only as experiments in most cases. The only time I knew I needed a change, was in my Bassman Reissue. I swapped out one pair of the four with a pair of Eminence 1028ALKs. This took that hint of brittle top end away, which was what I was looking to do. It tightened up the bottom end just enough, as well. But, I like the combo of two Jensens and two Eminence.

I do like almost every Eminence speaker I've tried. I had a 1258 that was a great speaker in Fender circuits. I think that's close to the C12N... Maybe?

 

[Chiogtr4x]

The Weber C12N, now the 12F150 was designed after that Jensen. I would get 50 watt with the same style dust cap your Jensen has. No dope. to emulate that speaker.
Frankly though, an Emi GA SC64 sounds very close to a well broken in 12F150.

I used to own these Weber C-12N's for my old BF Pro Reverb and DR - great loud, well balanced speaker

Later owned a similar ( greater power handling) Eminence Red, White, & Blues- which I thought sounded fantastic too in the DR.
( had to sell the amps- $$!)

 

[theprofessor]

I haven't heard anything that sounded like the vintage C12N I used to have in my Deluxe Reverb. I don't think Eminence makes anything that sounds like it, though some people are of the opinion that the Emi GA-SC64 is similar. I don't think so at all. It has more midrange and more bass and is more efficient. But perhaps one could say it's in the same family and that it's a modern "take."

I have not tried the Weber 12F150, but I have not been overly impressed with the Webers I've used. Not that they're bad, but I have never thought they really replicated the vintage speaker sounds that I was looking for (except their inexpensive Signature Series). Of course, others hear things differently. If I were to give it a shot, I'd do what others have said and try the 12F150 with no dope (if that is still an option), and you'll need to break it in like crazy.

So my answer, at the moment, is: No, there's no modern speaker that really sounds like a vintage C12N -- at least none that I've heard.

 

[schmee]

I used to own these Weber C-12N's for my old BF Pro Reverb and DR - great loud, well balanced speaker

Later owned a similar ( greater power handling) Eminence Red, White, & Blues- which I thought sounded fantastic too in the DR.
( had to sell the amps- $$!)

Yes I also think the R W & B is similar, a little more brash maybe. and yes, the Weber C12n/12F150 is loud. too loud for some things...

 

[schmee]

I haven't heard anything that sounded like the vintage C12N I used to have in my Deluxe Reverb. I don't think Eminence makes anything that sounds like it, though some people are of the opinion that the Emi GA-SC64 is similar. I don't think so at all. It has more midrange and more bass and is more efficient. But perhaps one could say it's in the same family and that it's a modern "take."

I have not tried the Weber 12F150, but I have not been overly impressed with the Webers I've used. Not that they're bad, but I have never thought they really replicated the vintage speaker sounds that I was looking for (except their inexpensive Signature Series). Of course, others hear things differently. If I were to give it a shot, I'd do what others have said and try the 12F150 with no dope (if that is still an option), and you'll need to break it in like crazy.

So my answer, at the moment, is: No, there's no modern speaker that really sounds like a vintage C12N -- at least none that I've heard.

Another interesting thing about the C12N's is, like the Weber's, they can sound very different one to another. I dont know if it's the year, break in or what. Ted Weber told me what was important that he copied about the C12N is the voice coil gap, it's very tight, which is hard to reproduce without issues. IIRC he also said that a certain time frame C12N Jensen are the good ones.
I had two perfect condition Jensen C12N's I got in a Gibson Medalist amp. They were very bright and a bit sterile actually, nothing like some others. I got great money out of them though.
I have GA SC64's in 3 different amps, and I'm not sure what ones you tried, but if anything, the low end is maybe a touch too much! And these are Deluxes and Princetons!

 

[11 Gauge]

I've got an older Weber that's actually labeled as a C12N, with the older, blue, plain looking Ferromax decal. It came in a '79 DR that I used to have, and was just painfully bright. I've since ended up installing it in a few different cabs, but just too bright. If that's what the old Jensen C12s are supposed to sound like, I'll pass.

I haven't tried the GA-SC64, but I do have a pair of GA10-SC64s in my '71 VR. After too many speaker swaps to count, the GA10-SC64s are literally perfect, IMO. Again, IDK if they measure up to what the oldies sound like, but I don't care - they just sound fantastic.

 

[Jsnwhite619]

I've tried the Reissue C12Q and C12K. The Q had no bass at all - even after 30+ hours of break-in - and the K sounded like it had a blanket over it. The SC64 sounds great, but when I tried it, it was actually a dirtier speaker than I expected. Definitely has it's own breakup. Even more for the 10" version.

I do like almost every Eminence speaker I've tried. I had a 1258 that was a great speaker in Fender circuits. I think that's close to the C12N... Maybe?

I think that is supposed to be their Oxford equivalent?? Hence, the blue stickers. But, I love them for a great, clean Fender sound. Big sounding, strong bass, and loud. And a bit scooped for the Fender sound. It sounds great in Tweed amps.

 

[rolandson]

The Jensen's of today are absolutely nothing like the Jensen's of the 60's. Not even close. In a word, the new one's leave a lot to be desired.

I think your best luck will be with Weber, particularly an older Weber. Something changed after Ted went on to new horizons, and not, I'm afraid, for the better.

But ... the older (mine are from the 90's) ceramics sound glorious! Especially after they break in.

 

[stefanhotrod]

I‘m very, very impressed by Warehouse speakers, maybe the G12C comes close?

 

[uriah1]

Ya. Weber has the market on good C12n versions.
(actually the current Italian C12N are not bad)

 

[tah1962]

Another vote for the Eminence GA12SC64’s & GA10SC64’s. I’ve been through dozens of speakers and my search ended when I got these. GA12 is in my 1x12 cabinet, and the GA10 is in my Fender Custom Princeton Reverb.

 

[mad dog]

Several good speakers are in vintage C12N territory. I had a 12F150 for years in a BFDR. Sorta similar, but harder sounding. The old Reverend Alltone 1250 strikes me as a smoother C12N, with more than a touch of greenback. My favorite of all the C12N like speakers is the Warehouse G12C. Using one in a 12+10 cab. Similar tone to the vintage C12N, a bit more filled out, louder. Same warmth. Really good speaker.

 

[Axis29]

I do like almost every Eminence speaker I've tried. I had a 1258 that was a great speaker in Fender circuits. I think that's close to the C12N... Maybe?

I think that is supposed to be their Oxford equivalent?? Hence, the blue stickers. But, I love them for a great, clean Fender sound. Big sounding, strong bass, and loud. And a bit scooped for the Fender sound. It sounds great in Tweed amps.

That could be... I honestly never spent a lot of time on worrying over the speaker. I got it in an amp that got sold away with the stock speaker reinstalled. And, it worked out because I needed a 12" speaker to go with my tweed Twin. It sounded great with the Twin, so, there ya go!