VHT Special 6 Ultra combo Speaker swap.

[blues bondsman]

I posted this on the owners club for the amp but it didn't show up in the feed ???

Any way I found this old Peavey Alnico 12" 8 ohm speaker on Reverb.com for sale and thought why not.

So I pulled the old chrome back and installed this sweet old alnico.(see pictures).
I mad a way nicer and longer speaker cable, removed the screen from the back and now she is sporting a new tone.

With the one additional speaker jack in the back I can also plug in my 8 ohm extension cab, set the impedance switch to 4 ohms and jam away.

 

[blues bondsman]

Way sweeter Mids, a lot more sparkle and plenty of bottom end.

The efficiency is obviously less with the alnico as it probably lost 15% of its volume.

It makes up for it in tone !

 

[bender66]

What didnt you like about the Chromeback?

 

[blues bondsman]

What didnt you like about the Chromeback?

I really like the chrome back honestly.
It's only issue is that it is a little dark and punchy (somewhat percussive) which is not what most folks want in a six watt tube amp.

I was going to sell it off, I may put it back and put the alnico in the extension cab

 

[bender66]

I really like the chrome back honestly.
It's only issue is that it is a little dark and punchy (somewhat percussive) which is not what most folks want in a six watt tube amp.

I was going to sell it off, I may put it back and put the alnico in the extension cab

I have that speaker in a gutted vht combo. I ran a head thru it but yes it sounded rather dark but I figured it was the mismatched ohms. I'm putting a 18w chinese Marshall board in there.

Thanks for the info.

 

[blues bondsman]

After some more playing I have found that at higher volumes the Alnico gets too flabby for my taste.
I'm guessing that I've always known that I like blackface sound more than a Tweed tone.

I might be wrong but I'm thinking what I want is a C-Rex in this amp.

I would love to hear from anyone who has tried the Cannabis Rex in a VHT Special 6 Ultra.

It will round out the treble response and be more punchy than the alnico but less stiff than the Chrome back.

Makes me wonder how the chromeback would sound in a bigger amp (higher wattage) as it sounds best with some grit in my opinion.

 

[grim83]

I have that speaker in a gutted vht combo. I ran a head thru it but yes it sounded rather dark but I figured it was the mismatched ohms. I'm putting a 18w chinese Marshall board in there.

Thanks for the info.

18w chinese board? You have my attention, any details you can share?

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[bettyseldest]

I have that speaker in a gutted vht combo. I ran a head thru it but yes it sounded rather dark but I figured it was the mismatched ohms. I'm putting a 18w chinese Marshall board in there.

KLD PVA18H?

 

[bender66]

KLD PVA18H?

I got the KLD 18HR.

 

[blues bondsman]

You gentlemen might want to start your own thread.
Slightly rude.
Thank you

 

[grim83]

You gentlemen might want to start your own thread.
Slightly rude.
Thank you

You are correct, i apologize i meant to send him a pm and wasnt paying attention. He just happened to peak my interest

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[grim83]

Back on topic, that does look interesting and i bet it sounds just as good. Wonder what amp that speaker was robbed from.

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[blues bondsman]

Back on topic, that does look interesting and i bet it sounds just as good. Wonder what amp that speaker was robbed from.

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Good question, If I'm reading it correctly it is a 1976 model.
That is one stout magnet on there.

 

[bender66]

My apologies. As I thought my initial question was born from the speaker he removed I thought it was appropriate to ask here. Doesn't make sense to start a thread to ask the same question, but I'll honor your wishes & remove myself from this discussion.

 

[blues bondsman]

Follow up on the speaker swap.
The big old chrome VHT has returned to the amp.
I lost so much punch with that alnico that the change was too dramatic.

I only wish it was 8 ohms and then my extension cab would work great using the 4 ohm setting.
My OCD doesn't want me to mismatch LOL

If I ever swap out again it will probably be an American voiced ceramic like a 12F150 from weber.

 

[telel6s]

If I ever swap out again it will probably be an American voiced ceramic like a 12F150 from weber.

I run a VHT Special 6 into a Weber 15F125A and think it sounds great. Not exactly apples-to-apples with the 12F150 but both speakers are in the same ballpark.

 

[blues bondsman]

I run a VHT Special 6 into a Weber 15F125A and think it sounds great. Not exactly apples-to-apples with the 12F150 but both speakers are in the same ballpark.

\

Wow a 15" ceramic !
I really thought the Alnico was going to be the ticket and it lost so much volume it was weird.
Probably just a super low efficiency issue.
If I had a lot of extra cash to throw around I would try a Weber 12A125A , The Speaker that the guys at Weber suggest for a Deluxe Reverb.
Having used those on other amps before and the ten inch version in two Super reverbs, I already know that they are efficient and sound excellent.

 

[blues bondsman]

I should preface this next thought by saying I only plug into the Ultra side and then balance out the volume and the Ultra pots for over all volume and grit.
I also have my Route 66 Compressor on (always) and that has a HUGE clean boost !

The one thing I have found with this amp is that it has a sweet spot on both of the volume controls, (volume and Ultra) that have to be passed.
Both bloom at about 26% or slightly past 9:00 on the dial.
if either are below that setting the amp sounds flat and is probably where most complaints about these amps come from.
Once past those marks the amp is full sounding and has so much character.

So as a strictly Bedroom amp I'm not sure it qualifies, even at half power (my personal setting 90% of the time) the amp needs to open up a bit to sound great.

With My Baja Telecaster on the #3 position (neck only) I can get the sounds I want.
Swampy Louisiana Blues with the perfect amount of bite !

I also have a Donner Boost Killer on my board.
Its set at the lowest possible gain and yet takes the rig to sweet ZZ Top land LOL !

 

[telel6s]

\
Wow a 15" ceramic !

I had originally gotten that speaker to use with a 5E3 clone where I wanted the speaker to stay a bit tighter, especially when the 5E3 was getting pushed. Plus it was cheaper than an alnico.

I think the link below is public (if you have a FB account). This is Tele straight into the amp plus a comp/boost in a few spots. Only problem is I had the comp on for the opening chords but I missed the button when trying to turn it off for the verses. So the first two verses are a bit more pushed than I meant. There's a lead at about 1:28 and then I did turn off the comp for the final verse at about 1:47 - so that last verse/chorus is just Tele>Cable>Amp. Outro lead on the bridge pickup at 2:25. I'm still messing around to find my favorite settings on the amp, but if I remember correctly I was plugged into the Hi input, power on Hi, Vol @ noon, boost pulled, Tone just a hair over 9:00.

Also, this was recorded on a simple hand-held point & shoot camera with a tiny mono microphone so no the highest sound quality.



No pictures of the speaker:

 

[blues bondsman]

Also, this was recorded on a simple hand-held point & shoot camera with a tiny mono microphone so no the highest sound quality.

You still get the idea that it has a nice full tone.
I'm digging the cabinet too !

PS I still have my Ovation Matrix LOL
I carried that old thing around since high school in the 80's