Vox Mini Super Beetle speaker change

[jandlgoldman]

So, I bought a Vox Mini Super Beetle, and I really like it, but I thought a speaker upgrade woud make it even better. I bought a Celestion Cream Back, and when I tried to pull the original speaker out, after unscrewing it, it seems like it's glued down, and I cannot pull it off. It is really stuck down. Anyone seen this before on this amp or any other Vox? What's the best way to get this speaker out safely? Thanks!!

 

[Dacious]

The odds are the speaker gasket has stuck to the inside baffle of the cabinet if it's rearloaded. Of it's frontloaded the paint on the speaker back probably stuck itself to the baffle.

If you have sun try sticking the cabinet face-up with the grille off for a while. Otherwise gentle application of a heat gun around the rim may do it. Be careful, you just want to reduce adhesion not cook anything like the doping on the surround.

It's probably just glue residue in the MDF reacting with neoprene/plastic in the gasket or paint. If that was tacky when assembled it will do that.

You could also try sliding a paintscraper between gasket and baffle - carefully.

 

[jandlgoldman]

Thanks! I did manage to get it off, I grabbed hold of it and pulled really hard and it popped off. The creamback installed flawlessly, and I got to spend about 5 minutes before work today playing through it. I have to tell you, what a combination. You cannot tell this is not an all tube amp at all. It sounds fantastic and really sings at high volume. I can't wait to get home and play through it some more.

 

[LGOberean]

So you went from "I really like it" to "fantastic" all because of a speaker change. Can you help me quantify that? Say on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being "This speaker just doesn't cut it" to 10 being "Fantastic"? Where would "I really like it" fall on such a scale?

Of course I know that such assessments are subjective. FWIW, I've test driven a MSB four times, so I have somewhat of a basis for my own assessment. I'm just wondering how it compares to your appraisal.

Also, if you're really happy with it (and it sounds to me like you are), I would suggest creating a Vox Mini Super Beetle owners thread over in the Amp Owner Club section of TDPRI. That would have the benefit of consolidating the discussion of the various aspects of this amp in one thread.

 

[Based1245]

A couple of years later, what's the verdict?