Which 10" speaker for Tweed Princeton 5f2a?

[King Fan]

This has been covered a bit over the years, but I'm looking for a specific sound. It seems you read more about microfarads than basic speaker choices, and while I can replace electric components for very little coin, I'd sort of like to get the right speaker at the start.

I'm looking for a practice / single-family house / front porch tweed tone, as close to vintage as I can get. I'm going to build a 5f2a with a 10" speaker, as lots of people here and elsewhere recommend the 2" upgrade from stock 8s. Let me mention I'll never play noisy clubs or play with a drummer!!! I don't need loud, I don't need a 5e3. But I do want singing cleans with a hint of chime, and I want that singing 'French horn' Derek / Layla tweed breakup.

From what I've read so far, I'm looking hard at Weber 10A100, 10A100T, 10A125, and 10A125-O. Any thoughts which might be the most vintage, inefficient (not loud), and Princeton / Champy, with the right cleans and breakup?

Other speaker suggestions would be welcome, though for theoretical purity I'm not looking as hard at British-style speakers (many people seem to love these in tweeds). I've heard Eminence Legends and WGS Veterans mentioned...

Finally, if someone has time, I'd appreciate a word of advice on shopping for vintage P10Rs, which I understand would be the closest to the factory build. Good idea? Cautions?

 

[muchxs]

Finally, if someone has time, I'd appreciate a word of advice on shopping for vintage P10Rs, which I understand would be the closest to the factory build. Good idea? Cautions?

That's your speaker right there.

Cautions? They tend to be pricey. Start at $100. The more hundred dollar bills you toss on the pile, the easier they are to find. If you find one from an old Bassman with the L.A. fire marshall's sticker the sky's the limit. Seriously.

Silver frames tend to be less expensive. Gold frame versins were used in old Gibsons. Avoid re- cones. Low buck re- cones make these into instant junk.

On the other hand you can buy a used '90s Bassman reissue with the blue frame Eminence alnicos. Again, iconic speakers. They tend to fetch substantial money, considering.

I'd leave the vintage Jensens for those whoi 'need" them to complete a tweed Bassman restoration. Track down an old Eminence alnico with the paper voice coil former. Spend the difference on picks 'n' strings.... maybe buy a few capacitors.

 

[uriah1]

Weber has a few 10's mentioned...I would stick to the higher wattage ceram's for more
chime.., scumback and tone tubby has a few also,,maybe a tad darker

imho only

 

[gridlock]

Weber has a few 10's mentioned...I would stick to the higher wattage ceram's for more
chime.., scumback and tone tubby has a few also,,maybe a tad darker

imho only

I have a Tone Tubby 10" San Raphael in my Vibrolux and like it a lot.

 

[keithb7]

I have a 10A100 in my 5F2A but I never thought of it at chimey. I tend to run my amp volume on 8 to 10 for some bluesy dirt with my Tele. I sometimes roll down the guitar volunme too. Maybe it can be chimey, I don't seem to hear chime. Maybe I'm just not trying to find it. On a positive note, the 10A100 delivers what I am looking for very well.

 

[King Fan]

Thank you all!!! It's clear you speak from experience and expertise. Great info.

Muchxs, the old Eminence alnico you suggest -- you mean the blueframes, or??? Uriah, any way to compare the Webers? Grid, I'll check out the tone Tubbies. Keith, I don't mean BF chime, just Bellbottom Blues. Can you tell me more about how you chose your Weber 10A100, your comparison speakers, etc?

Any other folks have Weber thoughts or insights? Other tweed experience? And how about vintage Rola, CTS, or others?

 

[Jimmy Rocket]

Yes, those blue frames are the bees knees!


Every time I see one for sale I have to fight the urge to stockpile.

 

[alnicopu]

Yes, those blue frames are the bees knees!

Every time I see one for sale I have to fight the urge to stockpile.

I stuck a brand new blue frame 10 I got for 20 bucks from a studio in Atlanta in my Princeton reverb and never looked back. I could have gotten all 4 for 80 but I didn't pull the trigger fast enough. Stockpiling ain't a bad thing when the deals come along.

 

[MadJack]

I've gotten to really like the Weber Signature AlNiCos. I run them in my Greta and Champion 600. They are really nice vintage sounding speakers, especially for the price.

While the Greta is a modern PCB circuit, it's built with a similar circuit as a vintage amp. I started with an AlNiCo Signature 10 (smooth cone) in a Weber X-Cab. The 10 was a bit too warm, so I swapped in a 10S (ribbed cone) for a bit of chime. IMO, it sounds just right with the Greta. At two watts, the Greta just barely has enough grunt to push the speaker into distortion, it does sound wonderful with that distortion, albeit loud for bedroom playing.

I ran this cab with my Champion 600 (right now it has the R19 lift mod, planning on a Boot Hill 5F1 conversion) and it was even a bit more chimey, but not overly so. With the C600, I can get the speaker into that sweet AlNiCo compression/distortion. I built a temporary cab for the Sig 10 and ran it with the C600 and again found it a bit too warm. When I ran this and the Sig 10S together it sounded wonderful. Deep rich lows to a nice hint of chime. I couldn't quite get the two speakers to the breakup point with the Champ.

The speaker in the Champ is an AlNiCo Sig 8. It is definitely richer toned than any 6 or 8 I've heard in them, but it still sounds like an 8" speaker. Not that that is a bad thing, because when pushed close to the maximum output, the distortion sounds really good from it. I'll probably try an AlNiCo 8S sometime soon, but probably not until after I get the 5F1 conversion done.

I do have one of their British Series Speakers, a 10VS with the hemp cone. It's supposed to be the warmest toned 10" British voiced speaker, especially with the hemp cone to smooth the sharpness of the treble. It's still bright, but it has good mid range crunch and deep warm lows for a 10. I run it mainly with my Li'l Night Train NT2H, with the right tube combination, I only need to run the treble just below mid way, about 10:30-11 o'clock. With my single coil bridge p'ups, I have to switch out the C19/bright cap to keep from getting the ice pick-y highs. I give me a really nice bright jangle-y Brit tone.

 

[King Fan]

Thanks again, all, this is great stuff. I wonder if others have thoughts on the original questions, or other speaker suggestions for a 5f2a 10" speaker. Maybe I'm just trying to avoid making a decision, but no one ever died of too much information...

 

[keithb7]

When I was builidng my 5F2A I got a sweet deal on a 30W Weber Silver 10. Then a few days later I found a sweet deal on a 15W Weber 10A100. I finished the amp and tried both speakers. I preferred the 10A100 and sold the silver 10. It just sounded better to me, but that is a personal opinion. Speakers are like steak spice. There are many kids to add flavour to your steak. The steak is still great, but spices add a little something different. No matter
what speakers you choose to compare, you'll still sound like you on the guitar. Just a tiny bit different. Go for it. Buy one, try it for a month, buy another one and change it out. Sell the one you like less. Repeat over and over. You'll find one that will be perfect or you'll stop, and deal with the one you have and learn to love it!

 

[King Fan]

Thanks, Keith, I'll look at the 10A100. Your overall strategy sounds optimal, too. Heck, it's cheaper than buying guitars!!!

 

[TNO]

Weber Sig10s alnico is perfect in that amp. No need to spend more.

 

[Custom Deluxe]

Weber Sig10s alnico is perfect in that amp. No need to spend more.

Maybe for you. I couldn't get that speaker out of my tweed Princeton fast enough. Thin and spiky sounding IMHO.

 

[t-luxe]

Haven't owned a 5F2 circuit in a few years but I don't remember ever finding any "chime" in it. Seems like a contradiction in terms.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I used an Eminence Copperhead in my last 5F2-A build. It sounded great.

 

[darkwaters]

I've got one of these in my PRRI and I love it. Very vintage.

(link removed)

 

[Rod Parsons]

I love my Legand Eminence 1028 K's also...

 

[alnicopu]

I love my Legand Eminence 1028 K's also...

That or Jensen reissue p10q.

 

[Dr. Bill]

Weber Sig10s alnico is perfect in that amp. No need to spend more.

Maybe for you. I couldn't get that speaker out of my tweed Princeton fast enough. Thin and spiky sounding IMHO.

Interesting contrast in perceptions! I wonder if the smooth-cone Sig alnico ten would have more bass response. Anybody tried both?