Princeton Reverb speaker recommendation?

Chip McConnell · Post by **Chip McConnell** » 17 Feb 2008 10:06 pm

I need to replace the speaker in my silverface princeton reverb. In this case that would be a 12" speaker (which the baffle currently accommodates). This is primarily a guitar amp. I tend towards a cleaner tone and would be interested in headroom with warmth versus overdriven small-amp crunch. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 18 Feb 2008 12:39 am

Sometimes you can find the Eminence speakers that Fender uses nowadays (they say fender on them) for cheap used. Those are actually pretty nice, warm sounding speakers. I've got a 15" of the sort that is my favorite speaker ever.

I once played a Princeton Reverb that had a speaker made from marijuana!

It was also an eminence. I think it was called a Cannabis Rex (hahahaha).

It was a little dark, but very sweet sounding. I actually got to A/B it with a Jensen or something and it compared favorably.

Don't take it to Nevada. You can do serious time there!

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 18 Feb 2008 7:08 am

Try the Red Fang 10" in a Princeton. These are very, very sweet sounding alnico magnet speakers with a "British" flavored cone. I'm familiar with the 12", and I understand that the 10" is very similar. These are some of the nicest sounding new speakers. Brighter and clearer than the Tone Tubby Hempcones. What's real nice with these is that the midrange is somewhat relaxed, and the top end isn't ice-picky like the alnico Jensens. The Red Fang is one of the nicest new speakers out there, at least for guitar, maybe not steel. They are not high power speakers.

http://www.loudspeakersplus.com/html/red_coat.html

Brad

Rex Wiseman · Post by **Rex Wiseman** » 18 Feb 2008 7:54 pm

I recently replaced the speaker (also a 12" speaker) in my '68 Princeton with a JBL and it sounds like a baby "Twin"!! Goodness !! That thing will absolutely eat your pants legs off !! I used it in the studio the other day (volume on 3) and it sounded great.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 20 Feb 2008 7:39 am

I was fortunate enough to score a JBL D-110 for my Princeton. It's like a mini D-112 or D-130. Little metal dustcap. Sounds like the JBL's so many of us love. It's truly amazing in my '68 Princeton. Good luck finding one though.

Brad

Rex Wiseman · Post by **Rex Wiseman** » 20 Feb 2008 9:02 am

Hello Brad,
Man I gotta tell you, that Rev Preamp is amazing. Without a doubt the best one I've ever used - NO EXCEPTIONS. Thanks for a wonderful product.

Rex Wiseman

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 20 Feb 2008 9:30 am

Chip, I'm not sure if my suggestion will help. My best friend and amp tech is a PR freak. He's built several for guitar players around Cleveland. He does the Stokes Mod, Allen transformers, and some other internal mods. The amps are all between 20 and 22 watts. All with 12" speakers. They're quite loud, and have the wonderful Fender reverb and vibrato circuits (no roach). So, therein lies the difference.
My tech put in one of those Eminence speakers with the hemp cone. He says he's never takin' it out! But he likes a little grittier sound.
I have a Celestion G12H80 in mine, and I love it. Sweet and clear, with no speaker distortion. I'm a finger-picker who likes a very clean sound even if I'm playin' blues, and it fills the bill! It's always in the shop to test new Performance Steel Guitars.

Chip McConnell · Post by **Chip McConnell** » 22 Feb 2008 6:03 pm

Hey thanks for the responses guys. Looks like 2 votes for the contraband speaker. I think I'll give it a try if I can find one locally.

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 22 Feb 2008 7:16 pm

Dude, it's the "green" sound!

Terry Lovett · Post by **Terry Lovett** » 24 Feb 2008 11:53 am

Check out the Eminence Governor or the Celestion Vintage 30 for 6-string guitar.

http://www.mojomusicalsupply.com/speake ... s=Eminence

http://cgi.ebay.com/EMINENCE-THE-GOVERN ... dZViewItem

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 24 Feb 2008 6:18 pm

I have a Lil' Texas in my DRRI and it's quite nice, but I've really been thinking of trying out the Jensen Neo.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 25 Feb 2008 5:23 am

Chip, have a tech do the Stokes mod. It's easy and not expensive. This will boost your amp from it's current 10/11 watts up to around 20 watts. More like a Deluxe Reverb. That will give you much more clean headroom. Get the tech to bias your power tubes for clean, but warm sound. Should be quite inexpensive. Less than an hour of his time. Best to have him put in an adjustable bias pot. I suggest you get on the phone to a tech, and ask him, "How much?"

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 25 Feb 2008 9:31 pm

I like Celestions in some cases, but not in a Princeton or Deluxe.

For clean with a little edge, a Weber Chicago; another favorite is the standard CTS ceramic.

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 27 Feb 2008 7:22 am

Jensen Neo10 sounds good in my silverface Princeton.

Jon A. Ross · Post by **Jon A. Ross** » 3 Mar 2008 11:12 pm

JBL D-120 in my PR. Doubles the headroom (and the weight!).