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I'd like to put a speaker in my Princeton Reverb ('79 maybe?) that is better equipped to handle the output from the Benedetto PAF in my Ibanez AF120. I know this is not what Princetons are born to do, but I really don't need the sparkle and breakup and whatever else Princetons are famous for, and I'd like to minimize the humbucker crunch and get back some detail (rather than boom) in the bass frequencies. This amp came with an EV Force 10 when I got it -- and that could take a lot without breaking up -- but it sounded harsh to my ears, with icepick highs. My tech put in an Eminence 1058 -- just what a Princeton calls for, but not really what I need. I'd like a speaker that is musical, has personality, but can also handle lows and hot output without distorting. Any suggestions?? (I already have a Polytone, by the way!)
Thanks!
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12-09-2024 11:18 AM
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The best speaker I have found for my tastes in a Princeton (and indeed many other amps) is the Webers 10A125.
The alnico speaker has a certain squishy thing going on with a lovely, sweet high end and not too much lows.
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celestion gold
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I have a eminence alessandro GA-SC64 In a Princeton that is pretty nice for the money. Mine is a 12 but they do make a 10. The Princeton does break up pretty early on the dial. The GA is a bit more efficient than what you have in there now. That might help. Try to find the most efficient speaker as possible with the sound you like. Easier said than done. Speakers can be a real rabbit hole. Good luck to you!
Last edited by skiboyny; 12-09-2024 at 05:42 PM.
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To put the price tag a little bit lower than for a.m. speakers:
Jensen Tornado
Jupiter LC 10
Both are excellent for clean sounds.
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Fat Jimmy A1060.
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There's what looks to me like a Celestion TN1230 in my '76 that sounds absolutely fantastic with my archtops - classic jazz tone, sweet at the top, just enough mid, and tight bass that's not boomy at all with the bass dialed down to 2 or 3. All my guitars are 7s, and (unlike most guitar amps) the 7th string sounds just like the rest but lower in pitch. It also does a great blues tone and more than a bit o' Dumble with my Zensation pedal from Smokin Amp Co. This was Jazzkritter's amp - it came to me this way and I love it. I wouldn't have put a 12 in it myself, but I'm glad he did.
I love the Jet Tornado Neos too. I have one in my Quilter BlockDock 10 that sounds really nice. Jet neos have similar sonic characteristics to the TN1230 in my Princeton - tight bass, sweet highs, balanced tone.
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I might have tested more speakers in princetons than 99% of guitar players.
Top:
- Celestion Gold - the best speaker for a princeton, hands down. Lots of clarity. Tight, full, not boomy bottom end.
- Jupiter Speakers - they have a lot of good ones with different characters, I think the 10SA and the M10C are best in a princeton. The 10SA gives it a slightly overdriven sound and feel due to the small alnico magnet. The M10C sounds like a vintage jensen C10N.
- Jensen Blackbird 40 - pretty close to vintage jensen p10r/p10q in sound. I'm a big fan.
If you're playing loud the JBL D110F sounds amazing in a princeton. But it needs to be driven to sound good.
Worst:
- Cannabis Rex 10" - good if you want it to sound like the amp is in another room altogether.
A lot of people recommend the a125 series from weber, but to me they sound nasal and sound nothing like a vintage Jensen. If you are looking for the Jensen vibe, Jupiter and even modern Jensens sound way closer.
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I also have the Weber alnico in a Fender Champ 12 that I use with my jazz combo and it sounds great.
Originally Posted by andrew
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Both Jensens, Tornado and Blackbird 40.
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I had a Jensen C10Q in my PR (which I no longer have), and I liked it. It was definitely louder and cleaner than a stock C10R. I friend of mine has a PR with a vintage P10N, and that's even more efficient and clean sounding than the C10Q.
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May I respectfully suggest the possibility that you might just be needing a more powerful amp?
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That's funny. I didn't even read the OP. Agree with this. The eminence legend is pretty efficient (98.7 db), so if that's not enough for you, then maybe OP needs a deluxe a and a 12" speaker. Princetons are a squishy amp. Originally Posted by vernon
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That was my first thought. But the OP's stated quest is for "... a speaker in my Princeton Reverb ('79 maybe?) that is better equipped to handle the output from the Benedetto PAF in my Ibanez AF120". I assumed this meant better able to capture the sonic qualities and range of the pickup, since (assuming it's the Duncan) it's not really a high output pickup. I also assumed that "better equipped" was tacitly followed by "than the speaker in it now". Originally Posted by vernon
A bone stock BF or SF Princeton Reverb is more than able to do justice to a Benedetto PAF. But I've found that speakers (like amps) can favor one guitar over another. The 10" Jet in my BlockDock really brings out the best from my laminated 16" archtop but isn't quite so alive with my carved 17" (even though the carved 17 sounds better overall through it than the laminated 16). My Blu 6 is essentially guitar agnostic and brings out the best from all of my guitars. So the sad truth is that you really have to try a speaker in your amp with your guitar(s) to know if you'll like it and how much.
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Everyone's tastes are different, but for me an Emi Legend sounds great in my '69 PR rig, and an EV10 sounds amazing in my '68 Princeton (non-reverb). Princeton (NR) are wonderful jazz amps, sounding sweet all the way up to 10 on the volume setting!
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If you haven’t already, try plugging into the 2nd input. On Fenders you can think of this as the humbucker input. It reduces the signal level hitting the first pre-amp stage.
I like the Celestion creamback in my Princetons, fwiw.
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I'd agree with this suggestion. An EVM is very neutral sounding. I have two Force 12's in my Twin since blowing my last JBL up the other day. The Force series, the 12's at least, are indeed icepick highs until you beat on 'em with volume at which point they sound great. Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
I have some Paul Franklin PF-350's in my other Twin. They might be something for the OP to look at. Smooth and buttery but the break in time is very long since they are 350 watts each, lol. I just wanted something I couldn't destroy.They would probably work great right out of the box on a low volume amp like a princeton. I actually use that 94lbs beast for my lower volume events cause it sounds great turned down. You could probably save a few bucks by looking at a used Eminence Commonwealth which is the same basic thing as the Paul Franklin but with an aluminum dome and I think 200 watt max power handling.
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And then, you have to choose between the British sounding speakers, like the Celestions and their American imitators (there are quite a few), and the American sounding speakers. Jensen, JBL, and a hundred others in that group, by various manufacturers / vendors.
For Fender-y tones, go American voiced. I have a Weber 12 A 125 for a softer tone, it's not as strong as my Eminence/Allesandro GA SC64. I am going to try an Eminence TonkerLite for a more plump and semi- British tone in my PR ( with a 12"speaker). The TonkerLite sounds great in my Peavey Classic 30 for clean tones.
I think you'd be happy with one if they make a 10" version - it's a combination AM/Brit tone. And I see used ones available for a few bucks less than a new one.
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My Princeton (1968) has a Celestion G10S-50 and sounds excellent for gigging, both with a 335 and archtops. It can hang with a Hammond unmiked trio without problems. Lots of headroom and extremely warm sounding, but without sounding muffled like a Cannabis Rex does, it can do from Scofield to Grant Green easily.
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I liked Celestion Gold in this comparison video:
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