Tube Amp Archive

I found an old RCA Victor speaker case in an antique shop yesterday. Looks like it was meant for use in movie theaters, or ???. It had a Jensen P12P in it, so I got kinda excited. The lady would take no less than $40 for it. Did I waste my money?

I measured 6.8 ohms across the coil, then hooked it up to my Champ-type amp, and yes, it makes sound, but it is very distorted at low volumes, and really never gets remotely loud at all. Did I waste my money?

I looked it over and it does indeed have a small tear near the outer edge of the cone. Is it worth reconing? Can anybody recommend a good place to have it reconed? I know Weber used to be highly regarded, but don't know if that is still the case.

I understand the "P" was not considered the best guitar speaker compared to the R,Q,N versions. Anybody have exsperience with the "P"? Were they rare, or just unpopular?

Should I get it reconed and enjoy it for my own use? It's worthless to me as it is. Or, is it worth many hundreds of dollars to a collector (as is), and I should sell it and buy a new Celestion Blue?

I think the P speaker is rated at about 10W, which may explain your experience. Or maybe it's shot and needs a recone.

The coil is probably shot.
Not sure what the basket is worth.

I was thinking the coil was probably intact, since it measured 6.8 ohms - that is about the DC resistance that would be expected for an 8 ohm speaker.

I wonder if it is more an issue of adhesives breaking down? Is that what Gerald Weber would refer to as a "dropped" voice coil? I assume that would be repaired during the recone process?

Recone is basically a new speaker in an old basket. If you are getting it done, you can make it into a Q. I think maybe the R and N may have had a deeper basket. I dunno, but whoever does the recone can tell you. Get it done right. You might as well do it. In for a penny, in for a pound as they say across the pond.

The C12P and P12P were basically the 'N' version but with a smaller magnet. You will find the basket and the voice coil to be identical. I think they were used in the Hammond tone cabs, their console organs, and also the Gretsch and Supro amps. Fender never used then.

Anyway, a recone is in order. I say this because a properly working P12P vs. a P12N are fairly identical in performance, with the P12N offering less distortion at higher levels: smaller mag = less headroom.

As to wattage, if you use a kapton voicecoil in your recone you are good to 50 watts. And yes, Weber still does a good job although they are charging more these days.

I bought a p12p that sounded nice in my 5e3. It had a smooth cone but crapped out with any kind of volume. I got it reconed here in the uk with I think a nomex voicecoil and a ribed cone. it sounds even better now, handles volume and is my favourite that I've tried in the amp, which includes alnico Weber's, new Jensen's, eminences, celestions and a tone tubby. Not that it's a better speaker objectively, it just suits that amp the best to my ears. Recone with confidence especially if you have a tweed amp to put it in!

I will send it out for a recone eventually. I have some other projects in the works that must come first! I think it will be a great match for a tweed-ish build down the road. I will probably send it to Weber, unless someone talks me out of it.

I had one of these in a Gibson RVT 17. The coil checked good but the paper former was trashed from age, moisture, heat etc. The recone was more than the speaker was worth, but it kept another "vintage" piece intact.