Tremolo speaker?

General discussion area for tube amps.

Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal

Post Reply
User avatar
Luthierwnc
Posts: 998
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 10:59 am
Location: Asheville, NC

Tremolo speaker?

Post by Luthierwnc »

I'm sketching ideas for a late-50's, early 60-s tremolo amp with a bias-vary oscillator. In surfing around I haven't noticed if there were any favorite speakers (12's probably but maybe a 15) that seemed to either handle or hold up better when wombulating. I'm thinking clean and heavy but this is more hunch than experience.

Thoughts? Thanks, Skip
User avatar
JazzGuitarGimp
Posts: 2357
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:54 pm
Location: Northern CA

Re: Tremolo speaker?

Post by JazzGuitarGimp »

I would think any speaker that can take the maximum output power of the amp is a worthy candidate. Just comes down to sonic preferences. Given the amp is slated for a late 50's, early 60's sound, perhaps alnico would be preferred.
Lou Rossi Designs
Printed Circuit Design & Layout,
and Schematic Capture
User avatar
Luthierwnc
Posts: 998
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 10:59 am
Location: Asheville, NC

Re: Tremolo speaker?

Post by Luthierwnc »

The leading contender is a 1962 P12N organ pull. I got two of them a couple years ago on eBay and they have been waiting for the right amp. Course, then I'll need to make something else for the other one. sh
tubeswell
Posts: 2337
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:42 am
Location: Wellington. NZ

Re: Tremolo speaker?

Post by tubeswell »

5G9 with a Weber 12A125A
He who dies with the most tubes... wins
User avatar
rp
Posts: 2528
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 4:21 am
Location: Italy

Re: Tremolo speaker?

Post by rp »

Haven't tried a tweed trem amp but my G12H30 Anni ('90s UK) sounds great with my 5 tweeds clones, great all-arounder.
tubeswell
Posts: 2337
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:42 am
Location: Wellington. NZ

Re: Tremolo speaker?

Post by tubeswell »

rp wrote:Haven't tried a tweed trem amp but my G12H30 Anni ('90s UK) sounds great with my 5 tweeds clones, great all-arounder.
Yes the G12M 20Wer heritage version is also lovely sounding
He who dies with the most tubes... wins
User avatar
rp
Posts: 2528
Joined: Sun Apr 25, 2010 4:21 am
Location: Italy

Re: Tremolo speaker?

Post by rp »

yes, I have a pair of '90s UK Greenbacks and they sound killer w/ tweeds too. Little darker and less efficient, the latter a plus IMO w/ vintage amps, better to hit the sweet spot. People seem to feel greenbacks are dark in tweeds eg the 5E3, not to me, my 5E3 isn't particularly dark, and it's got NOS caps in it.
User avatar
Luthierwnc
Posts: 998
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 10:59 am
Location: Asheville, NC

Re: Tremolo speaker?

Post by Luthierwnc »

The leader at the clubhouse turn is a single-channel 6G9-A using 6V6s. It isn't easy to get laydown transformers in the 600VCT range. Everyone wants Blackface low 400's and these guys are spec-ed around 370 VDC. I think I've got an old 5Y3 rectifier that should be good for another 15 volts.

I got the speakers on eBay a couple years ago from a Baldwin amp pull. They weren't advertised as such but the codes on the rim were clearly visible. One was pretty clean. The other needed eight or nine tea-bag patches for cracks in the cone. I haven't pushed either of them but both sound good. I bet any real watts would blow them out but the price was right even if they need to be reconed. These are glorious speakers in almost any vintage-style American design and the price seems to have dropped on deals that actually happen (not the BINs that sit there for months). That could be because the replacement speakers being made now are so good and guaranteed out of the box. FWIW, sh
Toppscore
Posts: 288
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:02 pm
Location: California

Re: Tremolo speaker?

Post by Toppscore »

Build two:
1) with Jensen P15N or C15P
2) with Jensen C12N or P12P

You are looking for that 1960s tremolo sound, right?
Make either amp able to swap out speakers for different tones.
Good luck. Toppscore :)
Fan of Fender Trainwreck Dumble
Post Reply