• From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Topic: Replacement Speaker

Ok, so I have a Blues Jr amp that I sorta stole from my dad.  Its 15 watts and I'm wanting to replace the speaker.   I thought about a couple but I was worried that I might make a mistake if I don't get a speaker that doesn't have more the 15 watts.  So when replacing a speaker how much more should I go up in watts to prevent the speaker from blowing when its cranked?  I looked online a little but all I got was for home stereos you need to go past a 10% of the amplifier.  That would be 16.5 watts total which puts me at like a 25 watt Jensen.  I know their are better but Red Fangs cost almost 3x as much and I don't want to go over 30 watts speaker power.

Along with the Jensen speaker I'm thinking about buy (already pulled the trigger just wanting to feel better about the wattage thing)  I bought a matched pair of JJ's EL-34's and a Mallurd 12AX7 for V1 do you think this was a good combination?  Speaker is on back order until May 15, 2011 so I should have time to decide if the tubes made a huge difference on the amp before the ultimate change comes in next month.

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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Replacement Speaker

Opps just realized I order EL-34 instead of the blues jr el-84!  Well its fixed now so no worries.

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  • Registered: 2010-02-01
  • Posts: 175

Re: Replacement Speaker

Your 25 watt speaker should do the job with your 15 watt amp

I had 2x 25 watt Vintage Greenbacks with my 45 (ish) watt head and never had an issue.

Although I'm now running 2x 300 watt speakers in the same cab with the same head and I much prefer the tone without any speaker breakup (or colouration).

Its all personal preference

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Replacement Speaker

I've always like the old Chicago blues sound and even though the amp isn't at all like that its in the same wattage.  I think if I back the mids off the amp and turn the master wide open I could pull off a good hubert sumlin tone with a strat.  I've been stealing all my stuff lately from my dad.  First his amp, then his Tele, Les Paul Studio model with JB signature on it next???

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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Replacement Speaker

Here's where I started:

http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=295

I've used:

Stock Fender Jensen (uninspiring)
Eminence Patriot Swamp Thang: very clean
Celestion V30: Too trebly for the blues jr IMO
Eminence Patriot Governor: what I'm currently using (eminence's competitor to V30, but less Trebly)
I don't think an EVM will fit in the box because it might hit stuff because it's so deep.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Replacement Speaker

Yeah I found this site when I started thinking of doing all this stuff.  The page you have I didn't see though, Bill basically isn't a Jensen fan, and even said the speaker I ordered sound really vintage and basically sucks.  roll   I guess I got 45 days to decide if I like it or not. 

I think right now I'm thinking of doing the mid range stacker mod which is just a wire that is  roll bridging 2 lugs together piece of cake.  Later I want to put the standby switch in, and the soonest thing I'll do is replace the resistor that is making the bias 40mv, I think I'm going to switch it to a smaller resistor that will drop it to 25mv.  I wasn't too big on drilling holes in my circuit board.  Maybe I'll do the basic caps as well.

It might be a long while as I need money to do this and I also need to get my friend to show me some pointers on working on high voltage caps.  Seems pretty easy to short the power out with insolated clips and a resistor to bleed off the stored power but reading and doing I guess is 2 different things.  I'll at least have my buddy there to dial 911.  No seriously, Clint Eastwood once said that a good mans got to know his limitations and  I know mine on getting shocked!

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

Here's where I started:

http://billmaudio.com/wp/?page_id=295

I've used:

Stock Fender Jensen (uninspiring)
Eminence Patriot Swamp Thang: very clean
Celestion V30: Too trebly for the blues jr IMO
Eminence Patriot Governor: what I'm currently using (eminence's competitor to V30, but less Trebly)
I don't think an EVM will fit in the box because it might hit stuff because it's so deep.

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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Replacement Speaker

So I'm thinking that Jensen Speaker I ordered is back ordered.  Think I should call and cancel that speaker?  From what I've read Bill said Jensen suck and I would be better off stock then to go to the Jensen speaker I ordered.

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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Replacement Speaker

Yeah, I wouldn't go with Jensen... hmm but I've never really used them so I'm not basing it off of anything.

I've done ALL the Bill M mods for the Blues JR., and it REALLY opened up the map.You'd almost better off keeping the stock speaker and doing all the mods than the other way around. The difference was crazy.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Replacement Speaker

Ok, so I think I am going to hold off on the speaker for now, because if what I read is true the stock speaker will sound awesome with the basic mods.  So the basic mods, stand by switch, and maybe even the T022 Trany if I can sneek it past the misses other wise will hold off on that and go for some of the cheaper mods. 

Talked to my buddy (he was the guy that milled that bridge block out for me) and he told me come down to his house after I get the kits and we'll throw a few steaks on the fire while we are at it.  Sounds like a fun day for DIY.

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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Replacement Speaker

I will take more than a couple hours. The worst part about it is unsoldering all the parts to be replaced. Solder-suckers and solder sucking braid do not work all that well for me, and there were things that have more than two pins where it seems you had to unsolder them all simultaneously and is a big headache.

I'm trying to remember everything I did... but I think I ordered everything I could from the site.
standby switch
Tone caps, etc
mids "twin" mod (easy)
Output transformer
Master vol mod
power tube bias control
push/pull presence knob
reverb mod

Also, you'll need to check if you have a green board or a creme one before you order your parts!

I think when all was said and done, it was like $200

I was told by other sites that the bias control was dumb to put in because Blues Jr's were meant to run hot. Then I brought it into my amp tech, and he said if I put it in, not only will the tubes last longer, but I'd get way more clean headroom. So I had him put it in!  cool

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • DougH
  • DougH
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  • From: Toronto, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-04-01
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Re: Replacement Speaker

I'm a huge fan of Warehouse Guitar Speakers http://wgs4.com

When they first came on the market a few years ago with just a couple of types of speakers at a really low introduction price, I bought their version of the V30 and a British Lead80.

When I put them into my cab's they blew me away.
so I went back and bought another V30 and BL-80..

I've now expanded that my 4x12 is filled with 4 - Veteran 30's -60w.. - (think celestion vintage 30)
I have a 2x12 filled with British Lead 80's -80w (by far my favourite cab) - (think celestion classic lead)
and I have a 1x12 filled with a Green Beret 25w (think celestion green backs)

I don't have stock in the company nor any kick backs but I wish I did.. they're great speakers.

---------------

(If only I had 1% of Joe's guitar talent)

12 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2011-05-03 09:23:58)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Replacement Speaker

Doug, I'm not really a fan of "broken in" speakers. It seems like artificial voodoo to me. I have heard great things about WSG compared to the new chinese made (not english) Celestion brand.

I do know they are basically real celestions taken apart, reconed, and pounded on for a while.
But I think you really get what you pay for with speakers. Celestion you pay for the name. WSG you pay for their "treatment" and EVM you pay for ruggedness. Eminence you pay for voicing varieties. etc.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Replacement Speaker

I'm going to do things in small sections.  I got the basic mod kit which will give me the trim pot for the bias as well as all the replacement caps to open the sound up.  I also got the standby switch because lets face it its dumb to have a tube amp that doesn't have one.  As far as running hot I've heard people have issues with all the hot rod series amps due to over heating them running the amp too hot, besides they said that its not that big of a change to the distortion, I'm not about distortion if I want that I'll use a pedal.  I'm about good fat sounding tone that I can back off if I want to or get nasty if I want.  I've spent $47 so far (I have the white board) and I'm thinking of maybe getting the transformer and the replacement 1/4th jack.  But its like you said this isn't a simple job and I think it will take me at least a day or 2 with some help to get all the basic mods done.  Also I'm thinking about recording my work so I can get a base sound and see what I've done so far so I can show people and find out if their is a real difference or not.  It sounds like the changes will be huge and I can't wait!



NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

I will take more than a couple hours. The worst part about it is unsoldering all the parts to be replaced. Solder-suckers and solder sucking braid do not work all that well for me, and there were things that have more than two pins where it seems you had to unsolder them all simultaneously and is a big headache.

I'm trying to remember everything I did... but I think I ordered everything I could from the site.
standby switch
Tone caps, etc
mids "twin" mod (easy)
Output transformer
Master vol mod
power tube bias control
push/pull presence knob
reverb mod

Also, you'll need to check if you have a green board or a creme one before you order your parts!

I think when all was said and done, it was like $200

I was told by other sites that the bias control was dumb to put in because Blues Jr's were meant to run hot. Then I brought it into my amp tech, and he said if I put it in, not only will the tubes last longer, but I'd get way more clean headroom. So I had him put it in!  cool

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  • RickB
  • RickB
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  • From: San Diego
  • Registered: 2009-10-30
  • Posts: 12,198

Re: Replacement Speaker

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

I will take more than a couple hours. The worst part about it is unsoldering all the parts to be replaced. Solder-suckers and solder sucking braid do not work all that well for me, and there were things that have more than two pins where it seems you had to unsolder them all simultaneously and is a big headache.

Here is a tip to make it easier. You have to get to the backside of the board. Use an iron with controllable heat, with just enough to melt solder but not lift a trace. Grab the component or slip a small screwdriver blade under it  to pry with. Heat one leg and gently pry until it lifts a bit as the solder melts. Do this back and forth until you get enouth room to clip the wires with a small set of dykes and then it is easy. sometimes it is easier to cut the part with heavier dykes to leave just the wires.

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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Replacement Speaker

Thats a pretty good tip, thanks!

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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Replacement Speaker

Yes, as long as your just tossing the old parts, you can cut the wires and desolder individually. I just really hate Desoldering.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

17 Reply by DougH (edited by DougH 2011-05-04 07:07:26)

  • DougH
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Re: Replacement Speaker

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

I'm not really a fan of "broken in" speakers.
WSG you pay for their "treatment" and EVM you pay for ruggedness. Eminence you pay for voicing varieties. etc.

Actually WGS speakers are not broken in or treated; they are 'clone' Celestion speakers at a lower price made in USA.


But I do know the speaker you are talking about being broken in..
They're called HELLATONE from Avatar Speaker company..

WGS is not the same company.

---------------

(If only I had 1% of Joe's guitar talent)
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Replacement Speaker

HAHA OH CRAP!

You're right! I get those two mixed up ALL the time. Those Hellatone speakers do have Celestion parts and are broken in. Get good reviews too.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool