Blues Junior / Jensen Blackbird 12" does it fit ?

[520]

Hey guys anyone know if the Jensen Blackbird 12" Alnico speaker will fit my Blues Junior ?

I have a modded Pine Cab Blues junior all stock cab dimensions and just came across the Jensen Blackbird and really love the tone of this speaker and I have been searching plenty.

Anyone know if this will clear the chasis and tubes the magnet appears to extend out a ways its pretty substantial ?

Specs ? http://www.jensentone.com/speaker/12_blackbird

[solitaire]

Have you measured or looked up the dimensions internally? Back in the day all speakers were Alnico with a magnet assembly very much like that. And as you can tell the alnico mag is actually narrower in diameter than a ceramic one.

I know for a fact the Celestion Bulldog alnico will fit the Blues Junior so probably this fellow will too. But even if Leo Fender himself would have bet his life on that the Blackbird will fit I'd measure it myself just to be certain.

[bluesky636]

That is a cap that covers the magnet. Pull it off and you will find that the magnet is much smaller than the cap. With my Weber 5F6A clone, you have to remove the covers on the two upper speakers in order for them to clear the chassis.

[img:800:679]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8046/8131 ... 9606_c.jpg[/img]

[overtone]

I have a couple. They have the biggest bell cover that I have ever seen on any alnico speaker. I don't have a Blues Junior so cannot say if it would fit, but it is common practice to pull bell covers to get some elbow room. It depends on your amp and size of any tubes nearby.

[520]

Thank you gentle men,

I havn't picked up the Blackbird yet because I wanted to see if any other guys had experience here first, saves a world of grief when you hear it from someone who's done it already.

Thanks for the dust cover info....will removing the cover affect the tone of the speaker in anyway ?

I considered buying an additional pine extension cab or the Xlarge box blues jr. cab offered by Carl's Custom Guitars (basically a Deluxe fit for a Jr.) but was hoping to keep the BJ small and light weight or at least easier to manage...

Though the larger cab might lend to a deeper tone...

any opinions on the Jensen Blackbird 12" 100watt or say the Eminence Commonwealth 12" 225watt looking to make my Blues Jr. a little tone monster...really like clean tones thus the thoughts on using the Commonwealth, but that there Blackbird really sounds smooth..anyone?

That,s a real nice looking machine you got there bluesky636

[Firestorm]

I've used the Commonwealth 15" for clean. Don't know the 12".

[overtone]

I have an old open back Vox 4x12 loaded with different alnicos selectable with one of those Palmer speaker switcher thingys that are not supposed to blow the OT.

Recently I ran it past a bunch of experienced players, they could not see which driver they were foot-switching. Low power + clean.
The Blackbird came out ahead in that round, with a Celestion Gold very close second. They did not like the Celestion Blue at all, lots of distorted faces with that, and nobody liked the 1956 Jensen! All a matter of taste. or an old speaker not up to scatch etc.
It was just one quick A-B-C-D far from "ideal" test and not at full power because of the weaker drivers.

These tests don't mean much to me. What works in one context well will not perform in another so well. I liked the Blackbird too, like a huge warm embrace, but I'm happy to play through any speaker that halfway woks. I get more out of playing than talking tone, if you get my drift.

Best, tony

[bluesky636]

Thanks for the dust cover info....will removing the cover affect the tone of the speaker in anyway ?

That,s a real nice looking machine you got there bluesky636

No.

Thanks. It was my first amp build.

http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=65668

[gldtp99]

Jensen Blackbird Alnico 12" in an Avatar 1x12 closed back cab with a '64 BF Fender Tremolux I rebuilt from butchered/inop condition----- ClassicTone PT and 4/8/16 ohm OT----- Mojo Dijon caps in channel being played, Blue Moldeds were gone when I got the amp--- slight mods to increase clean headroom:

http://youtu.be/E9DT3zzplak

I like these speakers---- this is the second one I've used---- first one was in a 50 watt 1x12 Brownface circuit combo with BF reverb I built for a friend---no vids of this one--- it was done several yrs ago..........................gldtp99

[520]

Jensen Blackbird Alnico 12" in an Avatar 1x12 closed back cab with a '64 BF Fender Tremolux I rebuilt from butchered/inop condition----- ClassicTone PT and 4/8/16 ohm OT----- Mojo Dijon caps in channel being played, Blue Moldeds were gone when I got the amp--- slight mods to increase clean headroom:

http://youtu.be/E9DT3zzplak

I like these speakers---- this is the second one I've used---- first one was in a 50 watt 1x12 Brownface circuit combo with BF reverb I built for a friend---no vids of this one--- it was done several yrs ago..........................gldtp99

[520]

Really appreciate all the sound clips gldtp99, the Blackbird sounds nice and smooth clean and clear without any ice pick going on....the smoothness is the first thing I noticed about this speaker when I heard it.

Strangely I hadnt heard much about the Blackbirds, so much on Webers and Scumbacks and Celestions Im actually surprised there arn't more clips of these in action.

Lovin your amp mods of course, see you have worked on a few, defiantly sound great, can you recomend a good low 20-40 watt amp for a newbie to learn about modding....kits ?

[David Root]

520, thanx for the tip about Carl's Custom Guitars, I was looking for a pine 1x12 extension cab and his price is pretty good, so I ordered one.

[Teleguy61]

Dave I have a Blues Jr cab from Carl's also, that I have my AO-35/Ghia in, and it works.
Build quality is fine, handle is pretty light duty.
It works tho.

[David Root]

Thanx Teleguy, I wondered about the handle. I may change it out to a dogbone when I get it.

[rp]

Maybe someone here can confirm for you that the bell actually comes off before you buy. I have a Emi Black Mountain and couldn't get the %$#@ing bell off to save my life, then I found out it is glued. A pox on Eminence for that.