Transformers and speakers for Vox amps

[M Fowler]

I don't have any Weber speakers but since I have to order a AC30 cab I might as well get Blue Bell/Silver Bell speakers huh.

Using EVM, WGS, Celestion, Mojotone, Eminence, Scumback, Jensen and various odd speakers. I want to get some 15" Telonics to try for steel guitar amps.

Mark

[Mark]

Hi Mark

Let us know what you think of the Weber combination?

What are your thoughts on the other speakers you mentioned?

WGS black & blue doesn't received the same good press their other speakers do, kind of odd really.

[M Fowler]

Mark,

I try my various builds 2 el84's, 4 el84's etc with different speakers and guitar types so much changes the character of the amp doing that.

When I gig I always seem to grab my reverb rocket 36w head and JCM800 50w head plugged into stereo 412 loaded with English Celestion V30's. Probably because I know this combination of heads and speakers works well for me.

Mark

[Blindog]

When I still had my Rocket clone, I thought it killed through my trusty old Ampeg 2X12 (sealed back) cab loaded with the stock Celestion Vintage 30's...and I really liked the Mercury Magnetics Woden clone OT that I had in a Korg era AC30 reissue.

Mark

[dave g]

As far as OTs go, my favorites have long been the Dynaclone A470 and Z565.

[Blackburn]

I've yet to try the A-470 clone, but have two originals, one of which is in my Rocket build. Really dig these. They come up on Fleabay all the time and aren't too high dollar, in my opinion.

[Mark]

I have the Pacific version of the A470 which is attached to my Rocket build. I haven't finished the amp so I can't comment on it. I imagine it will sound different to an AC-30 though.

[Clyde]

I've been using the Weber Blue Dog AlNiCo with either the Silver Bell ceramic or AlNiCo, rather nice. The Legacy also sounds nice with EL84's.
A buddy and I did a little transformer shoot-out the other night after we found the MM Albion to have a pronounced mid-high hump that was quite disagreeable. We clipped in the MM A470, MM Haddon and the Edcor 5.2k. The Haddon was hands-down (or up) our favourite.

[Mark]

I've heard good things about the Woden and Haddon transformer set.

I like the Weber Silver Ten that I have, thought it needs a good five watts to wake it up. There is a Silver Ten versus Blue Pup clip which isn't bad except it is done with an AC-4 which doesn't have a lot of output or bass response.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0c2u4UlBpc

[Turbojunkie]

I have the MM Woden OT in my Rocket, haven't heard any others personally....but I really love it! I too have a Pacific A470-type from Allyn that I'm looking forward to experimenting with...

Has anyone tried the MM RadioSpares OT's? Same one used in the early JTM45's....I've read that some very early AC30's came with them....anyone know if this is true? I assume they used the 6k6 primary tap, not the 8k or 9k???

I noticed that MM also makes a version of that same RadioSpares OT with 4k and 8k primaries, for use with pairs/quads of EL84's or 6V6's....very curious!

Love this thread, I was always a Marshall/Tweed Fender guy, but have just fallen in love with the EL84 AC30/Rocket thing over the last year or so...

TurboJunkie

[Clyde]

The Radiospares doesn't have the chime of the other Vox MM offerings, probably because of the higher impedance, good tone though. I haven't tried the Woden yet, next on my list.

I must say I'm surprised that some are using V30's with EL84's, I didn't care for that combination at all.

[Turbojunkie]

Thanks Clyde,
I certainly don't want to reduce any chime, that's a huge factor in my enjoyment of the AC30/Rocket sound.

I agree with your opinion of Vintage 30's with EL84 amps, when I tried one with my amp, the upper-mid/treble freq's made me constantly blink while playing it, and couldn't dial it out with tone stack controls in a way that I liked...I understand that many other's love them though.

I think that WGS's version, the Veteran 30, is a better sounding speaker than the Vintage 30, but still not my preference...As with lots of other people, I find Celestion Blue's to be the greatest with Voxes & other similar amps, especially two 8ohm versions wired in series. I cannot imagine how good old original Blues must sound!

Would love to try some WGS Black & Blues to see how they compare...was going to order a pair a while ago, but was able to borrow a friend's Celestion Blue, and decided not to gamble, as I knew what they would sound like...

I think that the WGS's "British Invasion" line of speakers overall are pretty damn good, especially considering the prices...if money's not a problem, than I like Scumback's and most Heritage-Series Celestions for currently-made 12's

Haven't tried any ASW, Weber or Tone Tubby models, and didn't dig any of the few Eminence speaker's I've tried.

Concerning transformers, I talked to Chris Merren about getting a Woden OT, but he needed a minimum order of 7 to make it worth getting all the raw materials to build them...maybe at some point in the future I'll try to put together a "group buy", if I can scrounge up enough interested parties...although he's known for Marshall RadioSpares/Drake/Dagnall iron, he has extensive knowledge on Woden/Haddon/Albion/Parmeko trannys for Voxes.

TurboJunkie

[Clyde]

I'm a Weber dealer so I have quite a few on hand to audition. I'd recommend the Blue Dog as I mentioned above. The A1230 is also very nice with the Vox-style builds. I also like the Celestion Heritage G12H30 55hz speakers but they're not for everyone. The Weber C1225 is also sweet (Greenback clone). As well I deal MM so I have much to compare too also. How did I miss the Woden? All the best.