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As noted in the title, I'm looking for 10" speaker recs for a brown '63 Vibroverb RI – the 90s one.

I replaced the stock speakers with Eminence Ragin Cajuns years ago. They've been fine for playing at home, but I've been playing the amp with friends more lately, and I'm not digging the speakers anymore. They're very loud, clean, and efficient, and I'm looking for something a little less efficient so I can get to natural breakup at more manageable volumes. As it stands, I have to use pedals to get breakup/overdrive even playing with a pretty loud drummer.

secndshft recommended a WGS Veteran 10 for my eponymous Epiphone Pacemaker way back when – I've always liked that speaker. I was thinking of going that route for the Vibroverb, but I'd love to get some additional thoughts from y'all.

Here's the amp in question, because photos are fun:

For classic Fender tone with low efficiency, I'd suggest the p10q. I bought a P12Q for the same reason you have. It's very full and bright yet not at all earpiercing. I still use OD pedals a lot but I'm also able to crank my amp and get natural OD without scaring neighbors.

Jupiter 10SC (25 watts) is another option. They’re supposed to be improved Jensens, designed by Jupiter, made by WGS. There’s also a larger ceramic magnet version (10LC, 50 watts) and a very expensive alnico one (10LA).

I’d also consider leaving the speakers be and getting an attenuator instead.

jensen neodymiums are nice, the jet series
emi gasc64, alessandros, are a nice sounding driver but conservatively rated. i prefer the ceramic legends, and the alnico legends have a good reputation as modern equivalents to old CTS drivers

Sauerkraut wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:29 pm

Jupiter 10SC (25 watts) is another option. They’re supposed to be improved Jensens, designed by Jupiter, made by WGS.

I’d also consider leaving the speakers be and getting an attenuator instead.

Thanks! I'd forgotten about these – sound like a good option. As far as attenuators go, I'm not very knowledgeable other than their purpose. Why would you recommend that solution as opposed to a speaker swap?

BarnyardCoral wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 12:57 pm

For classic Fender tone with low efficiency, I'd suggest the p10q. I bought a P12Q for the same reason you have.

I did a little checking up on those – definitely interesting! What amp do you have the P12Q in?

pacemaker wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:36 am

Sauerkraut wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 23, 2021 3:29 pm

Jupiter 10SC (25 watts) is another option. They’re supposed to be improved Jensens, designed by Jupiter, made by WGS.

I’d also consider leaving the speakers be and getting an attenuator instead.

Thanks! I'd forgotten about these – sound like a good option. As far as attenuators go, I'm not very knowledgeable other than their purpose. Why would you recommend that solution as opposed to a speaker swap?

Well, you write that you're "looking for something a little less efficient so I can get to natural breakup at more manageable volumes", which is pretty much exactly what attenuators do; you place it between the amp output and the speakers, where it soaks up excess wattage (converting it into heat), so your amp works harder, but your speakers don't. This means you can turn the amp up to where you think it sounds best and then use the attentuator to reduce signal output to the speakers.
I think a Weber MiniMass would be a good option for your Vibroverb.

If you're confident with working on amps, you could also consider modifying one of the channels to break up earlier.

A agree that P10Q will help get you there too, as they're a lot less efficient than Ragin Cajuns and speaker sensitivity makes a big difference in my experience.

The WGS Green Beret 10 will be alot quieter than the Retro 10. It has an spl of 96 db vs the retro 10s 100db. Which makes for a pretty large volume decrease. Celestions 10 inch Greenback is even quieter at 95 db.

Edit



Noticed you said Veteran 10 which has an spl of 94 db, so that is actually the quietest of the lot. Being a classic American style speaker it should jive pretty well with your amp as well.

I've got a Vibroverb kit on order from Mojotone right now. I bought a pair of Weber 10A125's to go into it. I've got a quad of 10A125's in my 5F6A Bassman. I also dropped a pair into a 1960 Super Amp (replacing a pair of Emi Blue Frames) and they're FANTASTIC. They took that Super from about a 6/10 to a 9.5/10 amp.

They nail warmth and Fender chime. They also are smooth when they get into break up.

Sauerkraut wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 25, 2021 1:06 am

Well, you write that you're "looking for something a little less efficient so I can get to natural breakup at more manageable volumes", which is pretty much exactly what attenuators do; you place it between the amp output and the speakers, where it soaks up excess wattage (converting it into heat), so your amp works harder, but your speakers don't. This means you can turn the amp up to where you think it sounds best and then use the attentuator to reduce signal output to the speakers.
I think a Weber MiniMass would be a good option for your Vibroverb.

Thank you for the explanation on attenuators – it's the quickest, most plainly-worded description of how they work I've ever read! I appreciate the MiniMass recommendation too; I'll look into that.

Powdered Toast Man wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:06 pm

I've got a Vibroverb kit on order from Mojotone right now. I bought a pair of Weber 10A125's to go into it. I've got a quad of 10A125's in my 5F6A Bassman. I also dropped a pair into a 1960 Super Amp (replacing a pair of Emi Blue Frames) and they're FANTASTIC. They took that Super from about a 6/10 to a 9.5/10 amp.

They nail warmth and Fender chime. They also are smooth when they get into break up.

Nice - thanks for this info; I'll look into the 10A125's as well.

CorporateDisguise wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 25, 2021 2:15 am

Noticed you said Veteran 10 which has an spl of 94 db, so that is actually the quietest of the lot. Being a classic American style speaker it should jive pretty well with your amp as well.

Great, thank you!

pacemaker wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 24, 2021 10:36 am

I did a little checking up on those – definitely interesting! What amp do you have the P12Q in?

Supro Saturn MKII. 25w, 6V6, 1x12", NMV. Not much info out there on that amp but there's a handful of reviews on TGP, including my own (my username is Scheckenbacker over there).

Powdered Toast Man wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:06 pm

I've got a Vibroverb kit on order from Mojotone right now. I bought a pair of Weber 10A125's to go into it. I've got a quad of 10A125's in my 5F6A Bassman. I also dropped a pair into a 1960 Super Amp (replacing a pair of Emi Blue Frames) and they're FANTASTIC. They took that Super from about a 6/10 to a 9.5/10 amp.

They nail warmth and Fender chime. They also are smooth when they get into break up.

Nice recommendation! Weber stuff is always top notch. I have a late 90s CVR that I converted to VV specs. Came with Emi blue frames which I like a lot in that amp. They're quieter than ceramics and a bit smoother but I've consider upgrading to Weber alnicos and have wanted to try Jupiters eventually. Its still LOUD though and no way I'm getting into break up territory even with the Emis. Its a great amp even though it doesn't get as much love as mu Princetons.

Oh also forgot I got a pair or Weber 10F125s but man did that make it loud. It was a great sound though. One of those is sold and the other is still in my '72 PR.

Such a rabbit hole, speakers. I should see myself out of this thread before it gets expensive...

kosmonautmayhem wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 03, 2021 7:26 pm

Powdered Toast Man wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 25, 2021 12:06 pm

I've got a Vibroverb kit on order from Mojotone right now. I bought a pair of Weber 10A125's to go into it. I've got a quad of 10A125's in my 5F6A Bassman. I also dropped a pair into a 1960 Super Amp (replacing a pair of Emi Blue Frames) and they're FANTASTIC. They took that Super from about a 6/10 to a 9.5/10 amp.

They nail warmth and Fender chime. They also are smooth when they get into break up.

Nice recommendation! Weber stuff is always top notch. I have a late 90s CVR that I converted to VV specs. Came with Emi blue frames which I like a lot in that amp. They're quieter than ceramics and a bit smoother but I've consider upgrading to Weber alnicos and have wanted to try Jupiters eventually. Its still LOUD though and no way I'm getting into break up territory even with the Emis. Its a great amp even though it doesn't get as much love as mu Princetons.

Oh also forgot I got a pair or Weber 10F125s but man did that make it loud. It was a great sound though. One of those is sold and the other is still in my '72 PR.

Such a rabbit hole, speakers. I should see myself out of this thread before it gets expensive...

My experience: I had a pair of Emi blue frames in that Super before I changed them to Webers. The Emi's are OK. The Webers absolutely woke the amp up though. It just sounded all sparkly with that Fender chime with the 10A125's.

Thing is, you're not going to be able to push a 35-40 watt 210 combo into breakup without significant volume there no matter what speakers you throw in it.