guitar amp speaker recommendations

[Mulevaline]

Am looking to replace speaker in Fender Bronco Tube amp from the 70's. Current speaker is woofy with low frequencies (low E string), but otherwise this amp is fine. Not looking for super clean sound. Ideas?

 

[chris661]

It would help if you told us where you're from. That way, we can try to determine which speakers are available to you.

What size speaker are you looking for?
Any particular sound you're after?

 

[Mulevaline]

I'm from N.Carolina, USA. Want warm, early breakup, not bright & chimey tone. Am looking at Weber 8A-125 O. (vintage series) 4 ohm, 8 inch. Play country, rock, blues.

 

[infinia]

original used an Oxford 8EV - 1x8" 4 ohms up to 1975 , same configuration and amp as the Champ Model
see 'Jensen' replacement guide Jensen Replacement Speakers | Ampwares

 

[jazbo8]

I'm from N.Carolina, USA. Want warm, early breakup, not bright & chimey tone. Am looking at Weber 8A-125 O. (vintage series) 4 ohm, 8 inch. Play country, rock, blues.

Check out Eminence Ragin Cajun, it is well suited for the type of music you are playing, some highly sought after boutique amps are also equip'd with them.

Jaz

 

[chris661]

Isn't that a 12" driver?

A bigger cabinet would allow a much greater choice of drivers for your amp, but if you can try the drivers before you buy them, that'd be best. Or find somewhere that accepts returns if you don't like.

As an aside, I assumed it's an open backed cabinet at the moment. Is this so?
A closed-back speaker will have more output in the bass than an open backed cabinet with the same driver. So, if it is a closed-back, removing the back may sort out the problems in the LF

Chris

 

[Racket Scientist]

Cajun is a 10" driver. You're already in the right place - get a Weber. I like the bigger magnet ceramics myself for a Champ. To some degree you can't get any bass out of the stock amp - you're limited by the cab size.

 

[deluxedoc]

Mulevaline, the Bronco is a nice amplifier. Being a so-called "student" model, Fender didn't screw it up in the 70s with pull-boost and other goofy features. The amp remained good-sounding. The small cabinet restricts how much bass frequency the unit can reproduce. As you dial up the volume, if you don't ride the bass knob the amp _will_ get woofy. The Champ does the same thing. Therefore, as you spin the volume knob north of 4-5, ease back on the bass knob. 3-4 should do it. If the speaker is still woofy, the speaker is probably tired, after all these years. The Weber Signature 8 4-ohm sounds nice and isn't too expensive.

 

[eyoung]

You cant go wrong with Celestion 10" 30w vintage ...
E

 

[Racket Scientist]

I'm puzzled by why if the amp is designed to take an 8", 4 ohm speaker that everyone keeps recommending 10", 8 ohm speakers?

In any event, this is an aging post, so I'd imagine the OP has probably already made his selection.

 

[tinitus]

I'm puzzled by why if the amp is designed to take an 8", 4 ohm speaker that everyone keeps recommending 10", 8 ohm speakers?

size =

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

I'm puzzled by why if the amp is designed to take an 8", 4 ohm speaker that everyone keeps recommending 10", 8 ohm speakers?

Where has anyone suggested 8 ohm speakers?.

As far as size goes, 10" is likely to be better than 8" - but it really depends on the space available.

 

[deluxedoc]

You should definitely use a 4-ohm speaker in the Bronco, whether you go with a 8" or 10" speaker. An 8-ohm speaker will sap the power from your amplifier--and there isn't a great deal of power in a Bronco (five or six watts) to begin with.

 

[Racket Scientist]

The Cajun and the Celestion are usually 8 ohm - I'm not sure they're available as 4 ohm. To use a 10" rather than an 8" might sound better, but won't fit in the existing cab - so you'd better be up for some woodworking.

 

[Nigel Goodwin]

The Cajun and the Celestion are usually 8 ohm - I'm not sure they're available as 4 ohm.

Speakers are commonly available in either 4, 8 or 16 - and certainly guitar speakers are VERY commonly available in all three.

An 8-ohm speaker will sap the power from your amplifier

This is a bit 'misleading', it won't 'sap' the power from the amplifier - you will only get about half (slightly over half in practice) the power - but that's only because the amplifier is running much easier.

 

[Mulevaline]

ok, it turns out I didn't need a new speaker. The problem with the low tones was a grounding issue of the transformer. A repairman had grounded improperly, to the wrong part. After that was corrected, no woofiness. Yes, still has the original Oxford speaker. Great tone, (using with a Harmony Rocket).