speaker recommendtion for 62 bassman resto

6

64lusso

Jan 20, 2006
65
15
4,531
central Va
#1
One of my new years revolutions for this year is to recommission my old 62 Fender bassman amp. I had the amp recapped and tubed a few years ago and I need to get the correct grill cloth for it but I also need some speakers as the originals are long gone. Since its a closed back cabinet it doesn't matter what they look like and there is a chance I would want to use it on some gigs so I'd like them to sound good while being able to handle the amps massive 48 watt output!
Any suggestions?
 
#5
It's the stock 62 Fender Bassman 2-12 cabinet. I still have the D-120's I put in the cabinet around 69. I believe I had them re coned sometime in the early 80's. I was thinking there should be some bass guitar specific speakers that might do better but maybe not? I doubt I will use this as a guitar amp as these days a Vibrolux or Deluxe would be all I'd ever want volume wise and I wouldn't plan on filling a huge space with this old Bassman unmiked either. I just want it to function and sound as good as it can.
 
#9
D120s weren't all that great for bass, they were just better than most at that time. Altecs were better. The Eminence Alpha 12 will have a similar tone to the original Jensens, except they won't fart out like the Jensens did. They should have better lows than the D120s.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bassmec
#10
I still have the original Oxfords taken out of and replaced by Jensens, the '62 cab and head I had in high school before they were sold. The Oxfords have been re-coned twice, if I correctly recall. Not really enough oomph for bass in a performance situation, but great with my tele guitar through a '65 Bassman head.
 
#12
All guitar speakers.. Sorry Jenson garbage. Alpha garbage.

Not trying to be negative either

He's looking for bass specific 12s even with low wattage it has to be something that works sealed and something that will sound decent in the airspace.

There is a few eminence 12s designed for bass. And also very good 12s designed for floor monitor wedges with good high end and bass response designed specifically to perform in small sealed enclosures.
 
#14
I have that exact cabinet. what I did was contact mojotone and have them make me a custom baffle for it that's 1x15. I removed the old baffle and sold it and the speakers on ebay (got a lot of money too, people love that vintage stuff). it more than covered my new baffle. I installed the new baffle and put a JBL D140 speaker in there. It sounds fantastic for bass now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassmanPaul and AstroSonic
#15
pbassjbass said:
According to this Jensen replacement chart they're recommending C12N.
Vintage Amp Replacements | Jensen Loudspeakers
Click to expand...
That's because they're very close to the originals. That doesn't make them the best choice. The Alpha 12 comes very close to the C12N midrange response, but it's much stronger in the lows.
I would see if the Eminence Basslite S2012 would work in your cab
Click to expand...
It will, but the Alpha 12 has better specs for sealed, and with the 25 watts or so he has per driver there's nothing to be gained using the 2012.
 
#16
Rick James said:
That's because they're very close to the originals. That doesn't make them the best choice. The Alpha 12 comes very close to the C12N midrange response, but it's much stronger in the lows.
It will, but the Alpha 12 has better specs for sealed, and with the 25 watts or so he has per driver there's nothing to be gained using the 2012.
Click to expand...

Until the OP tells us his tone preferences there is no sense spending time discussing which driver is better/best. The Alpha 12a, Beta 12A, S2012, Peavey Pro 12 and B&C 12CL64 are all good candidates. I do like the idea of replacing the baffle with one for a 15.
 
  • Like
Reactions: markjazzbassist
#18
Thanks for all the suggestions guys, back to AstroSonics tone question choices I would have to pick the full punchy selection. I have a 66 P with flats, a MIJ Jazz, Kingston and MTD all with rounds. The MTD is a killer bass but I always wind up back with the passive Fenders or the Kingston. While I love messing around with slapping and popping at home that's where I leave it--- at home!
Going the 15 route with a new baffle is just the kind of thing I would have done 20 years ago but my goal here is more of a restoration which is why I am a little hesitant to have the silver JBL voice coil covers showing through. I am even going to put all the tilt back hardware back on it. I have owned this amp since 1966 and don't plan to sell it but I want it to be in good enough shape to be an easy sell should my heirs ever have to do so.
 
Last edited:
#19
64lusso said:
Thanks for all the suggestions guys, back to AstroSonics tone question choices I would have to pick the full punchy selection. I have a 66 P with flats, a MIJ Jazz, Kingston and MTD all with rounds. The MTD is a killer bass but I always wind up back with the passive Fenders or the Kingston. While I love messing around with slapping and popping at home that's where I leave it--- at home!
Going the 15 route with a new baffle is just the kind of thing I would have done 20 years ago but my goal here is more of a restoration which is why I am a little hesitant to have the silver JBL voice coil covers showing through. I am even going to put all the tilt back hardware back on it. I have owned this amp since 1966 and don't plan to sell it but I want it to be in good enough shape to be an easy sell should my heirs ever have to do so.
Click to expand...

For rich and full and an overall nice 'full range' tone I would use the Alpha 12A. The Beta 12A and S2012 yield a less extended, more hifi (flat) bass response. The B&C 12CL64 yields a gently rolled response: very articulate, but not at all rich and full. Make sure there is acoustic damping material (around 2 inches) on the interior cab surfaces. If the mids are not aggressive enough, remove some behind the drivers.
 
#20
It looks like the Eminence Alpha 12A should be my choice. Somewhere I have a trash bag with all the old fiberglass dampening material Fender first put in this cabinet that I had planned to put back in if its still good and the meeces haven't invaded.
I appreciate the good advice from all of you.
Jay
 
  • Like
Reactions: AstroSonic
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back