Hi all
I have purchased a TAD kit 5e3 which is fitted with a Celestion Blue.
I'm not that familiar with tweed amps so my question is,
why do people use a Blue in a 5e3? What are the 'improvements' or advantages of this combination over a Jensen or Jensen clone?
I've read and watched many articles with people discussing speakers changes but not many have put their reasons for changing to something like a Blue, which as far as I can tell is light years away from the Jensen of the originals in terms of spec and tone. Is it something other than power and being heard in a live setting whilst using a Deluxe?
I have owned 2 amps with Celestion Blues and not really got the whole Celestion Blue love. I owned a 90s AC30TBX and am currently selling an AC15 HW and neither of them really did it for my taste (but maybe it's the Vox thing instead of the Blue thing).
I am tempted to look for a Warehouse G12Q as I'd prefer to have the Deluxe as close to an old ones as possible and for it to be as different to my 74 Deluxe Reverb as possible.
Interested to hear some opinion
Thanks
Comments
Lots of speakers work well with the deluxe though, some need a few circuit tweaks though to get them really singing.
I love a particular old blue in my 5e3. I tried a Jensen alnico, the horseshoe magnet one? And pretty much hated it more than anything I've ever heard. Also recently had a C12n in for a few months and I liked that a lot for solo playing, but in a band it sounded congested and not loud enough. The Blue makes it sing at band volumes and gives it top end articulation & bottom end weight that works well against drums.
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Blue is much more efficient with some of the more vintage correct options, which is a factor for some poeple who want to maximise volume.
I think I tried the Warehouse G12Q and found it a bit lightweight, quite flubby with a lot of breakup, which of course might be what you want.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAR-VMXnxLs
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I have themarlin's old 5e3 and it actually has an undespecced power transformer so is not very loud, dirty and a bit dark. The blue is a bit too dark and mid heavy in this amp and after changing to a Jensen blackbird 40 it sounds more balanced.
The BB40 is quite underrated and a lighter weight too! And being rated higher you could run it with 6L6s.
I managed to get a couple of hours with the 5e3 this morning, playing my burst and Jazzmaster. I'm loving it so far. There's lots more compression than my 74 Deluxe Reverb with greater sustain and a nice softness to the attack. There's a lot of detail and fidelity, I can really hear the guitars like their characteristics, strengths and flaws. I'm excited to play it live and see if it can really cut the mustard! The blue makes more sense now.
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