Do Jensen Neo 12s sound 'off' or to hi-fi?

[Webfoot]

How do they sound?

Have not heard in person but the youtube clips make them sound a bit off.

Do they sound rich and big with cleans and dirt... or a bit more flat and one dimensional?

[Gnarlly]

I have a Jensen Neo 12 (not the Tornado model) in my DRRI. It does sound rich and big, with clean or dirt. Bass notes stay tight and firm (a big plus with a Deluxe Reverb, which can fart out easily). No piercing highs (another big plus with a Deluxe Reverb, which can be bright). Neutral mids (no mid spike). And very lightweight. It does not sound "off" or at all "hi-fi" to me; just a great all-around lightweight speaker.

[paulg]

I use two Neo 12's in my Twin. Love 'em

[Webfoot]

I asked because I have a DRRI and put in a V30. Have not tried it on a big stage yet. Of course a lot more mids to help you cut through but not sure if its my thing or I just need time to adjust. The weight savings from the neos would be good.

[candid_x]

Mine was in a pine 1x12 SCXD cab. It didn't sound bad, and I didn't give it a fair break-in period before moving on to something else. I could see how a well broken in one might sound sweet in a DR/DRRI. It's NOT overly bright, and it does have a tight bottom end, nothing lacking in mids. However, my limited experience with it found it somewhat 2-dimensional or flattish. A good breaking in would only tell for sure, though.

[aarondavis]

I think they sound killer in a 1x12 combo where a darker, smoother speaker pays off. But I put 2 in my Dr. Z open back 2x12 cab and couldn't stand them... unbelievably dark and lifeless. Celestions quickly went back into the cab.

I have one in my Headstrong Lil King (Princeton Reverb) and it sounds great!

[Webfoot]

So the current 4 under consideration are...

- C12K (stock spkr)
- V30 (just put in)
- Neo (sell the V30 and save weight? is this a rich sounding 3D speaker?)
- CRex (wondering if this is much more better then the C12K)

I need good loud dirt (with tube screamer) and cleans

For live, it up pretty loud for power tube distortion.

[candid_x]

If you have the patience to fully break in the C Rex in a DR, they love dirt pedals, and cleans sound thicker than any other speakers I've tried. There is a smokiness (not just copywriter hype) that sounds great clean; a sound I could easily play solos with or without pedals, which I can't say for a few other speakers I've tried in that amp. Imo, it especially favors brighter sounding guitars. Darker sounding guitars and pickups may lack some desired sparkle, but that's all personal taste.

[Rambergwest]

The term HI-FI has taken on a negative context here in the guitar forum and all I can say is if you are having problems it's with your fingers not the hardware. If you are really generating a rich tone on the guitar and the amp is absolutely correctly reproducing it then what could be wrong? Eric Johnson doesn't fear clarity because he creates beautiful tone with his fingers, no more no less. I understand what folks are trying to get at but it is still an illogical approach.
All of my posts are aimed at getting the most clarity and accuracy as possible from my hardware so that the feedback my ears get is uncolored and true. If you can create with really hifi gear then you my friend can do it on any gear because your are hearing just exactly what you are playing. At some point you have to decide whether it is more important to be a great player or a player with great sounding gear.

[MickyZ]

I have the Jensen Neo 10 in a Reverend Goblin. I love it. It does sound (to my ears) different than a typically voiced speaker: fuller bass, smooth top end, mids seem lower in proportion to the lows and highs (but they're there). I do think it is a more balanced speaker, and shows off the amp more. Cranked, it is amazing - every note comes out, with a roar. But if you like a standard Celestion Greenback sound, or the mids of a V30, the Neo will probably sound "lifeless" because the mids aren't as pronounced.

[VacuumVoodoo]

F.Y.I. All clips I streamed from Nashville AmpExpo were done with 12" Jensen Tornado.
They're archived and available for viewing at http://www.livestream.com/zagray
I'd say that perhaps with a dynamic, fast and unforgiving amp one should think twice before deciding to use a Tornado. The combination might be too revealing and analytical, prompting one to practice a lot more;)
I found this speaker to be rather bright but not aggressively so.

[Webfoot]

Vacuumm... thanks for the clips. I can also hear the 'crispness'

The thing I did recently was put in a Jim Weider pickup in the neck for tele, modded so the tone control is only on the bridge (neck - not tone control) and put in a resistor/cap to semi load the neck pickup. So the neck pickup is fixed tone but spectacularly open/big straty and then some. And the bridge (area t hot) has the dedicate tone control, so I can leave the tone control on the bridge dialed down if the speakers are way to harsh.

[EBGB]

I use the Jensen Neo 100 in a Fender Concert II - Rivera era
It is a great match for this amp which is very clean and a bit hard
Also the weight savings is appreciated - it's a pretty heavy amp

The full lush sound is great for the weddings and parties I play
(That's what I mainly use this amp for- nice to have a turret board 1x12 Fender combo with lots of clean headroom)
It's a bit friendlier-sounding than many speakers, even if I'm playing You Shook Me All Night Long

[Kitten Cannon]

My SFDR has always been special, but I actually prefer the Neo to the JBL D120F I had in there. It's like the amp just came alive! And it already sounded great, so that was a huge shock to me.

In this clip, my buddy is playing through my DR at stage volume (volume at 7ish) unmiked. He does all the lead parts, the first solo and the first 4 of each of the traded 4s. He's using a 54 Thinskin Strat. No pedals.
http://soundcloud.com/kittencannon/2011-07-14-cbb-keep-your-hands

I report, you decide.

[Webfoot]

Kitten.. is that other guy pickless (using fingerpicks or just fingers)... some nice rolling action it sounds like.

I also play at around 7.

Have you tried the V30.. what did you think?

[Kitten Cannon]

Kitten.. is that other guy pickless (using fingerpicks or just fingers)... some nice rolling action it sounds like.

I also play at around 7.

Have you tried the V30.. what did you think?

My buddy is using a very small pick. The other guitar player (2nd solos) is using a whacko Tele (Lollar low-wind Imperial in the bridge) through a Vibrolux Reverb. And a Klon, I think.

I've never tried a V30 in that actual amp, but I never would either. It would sound like a completely different amp. I play a pretty wide variety of types of music. I could never do that with the V30. It's got a "rock" thing going on. All those tones I never gave a damn about in the first place. I like my speakers to be a bit more neutral, but you just don't get that from a V30.

[dewey decibel]

My buddy is using a very small pick. The other guitar player (2nd solos) is using a whacko Tele (Lollar low-wind Imperial in the bridge) through a Vibrolux Reverb. And a Klon, I think.

I've never tried a V30 in that actual amp, but I never would either. It would sound like a completely different amp. I play a pretty wide variety of types of music. I could never do that with the V30. It's got a "rock" thing going on. All those tones I never gave a damn about in the first place. I like my speakers to be a bit more neutral, but you just don't get that from a V30.


I don't know, the Fender Dual Professional came with V30s and I didn't think they sounded too rock, at least not the clean tones. Maybe overdriven as your clip they're too forward, but I actually like them clean (and I am decidedly un-rock player).

[Kitten Cannon]

I don't know, the Fender Dual Professional came with V30s and I didn't think they sounded too rock, at least not the clean tones. Maybe overdriven as your clip they're too forward, but I actually like them clean (and I am decidedly un-rock player).

I've used them in a few other amps. Every so often I don't mind them, but more often than not, I find them to be too mid-heavy, and if you push anything hard enough in the midrange, you get Classic Rock Guy's Dream Overdrive Toan.

Not my bag.

For what it's worth, the beginning of the second solo is the same amp, but in stereo with a small 50s National which started to provide the OD a bit more as I dug in (not to mention the stupid Carbon Copy clipping). Same whack-ass Tele with the HB in the bridge. When it starts off clean it sounds like my Deluxe all the way though (3:30) or so.

http://soundcloud.com/kittencannon/2011-05-18-i-cant-help-it-if

[riffmeister]

I had a pair in a 2x12 cab that I was using with a BF Fender type amp. They did have an "interesting" sound but ultimately I went back to a Celestion + Eminence which, for this amp and my ears, are the bomb. I have two very low hour Jensen Neo 100-12's for sale (16 Ohm), if any1 is interested......

[zoooombiex]

I don't think they sound off or flat at all. I use two in a hard truckers cab with my keyboard rig (blonde bassman). They are more full-spectrum, much like an EV, than mayn other speakers. Smooth high end, tight bass, even mids.

They also sound nice with the higher-powered blonde showman. They tame the ice-pick zone very well and otherwise pretty much dish out what the amp generates.

[dewey decibel]

I've used them in a few other amps. Every so often I don't mind them, but more often than not, I find them to be too mid-heavy, and if you push anything hard enough in the midrange, you get Classic Rock Guy's Dream Overdrive Toan.

Not my bag.

For what it's worth, the beginning of the second solo is the same amp, but in stereo with a small 50s National which started to provide the OD a bit more as I dug in (not to mention the stupid Carbon Copy clipping). Same whack-ass Tele with the HB in the bridge. When it starts off clean it sounds like my Deluxe all the way though (3:30) or so.

http://soundcloud.com/kittencannon/2011-05-18-i-cant-help-it-if


Sounds good. I've always been worried about the Jensen Neos being too strident, seems like everyone is saying they're actually on the darker side.

[terrapin]

I had a pair in a 2x12 cab that I was using with a BF Fender type amp. They did have an "interesting" sound but ultimately I went back to a Celestion + Eminence which, for this amp and my ears, are the bomb. I have two very low hour Jensen Neo 100-12's for sale (16 Ohm), if any1 is interested......

Not to steal this thread, but wanna trade one of those Neo's for a Celestion G12H-70th Anniversary like new with box? PM me if interested.

[benderman]

Last year I loaded my 65 RI Twin with a pair of the Jensen Neo 12's and I have'nt looked back.They sound great clean or dirty,the lows are big and fat without being muddy or wooly,mids are sweet and warm no mid high spike with these babies,top end is very sweet with no ice-pick.

[Ampegasaur]

I am not a fan of the Jensen Neo, and I prefer flat response non colored speakers. EV12ML is my favorite, followed closely Eminence Deltalite II 2512 which is a Neo speaker. The Eminence has become my go to speaker for playing live, and weighs 7 lbs. I can soundly recommend it over any Neo speaker I have played. I have them in 1x12 Thiele cabs, 2x12 Whitebox Cab, and Mills Cab 4x12. Neos have gotten pretty pricey though over the last year.

[RadackGuitars]

I have a Jensen Tornado in my '64 non-reverb Deluxe and love it.
The tight low end more than anything.
I've used half dozen premium speakers in this amp and prefer the Jensen over all of them, including a JBL D120f.

[zoooombiex]

Sounds good. I've always been worried about the Jensen Neos being too strident, seems like everyone is saying they're actually on the darker side.

I wouldn't say they are dark speakers at all, but they are definitely not harsh at all. Very neutral rather than rolled off or spiked.

[zoooombiex]

I am not a fan of the Jensen Neo, and I prefer flat response non colored speakers. EV12ML is my favorite, followed closely Eminence Deltalite II 2512 which is a Neo speaker. The Eminence has become my go to speaker for playing live, and weighs 7 lbs. I can soundly recommend it over any Neo speaker I have played. I have them in 1x12 Thiele cabs, 2x12 Whitebox Cab, and Mills Cab 4x12. Neos have gotten pretty pricey though over the last year.

Interesting. I compared the EVM12L and the Jensen Neo and found them extremely similar. I have two identical 2x12 cabs and loaded one with nice old broken in 12Ls (that was my gigging cab for a few months and it sounded great). Then after my back started to complain I got some Neo's and loaded them in the other cab to try out. I played around for quite a while with a box flipping back and forth and found that there were only minor differences between them, and those differences could easily be altered just by cab placement.

I was honestly quite shocked, as I didn't expect the little, light neo to be able to put out the kind of bass and range as the big, heavy EV, but that was my honest conclusion. I switched to using the Neo cab live and have been just as happy with the tone as before, only now I can lift the cab with two fingers...

Now, the Neo's aren't bombproof like the EV's, so I wouldn't expect the Neo's to hold up as well with heavy touring or something like that. They are more like an ordinary guitar speaker and nothing really beats the EV in that department. But I'm pretty careful with my gear and that's not really a concern at this point since I'm just playing around town... If I were touring and had someone to haul my gear I might go back to the EV's but it would be for reliability rather than any tonal differences.

Also, used Neo's run about $90... hard to complain about that price.

Just my experience of course...

[Ampegasaur]

Interesting. I compared the EVM12L and the Jensen Neo and found them extremely similar. I have two identical 2x12 cabs and loaded one with nice old broken in 12Ls (that was my gigging cab for a few months and it sounded great). Then after my back started to complain I got some Neo's and loaded them in the other cab to try out. I played around for quite a while with a box flipping back and forth and found that there were only minor differences between them, and those differences could easily be altered just by cab placement.

I was honestly quite shocked, as I didn't expect the little, light neo to be able to put out the kind of bass and range as the big, heavy EV, but that was my honest conclusion. I switched to using the Neo cab live and have been just as happy with the tone as before, only now I can lift the cab with two fingers...

Now, the Neo's aren't bombproof like the EV's, so I wouldn't expect the Neo's to hold up as well with heavy touring or something like that. They are more like an ordinary guitar speaker and nothing really beats the EV in that department. But I'm pretty careful with my gear and that's not really a concern at this point since I'm just playing around town... If I were touring and had someone to haul my gear I might go back to the EV's but it would be for reliability rather than any tonal differences.

Also, used Neo's run about $90... hard to complain about that price.

Just my experience of course...

211.95 is the list price currently, and the cheapest I saw them was 137.95. Neo speakers have gone really high, and change constantly because the magnets have become popular for high end electronics batteries and such. Stinks. Used they can be cheaper for sure. I have tried the Celestion century, Jensen Neo, several Eminence Neo models, and have given up on them, because the tone always sounded off to me. The Deltalite has been the only Neo that sounds right to me. There may be others, but have not found one yet.

[zoooombiex]

211.95 is the list price currently, and the cheapest I saw them was 137.95.

I guess $140 still seems cheap to me for a new speaker (and $90 used definitely seems cheap). Maybe I'm too used to paying $200+ for alnico's and ASW's :)

To each his own though on the tone :beer

[JoeB63]

So the current 4 under consideration are...

- C12K (stock spkr)
- V30 (just put in)
- Neo (sell the V30 and save weight? is this a rich sounding 3D speaker?)
- CRex (wondering if this is much more better then the C12K)

I need good loud dirt (with tube screamer) and cleans

For live, it up pretty loud for power tube distortion.

I had a CRex in my Clark DR Clone. After about a year or so, I replaced it with a C12K, which is much better. The CRex is very nice, but you lose the sparkle you're supposed to get with these blackface amps. After putting in the C12K, I realized why my amp didn't really sound like a great blackface amp. Now it does. I haven't tried a neo, though I would like to.

Don't believe it when people say the C12K isn't a good speaker. It is -- if you like blackface tone.

[jmonk99]

I have a Neo 12/100 8 ohm listed in the Emporium. As you can tell from the post here it's a great speaker