10" jangly/sparkly/chimey speaker for my Laney

[Cue Zephyr]

Howdy folks,

(edit: let me set a budget - €100 max)

I recently acquired an older Laney LC15R and I've come to read about almost everybody swapping out the HH Invader that's also in mine (that as well as the Celestion Tube 10 that was in newer ones).

For those that don't know this amp - it's a little 15-watter with one 10" speaker. It's got a Marshall-type circuit (DC coupled cathode follower, 2 EL84s and 3 12AX7/ECC83) and is voiced like one also.
At this point it's a little bit dark/dull and I reckon there's a lot more to be gained from this little box than what the current speaker can give me.

I like the basic sound of my amp, but I'd like to shape it a little differently.
As the title suggests, I'd like some more jangle, chime and sparkle on the cleans.
As for the overdrive, I like it's general sound already but I'd like to have it sound a little clearer and crisper.

That's pretty much an overall tighter tone I'm looking for, I suppose. That, and maybe a little more articulate.

I'm not sure how much chime I can get from this amp as it is kind of a Marshall-voiced amp (and not a Vox or a Fender).

Speaker choice for this amp model seems to be somewhat limited. Most people appear to either get a Celestion G10 Vintage or a Jensen C10Q. Personally I was thinking of getting the Jensen but I wasn't too happy with what I read about the newer Jensens. First thing that came to mind for me was a Celestion Gold, but the price is a bit too tall for me. So I checked Eminence for some contenders. I found 3, which are the Ragin'Cajun, Copperhead and the Ramrod.
I just hope they aren't too powerful for my little 15-watter.

Hoping y'all will be kind enough to point me into the right direction.

CZ

[solitaire]

Yes, those who don't know about the Fane Medusa 10-75...

[terrapin]

Jensen Neo 100 10"...........

[Cue Zephyr]

Originally Posted by solitaire

Yes, those who don't know about the Fane Medusa 10-75...

Indeed, I didn't know about those. They seem to be pretty difficult to get by here (The Netherlands), too.

Originally Posted by terrapin

Jensen Neo 100 10"...........

Sounds like a good option - thanks!

So that means none of the speakers I've found (I can get those more easily than anything else, as well as Celestions and Jensens).

[Jimmy MAck]

FYI, speakers are not too powerful for small amps. Unless you want to really "drive" the speaker, a small amp may not be able to "push" that speaker enough to the point of "breakup".

[Rockyrollercat]

Last year I bought a new Laney LC15R and it came with a Celestion G10N-40 and I like it. If I recall I think the Ragin'Cajun is a dark sounding speaker.

Mine also has an extension jack for an 8-16ohm speaker load. If yours has the same it would greatly increase your speaker choices to go with a 1x12 cab.

RRC

[Blue_n_Jazz]

Something to consider is Eminence 10" Red Fang. It is voiced similar to a Celestion Blue in a 10in size. Not cheap, but cheaper than the British counterpart. An Alnico speaker will help with getting some jangle out of your amp. Or just get the blue. Lots of options.

The Emi Ragin Cajin isn't what I would call dark, but it does sound thick, especially in pairs. The Ramrod would be good, or the Copperhead too.

My Fender came with two Jensen P10R. They are bright, have good bass, and will distort early. I removed one and replaced with the Ragin Cajin. I then took the Jensen I removed and put it in a modded Crate V5. Sounds totally different than it did in my Vibrolux. It actually sounds very good. It gets Icey in the treble spikes, so you could defuse the cone to reduce the spikes.

I would consider the Ramrod, Red Fang ($$) or the Copperhead. I don't think the Jensen would work well with the Laney's circuit.

Good luck.

[Cue Zephyr]

Originally Posted by Jimmy MAck

FYI, speakers are not too powerful for small amps. Unless you want to really "drive" the speaker, a small amp may not be able to "push" that speaker enough to the point of "breakup".

I'm aware of this - I'm not looking to really, really drive the speaker as you mention. I'm more looking to maintain a tight and clear voice even at higher gain levels.

Maybe not what you'd expect keeping in mind what kind of amp this actually is and what kind of musicians have/want one.

Originally Posted by Rockyrollercat

Last year I bought a new Laney LC15R and it came with a Celestion G10N-40 and I like it. If I recall I think the Ragin'Cajun is a dark sounding speaker.

Mine also has an extension jack for an 8-16ohm speaker load. If yours has the same it would greatly increase your speaker choices to go with a 1x12 cab.

RRC

Ah, yes, that's a newer issue of the LC15R. But, mine also has the extension jack. However, I want to wait with getting an extension cab for when I go play live. Then I'll probably get a 2x12 for this. I know a 4x12 would make this a monster but it would also be monster-inconvenient for me to lug around!

Originally Posted by Blue_n_Jazz

Something to consider is Eminence 10" Red Fang. It is voiced similar to a Celestion Blue in a 10in size. Not cheap, but cheaper than the British counterpart. An Alnico speaker will help with getting some jangle out of your amp. Or just get the blue. Lots of options.

The Emi Ragin Cajin isn't what I would call dark, but it does sound thick, especially in pairs. The Ramrod would be good, or the Copperhead too.

My Fender came with two Jensen P10R. They are bright, have good bass, and will distort early. I removed one and replaced with the Ragin Cajin. I then took the Jensen I removed and put it in a modded Crate V5. Sounds totally different than it did in my Vibrolux. It actually sounds very good. It gets Icey in the treble spikes, so you could defuse the cone to reduce the spikes.

I would consider the Ramrod, Red Fang ($$) or the Copperhead. I don't think the Jensen would work well with the Laney's circuit.

Good luck.

Maybe the Ragin' Cajun isn't out of the question - I wouldn't mind a stronger voice in terms of lows and mids. It might benefit the smaller size of the speaker and make it sound larger than it is. I'll only want it if it'll give me some of the jangle in the cleans that I'm looking for, though.

Glad to hear the Ramrod and Copperhead would be possibilities for me. At least I'm not completely **** at this!

I'd be more inclined to grab a Red Fang over a Blue due to the power rating and the headroom along with it. A Red Fang would be cheaper than a Celestion Blue, too. And the Blue isn't available as a 10", only the Gold is.
That said, I've read the Red Fang 10" isn't as much of a good speaker as the 12" version is. Do you have any experience with that?

EDIT: I made a mistake, the local retail price of the Eminence Red Fang and Celestion Gold is pretty much identical. And that's a couple of 10 bucks more than I actually paid for the amplifier itself! :O

[moosewayne]

Originally Posted by solitaire

Yes, those who don't know about the Fane Medusa 10-75...

This

[Cue Zephyr]

Originally Posted by moosewayne

This

Can they actually be had for around €100 in or around The Netherlands? I'm having a lot of trouble finding a dealer that would ship to The Netherlands.

Edit: Anything for Weber or WGS (heard some sounds that I really liked - Weber 10A125 and WGS Veteran)? Thanks!

[Blue_n_Jazz]

My experience with the Red Fang is with the 12. It is everything that is said about it. It will get you your jangle for sure. The 10 is suppose to be very similar, but I have no experience with that model. Every Alnico speaker I have used can get you into jangle territory. The Jensen P10R will, but it is a little shrill at the same time. If you have a friend with a seasoned fender amp with the Jensen in it, see if he will lend you the speaker for a test run. Just might be what the Doctor ordered.

Ragin Cajin will give you a thick voiced amp with some very glassy treble. It can be very janglely. 100db rating, so its loud and proud! It is a unique speaker that REQUIRES a lot of break in. The bass in killing when I first put the two in. Mids not prevalent and was just scooped sounding. Sounded horrible with my VOX AC15 head. It has about 10 hours of abuse and is coming into its own. It still needs more break in, probably another 20 hours or so. IT is a very robust speaker.

Copperhead is more balanced. Very nice speaker. Mids are very pleasing and warm. Slightly less efficient, but at 99db it is very respectable and I would not shy away from the speaker for that. This is the next speaker I am going to buy to pair with my Ragin Cajin in my Vibrolux. Good lows and highs, with a stronger mid presence to warm up the sound and sonic attack.

Weber has some great stuff. Look at the bull-pups. They have them in ceramics which brings the price down. Less jangle, but affordable. I am not sure about the 10f/s/ series speakers. To my knowledge, and its somewhat conjecture, is more "American" voiced and not the exact jangle you want. Others with experience will have to testify on that. I yield to them as I jist haven't tried them personally.

If you can, wait and save your coin to buy a Red Fang or a Gold. It really sounds like that is the tone you are aspiring to get. That's what I did for my Red Fang. Well worth the wait.

Peace and good luck.

[Cue Zephyr]

Originally Posted by Blue_n_Jazz

My experience with the Red Fang is with the 12. It is everything that is said about it. It will get you your jangle for sure. The 10 is suppose to be very similar, but I have no experience with that model. Every Alnico speaker I have used can get you into jangle territory. The Jensen P10R will, but it is a little shrill at the same time. If you have a friend with a seasoned fender amp with the Jensen in it, see if he will lend you the speaker for a test run. Just might be what the Doctor ordered.

Ragin Cajin will give you a thick voiced amp with some very glassy treble. It can be very janglely. 100db rating, so its loud and proud! It is a unique speaker that REQUIRES a lot of break in. The bass in killing when I first put the two in. Mids not prevalent and was just scooped sounding. Sounded horrible with my VOX AC15 head. It has about 10 hours of abuse and is coming into its own. It still needs more break in, probably another 20 hours or so. IT is a very robust speaker.

Copperhead is more balanced. Very nice speaker. Mids are very pleasing and warm. Slightly less efficient, but at 99db it is very respectable and I would not shy away from the speaker for that. This is the next speaker I am going to buy to pair with my Ragin Cajin in my Vibrolux. Good lows and highs, with a stronger mid presence to warm up the sound and sonic attack.

Weber has some great stuff. Look at the bull-pups. They have them in ceramics which brings the price down. Less jangle, but affordable. I am not sure about the 10f/s/ series speakers. To my knowledge, and its somewhat conjecture, is more "American" voiced and not the exact jangle you want. Others with experience will have to testify on that. I yield to them as I jist haven't tried them personally.

If you can, wait and save your coin to buy a Red Fang or a Gold. It really sounds like that is the tone you are aspiring to get. That's what I did for my Red Fang. Well worth the wait.

Peace and good luck.

I've read that almost everywhere, that alnicos will give me jangle most of the time. That's actually the main reason why I was thinking of a Gold or a Red Fang in the first place. I've also read that the Red Fang 10" had some problems that the 12" didn't have, and that Celestion actually got it figured out better. Because if that's true, I'll have the Gold (same price here). I was recommended to get either the C10Q or P10Q by Jensen but shrill isn't really what I want (kind of a pity, liked the price on them). Plus, I've read that the RI's aren't that great.

I have a buddy with a seasoned Fender amp ('67 Bandmaster), but if you know Fenders, it's a head.

I see - thanks for the heads-up. So if I do get a Ragin' Cajun and it doesn't sound that awesome I'll know I have to give it a lot of time.

Regarding a thick-voiced speaker - I was told that I should watch out with it because if there's gonna be a lot more bass/lowmid response, the little cabinet won't be able to keep up with it. I already notice it when I turn the bright switch off.

I've looked at Weber, but it seems to be rather impossible to get anything else besides that what's on eBay (which is not the Blue Pups). Shipping costs appears to be madness as well.
Some that I found include the Signature alnico 10" (costing as much as a Greenback), the Vintage alnico 10" (costing a few tens less than a RF/Gold).

I suppose waiting is a good idea, and if I'll ever sell the amp I can keep the speaker which I'll inevitably want in something else that I then might want.

I was offered, though, today in a shop, to take my amp and have them throw in a speaker to see what that sounds like. And, if I like it I can buy it, and if not, well it's no problem. Saves me some hassle, even if they only stock the G10 Vintage or G10 Greenback.

[vanguard]

pricey, but the best 10" speaker around IMO: G10 gold.

budget priced, 35w, very clear and jangly: eminence 1028k

[Cue Zephyr]

Well, if it's the best, I might as well shell out a few bills for one. I mean, I'm pretty sure this won't be my last 10" speaker-equipped amp.

I'll check out the Legend, thanks!

[Blue_n_Jazz]

10s are underrated. They can give sonic qualities that 12s and 15s cannot, and visa versa.

I would encourage you to hold to your guns on the Alnico. Cost more, but worth it. If what you have is that bad, which it shouldn't be, do what you got to do. Its your money, ears, and time. I am just a firm believer in delayed gratification if you have to settle for something you don't really want.

Peace