Anybody Think the C-Rex Sounded Bright?

No. You might want to consider removing the bright cap off the input if you haven't yet, no speaker change is going to change that.

 

A broken in C-Rex should deliver a smooth jangle on the top end.

50 hours at band volume.

 

If both channels sound bright then try a different 12at7 in V6 or the phase inverter position.

 

The C-Rex is a VERY stiff speaker when new. Also, because of the strong hemp cone it takes longer to break-in than many speakers. The treble will smooth out and the overall tone will balance out once it's broken in. Mine too quite a while even at band volumes to fully balance out. (at least 10x3 hour band rehearsals)

 

"Bright" is not a word I would use to describe it.

 

I put one in a vintage Ampeg Reverberocket to tame the highs, it worked perfectly. I wouldn't say it was bright at all.

 

A Deluxe Reverb is just a bright amp, period. On my SFDR I've clipped the bright cap, installed a C-Rex speaker, am using old RCA tubes, and the amp sounds great...but it is still a relatively bright amp. You might try a pedal to darken it up some, a Wampler Ecstasy will make it as dark as you need and then some. If you're a straight to the amp guy, there's no getting around it IMO.

 

I'd totally agree. Of everything I have (V30, Jensen C12Q, Scumback M55, Mesa Black Shadow) it's by FAR the darkest. One other thing worth mentioning, I found that JJ 12AX7's toned down some of the brightness in my amps when needed, YMMV.

 

It's a bit brighter than the stock Jensen C12-K when played clean, but smooths out more when overdriven. Both speakers really need to be broken in for awhile, though. The Jensen is really zingy and buzzy when overdriven before it's broken in. The CRex is better out of the box, but still mellows out a great deal after a while. I just hook the speaker up to an old stereo receiver tuned to an R&B station, point the cabinet at the floor and cover it with a blanket. I leave it like that for a few days.

-Aaron

 

+1.....it takes longer than most speakers to break in.

 

CRex is a very warm speaker. Half your problem is the amp and the other half the CRex. Take it out to your garage, lay it on an old blanket, put a cardboard box over it and play loud music through it for about 72 hours. Yeah, bass and drums...everything.

It will come out a different speaker.

 

The Swamp Thang is one step down from the Crex in terms of brightness, a touch warmer. Large dust cap but also a heavier magnet.

 

Having tried them both extensively, I guess I'm the only person who prefers the Jensen C12K to the C-Rex in a DR (I'm talking specifically about the amp with the bright cap clipped). The C-Rex is nice, but it eliminates the high-end chime and sweetness that you're supposed to get from a DR. With OD pedals, the C-Rex is smoother for sure, but it also lacks a bit of bite relative to the C12K. The C12K can sound a little bit (just a little) buzzy with OD pedals, but I think that's a necessary side effect of any speaker that has high-end chime when clean --- and you can't hear the buzz once you turn the volume up a bit, OR in the band mix. You only notice it playing at home alone at low volumes, and even then it's not a problem. YMMV.

Joe

 

Love the C-Rex. It is NOT a dark speaker, IMO, and can re-produce piercing highs if that's what your amp is putting out. But I don't think it's the "speaker's fault." Just turn the bright switch off and/or turn down the treble. I use the CR in both my brown Deluxe and Deluxe Reverb and just love it!

 

I have a Deluxe Reverb that came with a Celestion Greenback in it. With any other speaker, the amp sounds very bright. I cliped the bright cap, replaced the electrolytics and put in an EV12L and it is still brighter than my Princeton Reverb, Vibrolux Reverb, Super Reverb and Twin Reverb. I think the the DR is just a very bright amp, even when compared to other blackface style amps.

 

Yeah, wait a bit. I've found them to be less bright than a vintage Jenson P12N or an Alnico Blue/Gold too. They have a different mid range than a G12H and a G12M but I have a hard time describing this stuff in words.

 

Yep agree entirely . I don't like to clip a bright cap or turn off the bright switch in the DR, but I do however turn my treble down quite a bit! Very much agree with Leon's assessment of the Cannabis Rex. I have them in cabs I use with LOTS of amps, and they're not dark speakers, but chewy /smoky/thick sounding and they definitely will reproduce piercing highs, but they're amongst my favorites ever.. . Good luck
Eric