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Post by zpilot on Jul 29, 2017 20:13:19 GMT -7
I was reading a review in Guitar Player the other day on the Cure that stated the Z-12 speaker is supposed to be a close reproduction of a mid '60's Oxford. I have both a Z-12 and an Oxford that I pulled from my 1965 Ampeg Gemini 1 that is the same speaker that was in the Deluxe Reverbs from that era. I decided to do a comparison by mounting them together in the same 2x12 cab. I wired up an A/B footswitch so I could switch quickly back and forth.
First of all, just looking at the two, they don't appear to be remotely the same. The Z has a much bigger magnet, the Oxford has a more tightly ribbed cone with a 1.125" voice coil, while the Z's is 1.5" (as close as I can measure). The dust cap on the Z-12 is much bigger too.
Listening to the two I can sort of see where someone could say that they were in the same ballpark, at least at low volumes. The Oxford starts to break up much earlier though. The Z-12 appears to be at least 3 dB's more efficient. That's just an estimate. It also just seems to have a more balanced response as it gets louder.
I really, really like the way the Oxford sounds when played clean and I would like to leave it in the Gemini but I am just afraid of blowing it so I have it replaced with another speaker in case I ever want to sell the amp. The Z-12 does kind of have that vintage vibe but it's "rounder" and less raspy when pushed. I don't really agree with GP's opinion.
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Post by KeithA on Jul 30, 2017 7:20:55 GMT -7
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Post by DRZ on Jul 30, 2017 7:47:56 GMT -7
Well lets see your comparing a 60 year old speaker to a new one. I did try to get a higher wattage rating as it was used on the Z Lux first, increased flux for more dissipation and increased efficiency. Also I wanted to remove the Raspy sound of the Oxford when overdriven, increased voice coil size to lessen the raspy bite . I had Eminence use the Oxford as a base reference , when I compared the developing Z Lux to original Blackface Deluxe Reverbs, which were equipped with Oxfords. Also there was a Gold frame Oxford 12 that was used in the later VOX Super Beatles, I love those speakers.
Z
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Post by Maddog on Jul 30, 2017 7:49:58 GMT -7
I don't recall ever leaving an Oxford in any amp I've ever owned. Most were in BF Fenders and I always tried to find the vintage Jensen upgrade for that particular amp each time. The Oxfords are great for bedroom playing but imho, that's where it ends. They breakup nicely and early, but get messy after that. Granted, the majority of the Oxfords I've owned had the shxx played out of them long before I got them, so comparing them to a new speaker isn't really fair anyway. But my goodness is Doc's Z-12 a tremendous improvement. In my mind there's no comparison...... if Leo could have used these Z Speakers way back when, his smile wudda been even bigger !!!!
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Post by greenblues58 on Jul 30, 2017 10:00:42 GMT -7
Nothing wrong with the 2x original oxfords in my early 71 vibrolux very sparkly and decent bottom end. Changed them out to preserve them and put in a Jupiter mix of large and small ceramic magnets. I had a zlux briefly and didn't take to it. I thought most if it was the speaker ie too American for my British ears but tried it with a gold and the 2 x10 jupiters plus most combinations of speakers l have available . More to my taste with the 2x10 but sorry to say moved the zlux on.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2017 10:39:09 GMT -7
I moved a Jensen Alnico Bluebell out of one of my ISO cabs at the studio a year or so back and replaced it with the Z-12. That side of the room has the "American" amps. It's really done well for me there.
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Post by zpilot on Jul 30, 2017 22:52:00 GMT -7
Well lets see your comparing a 60 year old speaker to a new one. I did try to get a higher wattage rating as it was used on the Z Lux first, increased flux for more dissipation and increased efficiency. Also I wanted to remove the Raspy sound of the Oxford when overdriven, increased voice coil size to lessen the raspy bite . I had Eminence use the Oxford as a base reference , when I compared the developing Z Lux to original Blackface Deluxe Reverbs, which were equipped with Oxfords. Also there was a Gold frame Oxford 12 that was used in the later VOX Super Beatles, I love those speakers. Z My point was that, to me, the Z-12 is an improvement on the Oxford when pushed with more than 10 to 15 watts. My Oxford is in excellent condition but I'm sure the magnet has weakened a bit. Still, it was undersized to begin with. At low volume the two sound similar but that's where it ends.
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