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Post by nicholas on Jan 8, 2022 5:38:43 GMT -7
Being mostly a Celestion guy I've played around with most of their speakers over the years. Most of them have a character which I enjoy. I guess we categorize that with a British sound. Maybe because they are made in the UK (or were), or they typically came in British amps. What they don't really sound like is an "american" style speaker. I have an amp that I wanted to get more of a classic vintage Fender type tone from. While I found some great tones with celestion, I really wanted to try something very different. I also wanted it to handle overdrive and distortion and not turn to flub city or get funky sounding. So I started looking around. There's so many options these days. A while back zpilot posted a link to a great interview with someone from Jenson speakers. I thought it was really good so I looked around at what they had to offer. I'm no expert on all things Jenson, or Fender for that matter. But I've heard P12Q enough times to know that it's associated with the sound I was after. So digging a little deeper I found the Blackbird 40. Which is an off shoot of the P12Q with a beefed up magnet and stronger bass. Voiced to sound vintage but also work well with modern levels of gain. So I ordered one and have about a week on it. It sure sounds great! When I opened the box and pulled out the speaker it was shocking light. For a second I thought I miss ordered, or was incorrectly sent some sort of NEO speaker. This thing is SUPER light. From what I gather they use a tiny 11oz AlNiCo magnet but then somehow make it more magnetic which gives it the thumping bass. Others will know more about the technicals. Whatever they did it sure sounds good. Very vintage toned, warm and deep but bright at the same time. Hard to describe. It has this thing going on that sort of sounds like a piano when clean, and when gained up it has a very unique tone that I dig. For how light this thing is I can't get over the monster tones coming out of it! I've tried all the Celestion AlNiCo's and never really got along with them much. Which let me to believe I just didn't like that magnet material or something. Guess that's not the case cuz this Blackburd 40 sounds killer. Have a listen.
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Post by purpletele on Jan 8, 2022 7:04:29 GMT -7
What amp did you pair this speaker?
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Post by buckeye on Feb 14, 2022 5:29:15 GMT -7
Just ordered one of these. I'm hoping at 96dbs it will help with the volume at rehearsal.
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Post by nicholas on Feb 15, 2022 5:32:26 GMT -7
Just ordered one of these. I'm hoping at 96dbs it will help with the volume at rehearsal. Cool, let us know what you think. It reminds me of a herritage greenback in term of volume.
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Post by buckeye on Feb 22, 2022 16:52:44 GMT -7
Just ordered one of these. I'm hoping at 96dbs it will help with the volume at rehearsal. Cool, let us know what you think. It reminds me of a herritage greenback in term of volume. Well first impressions are I love it! I loaded it into one of my homemade cabs and plugged my Z- Plus into it. I've been running my Plus into a V-Type lately and had to dial down the cut and treble a bit and bumped up the bass to about noon. Love the clean tones and dirt pedals sound amazing. Hard to believe it's an 11ounce magnet. Also tried it with my M-12 with the Steve Miller mod and it never sounded better. At 96dbs the M-12 paired with the Blackbird will be my go-to for rehearsals. It's a bit pricey but what the hell, you only live once right?
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Post by helmi on Feb 22, 2022 17:30:47 GMT -7
I was just looking at these recently also.
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Post by buckeye on Mar 18, 2022 14:19:25 GMT -7
Well, I finally got to try out the Blackbird at a gig yesterday. It was an outdoor gig for St. Paddy's day. The weather here in NE Ohio was glorious! I love this speaker! The clean tones are amazing and handles dirt like a champ. Very harmonic? I perched my Z-Plus that I converted to a head (Still waiting for that Z-Plus NR head Doc! Yuk yuk.) on top of the cab and was able to boost the V knob up a bit more than usual due to the 95 db sensitivity for the 16 0hm version. Our sound guy asked me after the first set if I changed something with my rig. I told him about the Blackbird and he said this one is a keeper!
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Post by nicholas on Mar 24, 2022 6:49:05 GMT -7
I love this speaker! The clean tones are amazing and handles dirt like a champ. Very harmonic? That about sums it up! Glad you like it. For the weight weenies this would check another box. It's so light that it doesn't even feel right lol.
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Post by KeithA on Mar 24, 2022 8:55:01 GMT -7
I love this speaker! The clean tones are amazing and handles dirt like a champ. Very harmonic? That about sums it up! Glad you like it. For the weight weenies this would check another box. It's so light that it doesn't even feel right lol. I may have to get one of these for the Z-PLus combo
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Post by helmi on Mar 24, 2022 14:08:28 GMT -7
That about sums it up! Glad you like it. For the weight weenies this would check another box. It's so light that it doesn't even feel right lol. I may have to get one of these for the Z-PLus combo Is this an admission of being a “weight weenie”? LOL
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Post by buckeye on Mar 24, 2022 17:36:47 GMT -7
I may have to get one of these for the Z-PLus combo Is this an admission of being a “weight weenie”? LOL For the record I'm in the "Weight Weenie" Club!
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Post by KeithA on Mar 24, 2022 18:40:03 GMT -7
I may have to get one of these for the Z-PLus combo Is this an admission of being a “weight weenie”? LOL Lol, no. However, I cannot deny that I'm probably just a weenie
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Post by nicholas on Mar 24, 2022 18:54:14 GMT -7
Is this an admission of being a “weight weenie”? LOL Lol, no. However, I cannot deny that I'm probably just a weenie Lol. Just the garden variety weenie here too
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Post by KeithA on Mar 24, 2022 19:02:02 GMT -7
Lol, no. However, I cannot deny that I'm probably just a weenie Lol. Just the garden variety weenie here too Lol..trying to source one of these in Canada. Not easy!
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Post by KeithA on Mar 24, 2022 19:22:24 GMT -7
Lol. Just the garden variety weenie here too Lol..trying to source one of these in Canada. Not easy! Well, looks like I can order from Amplified Parts in the US. Expensive shipping but sometimes you just need to say....WTF
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Post by nicholas on Mar 24, 2022 19:33:52 GMT -7
Lol..trying to source one of these in Canada. Not easy! Well, looks like I can order from Amplified Parts in the US. Expensive shipping but sometimes you just need to say....WTF It's too bad there aren't more video reviews of it. I took a flyer on it and really like it. But speakers are one of those things (like pickups) where it's hard to tell until you try it.
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Post by nicholas on Mar 24, 2022 19:35:13 GMT -7
You have a cream alnico in your Zplus right?
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Post by KeithA on Mar 24, 2022 20:13:48 GMT -7
You have a cream alnico in your Zplus right? Correct. I have a 112 Reinhardt closed-back cab that I've wanted to put a Cream AlNiCo in for a while.
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Post by nicholas on Mar 24, 2022 20:19:58 GMT -7
Lol..trying to source one of these in Canada. Not easy! Well, looks like I can order from Amplified Parts in the US. Expensive shipping but sometimes you just need to say....WTF You could try Mesa too. It's a stock speaker in one of their amps and they sell it direct on the website. Or if you had a Mesa dealer local they could probably get it. Not sure if that helps with the shipping cost for you though.
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Post by KeithA on Mar 24, 2022 20:46:51 GMT -7
Well, looks like I can order from Amplified Parts in the US. Expensive shipping but sometimes you just need to say....WTF You could try Mesa too. It's a stock speaker in one of their amps and they sell it direct on the website. Or if you had a Mesa dealer local they could probably get it. Not sure if that helps with the shipping cost for you though. Long & McQuade (Canada's Guitar Center & my local dealer) lists Jensen speakers on their website. I'm hoping that can get it. If not I'll just order from Amplified Parts.
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Post by KeithA on Mar 25, 2022 11:42:28 GMT -7
You could try Mesa too. It's a stock speaker in one of their amps and they sell it direct on the website. Or if you had a Mesa dealer local they could probably get it. Not sure if that helps with the shipping cost for you though. Long & McQuade (Canada's Guitar Center & my local dealer) lists Jensen speakers on their website. I'm hoping that can get it. If not I'll just order from Amplified Parts. So, there's one on the way from Arizona (Amplified Parts).
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Post by buckeye on Mar 25, 2022 12:45:03 GMT -7
Long & McQuade (Canada's Guitar Center & my local dealer) lists Jensen speakers on their website. I'm hoping that can get it. If not I'll just order from Amplified Parts. So, there's one on the way from Arizona (Amplified Parts). Cool! Let us know your thoughts once you try it in your Plus.
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Post by KeithA on Mar 30, 2022 12:05:55 GMT -7
Long & McQuade (Canada's Guitar Center & my local dealer) lists Jensen speakers on their website. I'm hoping that can get it. If not I'll just order from Amplified Parts. So, there's one on the way from Arizona (Amplified Parts). The speaker just made its way to Eastern Canada unharmed
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Post by KeithA on Apr 2, 2022 10:52:44 GMT -7
So, there's one on the way from Arizona (Amplified Parts). The speaker just made its way to Eastern Canada unharmed So, I installed the Blackbird in the Z-Plus. Noodled for about 10 minutes. In the Z-Plus I like it better than the AlNiCo Cream. There is a presence to the top end of the Z-Plus that is so sweet with the Blackbird. It almost imparts a reedy-type of character the the top end (in a Greenback kinda way, but not exactly). The volume drop was noticeable, too. Turns the Z-Plus into an even better home/studio amp. On the 1/2 power setting with the master and volume up pretty good the volume level was great. Doc should offer a limited-run (40) blacked-out Z-Plus combo with a Blackbird Alnico 40 and call it the SR-715 I'm probably not the best person to compare these speaker differences due to my lack of experience, but there seems to be some magic with the combination of the Jensen Blackbird AlNiCo 40 and the single-ended Z-Plus. The Blackbird is staying
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Post by nicholas on Apr 2, 2022 13:15:36 GMT -7
The speaker just made its way to Eastern Canada unharmed So, I installed the Blackbird in the Z-Plus. Noodled for about 10 minutes. In the Z-Plus I like it better than the AlNiCo Cream. There is a presence to the top end of the Z-Plus that is so sweet with the Blackbird. It almost imparts a reedy-type of character the the top end (in a Greenback kinda way, but not exactly). The volume drop was noticeable, too. Turns the Z-Plus into an even better home/studio amp. On the 1/2 power setting with the master and volume up pretty good the volume level was great. Doc should offer a limited-run (40) blacked-out Z-Plus combo with a Blackbird Alnico 40 and call it the SR-715 I'm probably not the best person to compare these speaker differences due to my lack of experience, but there seems to be some magic with the combination of the Jensen Blackbird AlNiCo 40 and the single-ended Z-Plus. The Blackbird is staying Cool. Glad you like it! It's got some mojo for sure.
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Post by buckeye on Apr 3, 2022 5:06:35 GMT -7
The speaker just made its way to Eastern Canada unharmed So, I installed the Blackbird in the Z-Plus. Noodled for about 10 minutes. In the Z-Plus I like it better than the AlNiCo Cream. There is a presence to the top end of the Z-Plus that is so sweet with the Blackbird. It almost imparts a reedy-type of character the the top end (in a Greenback kinda way, but not exactly). The volume drop was noticeable, too. Turns the Z-Plus into an even better home/studio amp. On the 1/2 power setting with the master and volume up pretty good the volume level was great. Doc should offer a limited-run (40) blacked-out Z-Plus combo with a Blackbird Alnico 40 and call it the SR-715 I'm probably not the best person to compare these speaker differences due to my lack of experience, but there seems to be some magic with the combination of the Jensen Blackbird AlNiCo 40 and the single-ended Z-Plus. The Blackbird is staying Not to mention almost 5 lbs. lighter!
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Post by nick0 on May 4, 2022 19:58:40 GMT -7
Anyone try one with a Jetta?
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matte
New Member
Posts: 45
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Post by matte on May 7, 2022 12:29:20 GMT -7
Oh man. I had forgotten about those. I also wanted to try them. I ran across some alnico Tone Tubby speakers a while back and really like them. I first picked up their chicago blue to put in a 15w egnater tweaker combo. And it actually sounded a lot like a quieter g12h30. The speaker that was in it, but somehow the highs were still there but smoother and not as harsh. Plus it being less efficient made it easier to push the power amp harder. And not long after I found a Brown Soun 212 with their alnico Red's. At first I wasn't sure about them. But have grown to really like them. I don't really know how to explain how they sound. But with the right amp they sure sound good. And fwiw I figured out a long time ago, I can make almost any speaker work for me when it's clean. But when I start adding harmonics is when I really find out if I like a speaker or not. I guess they all accentuate different frequencies. Anyway I have to hear certain higher harmonics or it just doesn't have "air" and sound right to me. But I'm also sensitive to high, and certain frequencies just drive me nuts. So I have been on quite a speaker journey for a while. Getting close to getting my wall of speakers set up. It will make it easier to try different combinations. But I guess also require more speakers and amps to try together. Haha.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on May 18, 2022 5:55:57 GMT -7
I made the leap and ordered one from Amplified Parts last week. It's out for delivery today, and I'm looking forward to trying it with the Maz 18NR, Z-Wreck, and my Z-Plus. The Therapy will be another one I'm curious to see how this speaker works with. Right now I've got a 2x10 with AlNiCo Red Fangs in it that sounds great with the Therapy.
I really want it to work with the Maz 18 though, for Big Band duties. Summer concerts are coming fast and a lightweight, great sounding speaker in the 18NR combo would be really nice.
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Post by nick0 on May 18, 2022 9:18:05 GMT -7
I made the leap and ordered one from Amplified Parts last week. It's out for delivery today, and I'm looking forward to trying it with the Maz 18NR, Z-Wreck, and my Z-Plus. The Therapy will be another one I'm curious to see how this speaker works with. Right now I've got a 2x10 with AlNiCo Red Fangs in it that sounds great with the Therapy. I really want it to work with the Maz 18 though, for Big Band duties. Summer concerts are coming fast and a lightweight, great sounding speaker in the 18NR combo would be really nice. Let us know what you think! I'd say there is definitely more chime and presence in the high end with the Blackbird. Nothing harsh though. It gets nice and crunchy when driven too. You may need to tame the highs down a little on the eq controls with the Maz. I know I had to bump the tone control down a little on my jetta. That worked for me because I wanted some more sparkle. Just a warning, i had to elongate the holes in the Blackbird frame with a round file to get it to fit in the combo on the Jetta. The Maz may be the same.
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