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Post by s360guitarist on Sept 26, 2017 14:16:33 GMT -7
Hey folks,
Was wondering if anyone had any experience with the Tone Tubby Chicago Blue. It is said to be a Blue inspired speaker, but with a sensitivity of 94db. It is rated at 30w and has only a 17oz magnet.
Might be great for lowering the volume of an amp.
tonetubby.com/product/chicago-blue/
Thoughts?
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Post by purpletele on Sept 26, 2017 22:20:47 GMT -7
Good eye on the performance Spec's
I haven't tried that speaker but I have used the 40/40, Red Alnico, Santa Rosa, and one other.
I think you might be on to something there!
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Sept 27, 2017 7:37:16 GMT -7
Having looked over all the specs, I cannot prove that the Chicago Blue & San Rafael aren't just AlNiCo/ceramic versions of the same speaker (I welcome anyone to prove me wrong here). And while I haven't tried the Chicago Blue, I have tried and am digging the San Rafael 12" in my 5E3 tweed Deluxe clone. (Have also tried the 40/40 Ceramic, Red Alnico, and also the Cannabis Rex, so I'm quite familiar with TT's hemp-cone stuff.)
I'd not been totally loving the the vintage-accurate, seamed-cone AlNiCo reproduction in my 5E3, but appreciated that the amp wasn't "too loud." So I was looking for a low-watt, balanced/warm speaker with as low of a sensitivity as possible, not-out-of control highs, while still having a better low-end than that '50s clone (which had minimal low-end control). And wouldn't you know it, the San Rafael pretty much hits the mark. Part of me feels a bit sacrilegious putting a "lowly" TT San Rafael in a pricey vintage reproduction, but hey--it sounds damn good now!
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Post by purpletele on Sept 27, 2017 11:12:54 GMT -7
Having looked over all the specs, I cannot prove that the Chicago Blue & San Rafael aren't just AlNiCo/ceramic versions of the same speaker (I welcome anyone to prove me wrong here). And while I haven't tried the Chicago Blue, I have tried and am digging the San Rafael 12" in my 5E3 tweed Deluxe clone. (Have also tried the 40/40 Ceramic, Red Alnico, and also the Cannabis Rex, so I'm quite familiar with TT's hemp-cone stuff.) I'd not been totally loving the the vintage-accurate, seamed-cone AlNiCo reproduction in my 5E3, but appreciated that the amp wasn't "too loud." So I was looking for a low-watt, balanced/warm speaker with as low of a sensitivity as possible, not-out-of control highs, while still having a better low-end than that '50s clone (which had minimal low-end control). And wouldn't you know it, the San Rafael pretty much hits the mark. Part of me feels a bit sacrilegious putting a "lowly" TT San Rafael in a pricey vintage reproduction, but hey--it sounds damn good now! I wouldn't consider Tone Tubby to 'Lowly' at all. In fact I consider them to be top of the line. The San Rafael is really nice. I put it in a super duper Blues Junior and it was wonderful.
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Sept 27, 2017 17:31:16 GMT -7
I wouldn't consider Tone Tubby to 'Lowly' at all. In fact I consider them to be top of the line. ...I wouldn't either! But I get the impression that some people would--especially the San Rafael because of it's low-power and low-sensitivity. But again, I don't feel this way--it's probably one of the best sub-30W 12" speakers I've ever had. Speaking of Tone Tubby's, you know what else is also top-of-the-line? The 40/40 Ceramic, which IMO is in exactly the same tonal category as Celestion's popular G12H-30 Anniversary (just as LOUD too, if not LOUDER) but the refined T.T. beats the absolute pants off the harsh Celestion.
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Post by Rhythmark on Oct 22, 2017 15:30:54 GMT -7
Im thinking about the purple haze 12" in a 1x12, for the wreck headband cure extension cab..double duty!!
I love tone tubby!
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Post by Easyrom on May 28, 2019 9:05:39 GMT -7
Hi there. Old thread I know, but maybe some of you have finally tried the Chicago Blue from Tone Tubby? I have a Celestion Blue which I like very much, but I wouldn't mind a little less efficiency!
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Post by Easyrom on Jun 9, 2019 8:04:47 GMT -7
Okay then, I'll make my own impression! Chicago Blue to come. I love the Celestion Blue in my Swart STR, but I want to try this one for a while, hoping I will be able to push my amp at about 2/3 of the volume without the attenuator engaged...
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Jun 9, 2019 8:31:27 GMT -7
Okay then, I'll make my own impression! Chicago Blue to come. I love the Celestion Blue in my Swart STR, but I want to try this one for a while, hoping I will be able to push my amp at about 2/3 of the volume without the attenuator engaged... I'll be interested in your findings; please report back here after some time to compare.
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Post by Easyrom on Jun 9, 2019 12:54:23 GMT -7
Okay then, I'll make my own impression! Chicago Blue to come. I love the Celestion Blue in my Swart STR, but I want to try this one for a while, hoping I will be able to push my amp at about 2/3 of the volume without the attenuator engaged... I'll be interested in your findings; please report back here after some time to compare. I will!
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Post by Easyrom on Jun 13, 2019 5:59:28 GMT -7
Okay, Tone Tubby Chicago Blue arrived earlier today! It's already in my Swart STR Tremolo Tweed combo... First impressions are quite good. So easy to swap a speaker... but so hard to compare one to the other! I'm not equipped to record properly, so I have to trust my ears and memory. Two obvious things I can tell already: 1. There is a huge gap in efficiency between the Tone Tubby and the Celestion Blue. That was the main reason I wanted to try the Chicago Blue actually, but I didn't expect such a difference. I really can push my amp way more with the TT. 2. Both speakers are blue and alnico, but they don't share the same voicing to me. At all. To my ears, the TT is more "flat", as we'd expect from American type of speakers, where the Celestion has, you know, this throaty, bity, vocally quality, as we describe English type of speakers and alnico blues in particular. I won't say one is better than the other, but they are very different animals, that's for sure. I absolutely love the Celestion Blue with this amp, so I may be a little bit partial right now, but I do like what I've just heard from the Tone Tubby also. I have the Celestion for a few months, so I guess it's a bit broken in, while the TT is brand new. I suppose it will become softer and maybe a little more "3D sounding" as they call it. ;-) Anyway, I plan to keep the Chicago Blue in my amp for a while, in order to make a real opinion in different moods, situations and levels of volume and gain. To be continued!
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Post by Rhythmark on Jun 21, 2019 8:49:19 GMT -7
I put my tt purple haze in my lux and its sounds great! I have 4 / 10 reds in my 64’ super reverb and dig them too! Im a fan of hemp anything!
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Post by Easyrom on Jun 22, 2019 4:32:10 GMT -7
Really like the Chicago Blue and its huge bottom end and detailed high end, but I swapped back to the Celestion Blue. There's something about this particular speaker in this particular amplifier (Swart STR Tremolo) which just fits perfectly. I think I'm done about speakers for this amp.
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Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Jun 22, 2019 6:24:48 GMT -7
Really like the Chicago Blue and its huge bottom end and detailed high end, but I swapped back to the Celestion Blue. There's something about this particular speaker in this particular amplifier (Swart STR Tremolo) which just fits perfectly. I think I'm done about speakers for this amp. Yes, I've heard/read that--for the STR Tremolo, specifically--the Celestion Blue is the speaker for that amp (especially in the non-traditional-Swart square "tuxedo" cab, the one with controls on the top, not back). I'm guessing that's an amazing little tone machine. I'm a little surprised to hear how many opinions are saying that the Chicago Blue is not so much like the Celestion Blue... but hey, that's why we all try things out and share our thoughts. Obviously by painting it Blue and calling it the same, TT has targeted the industry-standard Celestion Blue with that product. But alas, it's been decades and apparently nothing quite sounds like the good ol' Celestion original.
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Post by Easyrom on Jun 22, 2019 9:36:11 GMT -7
Really like the Chicago Blue and its huge bottom end and detailed high end, but I swapped back to the Celestion Blue. There's something about this particular speaker in this particular amplifier (Swart STR Tremolo) which just fits perfectly. I think I'm done about speakers for this amp. Yes, I've heard/read that--for the STR Tremolo, specifically--the Celestion Blue is the speaker for that amp (especially in the non-traditional-Swart square "tuxedo" cab, the one with controls on the top, not back). I'm guessing that's an amazing little tone machine. I'm a little surprised to hear how many opinions are saying that the Chicago Blue is not so much like the Celestion Blue... but hey, that's why we all try things out and share our thoughts. Obviously by painting it Blue and calling it the same, TT has targeted the industry-standard Celestion Blue with that product. But alas, it's been decades and apparently nothing quite sounds like the good ol' Celestion original. My STR Trem has the classic tweed cab (a little bit deeper that the first ones, so we can put some big magnet speakers such as the Blue in it). And yes, it matches very well! I'm not so sure that the Chicago Blue is supposed to mimic the Celestion Blue. It has "Chicago" in its name, right? It would make us think American voiced speakers instead. But you're right: terms Alnico + Blue can be a little confusing... Actually, the owner of Tone Tubby refuses to compare his speakers to other brands and I think that's a fair and elegant way of doing business. To my ears, the Chicago Blue is definitely slightly scooped in the mids, with big round bottom and really nice and detailed highs. I thought I would be a great match with a tweedy style amp, with lots of mids and some kind of a throaty quality to it. Like one complements the other, you know. And on paper, I would have avoid a speaker known for its mid push, such as the Celestion Blue, thinking mid hump + mid hump = too much mid hump. So wrong! I remember I had the same observations about the Therapy I had a few years back. I was sure the Vintage 30 was not for me, but I trusted the good doctor about that, and it was a really wonderful speaker for that particular amp. Actually, I may be not very good for matching amps and speakers (still learning!), but I really like the idea of some kind of "alchemy". It adds fun to our tone quest!
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