shutting one speaker off in 5e7 Bandmaster

[GunbarrelCustom]

Is it possible to have some simple switch that allows you to shut off one speaker to get the same sound as a 5e4 Super?

Thanks!

[Chuck H]

No.

[Chuck H]

Just kidding. Sure it is. Similar enough amps after all. But what IS the tonal difference between the two!?! If it just comes down to three speakers vs two then it's all about the specific speakers, the OT and the cabinet volume. None of which you can control by switching out one speaker. Would any, or even all of those things make a huge difference? Probably not. A little. Try disconnecting a speaker, see if you like it. I don't think you'll find it worth adding a switch to choose three or two speakers. Even if you could change the cabinet volume and OT I don't think you'd find the difference worth a switch. But speaker type could be a bigger player. So... If you don't like the tone, but you like the nature of the amp, it may be worth looking into different speakers rather than subtracting part of the ones you have.

JM2C

[GunbarrelCustom]

Thank you! I've never been one to mod amps before so I am never sure if what I dream up has been done and failed which is why you do not see it anywhere. I got a nice deal on a used Fender ri and do really like it! I biased for new tubes and rectifier which is about the most I have done to an amp lol.

The speakers are much better than the typical Jensen type due to the softened speaker (sort of broken in already). Down the line I may try different speakers though that becomes a can of worms trying do decide if it should have 3 different speakers, all the same or somewhere in-between.

[Chuck H]

It really comes down to whether or not you like everything else about the amp. The features, the envelope of attack, the volume at breakup, the tonal control both before and during breakup, the basic EQ balance, yada, yada...

If everything else is in place, but it's "just missing that special something.?." it can usually be found with the right speaker/s. I don't usually mix speaker types. I have a really killer cabinet with one G12H30 and one V30. But I think it sounded just as good with two of either. Just different. So, lucky me, I found TWO speaker types I like with my particular amp.

I did go through a half dozen speakers types deciding

Totally worth it. It's the biggest favor you can do for yourself and an amp you ALMOST love. For me it started a "I'm not even thinking about my amps shortcomings while I play!" phase that I've never enjoyed before.

I've heard the right speakers change a mediocre amp into a true tone marvel (Peavey Classic 50 loaded with Emi Private Jacks). and the wrong speaker break a deal on selling an amp design to a big cootie in the biz (my proto type amp with Emi L1258's. So 'almost' there but not quite ). Tube tech only goes so far. So why should a Peavey, made from parts selected to meet a price point, sound basically better than my hand built/wired amp with custom Heyboer trannies, OD caps and solid wood cab??? SPEAKER SELECTION!!! You gotta match the speaker with the amp. The amp that I failed to sell to an amp market contender now turns heads with the Celestion G12H30's or V30's I mentioned above. I've sold a half dozen of that circuit AND I'M NOT AN AMP COMPANY! And I live in a small-ish place. Not much exposure. I only build them because I'm flattered by the praise for their sound. Very interesting to me that the amp itself didn't turn any heads with different speakers.

It's one reason I goaded tboy to open the "trade tent" here. That branch of the forum pretty much hit the floor without even bouncing, but my idea was to have a place where we could all swap speakers so that we could all try different ones on the cheap.

Yeah, it can cost a couple hundies up to maybe a thousand bucks to find a speaker you love in an amp you will forever never be able to stop playing... But read that again and note your own lack of ability to quantify the value for such a prize! And, if you're testing quality speakers, you can always recoup at least two thirds of your expense by selling the leftovers.

JM2C on speaker selection.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Is it possible to have some simple switch that allows you to shut off one speaker to get the same sound as a 5e4 Super?

Thanks!

Simply enough, you disconnect one lead to one speaker with your switch. BUT, there's always a big BUT, that speaker's cone will be driven by air pressure generated by your two remaining connected speakers and act in opposition to them, almost as bad as a speaker wired reverse-polarity. You could arrange your switch so that it presents a short across the unused speaker terminals; that would tend to hold the cone in place, a slight improvement over simply disconnecting.

Amp/speaker impedance matching will also be a factor. All the Fender 3x10 I've run across have three 8-ohm speakers in parallel, 2.67 ohms, driven by a 2-ohm OT winding. Close enough for rock & roll, plus I've never seen an OT offered with 2.67 ohm secondary. Take away one speaker, now you're at 4 ohms. Luckily tube amps are generally forgiving, and will let you run the mismatch with the penalties being A: less available power and 2) somewhat shortened tube life IF you play very loud.

If you have both 2 and 4 ohm windings on your OT you could try the 4 ohm. Use your ears, if the 4 ohm output sounds better to you especially with the 2-speaker choice, use it.

[Alan0354]

Simply enough, you disconnect one lead to one speaker with your switch. BUT, there's always a big BUT, that speaker's cone will be driven by air pressure generated by your two remaining connected speakers and act in opposition to them, almost as bad as a speaker wired reverse-polarity. You could arrange your switch so that it presents a short across the unused speaker terminals; that would tend to hold the cone in place, a slight improvement over simply disconnecting.

Yes, if it is a closed cabinet of a typical bandmaster cabinet, that's a no no. Disconnect a speaker is only ok if it's an open back combo that there is no air pressure.

I can't stand the sound those stereo speaker with passive radiators.....Which this will become if it's a closed cabinet.

[Chuck H]

Good point. An open back cabinet should exhibit very little of that "passive radiator" effect. I don't know if there ever was a 3X10 closed back cabinet.?.

[Randall]

I don't know... I had a Super Reverb once get a voice coil rub at a gig. I clipped it out and it still rubbed from sympathetic vibration. Drove me nuts. 4 x 10" open back Fender cab.

[Leo_Gnardo]

I don't know... I had a Super Reverb once get a voice coil rub at a gig. I clipped it out and it still rubbed from sympathetic vibration. Drove me nuts. 4 x 10" open back Fender cab.

Good observation Randall, I was going to mention how that happens.

And even if you short across the de-selected speakers' voice coil, the cone can still flap a bit in response to air pressure. So no matter how you do it, it's a compromise. At least my suggestion "costs" no more than a spdt switch and an extra length of wire.

By now I'd hope GunbarrelCustom had tried a simple disconnection, and reported whether he likes it or not. Hey let's hear from ya GbC.

[Jammin'John]

Weber

Weber makes this. https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/silencer.htm

JJ