Speaker Choice for 5F2a

[K.E.B.]

Hello everybody,

I'm putting together a 5F2a Princeton Clone. The cabinet will be pine. I haven't quite decided on a 10 or 12 inch speaker. That's my first decision. After that, what is a versatile speaker to put into it? I'm looking for lots of clean headroom, something loud that can handle country to rock and roll.

1. 10" or 12"
2. Alnico/Ceramic, watt handling, etc.

The ones that have caught my eye so far are the Ragun' Cajun, Eminence Patriot Cannabis Rex, and several Ted Weber speakers. Price point is $40-$70.

Thanks,
KB

[tubeswell]

Hi KB

Those emi speakers are all pretty powerfully rated compared to the 5-10W (max) of a 5F2A. I think it would sing better with a 15W speaker. Maybe go for one of the low-powered Weber's. JM2CW

[K.E.B.]

I should have mentioned, it has a 12 watt @ 8 ohm output transformer. Should I still go for a lower rated speaker or will a 50 watt be good too?

[tubeswell]

Nah 15W would be about right. The OT rating affects how much/soon the OT saturates and how much bass it carries, but the overall power rating is affected by the tube type and the way it is biased. As a rough rule of thumb, amps with 1 x single-ended Class A biased tube don't put out more than about half the max. plate dissipation rating. The 6V6GT in a 5F2A is capable of about 4-5W. A SE 5881 might get you to 8W on a good day, and a SE KT88 might get you to 20W (if your B+ was high enough and your PT heater winding was up to it)

[K.E.B.]

Okay. Thanks. Good to know.

[PremiumPlus]

What tubeswell said. I've got a nice example of a Princeton Tweed, a 1960. I tried the best Weber has, about $100 alnico 8", and a lower priced Weber 0too. On the advise of a lady on another forum I ended up with an 8" $18 Jensen MOD that smoked any other speaker in that particular amp. YMMV, but for under $20 what can you lose?

[K.E.B.]

How about an EVM12L?

[PremiumPlus]

That's a speaker that will put out exactly what you put in, no coloration. Mine sounds pretty good with my 5E3. But it's a heavy, high power speaker and not one that you'd normally think about matching with a little guy like the 5F2A.
That being said, it may be a match made in heaven! My EVM12L is in a small open back cab. I'll have to try that combination this weekend, and I'll report back.

[K.E.B.]

That's a speaker that will put out exactly what you put in, no coloration.

That's sound I'm trying to achieve. I'm plugging in with an ES-335 style guitar that has remarkable overtones and resonance. I plan on using a tele in the future as well.