10” Speaker replacement - Laney VC30

[somanytoys]

I’ve got a question about replacing 2x10” speakers in my Laney VC30.

Let me start by saying I know I can just swap & check each out, but I’d rather not if I don’t have to. I also know I may still have to, in order to decide for myself, but I trust opinions on this site.

This amp has the original HH speakers, I think they’re Invaders, and I’ve read that they aren’t really great (not sure if in general or in this amp specifically). Laney later went with Jensen C10Q16 speakers instead, according to the manual that I found online. They don’t seem that bad to me, but I have better speakers and would like to try them out, because I’ve read it can make a nice difference in the sound of this amp.

I bought an alnico Celestion Blue (16 ohm, 20 watt) to go in my Vox AC4C1, but it doesn’t fit, so I’m leaving the Weber alnico Silver10 in that. The Blue is going to replace one of the HHs.

The other 2 choices are also Celestions:

Greenback - 16 ohm, 30 watts, made in UK.

80th anniversary G10 Vintage - 16 ohms, 20 watts (same as the Blue), made in China.

I’ve read good things about the Vintage, but the Greenback seemed to sound better when I had these speakers in 2 of the same kind of amps (AC4TVs). The Greenback is still in the one I have left.

I think I remember reading that a difference in wattage will “choke” the higher wattage speaker to the lower one’s wattage output. I don’t really mind that it might get its wattage reduced, and I almost never crank the amp. I’ll be sure not to, once I swap the speakers.

I’d rather the Greenback with the Blue. The main thing is to use the better speaker that will compliment the Blue the best.

Any opinions? And is it horribly risky putting 20 watt speakers in a 30 watt amp?

[Larsongs]

If you like Celestion Alnico Blues you should consider these. I put one in my Vox AC10C1 & it sounds almost as good as my Vox AC15CC1X with Blue.

https://www.tedweber.com/dt10-p

[somanytoys]

I had been looking at those, but I was trying to use what I already had, and wanting to try to get a blend to offset the Blue some.

Shit - I actually just realized that what I have is a 10” Weber Blue Pup, not a Celestion Blue. Don’t think Celestion even make a 10” Blue. (Derr....)

On my main amps, I have a 12” Celestion Blue (AC15), and I’m alternating between an old 12” Greenback and an older 12” Weber Silver Bell (Fender Tweed Deluxe clone).

I’ve read a lot about people mixing speakers in their cabs, and figured that may be a good idea. I may just try the Greenback at the moment, and replace it in the AC4TV with the G10 Vintage.

[Larsongs]

Nope Celestion doesn't make 10" Blue unfortunately.

We've conversed about it in previous Threads. My Vox AC10C1 was one of Sweetwater's upgraded models with a Celestion Greenback.. I liked it but hoped for a more Blue Sound... So I got the Weber DP10-P.. Upgraded the Tubes & it sounds close to my Vox AC15CC1X with Celestion Blue..

I swap the Greenback once in a while just to get a different sound if I'm running both Amps Stereo via my Keeley 30ms Double Tracker pedal... Sounds really great with the Greenback & the Blue...

[somanytoys]

Yeah, I remember that.

I installed the Greenback and the blue pup last night, was more of a pain in the ass than I thought it would be. Also had to do a little soldering for it, but I set them up just as the HH’s were wired.

I’m getting a lot of weird, phasing interference from it now, not sure if it’s the wiring or what. I’m going to try using another amp into those speakers, and see if it’s the amp or the speakers.

[Larsongs]

I've never tried 2 different Speakers in the same Cab. But, seems like if the Ohm ratings are the same it shouldn't be a problem..

Two separate Amps with different Speakers work well.. Although my Keeley Double Tracker Pedal adds a lot of color & dimension as well...

Good luck..

[somanytoys]

Yeah, I don’t get it. I wouldn’t think that the polarities would be reversed from one brand to another.

I took pictures before I unhooked the wires that weren’t soldered to be sure. I soldered the wires back to the same locations, and hooked up the others where they were, and verified it twice after I was done.

I’ll try using it just as a cab with another amp when I’m back home, to see if it’s just something going on with the amp or there’s more to it.

[andy_tchp]

Yeah, I don’t get it. I wouldn’t think that the polarities would be reversed from one brand to another.

They absolutely can be, old JBLs frequently catch people out by being the opposite of 'convention'.

If you briefly connect a 9V battery to the speaker's terminals (+ to +, - to -), does the cone push outwards or get pulled inwards? Repeat this for both speakers and see if there's a difference.

[somanytoys]

Cool trick, Andy - thanks, I’ll try that.

[somanytoys]

I didn’t try that battery trick, but it’s a great thing to know about, and I will be keeping that in mind. Great advice.

Instead, I grabbed one of my Vox AC4TVH heads and plugged it into the speakers, and they sounded wonderful. So it seems to be nothing wrong with the speakers or the installation.

Something is obviously wrong with the Laney’s amp “head”. I haven’t really used that amp very much in a while, so I’m not too worried about getting it fixed very soon.

The Laney’s amp head makes the amp heavy as shit, but if I’m not moving it around much (which I won’t be), it makes a great 2x10 cab for other amps, especially with those 2 speakers.

Now I have to figure out what to do with those HH Invader speakers. Probably just keep them boxed up, and maybe one day see if they work better with something else.

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.

[Larsongs]

A Vox Spkr Cab from North Coast Music for your Spkrs & a Vox AC15 Head would be an awesome combo!

A blond/fawn HW Vox AC15 Head with matching Vox Spkr Cab would be even cooler!

[somanytoys]

I have actually looked at & asked them about one in particular. They only seem to have it in 12” - at least in the model I was looking at. And they’re expensive as dafuq.
But it would be nice.

I was thinking about starting to just buy a dual 10” cab for those 2 speakers. At 1/4 of the price of that Vox cab, putting the HH speakers back into the Laney, getting the head part straight again and selling it.


I have an AC15, and I doubt I’ll really need that 30 watt amp anyway. I still like it a lot, tho.

[Larsongs]

I have actually looked at & asked them about one in particular. They only seem to have it in 12” - at least in the model I was looking at. And they’re expensive as dafuq.
But it would be nice.

I was thinking about starting to just buy a dual 10” cab for those 2 speakers. At 1/4 of the price of that Vox cab, putting the HH speakers back into the Laney, getting the head part straight again and selling it.


I have an AC15, and I doubt I’ll really need that 30 watt amp anyway. I still like it a lot, tho.

Yeah, it would be pricey but very cool... It's hard to beat a good AC15.. If you were to do something it might make sense to get a Fender Amp like a Deluxe Reverb. I find them a perfect compliment to my AC15 with Alnico Blue... Best of both Worlds..

Same with my modded AC10C1 & 65 PRRI...

I also have an older Twin & have thought about an AC30 with Alnico Blues... Although, doubt I ever will unless a deal comes along too good to be true. I almost never play the Twin anymore. Too loud but it does sound fantastic.. Just no opportunity to use it as intended plus it weighs a Ton!

A good 2X10 Cab for your AC4's makes sense..

[somanytoys]

Yeah, that’s usually what I do, although I don’t have any real Fenders.

I have 2 similar Frenzel amps, one with a tweed style Deluxe preamp and a Plexi with a JCM800 capability, and the other is a regular Deluxe and a regular Plexi. I always use the Deluxe side with AC15. The Plexi is cool, but the Vox & Fender sounds complement each other better, I think.

I may just buy an unfinished 2x10 cab for those speakers and tolex it myself, I bought some nice tolex already, so it would just be the price of the cab and some glue. and a lot of watching videos so I don’t do a shitty job of it and waste the tolex.

I like the Laney, it was my first good tube amp, and it sounds good when it’s working right, but I think it’s probably time to go ahead and try to sell it off.

[Larsongs]

Good luck!