Spamonkis Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Okay, So I have heard people grip about the stock Casino P90s sounding muddy for rhythm work and I too have delt with this. I have considered some after market pickups myself, until... I replaced the ceramic magnet 12" speaker that someone had put in my '60s Ampeg Reverberocket. I knew the speaker had been replaced at some point years ago and I wanted to put a Celestion Alnico Blue in it, but @ $250+, it was one of those things that just never rose to the top of my priority list. The Celestion Blue was originally a radio speaker from the '50s that Vox put into AC30s and they became a legend. There are a lot of vintage alnico radio speakers out there (Heppner, Cleveland, Rola and of course Jensen to name a few). They can be picked up on Ebay for ~$50, but I was set on the Celestion. Then I came across a Magnavox Golden Voice alnico "12 that I picked up for under $20. For that price, I had to try it out. Well, bottom line... AMAZING! The highs are sweet and chimey and never get brittle like the ceramic speaker did. The bottom end is tight and clean with absolutely no muddiness! The combination of Casino, old hand wired tube amp and alnico speaker is a match made in heaven. These old speakers are only rated at 15 watts (like the old amps) so don't try this with a 100 watt 112 combo, but if you have a low watt amp and want a MASSIVE sound upgrade for cheap, what are you waiting for? Get one now before the word gets out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 If you want basically the same speaker as a Celestian Blue, look for an Oxford 12KR5. I talked to a well-known speaker rebuilder in the area and these are about as close to the Blue as you can get, spec-wise, but available at half the price. I got a rebuilt, warrantied Oxford for $85. These things work great in any Vox-like situation and even Fender used them for a while, when they were feeling the heat from the British stuff. I have one in a vintage Vox Ac-4 amp, that I split from a combo into a piggy back amp. My Casino loves this amp. I agree that the amp used for Epi P-90s can make or break to tone you get from them. But then, I think that the amp you use is as important as the guitar, pickup, whatever. Good on you for stepping outside the box and trying something that isn't the norm. Pretty hard to beat those old speakers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 BTW, low watt, tube amps are the way to for P-90s, IMHO. If you need to be louder, mike it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 I once autopsied a shorted out Curtis Mathis TV console for the pair of 12" RCAs it held.... best $5 I ever spent ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 i thought it was required to play p-90 through vintage tube amps with alnicos! currently running mine through 2 all original electronics/speakers, unrestored early 1960s silvertone amps a 1481 and a 1483 love the sounds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeman Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 i thought it was required to play p-90 through vintage tube amps with alnicos! currently running mine through 2 all original electronics/speakers, unrestored early 1960s silvertone amps a 1481 and a 1483 love the sounds! Those are cool amps. I used to have this one until I sold it a few years ago. It was all original too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelake07 Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 I disliked the overwound stock P90's on my 2003 MIK Casino even when played through vintage amps with alnico speakers. I had mine rewound and am very glad I did, but certainly many players are pleased with the originals. I don't recall seeing any posts from members here who have regretted either swapping out their original MIK Casino P90's for quality replacements or having the stock ones rewound, but I haven't read EVERY post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Those are cool amps. I used to have this one until I sold it a few years ago. It was all original too. i would like to have bought that from ya! that's a highly coveted silvertone, as you prolly know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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