Tweed Deluxe 5E3 speaker comparison

Blindfold test of 4 different speakers for my new 5E3 Grand Tweed Deluxe 20W tube amp. The speakers in this shootout are:
Eminence Cannabis Rex 12"
Eminence GA10-SC64 Alessandro 10"
Jensen C12N 12"
Celestion Blue 12"
The guitars used:
2001 Gibson ES-335 dot w/classic '57s pickups
2022 Fraser S-Style '60s Vintage Series w/Evil Sheep '63 Heavy Formvar pickups
Guitar pedals used:
Mad Professor Royal Blue Overdrive
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive deluxe
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Neunaber Wet Reverb
Strymon El-Capistan dtape echo
There are video impressions of my home town Stavanger in Norway along the parts of me testing the speakers. I'm playing an impromptu version of "Molde Canticle" (Jan Garbarek) in the single coil parts of the video.
00:00 Fraser S-style tones
00:18 How I will do the test
01:26 Speaker A - Humbuckers
03:09 Speaker B - Humbuckers
04:54 Speaker C - Humbuckers
07:07 Speaker D - Humbuckers
08:32 Speaker A - Single Coils
10:16 Speaker B - Single Coils
12:48 Speaker C - Single Coils
15:19 Speaker D - Single Coils
17:22 Reveal and conclusion
#speakershootout
#fendertweedDeluxe
#tweeddeluxespeaker
#5E3speaker
#bluesguitar
#bluesguitaramp
#jensenspeakers
#eminencespeakers
#celestionspeakers
#TweedDeluxe
#Bluestone
#gibsones335
#Fraserguitars
#EvilSheeppickups
#madprofessorroyalblue
#madprofessorsweethoneyoverdrive
#stavanger
#norway
#grandtweedamp

[@jknadler75]

Hello Thor, Great video and nice playing and yes, you get a lot of great tones out of those guitars! I've been on a speaker quest myself for a 5E3 clone and this is very helpful. My favorite, and the only one that I was sure of was "C". The only alnico and you described the tones well. The ceramic speakers all had a similar character and A and B were similar but the Cannabis Rex seemed to have pronounced upper mids and would likely sound best overdriven to where hearing protection is required.

[@brianweisbrod7082]

Love your playing. I also picked the Celestion Blue without knowing what it was. I'm building a 5E3 amp kit and after your video a Blue will probably go in the cabinet!

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

@@brianweisbrod7082 Thank you! I hope you will love the Celestion Blue. It brought a noticeable difference in a positive way for me. Good luck with your build👍

[@BradRocker]

Nice !! Love this little amp and the different choices of speakers sound fantastic. That 335 sounds exquisite.

[@richardbradley1306]

Very innovative video format - congratulations. Exceptional Fraser strat and tasteful playing

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Hi, that's inspiring to hear you say about the video format, I did enjoy making it and maybe I should look into doing more in this style. And yes, that Fraser is such a great guitar. Thanks for your kind words on my playing 😊

[@50Something]

Wow! Speakers A and C stood out to me in a huge way. You were even sounding like Keith Richards at one point. I have to say that you're playing is just outstanding and the new amp is glorious! A match made in heaven! Happy New Year my friend from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Hi Christopher and a Happy new year! Yes open D tuning and some Keef riffs makes my day 😎Thanks for your kind words on my playing, and I do agree that this Tweed amp is a good match for me. Very happy with it, and with a Blue in there I'm good to go! Cheers!

[@rshock]

And your hometown is beautiful

[@bentkm]

Beautiful images from my favourite city in the world. Accompanied by great tones by the great Thoddi himself. This alone makes the video worth watching. Then comes the nerdy guitar stuff ....

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

As a matter of coincident it is my favourite city as well 😃 Thanks for your support my good friend!

[@lindamcguigan5989]

For me, A&D, thank you for those beautiful views

[@Bushradical]

Hey Thor. All of them sound great

[@Bushradical]

man , you are one killer player Thor.......just awesome

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

@@Bushradical Hi Dave, so cool to see a comment from you here😊Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm actually listening to the nice guitar music compilation that you recently shared on your channel as we speak. I love the mood in your playing. All the best for the new year!

[@Bairov]

They also make the SC64 in a 12-inch variation!

[@druwk]

I am having a 5e3 built and have a Celestion Blue… I am relieved that my blind order was C, B, D and A! I definitely had a natural preference for the 12” This post is definitely giving me confidence that I made the right decision! ☮️💟🕉️

[@SS_Psyops]

Funny I’m almost right the opposite. B was duller, and it along with C were very sharp in the upper mids. It was harsh to me, perhaps it’s my amp setup but idk…. D and A sounded best, neither had the ice pick thing and both had life without grating on me.

[@walkinginharmony]

Happy New Year Thor! What a beautiful video of Stavanger and your playing is beautiful...you have soul my friend. I listened as a soundtrack whilst I am levelling the frets on a LP but I had to keep stopping just to enjoy the music. Here are my thoughts on the speakers before the reveal. Speaker A sounded fabulous! So many overtones and dynamics. Speaker B sounded smaller and lost the width (10"?) Speaker C brought life back again and was very good, guessing the Blue? Speaker D was also very good but I have no idea what it is!! now I have to watch the reveal and see if I got any right! Keep up the video's Thor you are a true inspiration and a very gentle soul. The world needs more like you. EDIT: I was so wrong about the 10inch if that was speaker A. I liked speaker C after that and as I have used Blues for 20 years I'm glad I got it right! If you care to pay postage only I will donate a 12" Blue to you. It's called paying it forward and it couldn't go to a better home.

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Wow Brian, thanks so much for your kind words 😊 I hope you managed to level out those frets and that I didn't make you inattentive to your work 😀 I think in the recording the 10" speaker sounds pretty good, and I use it with my Princeton mainly because it does a good job on the lower frequencies from that particular amp. Connected to the Tweed it comes out a bit too "light" here in the room. And I was thrilled about the tones from the Blue, so yes, I need one. I've seen others also put that as a favourite, especially for a Tweed Deluxe. Interesting to hear that you've ben using them for decades. Then it must be good! I am moved by your offer. I think that is way too kind, but I would like to discuss buying one from you if you would like to sell me one. We could maybe discuss over email? All the best, Thor

[@walkinginharmony]

@@GUITARSGIZMOS Hi Thor...my offer was genuine and I will email you tomorrow so we can work it out. Brian....maybe remove your email now??

[@garypannone7755]

Your home town Norway is beautiful. As far as the speakers go I am glad I do not have to choose one. They all sounded great even the 10 inch. They all sounded the same but noticed with the 335, A sounded a bit brighter. But I would be happy with any of the speakers there. Possibly they all sounded alike to me is because I am listening through my not so good laptop speakers. As usual great playing.

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Thanks, even on a somewhat grey Desember afternoon, Stavanger is a good place to be 😊 I think your observation is pretty accurate. It is marginal differences, and pretty hard to pick up from laptop speakers. But I will argue that when playing them and listening in the room here, there is enough tonal difference to appreciate that the Blue is a great choice for this amp. Thanks for your kind words on my playing😊 Cheers!

[@rzbach23]

A and C are my favorites

[@rzbach23]

Surprised to find A was a 10

[@rshock]

B and D

[@SS_Psyops]

B is dull or more “round,” C sounds like an ice pick with that upper mid range - I definitely liked it least and couldn’t tolerate that for any length of time, D was similar but more subdued which I preferred as it rolled off those annoying frequencies to me (Eminence in the past have always beat out Celestions tho IMO), and A seemed to be a good mix overall bit more compressed…? which worked well here. That said I didn’t listen to the humbuckers as I would never use one, I hate them, to me they sound like a cardboard box or a blanket placed over the sound. Lastly, over the years I’ve discovered that I actually don’t prefer 12’s, I play mostly with 15’s but 18’s are amazing too!

[@walkinginharmony]

This really is a great soundtrack! Hairs on the back of the neck stuff. Album please.

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

I have to admit that the soundtrack is highly inspired from Jan Garbarek's "Molde Canticle". Mine is of course in a much simpler and naive form, but I adore the melody line. It's so strong. I've had the pleasure of seeing this band constellation live once, and it was quite magical. Thank you Brian 😊

[@marcellosguitarcorner4004]

Lovely video, Thor ☺.....I wasn´t able to guess which one it was but from the listening my fav´s would be B, C or D and then A. I liked the tight bass of the B and the harmonics, especially with the humbuckers (by the way, there's a typo in the under text that says "humburger" 🙂?).... So that Alnico Blue is your winner and I agree.....it doesn't come cheap, though......I would have liked to hear the Cannabis Rex with a Telly, though 😉.....Nice touch with Jan Garbarek. Godt Nytt År

[@marcellosguitarcorner4004]

Sorry I meant C, B or D and then A, my bad

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Thanks Marcello 😊 That auto subtitle thing on youtube is quite funny sometimes. I went in and corrected the hamburger😆Thanks for noticing. Yes, I will bring the "Molde Canticle" to the band rehearsal tomorrow. I love that melody. Will be interesting to see if we will be able honor it in a decent way. Cheers, og Godt Nytt år!

[@Bairov]

I'm happy to say I loved the SC64 with single coils 😅. I'm ordering a 2x12 with them. I must say the sound of the Eminence SC64 is too bass heavy with humbuckers. Luckily im predominantly a strat guy.

[@douglasmayhall8279]

hello thor ! you posted a wonderful video several years ago (before "guitars & gizmos" ).. you were playing the red es-335 (with bare knuckle pg blues ?), and i believe playing through the genz benz black pearl.. it was a great improv.. please direct me to where i can watch it again, or please post it again.. your audience thoroughly enjoyed the musicianship (and tones).. i would like to see the fjords before my expiration date, and your town is sublime.. perhaps we hook up for a brew and a jam some time down the road.. cheers bro..

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Wow, I now realise that I haven't really paid attention from my other channel, and it's already 12 years since I posted it. I saw there was this young dude😂 playing his 335 there. Thanks for your nice words and the heads up, it was so nice to read the comments on that video. If you manage to take the trip, be sure to notify me and I will be thrilled to meet😊. Here's a direct link to the video. All the best, Thor: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWO5hnubjd2Ggc0si=m2vRaP1kqCXZz14A

[@MonteChristo2112]

Hi Nice playing and tones. Did you notice any difference in perceived volume output between the speakers? Thanks

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Thank you! No I can't say there were any noticeable difference in volume. Cheers 😊

[@Bairov]

I wasn't going to admit this, but when the strat A clip started, it damn near brought me to tears 😢. What song is this? An original?

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

This is the best complement to get. Thanks for sharing 😊It is my impromptu version of "Molde Canticle" by Jan Garbarek.

[@bigdaddystinkeye]

Very nice video. I use the Celestion Blue in my 5e3 because of it's smooth compression. It's the third speaker I've used and it will be the last. I must have had that amp for over 20 years. Clark Beaufort.

[@tatianadiniz]

D is C12n… and I think it’s too mid range for 5e3 circuit …I have one 5e3 with c12n and I thinking to change, do you have some suggestions ?

[@GUITARSGIZMOS]

Hi, if you watch the reveal at the end you'll find that D i s the Cannabis Rex and your C12N is B in this video. The one I will go for is C, the Celestion Blue. I hope you'll find the speaker that will work for you. Cheers!