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Determining the date of an old jensen speaker, HELP

Started by LJN, April 29, 2011, 02:47:58 AM

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LJN

Hello all,

I have a jensen c12n speaker in the cab of my old sears amp. I know it's not original, But I think it may be older than the amplifier itself. The date code is 220144. I know that 220 was jensen's manufacturer code. What is confusing me is the date code, and appearance of the speaker. It doesn't look like the others I've seen. It's silver, has a blue label, and 3 big phillips screws on the magnet. I know that in the '70's , Jensen changed from a 6-digit code to a 7-digit code, displaying the last 2 digits of the year instead of only 1. I also know that the 44 is the week. I've been thinking that this may be one of the very early ceramic magnet jensens(Most likeley 1961). I'd really appreciate your input on this.


Thanks, LJN

p.s. I found out how to read the code on jensentone.com, and I wrote it down. I also have a little bit of information about how to determine the manufacture date of celestions ( I also have a celestion g12 30 in the same cab, and it dates to may 13 1980).
If it sounds good, USE IT!

Epiphone Les Paul, Kasino U100- P, Sears 125-XL

J M Fahey

Please try to post a picture.
"3 big phillips screws in the magnet" may well mean an Alnico one, in which case your Jensen might be a '61 or even a '51 one.
For what it's worth I have a 1943, "US Navy" labelled 12" Jensen, pulled from a portable 16mm movie projector, which must probably had projected some Hedy Lamarr (yummy)  films for those brave guys fighting in the Pacific.

LJN

I spoke to a guy at elderly instruments, and he told me that the speaker is a 1961. He also told me that the appearance would vary, depending on who jensen built the speaker for. And he said that some silvertones came with jensens. I wouldn't trade my speakers for any of the new ones. The old ones sound better. Hang on to that old jensen of yours, Juan, they're worth some money. Mine is worth a couple hundred dollars.
If it sounds good, USE IT!

Epiphone Les Paul, Kasino U100- P, Sears 125-XL

LJN

It's for sure a '61. 50 years old and still going strong! :tu:
If it sounds good, USE IT!

Epiphone Les Paul, Kasino U100- P, Sears 125-XL

J M Fahey

So what? I'm 58 and still going strong !!!   :lmao:

joecool85

Quote from: J M Fahey on May 10, 2011, 12:26:06 PM
So what? I'm 58 and still going strong !!!   :lmao:

Just as loud as ever huh?  lol
Life is what you make it.
Still rockin' the Dean Markley K-20X
thatraymond.com

LJN

Yes, This is one beast of a speaker, and it still sounds very clear. I've actually put quite a bit of power through the cabinet. I didn't hear a single rattling sound. The speakers were thumping so hard that they blew the front cover off the cabinet. The power to do that came from my peavey PA. The front cover to the cab is held on by velcro, thought I'd add that little detail. :tu:
If it sounds good, USE IT!

Epiphone Les Paul, Kasino U100- P, Sears 125-XL

J M Fahey

Don't push it too much with a powerful amplifier, you may easily burn it voice coil.
The original amp should be safe, though.
Anyway in those days amps were not meant to be pushed into overdrive but as clean amps.

LJN

Quote from: J M Fahey on May 15, 2011, 09:55:44 AM
Don't push it too much with a powerful amplifier, you may easily burn it voice coil.
The original amp should be safe, though.
Anyway in those days amps were not meant to be pushed into overdrive but as clean amps.

Yeah, I know. At the time, it was the only good cab i had. I really didn't know exactly what it had inside, either. Now that I do, I'm gonna be more careful with it. I may be able to get the matching speaker to it, But my uncle said it rattles, and that was why he put the celestion in the top of the cab. I'm still gonna get the other jensen if I can. Maybe there's a way to fix it.
If it sounds good, USE IT!

Epiphone Les Paul, Kasino U100- P, Sears 125-XL

joecool85

Quote from: LJN on May 15, 2011, 08:19:18 PM
Yeah, I know. At the time, it was the only good cab i had. I really didn't know exactly what it had inside, either. Now that I do, I'm gonna be more careful with it. I may be able to get the matching speaker to it, But my uncle said it rattles, and that was why he put the celestion in the top of the cab. I'm still gonna get the other jensen if I can. Maybe there's a way to fix it.

Should be a way to fix it, you can rebuild speakers.  I've not done it myself, but I think Juan has.
Life is what you make it.
Still rockin' the Dean Markley K-20X
thatraymond.com

LJN



Should be a way to fix it, you can rebuild speakers.  I've not done it myself, but I think Juan has.
[/quote]

I sure hope so, Like I said, If I can, I will get the other jensen and try to fix it. I can't really guarantee it, though. The combination of my jensen and celestion still sounds pretty good, though. I just don't like the fact that the celestion was built in 1980.
If it sounds good, USE IT!

Epiphone Les Paul, Kasino U100- P, Sears 125-XL

LJN

The speaker still sounds great. I still use the old sears amp everyday. I just like to grab my guitar, have a smoke, and play for about 2 or 3 hours sometimes. I'm being alot more careful with the jensen. If that thing burns up, I'll never find another one like it. I mean, it's a '61!! I still can't believe it! Many thanks to you all for helping me determine the manufacture date, not only of the speaker, but the amp as well. :tu:
If it sounds good, USE IT!

Epiphone Les Paul, Kasino U100- P, Sears 125-XL