Using Celestion Speakers In My Hot Rod DeVille

Last updated 7/30/10    


 

I don't know why, but one day I had this idea to replace the stock Eminence speakers in my
Fender 2x12 Hot Rod DeVille with some Celestion G12S-50 speakers that I had lying around.
The stock speakers didn't sound bad, but I just wanted something a little different. So after
contemplating it for a while, I decided to go ahead and do it.

My main concern in doing this was that the speakers I had were technically the wrong ohm speakers
to pair up with my Hot Rod DeVille - it uses a pair of 8 ohms in parallel for a total load of 4 ohms, and
my Celestions were a pair of 16 ohms in parallel for a total load of 8 ohms. My concern was that I
might possibly damage the output transformer. But after doing a little research, I concluded that it
should be OK since I was increasing the load on the output transformer and not lowering it. Putting
a lower load on the output transformer than it was designed for is risky because it increases the
current significantly and this can blow the transformer. But I have been using this amp with these
speakers in it for two years now with no problems whatsoever, so it has withstood the test of time.
I am glad I did this because it made the amp a lot less "punchy", it cleaned up the bass response
a bit and it made the clean tones a little more "complex" sounding. I like the amp much better with
these speakers in it. It seems to be a good match for the amp with the mods I have done to it.



I like the look of these Celestions in there. In order to change the speakers, you basically
have to take the whole amp apart, pull out the chassis, etc. Not a hard job, just a little time
consuming. I don't think it took me more than an hour to change them out.



Some Celestion speaker snobs give these speakers low ratings, but in my opinion, they sound pretty
good. They are very well broken in and have a nice "sparkle" to them. From the time period that
in which they were manufactured, I believe that they were still being made in England at the time.


I suppose to some Fender purists, putting Celestion speakers into a Fender amp is heresy, but I think
that it makes for a nice combination. Maybe not for everyone, but it works for me.

 

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