Question; How would you discribe the difference between the alnico and ceramic speakers? Chad

Answer; As far as the difference in Ceramic and Alnico speakers I'll share my experience relative to just the octal Valco amp designs in my lineup. My reply is simply an opinion and is in no way the 'gospel' on speakers and/or speaker tone!

First, before I make any speaker selection I have to consider the amplifiers  designed tone characteristics. For the 1940's early 50's Valco circuit designs the amps are filtered for lower midrange through hi-low frequency, not a hint of the later 50's Fender style high frequency signal enhancement.

I have heard these old school amp tones descibed as 'Smokey", "Warm', 'Fuzzy" and/or 'Dark', Never a hint of  "ice pick' treble highs typically found with later Fender style amplifiers (keep in mind the most revered Fender blues guitar amp was a 1959 bass amplifier not a standard guitar amp).

Secondly I have to consider the type of instrument(s) that will be the signal source control for the amplifier in question. What type of guitar ie; solid or hollow, pickups, hot or not, pedals, microphone element sensitivity. Plus I consider what playing style and musical era I want my sound to emulate. (no one amp covers all my needs).

Now with all of the above taken into consideration I will say the following in regards to my Valco replications;

The Ceramic Speaker will bring out a slightly brighter treble tone with both clean and overdriven breakup distortion. The Ceramic is a good choice for solid body guitars and/or guitar pedal effects where players want a slightly more 50-60's treble tone in their mix (but still you can't get any ice pick biting highs out of old Valco amps).

The Alnico speakers’ preserves 100% of the warm dark fuzzy smokey mids and low tones inherent to the 1940's Valco amplifier designs, both clean and distorted. Keep in mind that most 40's Valcos were made for lap steel guitar companies such as Oahu, Supro, Dickerson, Bronson and National Dobro so they are a natural fit. Alnico speakers take the treble high bite out of lap and pedal steel guitars making them sing very pleasantly. 

The Alnico speaker is also a good choice for that vintage guitar traditionalist playing old archtops and looking for the 1940's jump/swing jazz/blues tones found on original 40's recordings (early T' Bone Walker, Charly Christian and such).

Alnico also works well with those hot harmonica microphones and helps tame highs and feedback slightly more when compared to ceramic.

Hope my speaker description and opinions clarify rather than cloud your speaker selection. And remember, this is just one mans opinion, your ear may hear things quite differently than mine!

David B

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