The modern one has a ribbed cone, while the vintage one is smooth: that makes a big difference in tone, since ribbed cones tend to have more highs and lows, while smooth cones are more mid focused. Old Jensens were both ribbed or smooth: a vintage ribbed Jensen P12Q would sound much closer to the modern reissue.
the new ultra bright p12q is a must have in every collection imo ... it is sooo different than any other speaker i ever heard and is because of that a great addition
Old comment but yeah my ears say the new one sounds "unbroken in" and the old one sounds "tired". Somewhere around 2050 I think would be the sweet spot.
The new Jensen speaker is brighter and more articulate,but that doesn’t mean it’s a better speaker.The older Jensen speaker is less punchy but more natural sound to it. I’m leaning towards the old speaker.
One of them sounds spikey and just wrong (Italian). The other one sounds like America in a speaker. I think someone ought to throw meatballs at jensen italy. I'm not a fan. 😂
Both sound nice. However, you have to take in to consideration that the glue used to hold the cone to the gasket and the spider would be a little crystallized, on the '55, and the rubber of the gasket would not be in great condition nor would the paper in the cone. I would love to hear the same comparison with a '55 that had been re-coned, I think the sounds would be very similar
The P12q is so bright and mid-focused only that it's a painfull speaker to use. It has a couple interesting sounds lurking but it's not a seriously gigable speaker. It just crumbles under power, over a couple watts it sounds like it's being tortured, while a P12n sounds brittle at low volume, it becomes fat and compressed as you give it power. You need a P12n or a cheaper alternative with at least a 1.5 inch coil and a 29 to 35 oz alnico magnet. Other options from Weber, Eminence, Warehouse, Tone Tubby..
Great vid! I was firmly preferring the new till the end. To me it’s a smooth, warm, buzzsaw grind. The new was a little sharper than I want, the old much closer but just too smooth. I have to hear more but the P12Q series seems to be what I’m looking for. Is there a pedal for that?
Surprised how close the new one is to the old on the cleans. I prefer the new Jensen as the old one sounds a bit tired....or is that the smooth cone on the old one? Anyway I really like new Jensens a lot. No need to risk buying an old speaker as they all sound different depending on the environment they were in and how much they were played. New one sounds very close to what a vintage one sounded like new. I'm impressed with both the Q's and R's. Weber speakers used to crap on these new Jensens and I don't understand why. I have had some good Webers but have been happier with my Jensens which left me scratching my head. Yes the Webers maybe be tighter in the bottom and a little more rolled off in the highs but I just prefer the overall character of the Jensens I have.
The new one sounded way better clean to my ears, sweet and almost sparkly compare to the flat sound of the vintage speaker, that all changed when distortion was added, the vintage one sounded way better distorted, tighter and more focused with good tone.
Throw a blanket over them. It's a close enough comparison that the time it takes to debate, would probably be better spent playing 😆. Great job Jensen.
I'm not astonished by the difference. The new Jensen speakers have completely different design from the old made in Chicago Jensen speakers. Comparing them is like comparing two completely different speakers. Even the new P12N is completely different from the old made in Chicago P12N
The vintage sound literaly vintage, warm, creamyb...more home like .. I suppose you can get that character on the new one if you break it in and give it some life
Such tests are quite pointless since such old speakers have lost a lot of magnetic flux (indicated by the Gauss induction unit) - when the Vintage speaker was still "young" it might have sounded much more similar to the contemporary P12Q. Additionally all materials in such Vintage speakers are quite "worn out" what is leading to strange Thiele & Small parameters, what finally causes the muffled and less dynamic sound of the antic Jensen.
If it's vintage, it doesn't mean it sounds better. Moreover, speakers don't last forever, especially because of their paper cones. The nowadays P12Q already sounds great... so there's no use trying to find a speaker you'll have to recone and which will finally sound like a 21's century Jensen P12Q.
The modern one has a ribbed cone, while the vintage one is smooth: that makes a big difference in tone, since ribbed cones tend to have more highs and lows, while smooth cones are more mid focused. Old Jensens were both ribbed or smooth: a vintage ribbed Jensen P12Q would sound much closer to the modern reissue.
Many thanks for this info, i can only confirm👍😊
Both sounded great on the tweed Deluxe.
the new ultra bright p12q is a must have in every collection imo ... it is sooo different than any other speaker i ever heard and is because of that a great addition
Both sound great. When the new speakers breaks in it will be a bit more mellow and be a good choice for a 5e3 build.
Honestly they are pretty similar considering one is over 60 years old. I’ll bet the the new one will sound a lot like that in 2079
Old comment but yeah my ears say the new one sounds "unbroken in" and the old one sounds "tired". Somewhere around 2050 I think would be the sweet spot.
Very good demo. Clips were perfect spacing. I liked the extra warmth on the vintage. I have some old rsc speakers built to jensen spec. Sound awesome
The new Jensen speaker is brighter and more articulate,but that doesn’t mean it’s a better speaker.The older Jensen speaker is less punchy but more natural sound to it. I’m leaning towards the old speaker.
One of them sounds spikey and just wrong (Italian). The other one sounds like America in a speaker. I think someone ought to throw meatballs at jensen italy. I'm not a fan. 😂
Only preferred the older one on some clean cleans ... and I think one could emulate that with an EQ/some high-end roll-off ...
Though they sound very familiar, I actually like the new one better than the vintage.
Agreed.
Same here, I think
I like the bright from the newer model a bit more
Both sound nice. However, you have to take in to consideration that the glue used to hold the cone to the gasket and the spider would be a little crystallized, on the '55, and the rubber of the gasket would not be in great condition nor would the paper in the cone. I would love to hear the same comparison with a '55 that had been re-coned, I think the sounds would be very similar
And maybe re-cone smooth, not ribbed?
55's sound more chimy to my ears. Brighter when playing clean.
As in clean mode both sounded similar if not the same
When overdriven the vintage gets warmer
Could you compare the new P12Q with a Weber 12A125?
The P12q is so bright and mid-focused only that it's a painfull speaker to use. It has a couple interesting sounds lurking but it's not a seriously gigable speaker. It just crumbles under power, over a couple watts it sounds like it's being tortured, while a P12n sounds brittle at low volume, it becomes fat and compressed as you give it power. You need a P12n or a cheaper alternative with at least a 1.5 inch coil and a 29 to 35 oz alnico magnet. Other options from Weber, Eminence, Warehouse, Tone Tubby..
Perhaps fittingly, the modern P12Q sounds better through the pedals than the vintage one, which sounded a touch sweet without any pedals.
Great vid! I was firmly preferring the new till the end. To me it’s a smooth, warm, buzzsaw grind. The new was a little sharper than I want, the old much closer but just too smooth. I have to hear more but the P12Q series seems to be what I’m looking for. Is there a pedal for that?
Surprised how close the new one is to the old on the cleans. I prefer the new Jensen as the old one sounds a bit tired....or is that the smooth cone on the old one? Anyway I really like new Jensens a lot. No need to risk buying an old speaker as they all sound different depending on the environment they were in and how much they were played. New one sounds very close to what a vintage one sounded like new. I'm impressed with both the Q's and R's. Weber speakers used to crap on these new Jensens and I don't understand why. I have had some good Webers but have been happier with my Jensens which left me scratching my head. Yes the Webers maybe be tighter in the bottom and a little more rolled off in the highs but I just prefer the overall character of the Jensens I have.
Not sure but I’ve always been concerned with fizz on the newer Jenson speakers
The new one sounds lively and zingy.
I can tell right off the Vintage one sounds better like a recording from a do-wop recording, a tad bit more chime- but the newer on the pedals
AT 1:55 it looks like you're physically hitting the Centaur as some kind of tone secret :D
The new one sounded way better clean to my ears, sweet and almost sparkly compare to the flat sound of the vintage speaker, that all changed when distortion was added, the vintage one sounded way better distorted, tighter and more focused with good tone.
Throw a blanket over them. It's a close enough comparison that the time it takes to debate, would probably be better spent playing 😆. Great job Jensen.
Slight edge to the 55. Maybe the newer P12Q needs a little break in?
I think Vintage p12q is more dark like Celestion G12 Alnico blue.
the midrange sounds the same to me, play the modern speaker for 65 years and you'll get the creamy top as well
Vintage sounds mid heavy and less sparkle. New one better for me.
i prefer nw one go figure. it's more lively and present even if there is a little of fizziness
Glad the player is great. Its better hearing a real musician on any gear than a poser on great gear.
I'm not astonished by the difference. The new Jensen speakers have completely different design from the old made in Chicago Jensen speakers. Comparing them is like comparing two completely different speakers.
Even the new P12N is completely different from the old made in Chicago P12N
The vintage sound literaly vintage, warm, creamyb...more home like .. I suppose you can get that character on the new one if you break it in and give it some life
👍🇺🇸❤1955
Such tests are quite pointless since such old speakers have lost a lot of magnetic flux (indicated by the Gauss induction unit) - when the Vintage speaker was still "young" it might have sounded much more similar to the contemporary P12Q. Additionally all materials in such Vintage speakers are quite "worn out" what is leading to strange Thiele & Small parameters, what finally causes the muffled and less dynamic sound of the antic Jensen.
Units can be re magnetized.
It's very rare for any speaker to lose magnetic strength with time. Not a chance that had any effect here.
The 1955 sounds better it has something different in the mids and less highs.
The newer one sounds 200% better
If it's vintage, it doesn't mean it sounds better. Moreover, speakers don't last forever, especially because of their paper cones. The nowadays P12Q already sounds great... so there's no use trying to find a speaker you'll have to recone and which will finally sound like a 21's century Jensen P12Q.
The older Alnico has loosen propertys along the years the new is better
P12Q is not better than 1955. Hay que estar bastante sordo como para no darse cuenta.
I can't tell much difference. I'll bet your audience won't have a clue what speaker you use.
There is no mojo in new speakers that’s the difference. 😀
Italian jensen sounds lifeless and dull to me. Very spikey. Gross. Boy, it doesn't even get you in the same ballpark.