Vintage Alnico

P10Q angled view
Vintage Alnico

Alnico speakers produce a sweet, warm, vintage tone. They sound best at low levels and are great for blues, jazz and mellow rock. Alnico speakers respond quickly, giving the musician a “one with the amp” feel. They are world renowned as the premium speaker with the best tone.

One of the first speakers ever used in a guitar amplifier was a Jensen® Alnico speaker - the P15N. The first Fender® Bassman® and Bandmaster® amplifiers were loaded with Jensen® P15N Alnico speakers. In fact, Fender® and other amp manufacturers originally used Alnico speakers exclusively in their amplifiers . The P10R was the signature speaker in Fender's legendary Super Reverb®.

Alnico speakers are made with magnets containing aluminum, nickel and cobalt. They are often featured in print as “AlNiCo”, symbolizing the three respective elements. Cobalt is difficult to procure these days resulting in Alnicos being the most expensive speakers in the Jensen® line.

All Jensen® Alnico speaker model numbers begin with the letter P, and are therefore often referred to as the P series. Next in the model number is the diameter of the speaker. Alnicos are available in the following diameters: 8”, 10”, 12” and 15”. Following the size is a letter which traditionally is used to designate the speaker power rating. For example, R (25 watts), Q (40 watts) and N (50 watts).

Therefore, a P12Q speaker has an Alnico magnet, a 12” diameter and is rated at 40 watts. After determining what impedance is needed, you are ready to choose your Alnico speaker!

Alnico speakers are available with or without an end bell (purchased separately). The end bell is for aesthetics only and has no effect on the sound of the speaker.

Click here to find recommended replacements for vintage amps

 

Speaker Diameter Rated Power Impedances Lows Mids Highs Overdrive
P6V angled view P6V
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6" 20 watts 4 Ω, 8 Ω Tight Firm Bright Edgy
Guitarist Description: Warm clean tone with sparkling highs. It responds to overdrive distortion with a gritty bite.
P8R angled view P8R
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8" 25 watts 4 Ω, 8 Ω Loose Subdued Bright Smooth
Guitarist Description: Warm clean tone with emphasis on the highs. Responds to overdrive distortion with a warm and bright fuzz lead voice.
P10R angled view P10R
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10" 25 watts 4 Ω, 8 Ω, 16 Ω Loose Firm Smooth Crunchy
Guitarist Description: Rich, warm tone. Accentuates the higher frequencies in sparkling detail.
P10R Fender angled view P10R-FEN
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10" 25 watts 8 Ω Loose Subdued Subtle Crunchy
Guitarist Description: Warm, mellow tone with less bite and brightness than the standard P10R. In overdrive, this one eases into a creamy distortion.
P10Q angled view P10Q
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10" 40 watts 8 Ω, 16 Ω Loose Firm Bright Crunchy
Guitarist Description: Warm tone with some bite in the mid frequencies which translates into a fierce response to overdrive distortion.
P12R angled view P12R
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12" 25 watts 8 Ω, 16 Ω Loose Firm Bright Edgy/Crunchy
Guitarist Description: Straightforward, bright tone.
P12Q angled view P12Q
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12" 40 watts 8 Ω, 16 Ω, 32 Ω Loose Firm Smooth Edgy
Guitarist Description: Very warm, mid-focused bite with clear bright highs. When presented with overdrive distortion it remains well balanced.
P12N angled view P12N
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12" 50 watts 8 Ω, 16 Ω Loose Aggressive Bright Edgy
Guitarist Description: Very warm and full bodied tone with powerful mid-bite and sparkling highs. When presented with overdrive distortion it displays a bright and colorful crunch.
P12N No Bell angled view P12N No Bell
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12" 50 watts 8 Ω, 16 Ω Loose Aggressive Bright Edgy
Guitarist Description: Very warm and full bodied tone with powerful mid-bite and sparkling highs. When presented with overdrive distortion it displays a bright and colorful crunch.
P15N angled view P15N No Bell
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15" 50 watts 8 Ω, 16 Ω Tight/Fat Aggressive Bright Edgy
Guitarist Description: Warm, deep low-end and sparkling highs. Responds to overdrive distortion with a bright edge and lengthy sustain capabilities.
Bell Cover - for Alnico R and Q Types Bell Cover - for Alnico R and Q Types
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For use on the Jensen Alnico type R and Q speakers. Jensen bell covers are a throwback to the style of classic Jensen speakers from the 1950s and '60s that can complete the look of a vintage or vintage-inspired amplifier.

Bell Cover - for Alnico N Types Bell Cover - for Alnico N Types
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For use on the Jensen Alnico type N speakers. Jensen bell covers are a throwback to the style of classic Jensen speakers from the 1950s and '60s that can complete the look of a vintage or vintage-inspired amplifier.

Gaskets - for speaker cabinets Gaskets - for speaker cabinets
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Set of speaker gaskets for spacing/protection of your Jensen speaker. These will work in any cabinet, and are especially popular in Leslie cabinets. Four gaskets is enough for one speaker.