Vintage 4x10 cab? Huh? Wha?

[Tarrbot]

I'm scheduled to go look at a guy's Rickenbacker "vintage" 4x10 cab on Thursday. No speakers but it's dirt cheap.

The problem is I have no idea what I'm looking at. I'm just wanting a cab to build something around and hope it looks decent.

I've never even seen any Ric amp/cab beyond a simple TR7 (and that looked like it was run over by a freight train).

He claims it's probably from the 60s but I wouldn't know even if it was rainbow colored and had shmeg leftover from Woodstock on it.

What should I be looking at? Anyone have any pics of old cabs that I might can compare to?

If this should be in a different section, please feel free to move it.

Thank you kindly.

[tracy]

It could be several of things. If it's 'grey wallpaper' covered, it could be an M16 cab, or even ultrarare it could be a 4x10 extension (catalog item). Silverblue Tolex, perhaps a B16 cab, or black Tolex a B410 cab. I guess
I've had any or all of these at one time or another. Later model could be a 4x10 from the TR series. At any rate, a bargain huh? What can you lose? Let us know what you find out.

[doctorwho]

And take a picture if you can!

[Tarrbot]

All I know at this point is that it's black with a silver (I assume Tolex) front.

The price he's asking, I'm likely to get it anyway and put speakers in it and find a head later. I have no cab/head at all, so it'd be something to work into.

[libratune]

The cab you are going to be looking at should look something like this:

Here's a (possibly) relevant link to a forum thread:

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=387292

The front of the cab should be slightly "slanted," that is, the top is less deep than the bottom.

Though the cab in the photo is silver tolex/silver grille, RIC made some 4x10 cabs of the same design in black tolex/silver grille. According to John Hall, there were a few "originals" of these made in black/silver. I have one of these cabs in silver tolex and one in black.

If the cab is in really nice shape, it might still have its original input jack on the back, which should look like the jackplate on a 330 (or other non-ROS guitar) -- a roughly square 1" metal plate with a 4-digit number stamped on the bottom. I have no idea what the numbers mean.

PS Here's a pic of B-16 Head + Cab:

B-16 Head + Cab

Happy hunting!

[Tarrbot]

Thanks Ron.

I did read that thread before posting but it was about the only thread here that was discussing cabs--that I found anyway.

Any ideas what speakers were original or what would sound good in one of these cabs? This one doesn't have speakers so it may have been robbed or it may be totally worthless for all I know.

[jwilli]

Ron, I didn't even think to look on the "jackplate" until I saw this thread. Mine reads "873" on the top side of the plate.....

[berth]

All I know at this point is that it's black with a silver (I assume Tolex) front.

Could also be a 70ties B-series with a different front. Check the "B Series Amps catalog scanned" topic I just opened.

[libratune]

I'm scheduled to go look at a guy's Rickenbacker "vintage" 4x10 cab on Thursday. No speakers but it's dirt cheap.

The problem is I have no idea what I'm looking at. I'm just wanting a cab to build something around and hope it looks decent.

So what happened?

[Tarrbot]

I picked it up but unfortunately have to go back for the nameplate. The guy lives out in the boonies and was on his way in to where I was meeting him--at his bandmates house where they practice.

He was on his way there to meet me and I was going to have to wait another hour for the guy to get there.

I figured I'd go back and get it this coming week some time when I had more time. I was hoping to wait on getting the nameplate before posting pics.

After reading some old Ric catalogs, I think it's E-16 or something similar. Definitely looks like your silver one but black. No numbers on the plate, though.

Do you know what speakers are in the E-16/B-16s? The catalog stated something about Jensen speakers. Any idea what model?

[Tarrbot]

I've done a little bit of research and found a pretty decent Jensen site that details out a few of the different speakers. I liked being able to "test drive" the sound the speakers you were looking at made.

Anyway, I'm thinking of going with the Jensen Mod 10-50s and pairing it with an Acoustic B200H head. I've got an Acoustic combo amp and think it sounds pretty good and was thinking the Acoustic head would do the trick here.

I may go with the vintage series, though. I did find some 1953 10" Jensen's up on the bay but I'm concerned they won't be able to handle the power of a modern head.

I guess now I'll have to figure out how to wire up the cabinet. I've never even looked inside a cab before.

[libratune]

I may go with the vintage series, though. I did find some 1953 10" Jensen's up on the bay but I'm concerned they won't be able to handle the power of a modern head.

I guess now I'll have to figure out how to wire up the cabinet. I've never even looked inside a cab before.

If it's a black tolex cab, it's from the 1964-65 era and had C10Q Jensens in it. Jensen switched their amp speakers from alnico to ceramic magnets in 62/63. However, you should match the speakers with the power of the amp head you'll be using with the cab. If you are going for more than 60 watts, I'd say that would overpower the 4x10 vintage setup.

You should be able to get some basic speaker wiring guidance online. It's a little tricky with 4 because there's the whole series/parallel thing. There are special harnesses made for 4 x 10 configurations, like on a Super Reverb. I used to be big into speakers but haven't done it for awhile. I'll see if I can resurrect a site or two that might help. I am sure there are other forumites who could help with this.

Here's a site on speakers that you might want to check out:
http://www.ampwares.com/speakers.asp
And one on Weber amp supplies:
http://www.tedweber.com/