favorite amp speaker

Terry Srader · Post by **Terry Srader** » 13 Dec 2003 12:49 pm

what speaker do you like in the following amps?

NV400

Session 400

Session 400 LTD

Session 500

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 14 Dec 2003 7:58 am

Black Widow
For the combination of durability and tone, it beats a JBL in my estimation. Plus, it's what those amps were designed to use. There are a few variations in the speaker design through the years, but all BW speakers I've used have been pretty consistent in their response and tone. Very hard to blow them too (but POSSIBLE, believe me).

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 14 Dec 2003 8:13 am

I just finished a Dual Showman Reverb amp for a felllow steeler yesterday. Modded it for steel and more! I was running it thru 2 each JBL speakers, 15" at 8 ohms. They were in floor monitor cabs. One was a
D-130F reconed with an E-130 kit and the other was an "M" series speaker (more of a PA speaker, I think). Sounded really good! I brought the amp in yeaterday, to let it burn in for half a day. I used a old Session 400 cab with an older BW (1501-4, not an SB). Hands down, it sounded better than two JBLs! It handled the lows far better than the JBLs. I was really shocked at how sweet it sounded thru a BW, as compared to the the JBLs.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 14 Dec 2003 8:22 am

I just messed with putting different speakers in different amps. I tried an Altec in my Session 400 just for kicks. The Altec is underpowered for the amp so I didn't push it. Sounded pretty good but wasn't the best match for the amp. The Altec is hard to dislike. Also tried the JBL E130 out of my Webb in the Session 400. Then I put back in the newer Black Widow and it was the winner in the Session 400. The JBL won in the Webb, but for some reason the BW was the right speaker for the Session 400. I've found that at low volumes the BW doesn't quite open up as well as some other speakers, but when you get the volume up there at real playing levels, the BW really comes to life. It's very similar to a JBL, but does have a somewhat mellower upper midrange and treble. That Black Widow is a real performer. Affordable, easily recone-able, and the voice is steel friendly. I've had an older Black Widow in my Fender Twin for a while now. Sounds great. Also, I think it's really the only 4-ohm steel speaker available. The 4-ohm JBL kits aren't real JBL's anymore, as I understand it.

Brad Sarno

Wayne Carver · Post by **Wayne Carver** » 14 Dec 2003 6:10 pm

What about Weber Speakers for Steel? I know they are popular with guitar players.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 14 Dec 2003 6:56 pm

I'm having a bit of a problem with one I rebasketed last week. It's buzzing, and after thoroughly cleaning the slot, I found no crap as the foam fell of in one piece. There's no position or "wedging" of the mag assy in any position that will keep it from scratching and buzzing.

It's an old "focused field" mag, and it had been rubbing on the old one too, just not as pronouncedly. I'm betting that it was let out "out of spec", or the spec has loosened for slot size possibly.
No. The slot was clean.
Yes. I rotated and "wiggled" it. It buzzed and scraped all the way around.

I'll call Mike in the Morning and see what he thinks.

Probably just order a whole new one and have the shop 40hz it b4 it comes home, and keep the old magnet for the refridge, or have the shop rebasket it and test it too.

We'll see.

EJL[This message was edited by Eric West on 14 December 2003 at 06:57 PM.]

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 15 Dec 2003 6:49 am

Eric, I think some of the older super structures had a tighter gap and rubbing was a common problem when used with newer baskets. You may want the newer magnet too.

Brad Sarno

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 15 Dec 2003 7:45 am

Terry, it was good speaking with you this morning. Call me anytime that you have a question and I'll be glad to assist you. Our toll free consumer number is 1-877-732-8391.

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation

Scott Swartz · Post by **Scott Swartz** » 15 Dec 2003 8:02 am

I am using a 2 x 12 open back cabinet with Weber California speakers (paper dust cap). Very clean, the highs are smoother than JBLs (I was able to A/B compare to JBL equipeed Webb).

They make them in a 15, and the price is very reasonable.
www.webervst.com

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 15 Dec 2003 1:56 pm

Has anyone done AB comparisons between the different types of Weber speakers to figure out which ones are best for pedal steel?