JBL Speaker change over

Jerry Maranville · Post by **Jerry Maranville** » 6 Jul 2002 11:51 am

This is probably pretty simple but can I replace my 15" 8ohm Black Widow with a 15" 8ohm JBL in my Session 400 easily? Jerry.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 6 Jul 2002 12:09 pm

It shouldn't be a problem, but I thought all the Session amps were 4 ohms. If so, you should put a 4 ohm speaker in it.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 6 Jul 2002 1:29 pm

Also keep in mind that, while the JBL will give a little "sweeter" tone, it will not handle as much power as a BW. The BW speakers are quite rugged, while the older JBL's were designed when 50-100 watts was a "powerful" amp. Nowadays, 100-200 watts is considered "average".

Doug Earnest · Post by **Doug Earnest** » 7 Jul 2002 5:49 am

See if you can try the speaker out before you buy it. I don't know what model JBL you are going to use, but I put an E series in my re-issue Session 400 and it's not very good. No lows, and no sweetness. The stock BW was much better in that amp (and I'm not a fan of BW's in general). Now the K series PV JBL in my old Session 400 is a different story... Just a word of caution, it was an expensive mistake on my part. Good luck !

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Doug Earnest
The only Zum Keyless U12, Fender Cyber Twin

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 7 Jul 2002 9:06 am

Definitely right! The old alnico JBL's
were great tonewise. The newer E series
ain't quite the same at all, but they'll
handle more power. The older series
Electro-Voice EVM-15L's also can take
alot of wattage but they sound terrific!

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Bob Metzger · Post by **Bob Metzger** » 7 Jul 2002 11:07 am

I have a JBL D-130 in my NV 400. This is an alnico JBL - I believe some of the later series speaker may be ceramic, which will sound different. It is true that the "D" series will not handle as much power as a Black Widow but tone is the reason for doing it. I played in a very, very loud band with this amp/speaker setup and didn't fry it (although I probably should have, as we were ridiculously loud) so my experience has been that it's fairly safe unless good sense in not used - something many musicians specialize in! JBL's sound great if you like the JBL sound and don't if you don't.

Bob M.[This message was edited by Bob Metzger on 07 July 2002 at 12:08 PM.]

Bill Taft · Post by **Bill Taft** » 7 Jul 2002 3:04 pm

I agree with Jim if your going to put a JBL in an old Session then you should use the right one and put a 4ohm in it. A 8ohm will work you just need to crank up the power, and some guys would rather use that 8 ohm and shoot more power to the speaker but I have had a dozen or so Session 400'S and I like the 4ohm and found out that the ones Woddy has reconed for me has as good or better tone the some of the older original ones does and I have a 75 I use with his recone and a 76 with his recone both very sweet tone with my emmons or my Zum. MY 2cent's

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btaft 98 Zum Lacquer 8&8 mid 80's Emmons short key head Legrand
1985 Evans FET-500 1975 Session 400 1976 Session RV-3