Speaker suggestion for Twin

Brad Burch · Post by **Brad Burch** » 27 Sep 2002 5:16 am

I recently got a really good deal on a late model (78) Fender Twin with 135 watts. The amp is in very nice condition but the speakers aren't up to snuff. It has a pair of 12s out of a Music Man (stickers on the speakers anyway). Don't know who manufactured them. They sounds real nice with the steel but will get flabby if I set the master volume on 10 and get the volume above 4.

Question 1: What would make a good pair of replacement speakers for this amp? What type of speakers/resistence were in the original?

Question 2: What type of 15 inch speaker would make a good match? What resistence?

Question 3: I was looking at the baffle board, and it looks like MDF board that is glued in. It is original, looks like it anyway. What does it take to get this one out and put one that will hold the 15 in?

Any suggestions would be great!

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 27 Sep 2002 6:19 am

Most steelers go with either JBL's
(the old D-120's), Electro-Voice EVM's,
or Peavey Black Widow's. You need
either two 8 ohm 12" speakers or one
15" 4 ohm. If the baffle board is glued
in, it would be a pain in the neck
to get it out, but I suppose anything's
possible.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 27 Sep 2002 6:55 am

Try this: get 1 JBL or Black Widow 12" (8 ohm) and replace just one of the speakers. It's less costly, much lighter, and IMHO sounds better than two JBL type speakers (it has the high end sparkle but is warmer).

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 27 Sep 2002 7:33 am

The original speakers were two each, 8 ohms in parallel (total load of 4 ohms). Twelve inch EV (even the "Force Series")or Peavey would be my choice. A JBL is OK, but can just handle that amps power. The JBL would offer the best resale value for the amp.
The baffle is recessed into the sides of the cabinet and holds it all together. You could get a replacement cabinet with a 15" cutout for around $250.00. By the time you replace the cab and get a speaker, you might rather look for a Silverface Vibrosonic or Custom Vibrasonic instead!
As new EV speakers are getting hard to source, you might look for a Peavey 12" at 8 ohm. Mike Brown could help you there! In my old Mace amp (in years gone by) I had the old style Black Widow 12" speakers, those would be awesome in your amp, if you could find a pair!

Brad Burch · Post by **Brad Burch** » 27 Sep 2002 10:10 am

Great advice from some experienced folks here, please keep it coming. I was worried that an old pair of JBL D120's might not handle the 135watts. The current speakers do a decent job and came out of a Music Man,...friend looked at them and said they were most likely EV's. I think I will stick with two twelves instead of ripping things apart for the 15.

Anymore suggestions, Celestions, Jensons, etc?

Brad Burch · Post by **Brad Burch** » 27 Sep 2002 10:41 am

Aren't the favorite JBL D130s 16 ohms? What do you guys do when you go with these in a twin, recone them? Did they make a JBL 15 that was 4 ohm?

Curious?

Fred Shannon · Post by **Fred Shannon** » 27 Sep 2002 11:01 am

[This message was edited by Fred Shannon on 06 December 2004 at 02:11 AM.]

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 27 Sep 2002 11:40 am

Thanks for the referral. The Scorpion 12825 speaker sound extremely good for clean guitar applications. A bandmate of mine is using a Twin equipped with this Scorpion model and these speakers can handle it. Since we changed to Kevlar material on the BW's, this speaker may or may not appeal to you for guitar.

Hope that this helps.

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation

Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 27 Sep 2002 4:47 pm

I am presently reconing my D140-6 (16 ohm bass speakers) with generic cones that are built like the old D-130 cones. These are being done at 4 ohms for me. I am using two in 2 of the 3 Vibroverb/clones I am building. I have heard JBL has a 4 ohm cone, but I cannot personally say I have seen one. If so it would probably be a K-130 cone. The EV Force series can take the heat and are a warm speaker as well.

Thanks to Lori's new Picture Host, pictures are easy and economical to post! Below is my first Vibroverb (former Bandmaster/reverb) chassis awaiting it's new cabinet and speaker:

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 27 Sep 2002 5:52 pm

i had understood from previous posts here that the JBL D120s were suited to handle 85watts,and that the JBL K120s were suited for 100 watts.
which Twin model is it that puts out 135 watts ?
The Super Twin had even more power right ?
is that the one w: 6 6L6s ?
Fender + JBL are like Beans and Cornbread
they go hand in hand.
ACHTUNG the Weight...
i understand why Peavey is so popular.

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Steel what?

[This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 27 September 2002 at 06:53 PM.][This message was edited by CrowBear Schmitt on 27 September 2002 at 06:55 PM.]

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 27 Sep 2002 7:44 pm

I'm going to put back my suggestion: replace one of the speakers with a JBL or BW speaker, leaving one of the existing ones. Everybody on this post is assuming you need two of the same type of speaker. But it has been my experience that using two dissimilar speakers results in a total sound that is superior in every way to using two of the same. If you haven't tried it don't knock it. Plus it would be really easy to try given your existing setup.

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 27 Sep 2002 10:50 pm

For a good , light AND affordable 12" speaker check out the new (?) Eminence Legend 121. It handles 150 watts , sounds really good! They make a 15" version also , Legend 151. I like to mix different speakers like Dan.Good results with one side of a Mosvalve 500 driving 2 12" Celestions and the other driving one 12" BW , for example.

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Olli Haavisto
Polar steeler
Finland

[This message was edited by Olli Haavisto on 27 September 2002 at 11:55 PM.]

Michael Brewer · Post by **Michael Brewer** » 6 Oct 2002 5:05 am

Brad,

I just took two very good 12" EV's out of my Music Man 212HD amp. These are early 80's speakers with huge magnets. I took them out because I wanted a single 15". The 212HD chassis is a 150 watt unit and the two 12's handled a lot of power very well. I don't know what they are bringing today but if you want to make me an offer I will consider it.

Mike Brewer
mbrewer555@earthlink.net

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Mike Brewer

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 6 Oct 2002 8:29 am

I recently discovered how great sounding the 12" Peavey Scorpion speaker sounds. Really a fantastic sounding 12" guitar speaker. Power rating would be perfect for a pair of them in a Twin.

Brad Sarno
St. Louis, MO

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 6 Oct 2002 8:47 am

Brad
I've got a Peavey Scorpion 12" @ 8 ohms that is available. E-mail me.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 6 Oct 2002 10:31 am

A Brown Soun has sent me a Tone Tubby to test. It has a hemp cone. I expect it will be a darker sound than a JBL. I'll be comparing it to an EVM-12L. My amp is similar to a Twin (it's a Mesa/Boogie).

I'll let you know how it works out.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6), Roland Handsonic

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 6 Oct 2002 8:14 pm

Weber VST These guys can recone JBL's for $60 what ever ohm's, doping, or dust cover(alum or paper) your want. They don't use offical recone kits but they do a great job.
They also make some of the best speakers money can buy.

Keith Murrow · Post by **Keith Murrow** » 8 Oct 2002 11:34 am

..[This message was edited by Keith Murrow on 26 October 2004 at 04:29 PM.]

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 14 Oct 2002 8:36 pm

I have the Tone Tubby and the EVM side by side now, in the same kind of cabinet. The Tone Tubby is darker and smoother sounding.

If I boost the presence in my amp, the Tone Tubby's highs are really sweet, not piercing, even with the Lawrence 710 pickup. I like this speaker. Plus the alnico magnet makes it considerably lighter than the EVM.

I'm powering it with half of a Mesa 50/50 (50 watts). I've also tried it with my Mesa Maverick (40 watts). I'm not sure how it would hold up with a high-powered solid state amp, though. It's rated at 30 watts, but I'm not sure I believe that. Guitar amp snobs like to underrate their equipment.

I used the Tone Tubby for a full band rehearsal at a reasonable volume, and it did not distort. Next weekend I'm going to try it at an outdoor gig.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic), Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6), Roland Handsonic[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 14 October 2002 at 09:38 PM.]