JBL recone-Webb amp

Rusty Walker · Post by **Rusty Walker** » 13 Apr 2003 6:17 am

I recently had to recone my speaker-D130F-8ohms.The tech gave me the choice of waiting a week while he ordered a JBL cone or going with a generic which he had in stock and about $75 cheaper.I chose the cheap one.The tone that I loved is gone. Can't get the crisp sound anymore.Anyone with comments.Now I'm looking at either having it re-done with JBL paper or going to a different brand.I've also been told that it should be coned at 4 ohms.It's a 614E.Please give me some feedback

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 13 Apr 2003 6:42 am

IIn my experience, f you've blown your D-130, you won't get that tone back regardless of what recone kit you get. JBL no longer makes a D-130 kit and your recone will get you essentially an E-130, which is a much more rugged speaker but does not have the sound of a D-130.

I discussed this with Jim Webb in March, as we were product table-mates at the Dallas Jamboree. He's a very nice man, but is quite frail at this time. He allowed as how an 8-ohm speaker would work fine in a Webb amp, but you'd functionally get about 140 watts of power as opposed to the full power of the amp at a 4-ohm load. Still, plenty of power in his opinion.

I had a blown D-130 and had it reconed to 4 ohms. It is now in a 1980 Peavey LTD sitting in my workshop, where it won't get the full volume treatment. D-130's really get "iffy" above 100 watts.

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Rusty Walker · Post by **Rusty Walker** » 13 Apr 2003 6:53 am

Herb,thanks for the reply.Near as I can recall,thats the speaker that came with the amp,which is one of the original hand-wired Webbs.About 30yrs.old.Do you know what is being used in the later models?

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 13 Apr 2003 7:04 am

Jim told me recently he was using Eminence 8 ohm speakers in his amps. He is having them made for him. This gives the player the option of using another 8 ohm cabinet also.
You get 4 ohm load and more speakers pushing air.

Larry Behm

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 13 Apr 2003 7:04 am

Rusty
Webb was using E-130s specially ordered for them from JBL, but I understand that there aren't anymore of those. My Webb GP has a 4-ohm E speaker. I bet a Black Widow would sound great in a Webb, since I put BWs in my Evans amps at the suggestion of Ed Buffington (honcho at Evans) and they work better than the Evans Eclipse speakers IMHO.

I could be wrong about the availability of the 4 ohm E-type, however. Others on the Forum might be more knowledgeable about that.

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Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 13 Apr 2003 7:12 am

I agree on the satisfaction of substituting a BW for the Eclipse in an Evans. As to reconing the JBL, these guys specialize in this--
http://www.webervst.com/

and have a real good word-of-mouth reputation. I've had good transactions with them for new speakers. Since they manufacture speakers and know their stuff, I would think that you could get some pretty straight answers from them on just what their JBL recones consist of.

Rusty Walker · Post by **Rusty Walker** » 13 Apr 2003 7:13 am

It was suggested to me that I try a Black Widow.Anyone else who has made that change to a Webb?I'm curious about the tone comparison to the original.Appreciate the feed back.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 13 Apr 2003 8:04 am

It's not a Webb, but I have Gerry Walker's Stereo Steel amp with 2 speaker cabinets. One is a JBL D130F and one is a Black Widow so it is easy to compare. The Black Widow sounds better.

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 13 Apr 2003 10:55 am

When mine blew, I put a D-130 in the amp and played with it for several years. The sparkle was gone, though, as was the power.

Then I decided to get the get the original K 130-4 reconed. My local music store knew a guy in Los Angeles who had a few of the original 4 ohm recone kits, and sent it to him. It cost me $175 plus shipping to have it done, but it was worth it. The amp now sounds as good as new.

I've heard that there are no more 4 ohm kits. That's one of the reasons that I "baby" my Webb so much these days.

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Ken Fox · Post by **Ken Fox** » 13 Apr 2003 11:20 am

Having read on other forums about reconed speakers, I have gathered that it takes about 35 to 40 hours of playing to breaking a new speaker. I use a music source and let mine play along for several days. That loosens us the speaker and you get a better sound. A new recone is a tight sound, lacking highs and good lows. Just a thoought, you might give it a try. I put mine in the shop and just close the doors! No complaints from the meighbors yet. As mentioned above, a nice option is the 1501-4SB or even the older 1501-DT-4 speakers by Peavey.[This message was edited by Ken Fox on 13 April 2003 at 12:22 PM.]

Tom Hodgin · Post by **Tom Hodgin** » 13 Apr 2003 6:16 pm

Rusty, Jim Webb told me that Tommy White put a E-130-8 in one of his 614-E's and really liked it......so there you go.....according to Jim some of the newer 614's will have the E-130's in them.....after that,,,who knows... tom

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 13 Apr 2003 7:54 pm

My WEBB 6-14E has an E-130 (8) in it. It is serial #749 bought in 1977 (maybe 78?) bought from the Steel Guitar Emporium in MPLS. This was the original speaker when purchased back then. I'm not sure when they switched to a 4 ohm or option(s).

Rusty Walker · Post by **Rusty Walker** » 14 Apr 2003 10:11 pm

Thanks for the input Guys.I think I'm gonna try out a Black Widow.Next question-are there different models,and which works best?

Daniel Vorp · Post by **Daniel Vorp** » 15 Apr 2003 5:36 am

I have a new Webb 6-14-E on order. I specifically asked what speaker would be installed. Mr.Webb informed me it will come with a 15" JBL E130 speaker.

jim milewski · Post by **jim milewski** » 15 Apr 2003 5:54 am

I know JBL is the speaker specialist and Peavey makes speakers amid tons of other stuff......but compared to BW (and I have both 1501 and 1502 4 ohms), the JBL is a distant second

Daniel Vorp · Post by **Daniel Vorp** » 15 Apr 2003 6:29 am

I guess beauty is in the ears of the beholder. I have a strong personal preference for JBL speakers versus the Black Widow.

Jimmie Webb · Post by **Jimmie Webb** » 15 Apr 2003 9:37 am

Thanks Gentlemen for the nice comments on Webb Amps. This keeps the people to understand about speakers, Reverb tanks and other parts I appreciate you helping them. However, there is a few misunderstandings in some of the answers.
Webb never did put a D130 speaker in the Webb Amp. The D130 was discountined when I started making amps in the mid 70's. K130 was used. I also used a few other quality speakers and then asked my customers for there opinion and the K130 was Unanamous approved. So think for about another year we gave the customer his choice of speakers. After that we only used JBL in the 614-E amp only.
We do use other speakers in our other model amps. I have eminence to make me a special speaker for other model amps.
As all of you probably know by now JBL doesnt make 4 ohm speakers anymore for musical instrument speakers. I use 8 ohm's in the Webb now and haven't had a complaint. At 4 ohms the Webb is concertively rated at 225 which is clean. At 8 ohms around 160 at 2 ohms 250 see back of amp. I have always heard a D-130 was about 25 watts. A K130 was 75 watts open back. Closed back 100.
Alot of players are driving those speakers very hard and should be using two speakers and split the load to protect them. Example is you are using 100 watts and using 2 speakers, each speaker is only getting 50 watts. I think I have a few D-130 speakers here some place. More information on JBL speakers and reverb tanks to come later.

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 15 Apr 2003 2:24 pm

Mr.Webb,
Thanks for setting us straight and giving us some forgotten historical and technical information on these great amps! I have the 6-14E and also a GP and may sell the GP to get a 2-channel head. Love them WEBBS!!

Rusty Walker · Post by **Rusty Walker** » 16 Apr 2003 3:23 pm

So now I'm really confused.Is the K130 still available? And Jimmie,I've sworn by that amp for all these years.So the next speaker that goes into it,I certainly want it to be the right one.Is the K a metal or ceramic magnet?

Michael Holland · Post by **Michael Holland** » 16 Apr 2003 5:02 pm

On power handling; this is a excerpt from the Operating Manual that came with my '79 Boogie Mark II combo with JBL D-130F.

With 100/60 watt models we recommend that when you run a single 8 ohm speaker you use the 60 watt position and plug into a 4 ohm jack