Altec Lansing

Larry Hamilton · Post by **Larry Hamilton** » 21 Oct 2003 8:32 am

Back in the mid 70's I used a Fender Twin Reverb with 2-12 Altecs when I played guitar in local bands. After I started playing steel I used various amps through the years but due to my day jor I have not quite been in the "loop". Have I missed the demise of Altec guitar speakers? I hear about all different speakers, but no Altecs. I always thought they were a heck of a speaker. I hope someone would enlighten me on this subject.
Thanks, Larry

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 21 Oct 2003 9:31 am

Carlos Santana still uses one. They are similar to the JBL in that they use an aluminum dustcap which puts that nice sweet presence on the top end. The Black Widow uses an aluminum dustcap too. You can hear that Altec sound with Carlos Santana's tone.

I've got one of the bigger 15" Altec's in my Nashville Pro amp (Gretsch). I'm still getting used to it and so far I like it.

Brad Sarno

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 21 Oct 2003 10:52 am

Both of my 1970 Standel amps have Altecs. I replaced one with a JBL and the Altec went back in the next day. It's a great speaker and I believe that amp designers tended to voice an amp to go with the original speaker.

To my knowledge, Altec Lansing no longer makes musical instrument speakers.

------------------
<small>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

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 21 Oct 2003 11:07 am

Altecs were some of the absolute finest speakers ever put in an amp!! Beautiful high end. Thin paper cone gives you wonderful definition.

EV now owns some of the Altec speaker stuff. The speakers are not made but some of the voice coils are and if you have an excellent recone guy, sometimes he can save your Altec paper and just redo the cone section of the speaker.

418b-15" bad boy.
417C-12" bad boy.

If you can find these unmolested,unblown,unripped, they are as good as you will get. From what info I have seen/heard the Altec may have provided some impetus/inspiration for the Peavey Black Widow series.

Secret hiding place for Altec 12" speakers is in some of the Ampeg 4 12 cabinets that nobody uses anymore.

Secret hiding place for the Altec 15" speakers is in Acoustic PA cabs which nobody uses anymore.

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 21 Oct 2003 10:30 pm

Shhh, keep it quiet guys, I'd like to buy more 418's for 200 bucks a pair, like I did just a while ago

. Seriously, the not-so-secret hiding place for these speakers naturally is ebay, they are all over there and often for reasonable prices, like my 200 dollar pair proves. Usually people ask and offer more for the 12" 417's, and the reason is the aforementioned Carlos Santana. Nevertheless, these are some of the sweetest sounding speakers in the market, and generally anything Altec manufactured during 40's-70's, for pro or home use, was top quality.

Alan Kirk · Post by **Alan Kirk** » 22 Oct 2003 4:48 am

I sold a couple of 12" 417-8Cs to a Forum member a few months back. Never heard if he liked them or not. I'd been dragging them around with me since 1970, when I was an Altec dealer.

I always thought they were a bit bright, for my tastes.

------------------

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 22 Oct 2003 6:04 am

Alan. The Altec is indeed bright sounding. Much easier to just roll back the top end on your amp than to suffer with a speaker that does not have enough top end to start with. That brightness transfers very nicely in the studio when you need it.

I personally think the Altecs are brighter than the JBL speakers. Even the 15" 418b will just cut through anything if you need that.

David Deratany · Post by **David Deratany** » 22 Oct 2003 5:13 pm

I just picked up a pair of Altec 417's and am having Gerry Walker put them in his cabs for me, properly set up, of course.

My plan is to use them with guitar, but I know I won't be able to resist trying them with my steel. I'm curious to see how they compare with the 15" BWs that I got with the SS.

David Deratany · Post by **David Deratany** » 22 Oct 2003 5:18 pm

oh, BTW, you can get all Altec speakers (but not the car or computer speakers)and hf drivers remagnetized, reconed, rediaphragmed and otherwise repaired just as good as new by Great Plains Audio. Bill's reconing skills are legendary; his cones and voice coils and diaphragms are made on the same equipment and with the same materials and to the same specifications as the original Altecs.