Twelve versus Fifteen Inch Speaker?

Johnny Cunnyngham · Post by **Johnny Cunnyngham** » 25 Aug 2005 4:08 am

From your comments I notice many use an amp with a 15" speaker. I have recently changed from a 12" to 15" and notice a more pronounced bass sound
from my Peavy amp. The back is closed, my old Fender back was open. Will this make a difference? I am using a Boss DD3 and have adjusted the unit, but to no avail.

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 25 Aug 2005 4:54 am

Johnny, I think the thing that matters most is not the speaker size,but the design. The amps designed for steel guitar have a speaker that is designed for steel guitar. For instance, The Nashville 400 has a 15"speaker. The Nashville 112 has a 12" speaker. They both produce a good sound steel guitar.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 25 Aug 2005 6:16 am

Both a 15" speaker and a closed-back cabinet will have more bass response. You can always dial up the bass on a 12" speaker, so theoretically you should be able to make them sound about like a 15". And you can use two 12s to move as much air as a single 15. But I have found that there is more to it than that. A 15 just has a different voice that I prefer for predal steel. I actually notice it more in the mids. I think a 15 brings out the lower mids better to give a distinctive kind of moan I just never hear in 12s.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Aug 2005 6:17 am

I think you will get a better sound out of a 15" speaker, when used for steel, with an open backed cabinet. I notice that amps and speaker enclosures designed for bass have closed backs.
Erv

Jeff Lampert · Post by **Jeff Lampert** » 25 Aug 2005 6:24 am

The fact that the Nashville 112 has received arguably more rave reviews then any other steel amp ever made and the fact that many steel players love old Fender twins would seem to imply that you can not make a blanket statement that amps with 15" speakers sound better than amps with 12" speakers.

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Jeff's Jazz

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 25 Aug 2005 7:45 am

Uhhh...have you tried just turning down the bass?

As others have said, closed-back cabinets are far more bassy than open backed cabinets. There are differences between twelves and fifteens, but those are quite marginal at low-to-medium volume levels.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 3 Sep 2005 4:09 pm

I would have to agree that you really can't just say that 15's are better than 12's ....
There are SO many variable's involved..
First you have the design of the speaker, and then the design of the cabinet, and then the material used in both the speaker AND the cabinet , and then the size of the cabinet .....Too many variables to say one is better than the other...In some of my amps I have 15's that are "boomier " and deeper sounding , when compared to a 2 -12 cab that is "punchier" and you can hear the lower strings more clearly .....Which is better ? .....Neither !!.....They are DIFFERENT !!.... Better is in the ear's of the beholder !!....( where have I head that ? )......Sincerely, Jim