15 inch guitar speakers

[Antihero]

Im going to be building my own 2x15 cab here pretty soon, mostly because 2x15 are very hard to come by that are made for guitar, and im looking for some opinions on whether id be happier with the Big Ben or the Legend 151 / 1518?

Im using a peavey triple XXX 2x12 open backed combo and a G Flex ported 2x12. Im not looking for thundering lows, i just want to add a bit more roundness so please keep this in mind. Also this cab might have to be mixed with a 4x12 loaded with Swamp Thangs and the others above. I admittedly am leaning towards the 1518 because of the 102db rating since thats pretty close to the Swamp Thangs, but id like to hear you're opinions on it.

Also the cab is going to be 32"x30"x14 and will at least start out as a closed back cab.


Thanks in advance

 

[Bludave]

Re: 15 inch guitar speakers

I would consider using the JBL speakers that Fender used in the Dual Showmans. These are/were essentially a twin in a head, but the bottoms came with 2 JBL D-130F. These are really one of the few guitar amps that csme with 15" speakers. These speakers were pretty dynamic. highs are great, yet they drive well. I don't know how they would respond to a gain master like the XXX. The Dual Showmans are pretty clean amps. If you want to get an idea of what they sound like see if you can find a copy of Derek and the Dominos Live, or find the Video for the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. Eric Clapton was playing thru a stock Showman with the stones and his red 335, the Dominos was obvoiusly a Strat. These are the best 15" speakers I have used.

 

[ksmith63]

Re: 15 inch guitar speakers

you arent getting enough lows from your g-flex???


email eminence and ask them about it. their customer service is very helpful and they'll probably also help you out with the best box size/design.

 

[Stratman]

Re: 15 inch guitar speakers

Get weber speakers Cali 15= JBL D130; note that JBL D130F are bass speakers.

AlNiCo Cali 15... Showman, Vibroverb, Vibroclones, replaces JBL D130 15", 40oz boosted AlNiCo magnet, 60 watt, 2" voice coil, curved cone. Loud, smooth, uncolored, compressed at higher volumes. Available with paper, aluminum, or the large H screen dome for more warmth. Available with standard curved lead guitar cone or the straight, cloth edge bass cone. $215.00

Ceramic Cali 15... Showman, Vibroverb, Vibroclones, replaces JBL D130 15", 60oz ceramic magnet, 80 watt, 2" voice coil, curved cone. Loud, smooth, uncolored, more headroom than the AlNiCo version. Available with paper, aluminum, or the large H screen dome for more warmth. Available with the standard curved lead guitar cone or the straight, cloth edge bass cone. $110.00


Ballsy yet clean got for this...

NeoMag™ 15 Replacement for the Showman, Vibroverb, Vibroclones, etc. Replaces JBL D130, D130F, and D140F (bass). 15", 4" NeoMag™ magnet circuit with single layer voice coil and edgewound aluminum wire, designed to have the same magnet circuit energy and voice coil force characteristics as the original D130, D130F, and D140F AlNiCo magnet speakers. Broad, smooth, uncolored tone with deep low end. Available with paper or aluminum dome, original JB Lansing type all paper curved cone, JBL/Fender cloth surround curved cone, or JBL/Fender cloth surround ribbed bass guitar cone. $180.00

 

[Antihero]

Re: 15 inch guitar speakers

I don't know how they would respond to a gain master like the XXX.

Thats the thing i dont know either. I went the Emienences site and listened to the clips, but frankly the tone on Heavy clips sounds like crap on all the speakers, so i think its just the amp being used. I have a Swamp Thang and it sounds nothing like the clip under high gain.

you arent getting enough lows from your g-flex???

The G-Flex provides me with all the lows i need, as i mentioned im not really looking for thundering lows but more roundness of tone.

email eminence and ask them about it. their customer service is very helpful and they'll probably also help you out with the best box size/design.

When i emailed them awhile back they said they really didnt know. This cab is going to be used with standard tuned and Baritone guitars and they really need 2 seperate speakers for optimal sound. Im hoping someone here has some experience with 2x15 with baris and standard tuned guitars.

Get weber speakers Cali 15= JBL D130; note that JBL D130F are bass speakers.

AlNiCo Cali 15... Showman, Vibroverb, Vibroclones, replaces JBL D130 15", 40oz boosted AlNiCo magnet, 60 watt, 2" voice coil, curved cone. Loud, smooth, uncolored, compressed at higher volumes. Available with paper, aluminum, or the large H screen dome for more warmth. Available with standard curved lead guitar cone or the straight, cloth edge bass cone. $215.00

Ceramic Cali 15... Showman, Vibroverb, Vibroclones, replaces JBL D130 15", 60oz ceramic magnet, 80 watt, 2" voice coil, curved cone. Loud, smooth, uncolored, more headroom than the AlNiCo version. Available with paper, aluminum, or the large H screen dome for more warmth. Available with the standard curved lead guitar cone or the straight, cloth edge bass cone. $110.00


Ballsy yet clean got for this...

NeoMag™ 15 Replacement for the Showman, Vibroverb, Vibroclones, etc. Replaces JBL D130, D130F, and D140F (bass). 15", 4" NeoMag™ magnet circuit with single layer voice coil and edgewound aluminum wire, designed to have the same magnet circuit energy and voice coil force characteristics as the original D130, D130F, and D140F AlNiCo magnet speakers. Broad, smooth, uncolored tone with deep low end. Available with paper or aluminum dome, original JB Lansing type all paper curved cone, JBL/Fender cloth surround curved cone, or JBL/Fender cloth surround ribbed bass guitar cone. $180.00

I emailed Ted awhile back as well and he thought the Ceramic cali 15 would be best but not optimal for the sound im looking for.

Thanks for all the responses so far, hopefully more people will chime in.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: 15 inch guitar speakers

I am a fan of 15's in some amps and setting and I do have a few favs but Im gonna be honest with you...I think you;re barking up the wrong tree with this...I don't think you;ll be any rounder when this is done but what you will have is a very parge and heavy cab that you have a lot of money in and in teh end I feel like you'll only run the risk of having a muddy guitar tone when it's all over...


Now that I said that...the Weber JBL's and EV's are nice and very close to the originals and cost less. If you can find them old Celestions are cool flavors of 15's too and I like old Jensens when you can find them but they are pretty crunchy and only good for a little amount of wattage...

Seeing that you're running a XXX I would go for a high powered 15 but I have to say again, I don't think you'll be happy.

IMO, 15's in guitar amps are really good for swampy, slightly overdriven tones with a fair amount of cone break up from pushing a low wattage speaker but in a high gain setting I think you;re playing with fire...

 

[Antihero]

Re: 15 inch guitar speakers

I am a fan of 15's in some amps and setting and I do have a few favs but Im gonna be honest with you...I think you;re barking up the wrong tree with this...I don't think you;ll be any rounder when this is done but what you will have is a very parge and heavy cab that you have a lot of money in and in teh end I feel like you'll only run the risk of having a muddy guitar tone when it's all over...


Now that I said that...the Weber JBL's and EV's are nice and very close to the originals and cost less. If you can find them old Celestions are cool flavors of 15's too and I like old Jensens when you can find them but they are pretty crunchy and only good for a little amount of wattage...

Seeing that you're running a XXX I would go for a high powered 15 but I have to say again, I don't think you'll be happy.

IMO, 15's in guitar amps are really good for swampy, slightly overdriven tones with a fair amount of cone break up from pushing a low wattage speaker but in a high gain setting I think you;re playing with fire...

I hear you and thank you for your honest opinion, but its something i gotta try and if it doesnt work with the Triple XXX maybe it will work with my crate gt500h(EL-84s 50 watts) or ill rip the baffle out and cut it for 4x12s.

All in all its gonna cost me about $350 bucks so its not too bad.

But again thanks for your honest opinion.

 

[Antihero]

Re: 15 inch guitar speakers

bump

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: 15 inch guitar speakers

I have an 18 ( Musicman) and a 15 cab ( PV), love em both for guitar. They are front loaded, ported cabs, and I added casters to both, as they really need to be off the floor, or the bottom can be too thick. I have an EV in the 18 cab, just a beautiful sound. I definately think it is worth it to mess around with. I am always chasing gear and setups that are not typical, as unique tones inspire me greatly.

One of the best deals on 2/15 cabs that are well built, are vintage PV cabs. I see them in the 150 and less range often. I picked up my 15 in cab for 50.00 on Craigslist, loaded with a speaker.