15" speaker selection

15" speaker selection

  • Aluminum

    Votes: 1 11.1%

  • Paper

    Votes: 7 77.8%

  • H-screen

    Votes: 1 11.1%
  • Total voters
    9
  • Poll closed .
blueslegend8

blueslegend8

New member
So, tonight (monday) im gonna order the speaker for my Vibroclone. Im going with a Ceramic coil California 15 from Ted Weber (sorry cant afford an original JBL). I just wanna get some feedback on what type of dome I should get... aluminum like the original '64 Vibroverb, paper or the H-screen.

also thoughts on the Ceramic coil and Alcino Coil option as well...
:thanks:
 
Re: 15" speaker selection

Well, the original JBL's were ceramic magnet with the aluminum dust cap...those tend to be too bright IMO, almost brittle in the top end. I would stick with the ceramic magnet and go with the paper dust cap. The paper dust cap will roll off some of the highs and make the speaker a tad warmer sounding in the treble. The ceramic magnet will be tighter in the bottom and cleaner/clearier than the alnico version.
 
Re: 15" speaker selection

I am not big with 15 inch speakers, but I have heard that the aluminum cap will be too bright by many people, experienced people that is :-) I never tried an alnico 15 inch speaker, but if I got my science right they would probably sound too muddy for my tastes anyhow. Unless you've got it in a Tweed Pro or something, totally different amp. Still not really sure about that one. But AFAIK, that vibroverb tone was created with the ceramic magnets. Good luck dude!
 
Re: 15" speaker selection

BTW the allure of the aluminum cap is great, just for looks, but PLEASE don't go that route just for looks. :eyecrazy: I'm sure you won't being that you posted a poll... :friday::cool2::ok:
 
Re: 15" speaker selection

the guy who invented fire said:
Well, the original JBL's were ceramic magnet with the aluminum dust cap...those tend to be too bright IMO, almost brittle in the top end. I would stick with the ceramic magnet and go with the paper dust cap. The paper dust cap will roll off some of the highs and make the speaker a tad warmer sounding in the treble. The ceramic magnet will be tighter in the bottom and cleaner/clearier than the alnico version.
Click to expand...

Were they? :scratchch I thought JBL's used an alnico magnet. :)

As for the aluminum dust cover...never liked that sound. Seems a little squeeky
sounding or something.

I'd go paper.
 
Re: 15" speaker selection

I have a Cali ceramic with the paper cap. Sounds really good. Not too bright or harsh, which was always my impression of the aluminum dustcap JBLs.
 
Re: 15" speaker selection

thanks guys!

But would the alcino magnet be a bad buy? And Ive been looking at some JBLs on Ebay. They aren't as high priced as I was expecting but the ones on ebay are listed as 8 ohms. any suggestions? One was listed as "Speaker Reconed With JBL E-130-8 Ohm Kit." Can that be reversed back to 4 ohms?
This one is in good shape it seems...
JBL

Well the real point im getting to is, did the original Vibroverbs and bandmasters have the same rersistance of 4 ohms or did the vibroverb have more? if so why are all the JBLs 8 ohms, does the resistance even have to match the OT?
 
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Re: 15" speaker selection

is the h cap the screen cap? ive heard a cali 15" ceramic with the curved cone and screen cap and for a 15" i thought it sounded great. call ted, he will give you some good insight
 
Re: 15" speaker selection

The orange and gray frame JBL's that came in Vibroverbs, Twin reverbs, and Dual Showmans were all ceramic speakers...I actually bought a set of orange frame 12's for my Twin Reverb and got rid of them due to the aluminum dust cap...very ice picky to my ears.

If you buy an 8 ohm speaker the only way to make it be a 4 ohm speaker is to have it reconed which seems like a waste on a perfectly good speaker...now if you could find a blown one that might be a good buy but to be hoenst I'd just go with a new weber...

Yes, the H is the screen (cloth) dust cap...those sound good too, I'd go with the paper of the h scren but not the aluminum...thats just me.
 
Re: 15" speaker selection

UPDATE:
I just ordered my speaker from Weber. Cali 15 with ceramic magnet, paper dust cap rated for 4 ohms. I noticed right before I ordered that the ceramic magnet had more headroom than the Alcino counterpart so im glad I went with the ceramic magnet. It was really hard for me to go for the paper dust cap because for some reason because I really wanted the aluminum (looks cool and is accurate to original). But I went with the masses and got the paper.

I still like the idea of having a JBL in it though. Maybe one day Ill upgrade to the JBL D130f. ;)
 
Re: 15" speaker selection

blueslegend8 said:
UPDATE:
I just ordered my speaker from Weber. Cali 15 with ceramic magnet, paper dust cap rated for 4 ohms. I noticed right before I ordered that the ceramic magnet had more headroom than the Alcino counterpart so im glad I went with the ceramic magnet. It was really hard for me to go for the paper dust cap because for some reason because I really wanted the aluminum (looks cool and is accurate to original). But I went with the masses and got the paper.

I still like the idea of having a JBL in it though. Maybe one day Ill upgrade to the JBL D130f. ;)
Click to expand...


Good call bro! Im tellin you, the Weber cali's are so close to a JBL there is no opoint in looking for one plus they all had the aluminum dust cap and none of them were 4 ohms...you did the right thing! Now...ORDER A CAB AND GET TO ROCKIN!!!:naughty:
 
Re: 15" speaker selection

good luck with the amp

I agree that JBL type speakers can be too bright. I've heard some nice clips, but I ordered a new Twin Reverb back in the early 70s with JBLs, and it was just too bright. (I think those had grey frames.)

I have read descriptions of JBLs as having a "flat" or "neutral" EQ, but I didn't think so at all.
 
Re: 15" speaker selection

I guess I have a version of the Vibroclone's big brother: a Traynor YSR1 in a pine cab with a ceramic Cali 15" w/paper dome. That things sounds great---big big big tone with single coils and very loud. Unfortunately, it's the size of a small refrigerator...I also have some old D-130F's for my tweed Pro; one with a aftermarket 4" paper dome and one stock aluminum dome. The paper one gets played...the aluminum goes in if I want to sound like Merle Travis.
 
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