Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

[Fusion1]

Hey I have an old 2x15 bass cab I got for cheap on CL. I bought it to replace my 2x12 that was stolen last summer. The 2x15 vertical cab sounds good for heavy stuff but note articulation gets lost with not much high end or mids. I was thinking of keeping the lower 15" and then finding a way to mount a 12" in an adapter of sorts that will then mount normally in the 15" space. Anyone know of such a gadget?

Not my cab but if it was how would I swap the top right 15" to a 12"? Thanks.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

personally i would get a new baffle rather than any weird adapter

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

Jeremy explain this. I am not a cabinet builder, but I am assuming the baffle is the entire front board the speakers are mounted to. This is pretty much a DIY approach isn't it as every cabinet has different dimensions. Heck I think the 2x15 cabinet I am using is actually a 2x15 PA cabinet as it is larger than most 2x15 Peaveys I looked up online for reference pics.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

Would it be possible to cutout a ring of wood (same thickness of the baffle) that would be screwed in around the perimeter of the cutout section? Then the 12" would mount to the adapter ring normally?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

it may or may not be a standard size but any cabinet maker should be able to do it for you

you might be able to make the adapter work, never tried it

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

I can think of a few ways but the easiest would also be the best. Remove screws and take out the baffle (the board the speakers are mounted to)
Trace it onto a new piece of wood, including tracing the lower 15" hole. Cut it out, and put a 12" speaker hole in the top. Paint it black and reinstall.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

I may have to try disassembling the cab. I'm venturing into uncharted waters so I am treading lightly if I decide to do this.

 

[Stratman]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

I'll accept that 15 inch speaker for free, including shipping.....


I think that Weber make speaker rings

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

Well I heard from Andrew at Mojotone and he sells these. Pic below is 12" to 10" converter rings. The 15" to 12" rings are the same. $33 though... Plus shipping...

 

[ksmith63]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

Well I heard from Andrew at Mojotone and he sells these. Pic below is 12" to 10" converter rings. The 15" to 12" rings are the same. $33 though... Plus shipping...

I vote against this option. Part of a cabinet's sound is having both speakers mounted to the same baffle. Also it will not be expensive to have anyone who works with wood to make one....possibly cheaper than $33+shipping. It's a board with two holes.

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

Well I heard from Andrew at Mojotone and he sells these. Pic below is 12" to 10" converter rings. The 15" to 12" rings are the same. $33 though... Plus shipping...

I saw the speakers were front mounted and never considered rear mounting.
A ring big enough to have decent size around the hole would work fine. You could glue and screw if you wanted extra goodness. Then a hole for a 12" in the middle (it could be front mounted though the ring would have to be from the back)

 

[Juanhanglo]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

How about 2 10" in the empty corners?

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

How about 2 10" in the empty corners?

2x10s 1x12 and 1x15 in the same cab? What would that sound like without bi-amping or tri-amping.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

I saw the speakers were front mounted and never considered rear mounting.
A ring big enough to have decent size around the hole would work fine. You could glue and screw if you wanted extra goodness. Then a hole for a 12" in the middle (it could be front mounted though the ring would have to be from the back)

My cabinet resembles this Peavey cabinet more than the pic in the first post. My cab is older but there is no grill at all or Peavey logo outside of the side handles. I don't have the cab here but I'm guessing mine is front loaded as the back of the cab is solid outside of the control plate with the 1/4" and Speakon outputs. It has those added on speaker grill things I'm not a big fan of the look of.

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

Well if the rear isn't removable, a new baffle is the only real option. You could make an adapter, but the baffle would have to come out anyway to install it from the rear. So you might as well just get a new baffle.

 

[ACH91332]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

In addition to what the other guys said..
Yeah I'd stay away from the whole adapter thing. Since yours doesn't have a grill the elevation of the speaker won't be an issue but the possibility of it rattling more doesn't seem too attractive to me. I would work on making for finding a new baffle with a 15" and 12" hole in it.

I don't know much about speakers and cabs but if it had a grill it would press on the speaker possibly which I don't think is good, or because of the adapter being placed on the wood it won't be like as if the baffle is all one piece so it makes me think it will rattle which isn't something anyone wants. There's ways to keep it from rattling but still I would only use an adapter for a car or home stereo, never my guitar cab.

 

[ES350]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

That baffle is glued in MDF, like the late 70's Fenders---gotta cut it out flush, install baffle rails, cut a new baffle, and put it together. Or use the Mojo adapters. I'd flip it to a bass player and get a cheap 2x12"...

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

That baffle is glued in MDF, like the late 70's Fenders---gotta cut it out flush, install baffle rails, cut a new baffle, and put it together. Or use the Mojo adapters. I'd flip it to a bass player and get a cheap 2x12"...

You're probably right as the thing is a beast and weighs a ton. I see no way to remove the baffle either like it is an integral part of the cabinet. Hell if I had to replace a speaker I'd have to saw the cabinet baffle off? Strange.

Sounds like a lot of work if I did all the above and then still not sure if I'd like the results.

I may think about flipping the other one I have as I already basically gave it away for $100. I'm still working on getting his Fender BXR300 1x15 combo cabinet/speaker & speaker as part of the deal since he took the amp chassis /rack out of the cabinet and uses it on top of the 2x15 now.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Adapter to fit 12" speakers in 2x15 cabinet

That baffle is glued in MDF, like the late 70's Fenders---gotta cut it out flush, install baffle rails, cut a new baffle, and put it together. Or use the Mojo adapters. I'd flip it to a bass player and get a cheap 2x12"...

Anyway to guage the age of the cabinet? It seems like it would be 70s era by the look of the cabinet. The odd thing is it has speakon jacks

and I don't remember these ^^^^ being around till the 90s or later. I first saw these being offered on Carvin PA/ Bass cabs I'm guessing mid/late 1990s-early 2000s?