It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:35 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 2:06 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 2:31 pm
Posts: 15
I came across 4x 12 1/2 inch "Fender Musical Instrument Special Design Speaker" in what I believe is a custom speaker cabinet.

I'm trying to find out some additional info about the speakers - what they would be used for ( eg: keyboard? bass? guitar? ) and what the wattage might be. The speakers are 23 ohms, and I assume were meant to be used as pairs for either 16 or 8 ohms overall.

Some pics:

Image

Image

Image

Speaker code is:008498 32ohms 67-7546 FE-12327. Would 67: Eminence?

I've come across a few threads discussing them - possibly they were for the Fender Rhodes Suitcase speakers?

Any input appreciated!


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 7:52 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
My guess ...

Yes, 67 = Eminence.

7546 = 1975, 46th week.

I am not familiar with the cabinet.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 12:48 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 2:31 pm
Posts: 15
BMW2002Ti wrote:
My guess ...

Yes, 67 = Eminence.

7546 = 1975, 46th week.

I am not familiar with the cabinet.


Thanks!

Any idea as to application for these speakers? Keyboard? Guitar? Bass?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 2:10 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
My WAG would be that those are for guitar use. Not bass. The magnet assembly size is prolly not heavy duty enough for big amp/bass use.

Like I said --- a WAG. Maybe, someone else knows more about the speakers and the cab.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 2:21 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 2:31 pm
Posts: 15
Thanks, very helpful!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 2:26 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 2:31 pm
Posts: 15
Just came across this image of these speakers used in a Fender Rhodes!

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:18 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
"137" = CTS.

Seems there is a solid-state amp built into the cab.


BTW... nearly all stickers place on OEM speakers in Fender amps and cabs say "Special Design" or some such thing.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:26 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 2:31 pm
Posts: 15
BMW2002Ti wrote:
"137" = CTS.

Seems there is a solid-state amp built into the cab.

BTW... nearly all stickers place on OEM speakers in Fender amps and cabs say "Special Design" or some such thing.


ok, so seeing a similar looking speaker in this application doesn't tell me anything about my speakers?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 5:32 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:10 pm
Posts: 5646
Location: Gateway to the West
Fender used to make speaker cabs for their PA systems that carried 4 x 32 ohm speakers...these were usually CTS, but Fender may have changed to Eminence loaded cabinets when they switched speaker manufacturers about this time. These speakers were most likely from these vocal/PA cabs.

They can be re-coned to make them 8 or 16 ohms for guitar application.

HTH.

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 6:05 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
kcroy wrote:
Ok, so seeing a similar looking speaker in this application doesn't tell me anything about my speakers?


Correct. About the only thing you can say is the Eminence and the CTS have alnico magnets. Similar magnet housing structure.

Never heard a 12-inch CTS alnico of this era. However, the 10-inch ones are very good speakers. Never heard that particular 12-inch Eminence alnico.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 7:17 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 2:31 pm
Posts: 15
T2Stratman wrote:
Fender used to make speaker cabs for their PA systems that carried 4 x 32 ohm speakers...these were usually CTS, but Fender may have changed to Eminence loaded cabinets when they switched speaker manufacturers about this time. These speakers were most likely from these vocal/PA cabs.

They can be re-coned to make them 8 or 16 ohms for guitar application.

HTH.

T2


Thanks.

Are they decent guitar speakers as is ( 8 ohm config ). I 'm aware that personal taste plays a role here, but are they physically suited to guitar, or would keyboard/PA be the appropriate application.

I don't have much ear for judging tone, but they sound brighter and more transparent than other guitar speakers I have heard. When I crank up the clean channel on my amp, the sound is very crystalline, and if I'm not careful can be really piercing ( Strat clone with single coil pick ups).


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:21 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
The brittle tone may be an indication that the speakers' cones and compliances have dried-out, due to age. They might need to be re-coned.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:25 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 2:31 pm
Posts: 15
BMW2002Ti wrote:
The brittle tone may be an indication that the speakers' cones and compliances have dried-out, due to age. They might need to be re-coned.


cone looks good, I'll check out the compliance. I feel it is more just that the speaker is adding less distortion, rather than a flaw per se.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 8:54 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2010 2:18 pm
Posts: 6544
Not sure about "adding less distortion." More like, they are coloring the tone. Some speakers just sound more trebly than others.

IME, the older speakers loses moisture in the paper cone. Bass suffers and the tone is shifted to a more treble output. Often, distorted.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Speakers: 1974 "Special Design Speaker" Blue label info?
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 5:04 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:10 pm
Posts: 5646
Location: Gateway to the West
kcroy wrote:
T2Stratman wrote:
Fender used to make speaker cabs for their PA systems that carried 4 x 32 ohm speakers...these were usually CTS, but Fender may have changed to Eminence loaded cabinets when they switched speaker manufacturers about this time. These speakers were most likely from these vocal/PA cabs.

They can be re-coned to make them 8 or 16 ohms for guitar application.

HTH.

T2


Thanks.


Are they decent guitar speakers as is ( 8 ohm config ). I 'm aware that personal taste plays a role here, but are they physically suited to guitar, or would keyboard/PA be the appropriate application.

I don't have much ear for judging tone, but they sound brighter and more transparent than other guitar speakers I have heard. When I crank up the clean channel on my amp, the sound is very crystalline, and if I'm not careful can be really piercing ( Strat clone with single coil pick ups).


Yes, these alnico speakers are good, but if they are sounding brittle, Beemer is right, they are ready for a re-cone. These speakers are most definitely worth a good re-cone! If it were me I would re-cone to 16 ohms and run them in pairs. Removing them and installing in a good quality cab might help as well!

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: