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Post subject: JBL 15" speaker.
Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 7:37 pm
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Hi all. I found a place that has several 15" JBL speakers. Some are reckoned but there are others that are in original condition....and I have no idea what is best for me to go in my Custom Shop '64 Reissue Vibroverb, Cesar Diaz mod. version.

They are all noted as "full range speakers"....but some of the features on these are.......grey color, alnico magnet, 8ohm reconed with K130 cone.........another is 1950's, 16ohm, silver and gold egg shape ID plate Jim Lansing........or, early 1970's, grey 8ohm alnico etc etc. Some say D130...others say D130F.....confusing.

So the question is......which is the most desirable JBL for the Vibroverb....and then in descending order from there. I'm guessing a truly good Holy Grail of vintage JBL 15" speakers might be out my range......or even somewhat unobtainable ......but if I could be given a quick primer on what would be a good JBL speaker for my amp.....I'm all ears.

Thanks all.


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Post subject: Re: JBL 15" speaker.
Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 8:23 pm
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Well, if you are looking for authenticity to the original 15" Blackface VibroVerb then you will want an 8 ohm JBL D130.

Or a Jensen C15N in 8 ohm.

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Post subject: Re: JBL 15" speaker.
Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 8:55 pm
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A D130 then. Thanks. What about not so much authen-ticity but really sounds good-ticity? Are there models of this speaker......a specific year, part number, color etc etc etc that you guys have used and prefer? When I remember back on speaker discussions I recall talk of bumps or spikes in such and such EQ range......boosts the mids slightly or too much....very woofy or loose on the low end......too bright.....sparkly and just right....etc etc. Then there is..... breaks up easy, super tight, punchy etc.

LOL!!

If it were you and you could not find that early D130....what would you go with or are you not a JBL guy.

I've never knowingly had JBL speakers in any amp or cabinet. Always been a Celestion or Jensen guy. Lately the amps I get all seem to have Eminence speakers. Can't say they move me particularly.

Thanks buddy.


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Post subject: Re: JBL 15" speaker.
Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 12:04 am
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Ideally, you want a gray-basket D130F. The standard D130 was JBL's hi-fi bass woofer that was used in many Lansing stereo systems including their renown "Paragon". The "F" series was developed from it specifically for use with musical instruments allegedly at the behest of Dick Dale, who commonly fried lesser speakers at live venues.

The major difference between the D130 and the D130F is the latter has a slightly larger magnet gap to accommodate the extreme cone excursions that frequently occur with live instruments and the brutal transients they often produce.

The black-basket K130 is structurally identical to the D130F except it uses the later E-130 cone and coil which effectively doubled the speaker's power-handling capability, from 35 watts RMS to 70 watts RMS. Most re-coned D130F's have been reconditioned using the later "E" kit. Regardless of which speaker you select, you want an 8-ohm driver for maximum efficiency.

For a speaker that's slightly less "bright and shiny" and somewhat less efficient, a vintage Jensen (ie: Chicago-made) would be an excellent alternative. Look for a teal-colored C12N or P12N, or one of the later gray-basket Concert Series "Vibranto" speakers (EM1501 or EM1550). The Vibranto design was the last musical instrument speaker developed by Jensen before they closed up shop in the early '70s and were often provided as warrany replacements to Fender customers who fried their original Utah's, Oxford's, Eminence's, etc.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: JBL 15" speaker.
Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 6:25 am
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Since it's a Diaz, the ideal speaker for it is an ElectroVoice EVM15L.

Stevie's Vibroverbs started out with stock JBLs. But he replaced all the speakers in all his amps with various sizes of EVMs. Even put a much thicker baffle into his Bassman to support 4 EVM10s.

You might not be trying to mimic Stevie, but the Diaz mods were voiced for the EVM15L.


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Post subject: Re: JBL 15" speaker.
Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 6:39 am
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strayedstrater wrote:
You might not be trying to mimic Stevie, but the Diaz mods were voiced for the EVM15L.


If that be the case then why didn't Fender furnish this amp with an Electro-Voice speaker?

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: JBL 15" speaker.
Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 5:34 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
strayedstrater wrote:
You might not be trying to mimic Stevie, but the Diaz mods were voiced for the EVM15L.


If that be the case then why didn't Fender furnish this amp with an Electro-Voice speaker?

Arjay


Um, because they don't put used speakers in their new amps?

EV reissued the 12L and continues to make those, but the 10L, 12S, and 15L were discontinued a long time ago. (Or a short time ago, compared to alnico JBLs.)


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Post subject: Re: JBL 15" speaker.
Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 5:59 pm
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That EV would put a lot of weight into a Vibroverb. Close to a 65-lb total by my reckoning (it would of course sound great though).

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: JBL 15" speaker.
Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2019 11:48 am
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Thanks guys.....yeah I have two EV12L's which I put in my 70's Twin Reverb. I was going for ultra clean at the time, running an ADA MP-1 stereo preamp. Had Power Amp Inputs put into the Fender and a JCM-800...... that LA sound....sparkling cleans along with saturated distortion tones.....effects loop with digital effects processors abounding. Very late 80's tone.

The problem with those 2 EV's was ridiculous weight....and I mean ridiculous.

Thanks for the info on the K130 Retroverbial.

So folks......which one of these two? They are both listed at $300 but I can perhaps get a little off as I am buying other stuff.

JBL D 130F 15" Guitar/Full Range Speaker - All original mid 60's grey color model features ID plate that reads "8-16 ohms" (voice coil measures 6 ohms), #21057 treated paper edge cone, white color paper gasket. Cone is a little faded, otherwise this speaker is in excellent condition and sounds great.



JBL K 130 15" Guitar/Full Range Speaker - All original 8 ohm black color alnico magnet model in outstanding condition.


Thanks for putting up with me folks. Truthfully I don't know if I will notice any difference such a speaker will make and really if my amp needs it. I've been playing pro over 35 years but honestly......I plug in, get a sound and if it's good I leave it there. I've never had the time or money to try different speakers. However, I just keep hearing how these JBL's really make a difference so I'm keen to try.


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