12" bass drivers: which to buy, and where?

FromTheBassMent · #1 06-09-2010, 11:48 AM

I've got an old Eden 2x12 cabinet that had one basic driver and one coaxial woofer/tweeter driver loaded. The cone on the coaxial separated from the basket, so I took it in to be repaired. Then I had to leave town unexpectedly for a month. When I returned, the repair shop was out of business and the contents thereof had been removed to points unknown. The phone number was disconnected.

So, this cab has been sitting in my cellar for a couple of years at least. It would be a nice extension to my Markbass combo if I fixed it up. I need an 8 ohm extension, so I'm looking for 2 4-ohm 12" drivers. The cabinet is front ported. I'm not worried about the tweeter, as I always had it turned nearly all the way off anyway... If I ever decide I need one, there's room to add one in the upper front corner.

What kind of drivers would sound good in this thing? And where do you buy bass cabinet drivers? I've searched the googles and tubes of the internets and come up with nothing but an Eminence with an unacceptably low power rating.

rpsands · #2 06-09-2010, 11:51 AM

You're not going to find any quality 4 ohm or 16 ohm drivers on the open market. Sell the cab empty and buy something with the ohmage you require.

rockambo · #3 06-09-2010, 11:58 AM

You can start your search here, http://www.usspeaker.com/homepage.htm, and here, http://www.avatarspeakers.com/.

BassmanPaul · #4 06-09-2010, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

ohmage you require.

Come on RP you know better than that!!!! Impedance you require!

Paul

rpsands · #5 06-09-2010, 12:04 PM

I like to use the popular slang to make it clear that I am not nor do I profess to be a techno wizard of audio

Exploiter8 · #6 06-09-2010, 12:13 PM

Eminence makes the speakers for Mesa. I bought a Powerhouse 12" 4ohm Neo for my Peavey BASIC 112, thus giving me 70 clean sounding watts as opposed to the stock 50 from the stock 8ohm speaker.

http://mesa.stores.yahoo.net/12inbasp.html

X8

mcapote · #7 06-09-2010, 12:13 PM

besides cabinet size and port tuning would be required for anyone to even attempt and answer without pulling it out their @@@

okcrum · #8 06-09-2010, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockambo

You can start your search here, http://www.usspeaker.com/homepage.htm, and here, http://www.avatarspeakers.com/.

Yeah, just at US Speaker there are at least three vendors besides Eminence with what you want. Mesa has drivers too.

Use WinISD and measure the cab, to make sure the drivers you get will perform as you expect. You might have to retune the box a little.

rpsands · #9 06-09-2010, 12:21 PM

USSpeaker also has prices ranging from 20-30% higher than what you can find with a little looking, especially for Eminence.

If you want eminence (and you do), lenrom, beachaudio or speakerhardware.

Rick Auricchio · #10 06-09-2010, 12:22 PM

Eden can sell replacement drivers. Since the cab was designed for those drivers, why not use them?

FromTheBassMent · #11 06-09-2010, 12:24 PM

Holy smokes... between the prices I'm seeing to buy the kind of drivers that would work ($250+ each) and phrases like "retune the box a little," I'm wondering whether this is such a good idea....

FromTheBassMent · #12 06-09-2010, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

Eden can sell replacement drivers. Since the cab was designed for those drivers, why not use them?

You know, those were the first guys I contacted a couple of years ago. At the time Eden was in the process of being bought by US Instruments, and there was nothing they could do for me until "things settled down." Maybe they've settled down now... I'll try contacting them. Thanks for reminding me of the obvious answer!

IntrepidCellist · #13 06-09-2010, 12:36 PM

You're talking to a bunch of speaker nerds. If you really just want to use it, you shouldn't have to worry too much. I doubt it's an "ideally designed" cabinet anyways... I have one with the stock Eden woofers and I love it, so it's certainly usable.

rpsands · #14 06-09-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FromTheBassMent

Holy smokes... between the prices I'm seeing to buy the kind of drivers that would work ($250+ each) and phrases like "retune the box a little," I'm wondering whether this is such a good idea....

Like I says, if you need a 2 driver 4 ohm cab, save your 500 bucks on speakers and buy a high end 4 ohm cab. Sell the crazy heavy 3/4" ply Eden brick empty on Craigslist for 100-ish bucks or so

okcrum · #15 06-09-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

Eden can sell replacement drivers. Since the cab was designed for those drivers, why not use them?

Markup?

Rick Auricchio · #16 06-09-2010, 12:38 PM

+1 to rpsands.

FromTheBassMent · #17 06-09-2010, 02:32 PM

No matter... the US Instruments customer service rep just got back to me and said they don't have a replacement driver for that cabinet anymore... she told me to buy an Eminence!

Rick Auricchio · #18 06-09-2010, 04:14 PM

Ugh. So much for that idea. Maybe rpsands' idea is the best.

Sell the cab, buy a lighter, better one. Then we'll wait for the new owner to ask "What speaker should I put in?"

okcrum · #19 06-10-2010, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

USSpeaker also has prices ranging from 20-30% higher than what you can find with a little looking, especially for Eminence.

If you want eminence (and you do), lenrom, beachaudio or speakerhardware.

+1 on those sources. I always start browsing at usspeaker and end up at one of those to buy.

I know Rick and some of you other guys know, but not that many do, that you can "retune the cab a little" with a piece of cardboard mailer tube, reversibly.

However, I forgot this is an Eden 2x12, and the ports would be just a tad harder to modify.

Still, it should not be impossible to find a driver compatible with the cab design and drop it in.

rpsands · #20 06-10-2010, 01:28 PM

If he wanted 4 ohms, almost any eminence neo would do fine in there.