Acoustic 301 speaker help!

Ron Now · #1 10-03-2010, 02:58 PM

So I am getting a cheap/free acoustic 301 1x18 folded horn cab from a friend.

The catch is that it has no speaker in it. This is not too huge of a deal for me since these cabs are pretty awesome, and I'm looking forward to restoring it to it's former wall shaking glory.

However, my question for all the speaker/cab guru's on this board is...

What kind of speaker is right to put in here?

Should I look for an original CV that was in there from the 70's, can I replace it with something more modern like a Neo Carvin 18"

or do I go the standard Peavey Black Widow that most people seem to be pretty happy with.

Thanks in advance!!

Buster Brown · #2 10-03-2010, 03:01 PM

That's an EXTREMELY interesting question!

Personally I would be inclined to replace the Cerwin Vega, but that's me. But I am interested to see what others have to say...

***Subscribed!***

poorbassist15 · #3 10-03-2010, 03:02 PM

Well, first things first, I'm extremely jealous that you have an Acoustic 301. I am GASsing for one of these really hard right now because what I'm currently doing requires a lot of bass to be thrown a long way.

Now that that's out of the way, Acoustic has reissued the 301, ask Vetchking here on TB and see what kind of speaker they use in the reissue.

ampegfuzz · #4 10-03-2010, 03:06 PM

geez, why cant i get free cabs

I would say stay away from neo, other then that i have no clue on an 18.

billfitzmaurice · #5 10-03-2010, 03:10 PM

The only way to know what would work best is to model it in a horn response program, which has a fairly high skill set requirement. And in any event you won't get any mids from it, 'tis the nature of the beast. It was a copy of a JBL design that was intended for as a PA bass bin for use only up to 300 Hz, so for good results it needs to be used with a 1x10 or 2x10.

Ron Now · #6 10-03-2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

The only way to know what would work best is to model it in a horn response program, which has a fairly high skill set requirement. And in any event you won't get any mids from it, 'tis the nature of the beast. It was a copy of a JBL design that was intended for as a PA bass bin for use only up to 300 Hz, so for good results it needs to be used with a 1x10 or 2x10.

I was prepared for the cab to not be putting out much high or mid range sound. I was mostly looking for big low bass. If I ever use it at a show it will be combined with a berg NV610 and NV215 so they will take care of anything that the 301 will not be able to handle...and then some.

But yeah, any suggestions or recommendations are welcome!

Thanks for the advice so far, but keep it coming!

craig.p · #7 10-03-2010, 03:19 PM

Quote:

it will be combined with a berg NV610 and NV215 so they will take care of anything that the 301 will not be able to handle

Or cancel some of it out entirely.

billfitzmaurice · #8 10-03-2010, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig.p

Or cancel some of it out entirely.

+1. It's not a good idea to mix any cabs in the same bandwidth; it's an absolutely horrible idea to do so with horns. Massive cancellations are guaranteed.

wcriley · #9 10-03-2010, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poorbassist15

Acoustic has reissued the 301, ask Vetchking here on TB and see what kind of speaker they use in the reissue.

He's using an OEM Emi.

Mr. Foxen · #10 10-03-2010, 07:24 PM

I asked about when I had a similar problem, and from a few sources I was recommended an Eminence Omega-Pro-18. One came up locally at an ok price so I stuck it in the cab, but never actually managed to get it to the practice space before I picked up an Aguilar GS412 that kind of did what I wanted.

Buster Brown · #11 10-03-2010, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster Brown

That's an EXTREMELY interesting question!

Personally I would be inclined to replace the Cerwin Vega, but that's me. But I am interested to see what others have to say...

***Subscribed!***

Re-read my OP and probably wasn't very clear....old man...go figure...

What I MEANT to say was I'd probably replace the CV with another CV 18.....

D.M.N. · #12 10-04-2010, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

And in any event you won't get any mids from it, 'tis the nature of the beast. It was a copy of a JBL design that was intended for as a PA bass bin for use only up to 300 Hz, so for good results it needs to be used with a 1x10 or 2x10.

Depending on the speaker he puts in there, I don't see why he wouldn't get any mids. I have plenty of Zeppelin Bootlegs, and JPJ definitely has his mids coming through, quite clearly.

jackcheez · #13 10-04-2010, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.M.N.

Depending on the speaker he puts in there, I don't see why he wouldn't get any mids. I have plenty of Zeppelin Bootlegs, and JPJ definitely has his mids coming through, quite clearly.

I'm not going to get into numbers here, but I saw those amps on stages all over the place in the early 70's and they sounded awesome, if that's the sound you like.

Think Led Zeppelin II.

BassmanPaul · #14 10-04-2010, 09:52 AM

I have often found that free or extremely cheap gear is that way for a good reason. Usually it's obsolete and not worth repairing.

craig.p · #15 10-04-2010, 11:44 AM

I think Paul makes a valid point. At least in the large clubs, stage-situated folded horns started going away around the time when bass started getting mixed through the mains. There was (and is) a reason this happened: it's back to the cancellation idea. But I think in a medium to large venue where there's no mains support for bass, a 301 or a BFM FH would be just the ticket. I can think of a few places I've played where I'd rather have rolled in one 301 than hand-trucked in two (or more) reflex cabs. As with anything else, though, "it depends."

SOB H.R.MC · #16 10-04-2010, 12:22 PM

I have a 301 that needs reconing so replacment might be an option if the price is compairable.Anyone got a ballpark figure ?

Ric5 · #17 10-04-2010, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Now

So I am getting a cheap/free acoustic 301 1x18 folded horn cab from a friend.

The catch is that it has no speaker in it. This is not too huge of a deal for me since these cabs are pretty awesome, and I'm looking forward to restoring it to it's former wall shaking glory.

However, my question for all the speaker/cab guru's on this board is...

What kind of speaker is right to put in here?

Should I look for an original CV that was in there from the 70's, can I replace it with something more modern like a Neo Carvin 18"

or do I go the standard Peavey Black Widow that most people seem to be pretty happy with.

Thanks in advance!!

Make sure you put in a speaker that is not a subwoofer. Putting the wrong 18 in there will cut off the upper mids and treble response. I would add a 2x10 cab to that. I built my 2x10 cabs so they would fit on top of an acoustic 301 cab. It looks really impressive when your stack is 7 feet tall. Also getting the 10s up that high really projects the high mids and treble out there.

BassmanPaul · #18 10-04-2010, 12:30 PM

My costs have generally been around $40-50 for labour plus the price of the kit. Whether a CV kit for that driver would be available is questionable.

Oren Hudson · #19 10-04-2010, 07:56 PM

Rebuild CV kits are available. I've had 3 done over the last several years with the last one a little over a year ago at The Speaker Doctor in Charlotte. Orange County Speakers on the west coast has original CV kits as well. Take it from a guy that has many different rigs along with 2 of the 301/370s. You can't do better than the correct CV in that cab. JBL is a close second though.