Best 18" speaker for empty cab?

[hotsnake]

Thinking about grabbing a really nice cab modified by Wade @ Monolith here in Portland, Oregon. It has a broken 18" speaker in it but the guy selling it only wants 75 bucks for it. Seems like a good deal and I can load it with whatever I want. Want to install a speaker that can handle a bit more wattage than the Peavey Black Widow in it right now. Any suggestions? I used to have an SWR Big Ben and was very pleased with it. Any ideas on what kind of 18 the SWR has? I need something that can handle closer to 500 watts and still move fairly fast. It will be run clean with no distortion or effects whatsoever. Thanks!

[B-string]

You need to start with the inside measurements to find a speaker that will "fit" the box size. It's acually going about things backwards.

[walterw]

do you really want an 18" for bass guitar? those days are kinda over (unless you're doing it right, with a crossed-over rig using 10s or 6s or whatever for mids and highs).

anyway, an eminence sigma pro18a makes for a strong, efficient and not too pricey speaker for vented boxes, assuming the specs are right. (+1 to getting the box specs and seeing what actually works there)

frankly, a blown 18" bass guitar cab is worth basically nothing; hell, i'd pay you $10 to haul one off of my porch

[will33]

Originally Posted by B-string

You need to start with the inside measurements to find a speaker that will "fit" the box size. It's acually going about things backwards.

+1

1st two questions would be how big is it (on the inside) and how much port area and depth. There are 18's that work sealed too if that's the case. Also what's the general construction/bracing/baffle layout. A few stars have to align here if it's going to be worth buying a new driver....or retrofitting for a 15 if it's small.

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by walterw

do you really want an 18" for bass guitar? those days are kinda over (unless you're doing it right, with a crossed-over rig using 10s or 6s or whatever for mids and highs).

anyway, an eminence sigma pro18a makes for a strong, efficient and not too pricey speaker for vented boxes, assuming the specs are right. (+1 to getting the box specs and seeing what actually works there)

frankly, a blown 18" bass guitar cab is worth basically nothing; hell, i'd pay you $10 to haul one off of my porch

I like to use a 1x18 and a 2x10 with my ampeg head. I run it all full range and it sounds great.

[sammyfallen]

I'd go with an eminence omega pro. I put one in a 301 cab and it was a BEAST!

[BassmanPaul]

Possibly you can change out the basket of the black Widow and repair the driver. Anything else will be a crapshoot as you have been ably advised.