Help identify an old JBL 15-inch, please!

funkateer86 · #1 06-12-2010, 07:55 PM

So, I got this old Cerwin-Vega cab off of my future father-in-law while he was moving. Its an old G-32, which I understand was a ported (not folded horn) 15-inch cab that was made for guitar. "32" indicates its height. Problem is, he said he wanted to use it for bass when he got it in the 70's or early 80's and knew the 15 in it wasn't suited very well for bass so he swapped it out. All the info he could remember was that it was a 15-inch, 400w JBL that he had heard was designed to be a monitor speaker for The Who in their ridiclous loud awesomeness.
I want to know the resistance in ohms of the speaker so I can use it, but he doesn't remember. I tried to pull it out myself but a couple of the screws were stripped so that was a no go for now.
Any of you speaker gurus know anything about this speaker or some platform it may have been based on? Or if it is a standard JBL deal, I have no idea and couldn't really find anything on the net. Help would be greatly appreciated.

johnk_10 · #2 06-12-2010, 08:01 PM

a picture of the actual speaker would be of great help.

**B-string** · #3 06-12-2010, 08:19 PM

As Johnk said a pic might be a big help. You can measure the DCR with a meter (in ohms) you can have a good guess at the impedance from that. It will more than likely be 8 ohm D or K series.

funkateer86 · #4 06-12-2010, 08:34 PM

Sry but my USB input is fritzin on m so I can't upload a pic, but it looks like an old d140 from the front, can't get to the back so that's as far as my knowledge takes me. Might partially answer my question.

billfitzmaurice · #5 06-12-2010, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkateer86

Sry but my USB input is fritzin on m so I can't upload a pic, but it looks like an old d140 from the front, can't get to the back so that's as far as my knowledge takes me. Might partially answer my question.

They all look the same from the front. The magnet structure is the identifying feature.

funkateer86 · #6 06-12-2010, 09:19 PM

I figured as much, crap. Well, until I can get some needle-nose pliers, does anyone know of a vintage JBL 15 that WASN'T 8 ohms?

**B-string** · #7 06-12-2010, 11:04 PM

You could special order 16 Ohm, don't know if they did 4 ohm in those days if that is what you are looking for?

jnewmark · #8 06-13-2010, 07:22 AM

Does it have the aluminum dust cap ?

wcriley · #9 06-13-2010, 07:38 AM

Please excuse the highjack, but I've been thinking about asking for similar assistance.

This speaker came out of an old (1980, I think) Fender Bassman 115 cab. I believe it's a JBL, but don't know for sure. The metal dust cap was pushed in and wrinkled when I bought the cab, and it ripped during a gig. I completely removed it to finish out the night. The speaker has been collecting dust in my basement for the past 2 years, and I'm wondering if I should put a new dust cap on it or just toss it.

The white sticker on the back reads V121668, if that matters.

Thanks in advance for any and all assistance.

billfitzmaurice · #10 06-13-2010, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wcriley

Thanks in advance for any and all assistance.

That's an EVM.

funkateer86 · #11 06-13-2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnewmark

Does it have the aluminum dust cap ?

Yes, looks exactly like an old d140 or e140 from the front, but I can't get to the back to see the magnet.

wcriley · #12 06-13-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

That's an EVM.

Thank you, sir.

One more quick question before I turn the thread back over to the Funkateer: Is it worth hanging onto?

/end highjack

billfitzmaurice · #13 06-13-2010, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wcriley

Is it worth hanging onto?

I've had one hanging in my workshop for four years.

It has its adherents. I was one of them for twenty years until decidedly better options became available, thus the fate of the one collecting sawdust in my shop.

**B-string** · #14 06-13-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

I've had one hanging in my workshop for four years.

It has its adherents. I was one of them for twenty years until decidedly better options became available, thus the fate of the one collecting sawdust in my shop.

My EV-15B works nicely in the floor monitors, the TL-606s are loaded with Eminence 3015s now

lbwdog · #15 06-13-2010, 12:31 PM

As a long time fan of JBL and EV 15Bs, I'll say that the only duty one would see these days would be in a stationary location such as a home practice cab. I still have a pair of K-140s and an EVM-15B that's in need of a recone since Hurricane Katrina.

Any gigging cab will have a Kappalite 3015 or 3015LF because of superior performance and light weight.