Peavey 2x15 Project - Complete

gimp · #1 11-05-2011, 03:01 PM

So I had some other threads going related to modifying either a B25B cab or a V4 cab into a custom 2x15. After catching some flack about ruining a potentially nice Ampeg cab, I did something even better..

Ruin and even nicer (condition) Peavey cab.

So, some background.
My home rig is a 1967 B-15N.

My "stage" rig is a 1967 BT-15 (sensing a theme?) through a Mosvalve MV-962 power amp (80 watts per channel @ 4 ohms, two channels) hooked up to a ported 8ohm 1x15 running one of the channels.

It sounds AWESOME for what I want. I A/B'd it with my B-15 and it is on point. It is loud enough for the practice spot, but not quite enough for stage volume without really pushing things hard. So if one channel running a 15 is good, the other channel running another 15 is even better!

Considerations:
So I wanted a "do it all" rig, where I could use my entire power amp (two 4 ohm channels) or plug any of my 8 ohm heads in, without compromising. So I devised a wiring schematic that would allow me to run either each 15 separately at 4 ohms, or together as a true 2x15 at 8 ohms.

So after testing with my multimeter, I confirmed it worked and proceeded to put everything together.

And now onto pics.

I picked up this 2x15 cab last night off Craigslist for dirt cheap (you can see my oddball head up top).

So first thing I did was removed the original speakers and wiring. If anyone can help me identify these speakers I'd appreciate it.

Then I busted out the saw for cutting.

And installed my new backing plate.

I did have to relocate one speaker brace, and the original cab didn't have ANY lining, so while I was in there I added some.

So then it was time to install new speakers. Eminence Legend CA154s (I needed two 4 ohm speakers to make this setup work).

I have long term plans for the aesthetic of this cab, but I HATE the look of these Peavey cabs (sorry to those that do), so some quick work removed the metal from the grill.

There it is with my freshly painted guitar case and my recently refirb'd Cowpoke bass. Just strung it up with a set of flats.

I'm still breaking in the speakers, but this thing BOOMS for "only" 160 watts. I'm pretty damn happy.

So that's how I spent my Saturday... what did you guys do today?

Previous threads, for reference:
Custom Ampeg 2x15 Help
B25-B Cab Modification

VanillaThundah · #2 11-05-2011, 03:13 PM

Sweet rig dude! Hope you dig those Legends, I put two in my Kasino Snake Eyes 2x15 cab and I LOVE EM!

What did I do today? Wake up at 11am, finish off my college homework, and sit around getting fatter eating waffles while playing bass sitting down lol

s_mcsleazy · #3 11-05-2011, 03:16 PM

i am in love with your case

jnewmark · #4 11-05-2011, 03:25 PM

Nice. How did you attach the Ampeg to the rack ?

NKUSigEp · #5 11-05-2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimp

...So that's how I spent my Saturday... what did you guys do today?

Finishing up some homework. I thought I was done with this after college...boy was I wrong! LOL

gimp · #6 11-05-2011, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jnewmark

Nice. How did you attach the Ampeg to the rack ?

It was pretty easy, actually.

I bought a 1 space rack shelf (Raxxess Universal Component Rack Shelf and more Rackmount Shelves & Drawers at GuitarCenter.com.) and used the mounting holes for the Ampeg (where it would have mounted to the shockmounts on the fliptop lid) and drilled matching holes in the rack. Some flush mount screws and boom goes the dynamite.

gimp · #7 11-05-2011, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s_mcsleazy

i am in love with your case

LOL. That was a totally fun way to kill some time. Made it in tape, so it's a total one off. My way of whoring out my band.

Speaking of whoring out bands, like us on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/88mph.Baltimore

s_mcsleazy · #8 11-05-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimp

LOL. That was a totally fun way to kill some time. Made it in tape, so it's a total one off. My way of whoring out my band.

Speaking of whoring out bands, like us on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/88mph.Baltimore

i just spray painted my bands name on mine and a little robot

Nightbass · #9 11-05-2011, 06:31 PM

Great job!

The original speakers are decoded like this: 67 is the EIA code for Eminence. 8048 is the date code: 48th week of 1980. 15xxx is the Eminence part number. And an A/B/C suffix usually signifies the impedance. On your speakers, "B" might be a revision of the part and "C" might mean 16 ohms, but that's just a guess. Eminence would be able to tell you for sure.

gimp · #10 11-06-2011, 07:23 AM

Awesome! Thanks for the info. I'm trying to decide if I want to unload these speakers, or if they are worth holding on to.

jungleheat · #11 11-06-2011, 07:37 AM

How much do you want for the old speakers? For the right price I might take them off your hands. I have an Acoustic 2x15, one presumed original driver that's very similar to those, and one Pyle that is very similar cosmetically (from the front), but my OCD is making me want a matched set.

I live in DC so I would just come pick them up in person. PM me if you want.

craig.p · #12 11-06-2011, 07:38 AM

I'd say hold onto them because there's nothing like a slightly overdriven square-magnet POS to get you "that tone." I still have mine from my Peavey 1x15 cab, stored off in a box somewhere. It still has the original cone so it breaks up even earlier than it did when new. Useless for performing but great for recording.

dhomer · #13 11-06-2011, 12:08 PM

[quote=gimp;11713140]I'm still breaking in the speakers, but this thing BOOMS for "only" 160 watts. I'm pretty damn happy.[quote]

I modeled those drivers on the ol 'ISD.. Exactly what I would have predicted...lol..

Stumbo · #14 11-06-2011, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhomer

I modeled those drivers on the ol 'ISD.. Exactly what I would have predicted...lol..

Just curious...any mods to the Peavey cab that would make it sound better? Extend the port..? Port Size?

gimp · #15 11-06-2011, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Just curious...any mods to the Peavey cab that would make it sound better? Extend the port..? Port Size?

I was wondering about that myself, and I could improve the ports later if I wanted.

I did try the cab as it came before I started modding. After adding the new speakers and the lining, it sounded much better. I'm sure the speakers had something to do with it, but I think the lining helped it sound "bigger".

will33 · #16 11-06-2011, 09:46 PM

Those square mag. 15's were in a lot of old peavey stuff. I used to use a tnt100 that was at a rehearsal space so I didn't have to tote a rig that had one in it. I affectionately refered to it as, "that little fartbox". That said, they do have a pretty nice sound as long as you keep the power to a minimum. A single couldn't hang with that band. Rehearsals were a little bit loud but not too bad...about the volume you'd use playing classic rock covers in a really small corner bar or something.

They really aren't worth much $ but good to have one around if you're in a bind. They're decent replacements for low power <100 watt combo amps or low power PA stuff, like with a little powered practice mixer or something.

Nice job on the cab. You may find it tuned high, especially in a boomy room. A lot of older stuff was tuned too high. Makes them sound loud playing by yourself but can lead to mud problems with a band in a bad room (plenty of those). Measure everything so someone can reverse engineer the tuning. Likely want to add some depth to the ports, just don't know how much without numbers. Right now, the effective port length would be 3/4" as they're just holes cut in the 3/4" thick baffle.

PunkRocker33133 · #17 11-06-2011, 10:13 PM

The cab is awesome, the ghetto rigged amp is great, but it's that bass that really gets me. What is it?

agent77 · #18 11-06-2011, 11:25 PM

Sweet rig. I plan on buying a couple of those Eminence 154's and building my own 2X15 cabinet (with the help of a co-worker) sometime after Christmas. What are the dimensions of your Peavey cab?

gimp · #19 11-07-2011, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkRocker33133

The cab is awesome, the ghetto rigged amp is great, but it's that bass that really gets me. What is it?

It's a Fender "Cowpoke" bass. A mid 90's MIM PJ combo. The body is smaller than a standard P, and it has a Jazz neck, with a '51 style pickguard and active pickups.

It was black on black when I got it, but it had some flaws, so it got a repaint. It's Duplicolor etching primer with several coats of satin clear overtop. I was going for a slight vintage military vibe.

gimp · #20 11-07-2011, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agent77

Sweet rig. I plan on buying a couple of those Eminence 154's and building my own 2X15 cabinet (with the help of a co-worker) sometime after Christmas. What are the dimensions of your Peavey cab?

Internally, each chamber of the cab is 12" deep, 24" wide, and about 18.5" tall. Each port is 7"x7"x9" and the speaker baffle is 3/4" thick. This is the smaller, and most say less desirable, of the Peavey 2x15s. So far I'd say it works pretty well, to be honest.