Speaker choice for 12" cab?

[ariwax]

Hello all,

Just wondering if someone could recommend a high-efficiency speaker for me. I am working with a local builder to construct a low-watt (30-50 watt) combo based on the Bassman, with a single 12" speaker. So far I am looking at the ceramic Weber Bass 12 and the Eminence Basslite, but I was wondering if anyone out there had any other suggestions. Thanks in advance!

[christw]

Maybe a JBL D120 or K120?

[will33]

I think the basslite would be a great choice. Works sealed or ported and in the ported version, it's second impedance peak isn't so high as to be unfriendly toward tube amps. Good spl as well and doesn't need a big box to get low enough. Good choice, especially for a low powered combo like that.

[Phendyr_Loon]

I'd recommend the basslite also. It's easy on the back too.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by christw

Maybe a JBL D120 or K120?

Christw,

I would have made this suggestion a couple of years ago
but the vintage JBL market has had a pretty significant price bump recently. I know that K's always were pretty hard to get because they have Alnico magnets and are highly sought after. Because of the age of a JBL D series they may be pretty hard to find one anymore. Do you have either of these speakers, personally.

Ric

[ariwax]

Thanks for the suggestions. Anybody know about the Weber Bass 12?

[JGR]

I've been in contact with Weber over the past several months; they are in the process of getting all the TS specs measured.

[christw]

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

Christw,

I would have made this suggestion a couple of years ago
but the vintage JBL market has had a pretty significant price bump recently. I know that K's always were pretty hard to get because they have Alnico magnets and are highly sought after. Because of the age of a JBL D series they may be pretty hard to find one anymore. Do you have either of these speakers, personally.

Ric

I'd probably go with one of those for a project like that, that's why I suggested them. I don't have one of those drivers myself but I know a number of the right people to ask in my area. I had located a '69 CTS 10" for my 810 within 20 minutes of puncturing one of my original speakers. I had it in hand two days later and he had 9 more. (Let's hope I don't get that careless!)

[ariwax]

What makes the D120 so sought after?

[christw]

Guitarists ^

[dog1]

Originally Posted by will33

I think the basslite would be a great choice. Works sealed or ported and in the ported version, it's second impedance peak isn't so high as to be unfriendly toward tube amps. Good spl as well and doesn't need a big box to get low enough. Good choice, especially for a low powered combo like that.

+1 Unless you have a few more dollars to spend. Then I would suggest the Eminence 3012HO mid bass driver. Full range bass speaker that sounds great as a stand alone (no mid or tweet) bass speaker. But, salty.

[dog1]

Originally Posted by christw

Guitarists ^

Yeah. In those days, JBL did not make a 12" bass instrument speaker. Maybe they still don't. I dunno. Only the D140, and K140. 15".

[ariwax]

Only issue with the 3012HO is the frequency response has a max of 3500 Hz where the Basslite is 4500 Hz and the two have the same lower frequency floor. I dont know what that translates to in my ears though. It is also twice the price of the Basslite! Part of me thinks 'it costs more so it must be worth it.' Get behind me Satan.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by ariwax

Only issue with the 3012HO is the frequency response has a max of 3500 Hz where the Basslite is 4500 Hz and the two have the same lower frequency floor.

I don't know where you're getting that from, but it's not true. Both are good to 4kHz, but only on-axis. No twelve is much good above 2kHz off-axis. And if you're not pushing well over 150 watts there's no benefit to the 3012.

Yeah. In those days, JBL did not make a 12" bass instrument speaker. Maybe they still don't.

JBL never made an electric bass twelve, and they haven't made any instrument speakers for about ten years.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by dog1

Yeah. In those days, JBL did not make a 12" bass instrument speaker. Maybe they still don't. I dunno. Only the D140, and K140. 15".

Dog 1,
I had kind of forgotten about that since we're so used to bass speakers coming in the 10 and 12" configurations now. You're absolutely right because Ampeg didn't offer a speaker upgrade for the B-12N or SB-12, as far as I know. JBL isn't building bass instrument speakers anymore as far as I know.

Ric

[DukeLeJeune]

If input power is limited to 50 watts, but money less so, you could use the high-efficiency 3012HO and just tune it unusually high, because fartout won't be an issue at 50 watts. Like if you tune your bass to low-E, a two cubic foot box tuned to 70 Hz would be -.5 dB at the 82 Hz first overtone of low-E, with no upper-bass hump, and would average between 2 dB and 3 dB louder than the Basslite up to 2 kHz. Between 2 kHz and 4 kHz, the Basslite averages about 1 dB louder. Also, the 3012HO has really good clarity and articulation. I've used it in custom high-end home audio speakers.

[ariwax]

That 3012HO sounds intriguing, though I still am unclear as to whether a hi-fi audio system speaker is going to sound good in a bass amp, I suppose whenever I listen to good bass recordings, they are being reproduced by a speaker system then too.

This is definitely going to be a standalone combo, though, with a direct out to daisy-chain if needed, and I am not going to introduce tweeters, and it is all tube point-to-point, so no fancy crossovers. One player, simple circuitry, one speaker, one voice. But it has got to be able to shake walls.

[MuzikMan]

Don't worry about the designation of the 3012HO as a "pro audio" driver as opposed to a "bass guitar" driver. Those are just marketing tools and have no real impact on driver choice. However, as Bill allready stated, there will be no advantage to using the higher handling 3012HO if your amp is only putting out 50 watts or less. I would stick with the Basslite if I were in your shoes.

[ariwax]

So I am hearing lots of support for the Basslites. Anybody out there have experience with the Weber Bass 12?

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by ariwax

So I am hearing lots of support for the Basslites. Anybody out there have experience with the Weber Bass 12?

Since there are no specs available for it there's no way to design a cab for it, nor any way to predict its response and displacement limit.