turn a 1x15 into a 2x12

agent77 · #1 01-30-2012, 01:45 AM

So my Peavey cab sounds like crap, but I really like the way it looks. I've been looking for a Black Widow 1505 replacement speaker with no luck, and it also seems a lot of TBer's like 2x12's. So I'm toying with the idea to remove the front baffle, build a new one, and turn my 1x15 into a 2x12.

Has anyone ever done this?

Can anyone recommend speakers? (I'm thinking about Eminence Beta 12A's)

I downloaded WinISD beta but don't know where to start. Any advice?

If I actually go thru with this would you like to see my progress?

ciubz · #2 01-30-2012, 01:50 AM

i have a peavey 115 cab also, and it sounds like crap, and it's too big to haul, i just keep it as furniture at our rehersal place.

cchorney · #3 01-30-2012, 07:46 AM

I am guessing it would be way cheaper and easier to just buy what you want, but if you are doing it for the "fun" and experience, by all means please do keep us up to date on how its going. I see lots of project updates on the board for amp, cab or bass builds, and its fun to follow along!

DogBone · #4 01-30-2012, 08:24 AM

I like the old Peavey stuff, so I'd be interested in following your experiment.

I have often wondered myself if we could get better sound from our vintage cabs with one 12", or two 10"s instead of a 15" since cabinet volume is so small on these things, understanding it may be at the expense of loudness or efficiency.

My vintage 1 X 15" Peavey cab:

I put a modern front mounted driver in it I had laying around, because the old square magnet original just didn't have the excursion to handle the head. Installing the driver required slight enlarging of the baffle hole since the original driver was rear mounted.

I also put some foam on the inside to try to give it some depth.

Still has that vintage sound --punchy and heavy low mids, but no real lows--, but it can go so MUCH louder now.

Almost freakishly loud actually, as it has easily handled larger rooms than I thought a single 15" could. But I guess that beast of a head I run through it has to take some credit!

Good luck, I'll be watching with interest.

gerryjazzman · #5 01-30-2012, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agent77

I downloaded WinISD beta but don't know where to start. Any advice?

There are other tutorials around but as a WinISD user myself, this one looks pretty good to me. It can get you started then you can ask specific questions here. Not really that hard once you get the hang of it.

Using WinISD: A Step by step tutorial

will33 · #6 01-30-2012, 10:42 AM

Use WinISD Pro Alpha, much more detailed.

You know BW's have replacement baskets you can get at many places? Don't need a whole new driver.

agent77 · #7 01-30-2012, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

Use WinISD Pro Alpha, much more detailed.

You know BW's have replacement baskets you can get at many places? Don't need a whole new driver.

My cab had the original speaker replaced with a no-name speaker. What's in there now is definitely not a BW.

agent77 · #8 01-30-2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogBone

I like the old Peavey stuff, so I'd be interested in following your experiment.

I have often wondered myself if we could get better sound from our vintage cabs with one 12", or two 10"s instead of a 15" since cabinet volume is so small on these things, understanding it may be at the expense of loudness or efficiency.

My vintage 1 X 15" Peavey cab:

I put a modern front mounted driver in it I had laying around, because the old square magnet original just didn't have the excursion to handle the head. Installing the driver required slight enlarging of the baffle hole since the original driver was rear mounted.

I also put some foam on the inside to try to give it some depth.

Still has that vintage sound --punchy and heavy low mids, but no real lows--, but it can go so MUCH louder now.

Almost freakishly loud actually, as it has easily handled larger rooms than I thought a single 15" could. But I guess that beast of a head I run through it has to take some credit!

Good luck, I'll be watching with interest.

What kind of speaker did you use? And what are the dimensions of your cab? Mine is only 12" deep.

DogBone · #9 01-30-2012, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agent77

What kind of speaker did you use?

One from a Crate BT220 combo I had lying around for parts.

Quote:

And what are the dimensions of your cab? Mine is only 12" deep.

We might have the same cab. Mine is roughly 24" wide, 27" tall, and 12" deep.

It doesn't have a round port, but a wedge opening across the bottom.

I assume that wedge opening is supposed to (appear to) emulate the effects of a folded horn, but IMO all it does is take up space in the cabinet.

If you have this style of cabinet, I would eliminate that wedge opening, and install a full face baffle, and use a properly tuned round port.

I'd bet that would get as good as sound as possible from that particular style of cab.

agent77 · #10 01-30-2012, 11:11 PM

will33 and gerryjazzman: Thanks, I'll check them out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogBone

We might have the same cab. Mine is roughly 24" wide, 27" tall, and 12" deep.

It doesn't have a round port, but a wedge opening across the bottom.

Yeah, my cab dimensions are the same, although I have a round port. Is yours a BW or a BXBW? Mine is a BW, and I can't find any info on it.

I think I will go the 2x12 route. I need something to think about while working at my mindless government job. However being a government employee this project won't materialize any time soon. I'll keep posting my progress.

mc_muench · #11 01-30-2012, 11:45 PM

Or just keep the 15...

what you need

spaz21387 · #12 01-30-2012, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mc_muench

Or just keep the 15...

what you need

+1

DogBone · #13 01-31-2012, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agent77

Yeah, my cab dimensions are the same, although I have a round port. Is yours a BW or a BXBW?

Oh, my cab is 35-40 years old, I assume it was made before the Black Widow speaker was even invented.

The original speaker (still have it of course) has a stamped steel frame and a square magnet.

The tag on the back of the cab simply refers to it as a "115" cabinet.

Quote:

Mine is a BW, and I can't find any info on it.

Have you checked Peavey's website? They keep an excellent database of their past products.

Peavey.com Archived Manuals

Quote:

I think I will go the 2x12 route. I need something to think about while working at my mindless government job. However being a government employee this project won't materialize any time soon. I'll keep posting my progress.

Cool. Good luck!

will33 · #14 01-31-2012, 09:49 AM

The old square magnet speakers were pretty much fartboxes for loud bass use. Couldn't take much in the lows. If going the Black Widow route, use the 1505DT-8, 8ohm model. The Eminence Legend CB-158 is also a good retrofit in those cabs. Good lows/power handling. Little less going on in the upper mids, generally a bit warmer than the Widow. The Widow may not sound as smooth soloed but it's increased mid response does a nice job of puching through a band mix. Either would be a huge improvement over the square mag. or the Crate driver and will work well in the cab without a bunch of modification.

agent77 · #15 02-05-2012, 09:15 PM

OK, so I've been messing around with winISD for a few days and the 2x12 plan just doesn't seem feasible. Also, the front baffle doesn't seem like it can be removed without breaking the sides of the cab, so I guess I'll just use a new 15" speaker, probably a Black Widow, but I still have a few questions:

Should I line the inside of the cab with insulation? If so, with what, and how much?

What's the difference between the 1505DT and 1502DT?

Would it be worth the 100 or so extra bucks to get the Eminence Kappa 3015?

How loud would any of the speakers be with an old school Peavey MarkIV?