Why are JBL speakers not more popular

Rockin Mike · #1 07-12-2011, 08:42 AM

Why are JBL speakers and cabs not more popular for bass players? I used to run a JBL 1x15 and 2 1x10s and I thought they were great.

will33 · #2 07-12-2011, 08:48 AM

I don't think they're even making musical instrument speakers anymore. Mostly PA/concert sound systems, home theater, etc.

JimmyM · #3 07-12-2011, 08:49 AM

JBL makes PA cabs and speakers only now. I guess more folks don't use them because they don't market to bass players.

Rockin Mike · #4 07-12-2011, 08:55 AM

I was using their PA speakers in home-built bass cabs. Sounded fine.

seamonkey · #5 07-12-2011, 09:20 AM

JBL doesn't sell their drivers to MI makers, or DIY.
Many of their drivers and specialized designs that they exclusively control.
Many of their PA/FOH cabs are perfectly capable of handling bass. They publish full measurements and charts and EASE files. You can easily tell how their cabinets will perform in many situations.

billfitzmaurice · #6 07-12-2011, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seamonkey

JBL doesn't sell their drivers to MI makers, or DIY.

As of just a few months ago the 2265 and 2268 are available at retail, but those (and the obsolete but still available 2200 series) are PA subwoofers. JBL stopped making musical instrument drivers about ten years ago. They literally priced themselves out of the market.

Rockin Mike · #7 07-12-2011, 11:28 AM

I had mine about 20 years ago. They were selling PA speakers individually then, or else I'm mistaken and I actually had the musical instrument speakers.

johnk_10 · #8 07-12-2011, 11:33 AM

i don't find their vintage drivers obsolete at all. IMO, the K140 is still the best sounding bass speaker to me (and i own ALOT of modern speakers/cabs too.)

dbase · #9 07-12-2011, 11:34 AM

I had D140's in my Sunn, loved them, worked them big time at a lot of night clubs over the years, never had a problem.

edbass · #10 07-12-2011, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

i don't find their vintage drivers obsolete at all. IMO, the K140 is still the best sounding bass speaker to me (and i own ALOT of modern speakers/cabs too.)

+100%

nysbob · #11 07-12-2011, 12:01 PM

They're popular with me.

jumbodbassman · #12 07-12-2011, 12:03 PM

I have used/abused several different JBL thru the years - 140's 145's 130 2225 and they have always delivered. really expensive and last forever...

Oren Hudson · #13 07-12-2011, 07:55 PM

Bill F is correct - JBL prices keep going up and up. Less than 2 years ago, the D140F rebuild kit from them was under $100. Today, that price has more than doubled. Plus - the magnet has changed and there's a good chance that the kit won't work properly - unless you send it to them to do!

johnk_10 · #14 07-12-2011, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oren Hudson

Bill F is correct - JBL prices keep going up and up. Less than 2 years ago, the D140F rebuild kit from them was under $100. Today, that price has more than doubled. Plus - the magnet has changed and there's a good chance that the kit won't work properly - unless you send it to them to do!

hmmmm. AFAIK, the D kits were discontinued more than 10 years ago. since then, authorized JBL reconers have been using the E series kits for them, and i konw that JBL will not sell them seperately. you have to either have JBL recone them, or have it done by one of their authorized dealers. the last D's and K's that i've had orange county speaker recone for me cost $172 and that was 5 years ago.

bluesdogblues · #15 07-12-2011, 08:11 PM

I don't know if I ever use JBL cabs or their speakers purposely for my bass, but I like JBL nearfield monitors (and the sound of my recorded bass thru them) in the studio control room

D.M.N. · #16 07-12-2011, 11:29 PM

A JBL MI speaker is an amazing thing. Especially the old ones. And I love their current PA stuff too.

cellkirk74 · #17 07-13-2011, 02:24 AM

I am running an old 12' cab, 8 Ohms, 250 Watts at home with my shuttle 6.0. The cab must be from the late 70ies or early eighties and it sounds very good.

I believe it was some part of a small PA since it has a hole to put it on an stand, but it works very nice for bass in decent volumes.

It is black, black tolex and has a handlebar on one sinde. It used to have a red plastic JBL logo I lost at some point. Any info on that?

AwkwardLoudness · #18 07-13-2011, 02:54 AM

The typical prices for certain vintage JBL models indicate robust popularity and desireability.

73jbass · #19 07-13-2011, 03:14 AM

I recently picked up a pair of 2260's and put them in an SWR 212 cab,and it's the best sounding cab I own now. It really came to life.

Oren Hudson · #20 07-13-2011, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

hmmmm. AFAIK, the D kits were discontinued more than 10 years ago. since then, authorized JBL reconers have been using the E series kits for them, and i konw that JBL will not sell them seperately. you have to either have JBL recone them, or have it done by one of their authorized dealers. the last D's and K's that i've had orange county speaker recone for me cost $172 and that was 5 years ago.

You're right johnk - I didn't go into a lot of detail - but if you get JBLs kit, it is in fact an E140. I'm told by Bill at Great Plains Audio, that the generics that he uses is D140. Total cost per speaker, including demagnitizing and remagnitizing, is $118.20 while the JBL is over $200. Just 2 years ago they did a D140 for $96! My friend Steve at The Speaker Doctor quotes me $225 for JBL and $125 for generic. So you can see the increase pretty easily.