Altec speaker for vintage B15N-C

[Fernieite]

Hi guys,
What are your thoughts on a vintage Altec 418-8H speaker as a replacement for a 1964 Ampeg B15N-C? (Looks like the one pictured)
Originally, it would have come with a CTS square magnet 15", correct?
Thanks a lot.

 

[beans-on-toast]

It’ll sound very good. Ampeg offered J. B. Lansing and Altec Lansing speakers as options. The NC is a highly sought after B-15 revision. Yes the CTS was standard in the ‘64 B-15NC.

Here are some nice images of an NC. From the Talkbass Portaflex Wiki.
https://www.talkbass.com/wiki/vintage-showcase/#3-all-original-1964-b-15n-in-detail

 

[Fernieite]

It’ll sound very good. Ampeg offered J. B. Lansing and Altec Lansing speakers as options. The NC is a highly sought after B-15 revision. Yes the CTS was standard in the ‘64 B-15NC.

Here are some nice images of an NC. From the Talkbass Portaflex Wiki.
https://www.talkbass.com/wiki/vintage-showcase/#3-all-original-1964-b-15n-in-detail

Thanks very much! I bet the Altec would add a fair amount of weight to the rig.

I can't seem to find any accurate weights listed anywhere about the weight of a B-15-N-C, with the stock CTS speaker. Does anyone know? (amp + cab, plus or minus the dolley)

 

[bobyoung53]

It’ll sound very good. Ampeg offered J. B. Lansing and Altec Lansing speakers as options. The NC is a highly sought after B-15 revision. Yes the CTS was standard in the ‘64 B-15NC.

Here are some nice images of an NC. From the Talkbass Portaflex Wiki.
https://www.talkbass.com/wiki/vintage-showcase/#3-all-original-1964-b-15n-in-detail

I put a reconed JBL D-140 in my B-15S (1978) and it blows away the original Eminence in just about every way and I like Eminence speakers. I don't think the speaker is tired either, the amp has low miles on it unless just sitting can hurt them, no idea what kind of environment either, the cone seems ok.

 

[bobyoung53]

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[JimmyM]

I put a reconed JBL D-140 in my B-15S (1978) and it blows away the original Eminence in just about every way and I like Eminence speakers. I don't think the speaker is tired either, the amp has low miles on it unless just sitting can hurt them, no idea what kind of environment either, the cone seems ok.

Different model, though. Traditionally most people like the JBL in the smaller cabs and the Altec in the bigger ones like yours. That doesn’t mean they don’t sound great if you reverse them.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Thanks very much! I bet the Altec would add a fair amount of weight to the rig.

I can't seem to find any accurate weights listed anywhere about the weight of a B-15-N-C, with the stock CTS speaker. Does anyone know? (amp + cab, plus or minus the dolley)

66 lbs according to the 64-65 brochure in the wiki.

 

[bobyoung53]

Different model, though. Traditionally most people like the JBL in the smaller cabs and the Altec in the bigger ones like yours. That doesn’t mean they don’t sound great if you reverse them.

Oh yeah, I knew he meant the smaller B-15NC, but the JBL sounds great in the S. I don't know that I've ever had an amp with an Altec, back in the day I had two Sunn 2000's with D-140's in them also so I've always kind of liked them.

 

[B String]

Different model, though. Traditionally most people like the JBL in the smaller cabs and the Altec in the bigger ones like yours. That doesn’t mean they don’t sound great if you reverse them.

I put an old D140 in my mid 60's B15-N. I used it with a 1960 P bass and my Upright bass. It just plain KILLED! Unfortunately stolen.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Oh yeah, I knew he meant the smaller B-15NC, but the JBL sounds great in the S. I don't know that I've ever had an amp with an Altec, back in the day I had two Sunn 2000's with D-140's in them also so I've always kind of liked them.

Back in the '80s I had a cabinet that my (Evil Twin) brother made with an Altec 421A in it. A friend of mine has that cab these days; it sounded great with the Furman PQ-3 and Crown D150A I was using it with.

 

[JimmyM]

I put an old D140 in my mid 60's B15-N. I used it with a 1960 P bass and my Upright bass. It just plain KILLED! Unfortunately stolen.

That really sucks. I hate getting gear stolen.

 

[MattZilla]

Had the CTS square, a D140F, and now a modern Beta 15a in my Thiele cab B15n. The D140 sounded cool & crispy, the Beta sounds more buttery like the CTS but more robust in the low mids.

Having burnt out the CTS on this amp and other speakers on other 60s-70s amps/cabs, I’ll always vote for new speakers.

If you’re getting a rebuilt-by-a-pro or guaranteed NOS Altec, that’s pretty cool.

 

[Ric Vice]

I originally switched out my CTS in my B-15N(C) for the Altec 421-8H Series II ( the last of the Altec Line) it sounded great, the JBL-D140's sound better to my ears.
Just my take of course, both are exceptional speakers. I've never heard an Altec 418-H.

 

[duncmill]

This web page is a chart of Altec Lansing TS parameters. I would link to it if I only new how.

Altec Thiele-Small Parameters

 

[coreyfyfe]

Had the CTS square, a D140F, and now a modern Beta 15a in my Thiele cab B15n. The D140 sounded cool & crispy, the Beta sounds more buttery like the CTS but more robust in the low mids.

Having burnt out the CTS on this amp and other speakers on other 60s-70s amps/cabs, I’ll always vote for new speakers.

If you’re getting a rebuilt-by-a-pro or guaranteed NOS Altec, that’s pretty cool.

Similar for me, I’ve tried CTS, eminence beta, altec 421, and JBL K140 and D140F speakers in my double baffle cabs. Not all back to back in the same cab, but my favorite was the D140F followed by the CTS and eminence beta which I found pretty similar.

 

[Lewis Goudy]

If you like the sound, you use what you like. But the 10" 425s, the 12" 417s, and the 15" 418s are designed for guitar/organ/pa and NOT bass the (the 15" 421s). Same same with the JBLs (15" D...K 130s & various 12' 120s versus the various (LF) 140s. Just sayin'. All that stuff is hi fi sound at home or on stage, but don't expect a guitar speaker to do a bass speaker's work--they are not designed for it and will not handle it unless you adjust your attitude. Turn it town about 6db and you'll be fine. Otherwise they'll be fryin' and dyin'! There is more to a James B. Lansing loudspeaker than small signal theory. It's like the difference between a Man™ and a Punk™!

I originally switched out my CTS in my B-15N(C) for the Altec 421-8H Series II ( the last of the Altec Line) it sounded great, the JBL-D140's sound better to my ears.
Just my take of course, both are exceptional speakers. I've never heard an Altec 418-H.>>or a Hollywood 515? I'm Unsurprised.

 

[ajkula66]

If you like the sound, you use what you like. But the 10" 425s, the 12" 417s, and the 15" 418s are designed for guitar/organ/pa and NOT bass the (the 15" 421s). Same same with the JBLs (15" D...K 130s & various 12' 120s versus the various (LF) 140s. Just sayin'. All that stuff is hi fi sound at home or on stage, but don't expect a guitar speaker to do a bass speaker's work--they are not designed for it and will not handle it unless you adjust your attitude. Turn it town about 6db and you'll be fine. Otherwise they'll be fryin' and dyin'! There is more to a James B. Lansing loudspeaker than small signal theory. It's like the difference between a Man™ and a Punk™!

Ampeg offered 418 as an upgrade themselves when it comes to B-15, starting in late '60s/early '70s.

Personally, I prefer 421 myself and consider it to be the best "classic" 15" bass speaker, but a 418 will do just fine IMO/IME.

 

[JimmyM]

Ampeg offered 418 as an upgrade themselves when it comes to B-15, starting in late '60s/early '70s.

Personally, I prefer 421 myself and consider it to be the best "classic" 15" bass speaker, but a 418 will do just fine IMO/IME.

They did offer it at first but switched over to the 421a at their first chance. But while the 418b wasn’t quite as stout, in a B15 it works as you said…just fine.