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You're saying the CTS and Delta are very similar in terms of actual technical specs but more power handling (likely because of different VC materials imo).Read the Delta 15a specs and imagine you've cut the power handling down to like 50w
Is there anywhere that states accurate specs of the CTS speaker?
I know how speakers play a role once you actually A/B compare.
Still i am curious the exact specs of the original CTS B15N speaker... Does anyone make a 'clone' other than possibly VC material?
Further, recones are all over the place in terms of materials, many not close to original specs, more like 'what fits'.
I have a real Chicago Jensen 'Hammond spec' 15" which i believe is 16 ohm...it functions but i think has typical "Chicago Jensen voice coil rattle" or a dropped VC.
I also have a pair of Altec 8 ohm alnico Hi-Fi 15" speakers in a pair of Altec home Hi-Fi cabs with the coaxial mounted cone mid tweeter, nothing great for Hi-Fi but very tempted to try one for guitar or bass use....curiosity mainly!
I'm actually saying that the CTS and Delta sound very much alike.
You’ll never know unless you try it.
For bass you ideally want a large enough (2 1/2” or 3” voice coil) to help dissipate the heat.
It might work just fine, my guess is you could have issues mounting it into the B-15N's cabinet, depending upon the depth of the Altec. I distinctly remember having great difficulty mounting a JBL-E140 inside a Double Baffle Reflex Cabinet.
because the ceramic magnet was deeper and taller than the JBL or Altec's Alnico magnets. What really burns my biscuits is that the Eminence 8 Ohm Version of the driver used in the Ampeg Heritage isn't available, it supposedly was a replica of
the JBL-140 with improved specs.
At one time at least, Heritage speakers were available for ordering through customer service. Might be worth calling them or fullcompass to see if it’s available.
Also, the speaker was based on the frame of the Eminence Commonwealth, which was the closest thing Eminence had to an old JBL. I doubt it was an exact Commonwealth, but that was the framework they used. I've heard of a handful of people who were happier switching over to a real JBL, but it always sounded killer in recordings and I never got to play one live so I couldn't tell you.
The frame is important but if the soft parts (spider, cone) VC etc are not correct or approximated/compensated it wont be the same imo.
Messing with guitar recones over the years and various speakers the VC material alone plays a part in response as well as power handling...the paper formers had a fast response and tight VC gaps improved response...Eminence and others are known to have VC gaps not quite as tight as some companies like Chicago Jensens (which i have several original versions) but Jensens and others were notorious for mis-aligned VC gaps from getting banged around.
Peavey Black Widow has been seen in several B15N in the Kansas City area over the years according to a friend/vintage guitar dealer, not sure which version.
Folks liked the replaceable basket but the usual issues with the disintegrating foam in the screen likely appeared down the road.
Actually ironically the common wealth is a attempt at the JBL
But Peavey 15" black widows used for guitar/ lap steel. Hit pretty dang close and a notorious favorite just like the D-130
Aside from modern voicecoil material having better thermal properties.
The gap design on the JBLs is way above any eminence
The lead series Evm15L is likely canidate.
As far as a cts not keeping up to a D-130
Absolutely. Cts minimal 96/97 dB when a 130 is around 101/102 dB
Take good 10 or 15 watts to make the cts do what the JBL does at 1 watt
But Peavey 15" black widows used for guitar/ lap steel. Hit pretty dang close and a notorious favorite just like the D-130
Aside from modern voicecoil material having better thermal properties.
The gap design on the JBLs is way above any eminence
The lead series Evm15L is likely canidate.
As far as a cts not keeping up to a D-130
Absolutely. Cts minimal 96/97 dB when a 130 is around 101/102 dB
Take good 10 or 15 watts to make the cts do what the JBL does at 1 watt
OP, I get the idea of immediately dismissing the stock speaker in an old combo amp, but I suggest you spend some time with your newly acquired awesome amp and keep your mind and ears open.
It's not that the CTS is necessarily a lesser speaker, after all, it's the one Jess Oliver picked after they switched over from Jensens, which were very good speakers (I owned a Montgomery Ward "Supro Thunderbolt"). My guess is that the cost per unit associated with the Jensens
went up, so they went with a supplier who had a similar product, that would work with the Double Baffle Reflex Enclosure. I gigged in the mid 70's with my B-15N(C) using the stock CTS. With a Fender bass the sound was acceptable, maybe even good. At the time, I wouldn't have
known any better anyway, I was just happy to be playing a B-15N. Moving on down the road, I experimented with many different 15's and settled recently on a JBL D-130, which has the sound I'm looking for, especially with Double Bass. Just my take. The OP should get to know
the amp before they decide whether to stick with the CTS.
An update: I pulled the original CTS and put it in storage. First replacement was a reconed JBL D140 (Weber did the work so not "OEM" parts, but still probably a nice job). I like it's sweetness, and it would break up on the thick strings - very Jamerson like - but 1) those Sweet uppers and Grunty Lowers seemed out of balance, and, 2) that speaker had a greater destiny.
Next up was an Altec 421 - afaik original cone. It's been in there for nearly a year, and is meaty if a bit muffled, but the growl balance is very nice and if I really push the amp, I can get and stay in full 5-to-1 territory (The Doors), which is a LOT of fun ... but as I said, overall still a bit muffled, so I'll park that speaker for a bit.
Going in perhaps today is a brand new Eminence Delta 15. Ask me in a few months.
Next up was an Altec 421 - afaik original cone. It's been in there for nearly a year, and is meaty if a bit muffled, but the growl balance is very nice and if I really push the amp, I can get and stay in full 5-to-1 territory (The Doors), which is a LOT of fun ... but as I said, overall still a bit muffled, so I'll park that speaker for a bit.
Going in perhaps today is a brand new Eminence Delta 15. Ask me in a few months.
I have two all original 67 B15’s and neither of them sound muddy.
