I was always partial to JBLs. See what they have out these days.
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Best 15” speaker
- Thread starter geeveebee
- Start date
I was always partial to JBLs. See what they have out these days.
What's the best family car? You could try Eminence or Celestion. Then you'd want to know which model. We're bass players, not loudspeaker builders. You'd be better off talking to one of those, but you'd get even more in depth questions asked.
For a reference, i think you should look the specs of the FaitalPRO 15pr400. That -for me- is a good example of a great speaker(among the best?), without taking count of anything else(cab, amp, power, bass, style, and so on...).
Probably good advice. Really great advice for somebody like me with zero shop skills.
I’ve built lots of cabs. It’s never cheaper. All that stuff adds up, the corners, jack dishes, handles, grills, and the drivers spec’d for the better plans out there are premium drivers and you will pay more for that driver that what a cab manufacturers pays for theirs.
It is possible to build one that will be better than what’s commercially available if you build to a plan, or are an experienced speaker designer. The carpentry skills are not that difficult. But you have to decide if you really need one that’s better than one that is commercially available.
If you want to build your own, do it for the journey. It’s great if you are a maker or DIY guy and have tools and space. If you aren’t and don’t, it will become a PITA.
But again, it will cost more. There are tons of quality used cabs out there that can be had for pennies on the dollar.
It is possible to build one that will be better than what’s commercially available if you build to a plan, or are an experienced speaker designer. The carpentry skills are not that difficult. But you have to decide if you really need one that’s better than one that is commercially available.
If you want to build your own, do it for the journey. It’s great if you are a maker or DIY guy and have tools and space. If you aren’t and don’t, it will become a PITA.
But again, it will cost more. There are tons of quality used cabs out there that can be had for pennies on the dollar.
- Dec 21, 2007
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- Lark in the Morning Instructional Videos; Audix Microphones
@geeveebee please lighten up. People aren't trying to evade your question.
It's like asking "what's the best engine? I want to build a vehicle." Really, it's a lot like that.
There are a lot of different speakers that are "best" for different applications. And once you settle on an application (and "for bass" is an application only to the degree that "pickup truck" is a type of car) and details there are still a lot of choices among the "best" there.
It's like asking "what's the best engine? I want to build a vehicle." Really, it's a lot like that.
There are a lot of different speakers that are "best" for different applications. And once you settle on an application (and "for bass" is an application only to the degree that "pickup truck" is a type of car) and details there are still a lot of choices among the "best" there.
This. A Hemi won't do anything good in a Toyota Yaris.
If you're looking for a vaguely classic tone, I'd personally say that whatever Celestion's 15" bass speaker is would probably do well. The eminence beta 15a it's frequently recommended as a replacement speaker for a lot of ampeg double baffle cabs. The eminence legend cb158 is also a bass guitar specific driver. None of those are terribly pricey all things considered.
That being said, we don't know what amp you're using, we don't know what actual music you're playing, we don't know your budget, and beyond "that '70s tone" we don't really know what you want to sound like. We don't know the approximate size of any of the boxes you'd want to work with, but luckily eminence tends to post specs of a few different boxes that would work with their drivers - they're in PDFs on the eminence website. Really convenient, and easy to read when you get down to it.
- Feb 12, 2006
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- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
JBL hasn’t made a bass speaker for about 30 years, they exited that market around then.
Believe it or not, everyone here is pullin' for you.
We don't want you to waste your money, time, energy on a project and then look at this community cross-eyed.
Yeah we all learn from our mistakes, but isn't it better to succeed based on the wisdom of those who have "been there, done that"?
I wish you the best on this endeavor!
Me? I buy cabs rather than build 'em.
For the original poster - It's my layman's understanding that a speaker, a cabinet and an amp head are like one system. Each affects the other.
So, these guys who may sound persnickety to you are thinking along those lines.
So, these guys who may sound persnickety to you are thinking along those lines.
A short perusal of Talkbass will kick up numerous threads where the OP provided useful detail in his question, and with that detail posters were able to give meaningful answers and recommendations.
If you intended this to be a legitimate inquiry, instead of digging your heels in and being a wiseass, please respond to the multiple posters who asked you—politely—for more detail. Intended amp wattage would be helpful to know, for starters.
Dear Gregg,
So sorry that people need to pile on here.
Here is my suggestions assuming reasonable price, quality, and up to a few hundred watts of power:
Many here have designed a cabinet around an Eminence Kappalit #3015 speaker with great results.
https://www.parts-express.com/Eminence-KAPPALITE-3015-Neo-15-Driver-290-597
Eminence can supply you with a drawing for the cabinet so that it will be tuned to that particular speaker.
OTOH, if you want to change the speaker from an existing cabinet, please supply the internal dimensions as well as any port dimensions so that a replacement speaker that is best voiced for the cabinet can be recommended.
Or this one, which is good, cheaper, and in stock:
https://www.parts-express.com/Eminence-Deltalite-II-2515-Neo-15-Driver-290-595
Scroll down the page to "Manuals and Resources" and click on the PDF link for suggested cabinet designs.
Good luck. If your friend is good at what he does, you'll have a nice cabinet.
https://www.parts-express.com/Eminence-Deltalite-II-2515-Neo-15-Driver-290-595
Scroll down the page to "Manuals and Resources" and click on the PDF link for suggested cabinet designs.
Good luck. If your friend is good at what he does, you'll have a nice cabinet.
Yep, the thing that rabbit holes a made of...
. And the OP's use of flattery is remarkable.Oh wow, this I learned today. Thank you for that.
Did a quick lookup, this came up as a suggested alternate:
https://usspeaker.com/beyma 15WR400-1.htm
Am not familiar with the brand.
I used two, D140 Fs in a sealed cab and they were great but, that was in the 60s with a 60 w tube amp!
That's a great suggestion if you are willing to wait until July to get a new one. Then again if the OP is building a cabinet by himself he's probably not in a big hurry.....but July is six months away.
Analogeezer
This thread, much like a rabid raccoon that has been hit by two cars too many, should be put down peacefully.
