• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

EVM 15 vs Neodymium ???

Jonesy

Jonesy

Feb 21, 2006
105
14
#1
Long time lurker, first time poster here...
I'm in my late 40's. I've been playing pro and semi-pro for 25 years. I managed a music store for about 13 years and have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to use many amps, speakers, effects, combos etc. in rehearsal and live situations. I've toured the country several times in a couple different bands and in my old age, still gig 2-4 times a month. In short, I've got a lot of playing experience. About 15-20 years ago, I decided I like tube amps through 15" speakers more than anything else, and of the 15" speakers I tried at the time, I liked EVM 15L's and 15 B's the best. I've happily used them for many years in several types of cabs through several different amps and strongly recommend them to anyone. But...
I'm now an old fart with a weak back and need to look at getting a lighter weight cab. I currently use an old Peavey 1X15 cab loaded with a EVM15B (powered by a well maintained but old Traynor YBA1A mark II 80 watt tube head) and this suits me just fine. (I aim to sound like Entwistle would sound if he played a stock P-bass with new roundwounds)
As an option to getting a new cab, I'm also considering just swapping out the EVM for something with a Neo magnet to see if I can lose a few lbs. But, I really don't want to lose the tone and reliability of the EVMs. Any suggestions?
 
  • Like
Reactions: StevieLovesAlly
#2
Hey Jonesy,
You'll get some good ideas here...
Personally, I agree with you about the EV's. I have a road ready Boogie 2x15 which is the voice of god... just a leeeeetle too big for almost every single gig I do.

Answer for me was the Eminence Kappalite 3015 - non LF version.
Super lightweight, but still has some of the mojo and bite of the EV's. The 3015 also improved mechanical capacity (xmax) over the EV's so I don't have to keep buying recone kits...:)

I retrofitted mine into an Avatar SB112 cabinet (soon to be thread subject once I break it in) total:42 lbs

Please keep posting! It sounds like you have a lot of good experience from which we could learn.

Cheers
 
#3
Welcome to Talkbass Jonesy!

I cant help you with your question on the NEO's but I can afirm those EV's.

Four many years I used two of the Boogie Road Ready 1x15 Thiele Cabs with the EVM15L's in em and they rocked. I have fond memories of those cabs and been thinking of getting another one.

Those EV's are dang good speakers.

Also FYI the EVM12L's are available again. I have one of the new 12L 200 watters (in my guitar amp) and wonder what that 300 ZW would sound like for Bass.
 
#4
There is a very good chance that a different speaker will not sound as good as the original. The specs for the new speaker would be quite different, and the cabinet wasn't designed for it.

EV doesn't list the EVM15 speakers on their web site; I suspect they're discontinued. I can't even find tech specs there.

Bottom line, changing the speaker is a crapshoot without proper data. It could have poor bass response; could have weaker output than the EVM; could even be damaged if the porting isn't right.
 
#5
The Kappalite3015, nonLF version is a good choice for a single 15 with no crossovers, tweeter etc. Depending on the cab you may need to retune the ports a little bit. That's pretty easy if they're round "pipe" type ports. Cut them shorter to raise the tuning or install longer ones to lower it. If it's a shelf type port built into the cab out of wood you may need to bust out your carpentry tools.

Nowdays we have WinISD, a free download speaker building program. Get familiar with that. Bgavin on this site has a spreadsheet that you can download that contains Theile-Small specs for the 15L and 15B along with a few hundred other drivers. Measure the net interior volume of the cab that you like the sound of loaded with the EV's, model the kappalite3015 in the same size cab and make the needed port adjustments to make the response curve closely match the EV's and there you have it. If you're handy with woodworking tools you can rebuild the cab out of 1/2" ply with rigcage style bracing instead of the heavy 3/4" and lose some more weight. Or if that sounds like too much work, just load the 3015 in your current cab and make the port adjustments if needed. The kappalite3015 is pretty forgiving of smaller cab sizes as is the basslite15.
 
  • Like
Reactions: StevieLovesAlly
#7
I'm about the same "vintage" as you and I've been rocking a Bassman 215 cab loaded with one EVM15B and one EVM15L since 1979 (when I blew out the Fender speakers in short order after purchase). A few years ago I came to the same conclusion that hauling that BA cab around was too tough on my back, especially since it was mostly for wedding band gigs. I replaced it with a GK 1-15 cab...........I forget which one but I think it's really designed as an extension speaker to be used with something else for the highs. Anyway........by itself it does (did) a pretty good job of approximating the 70's 2-15 massive bass mojo. Well.............eventually I left the wedding band and joined a "classic" rock band (Link Removed) and made the mistake of hooking up the old bassman. Well the boyz were adamant that that's the sound they wanted. So..............now I run the bassman 2-15 AND the GK 1-15 biamped. So much for saving my back....
 
#8
Hi Jonesy,

if you post the internal dimensions of your cabinet and the type of port I can plug it into Eminence Designer software and see what we get.

I currently use the 3015FL in custom made cabinets and they are very old school sounding using tube amps.

RY
 
#9
I've dropped the 3015 into a couple of different 1x15 ported cab's. Chef dropped them into his Mesa TL cabs. The ones designed for the EV 15. They appear to be quite forgivinging. Based on my experience with them so far, I'm building a set of cab's based on the TL 606, which is the design Mesa copied). My cab's will be a little smaller than the Mesa as optimally that driver wants 2.4 to 2.8 cu ft it seems.

The cabs I've tried so far at teh Bag End S15D - results are that it's a little dark, a little mid's focused. Maybe needs more room to breath. The stock Bag End driver is better. That one has a couple of weeks comparison and listening time.

The other is an old 'slot port' compact 1x15 from Sonic. It isn't very far off the spec of the downsized TL 606 at all. The 3015 sounds darned good in that one. If I could find ano0ther of those - I'd snag it and forego the carpentry... That cab had formerly housed a JBL E140 - a driver that likes a small box - the 3015 smokes it in all but the top end where the JBL excells.

Me I'd give it a shot and let your ears decide.
 
#11
Howdy;
Here's my Mesa Diesel 115's. They are just dang near exact copies of the EV TL606.
Loading them with Em 3015 kappalites shaved about 10lbs off each. They work well for me, retaining a lot of the mid clarity that the EV speeks had.

2115L.jpg



here's where I got mine:
http://www.bltsound.com/index.php?s...+1223566988&update_item=&edit_item=&x=31&y=11
 
#14
Thanks all for the advice. I did pick up a 3015 and dropped it in the PV cab. The 3015 weighs about 12 lbs less than the EVM so I'm pleased about that. The speaker has maybe a bit more low end than the EVM but the overall tone so far is not quite as satisfying. I've only got about 4 hours of playing time into it, so maybe as it breaks in, it will become more agreeable. I'm now looking for a smaller lighter cab to drop the EVM into...
 
#16
Jonesy said:
I'm now looking for a smaller lighter cab to drop the EVM into...
Click to expand...

I have an EVM in an ancient Bag End cabinet. It measures 18x18x15 and the total weight is about 40 pounds. Because the box is so small there's not a lot of deep lows, but I like it for the stage as there's not a lot of sub-45Hz clutter muddying the mix. Not the best setup for dub reggae, but it works great for everything else I've played.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back