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Favorite Speaker D140F JBL

G

Gary Malajian

Nov 26, 2014
33
3
74
#1
Hi Gents, I'm an old-time bass player, first-time posting. A good buddy/bandmate from my college band had stored my bass cabinet since the band split up in 1974(not a joke - terrific guy with a great wife). It's a 1969 Sunn cabinet with 2 x 8 ohm D140F's enclosed. Hasn't been used since 1974. It's recently been returned. The speakers still sound great, but who's gonna lug the cabinet around (over 100 lbs). Still playing out and need something that's easy to move around (creaky back). Anyway, love the sound of the speakers (always been my favs) so put one of them inside a Markbass 15" speaker cabinet. It sounds awesome but not a match for my bass amp, Class D, 500 watts. Our guitar player is a collector and has a blackface bassman amp that he's no longer using. I've used it at the last 2 gigs and it sounded great with the JBL/Markbass cabinet. Would love to hear your thoughts on a suitable tube or SS amplifier to use with this speaker/cabinet (1 x D140F @ 8 Ohms).
PS - he's not interested in selling the Bassman head
 
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#2
It's a great sounding speaker and in demand. Even two D140F's may not be up to your 500W amp. It depends on how hard you push them.

What amp depends on how loud your band plays. People love the D140F in 30W B-15 cabs. A PF-50T is a nice sounding 50W tube amp.
 
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#5
beans-on-toast said:
.
People love the D140F in 30W B-15 cabs.
Click to expand...
... still diggin' my B15NA loaded with a D140F ...
:cool:
IMG_0404.JPG
Screenshot 2022-12-24 at 10-54-38 Photobucket Gallery.png
 
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#6
Gary Malajian said:
Our guitar player is a collector and has a blackface bassman amp that he's no longer using. I've used it at the last 2 gigs and it sounded great with the JBL/Markbass cabinet. Would love to hear your thoughts on a suitable tube or SS amplifier to use with this speaker/cabinet (1 x D140F @ 8 Ohms).
Click to expand...

The Fender Bassman amp head is a good match to one D140. Those Ampeg PF-50T and PF-20T "new Portaflex" things would be good also.
 
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#9
Gary Malajian said:
Beautiful rig.
I guess those amp heads were like 20-40 Watts at the time.
That's a good match of the D140F.
Is it loud enough to work in a 5 piece bar band, in your opinion?
Thanks
G
Click to expand...
thanks ,
it's rated at 25 watts @ 8 ohms .
i've only ever used it in a 3 piece blues band , with a light touch drummer .
it worked fine and sounded great , but i don't think i would recommend
using it in a 5 piece "bar band " unless you use a good stage microphone
and have front-of-house help ...
:cool:
Screenshot 2022-12-26 at 12-59-15 Photobucket Gallery.png
 
#11
Gary Malajian said:
I was thinking of an 8 ohm Showman (Blackface) --- 85 watts with 1 x D140F -
any thoughts on that vs. Bassman 100
Click to expand...
I have never played a bass through a Showman head, so can't comment on that. Its been a long time since I played a Bassman 100; just a louder Bassman, if I remember correctly. There is also the Bassman 135, which had a different type of transformer, I believe. I would really try the Ampeg though, as it is very recent in my mind, and I loved the tone through the K140.
 
#12
Gary Malajian said:
I was thinking of an 8 ohm Showman (Blackface) --- 85 watts with 1 x D140F -
any thoughts on that vs. Bassman 100
Click to expand...

The Showman or the Bassman 100 (similar power) could work as long as you didn't turn up too loud. The original Showman Amp used one D130F. The peak wattage of the Showman or Bassman 100 could damage a single D140F at low frequencies.
 

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