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GK or Peavey

Solarmist

Solarmist

Jul 24, 2007
5,800
2,319
near Mt. Rainier
#1
I am currently running a GK BL600 with a Peavey 215 cab with part blown Blackwidows. Option 1 is replace them-$350 for both. Option 2 is maybe get the BL115 and BL210 cabs as a matching set to go with the amp. I know the Peavey Blackwidow twins have the low end, and plenty of power-will shake everything off the walls. Are the GK cabs [together] comparable to the 215 Blackwidow twins for low end? If I get the GK cabs-will I be happy or is there an option 3? Thanks TBers
 
#2
Solarmist said:
I am currently running a GK BL600 with a Peavey 215 cab with part blown Blackwidows. Option 1 is replace them-$350 for both. Option 2 is maybe get the BL115 and BL210 cabs as a matching set to go with the amp. I know the Peavey Blackwidow twins have the low end, and plenty of power-will shake everything off the walls. Are the GK cabs [together] comparable to the 215 Blackwidow twins for low end? If I get the GK cabs-will I be happy or is there an option 3? Thanks TBers
Click to expand...

Recone the Black Widows. It's an easy job with the kit from Peavey. You'll have 2 good as new speakers. Check with a Peavey dealer for the price.

I don't think much of the Backline cabinets. I'd fix the Peavey.
 
#3
I hope you're not telling him that he can recone the speakers himself. That's an easy job to screw up and is best left to the pros.

But yea, I agree. Get them reconed and it will be much better than the Backline cabs.
 
#6
Thanks TBers...I called a place [SWA] about reconing, and they wanted almost as much to recone ($150) as new one cost ($170). I don't know why Peavey quit making the 215. The twin Blackwidows are so powerful, and put out so much low-end. This is what I compare to other cabs. So nobody is for the GK cabs (BL 115 & 210 combined) ?
 
#7
JimmyM said:
I hope you're not telling him that he can recone the speakers himself. That's an easy job to screw up and is best left to the pros.
Click to expand...
I agree that it's easy to screw up but it's not rocket science, either. I'm not a pro and I successfully reconed an EV15L, and now that I know what's exactly involved, wouldn't hesitate to do it again. With a quality kit and instructions, in the hands of someone with DIY ability, it's actually a fun job.

But, if in doubt...hire it done, for sure.
 
#8
Solarmist said:
Thanks TBers...I called a place [SWA] about reconing, and they wanted almost as much to recone ($150) as new one cost ($170). I don't know why Peavey quit making the 215. The twin Blackwidows are so powerful, and put out so much low-end. This is what I compare to other cabs. So nobody is for the GK cabs (BL 115 & 210 combined) ?
Click to expand...
There's a time to recone and a time to cut bait. It all depends on the current market value, the quality of the speakers vs. replacements, all that stuff. I wouldn't automatically rule out reconing just because it's as much to recone as buy another one. Improvements in technology don't always result in better sound. If it did, Eminence would be out of business.
 
#10
here's how a blackwidow replacement or upgrade basket look...
56059.jpg

like greenboy says... it could be as easy and fast as 5 mins... sweet aren't they? :cool:
 
#12
Man, that is a sweet way to go! Nice job, Peavey! And the price is right, too. The kit for my EV ran around the same price as that whole basket.

The only thing that might be a potential problem is - be very careful when assembling the basket to the magnet. The voice coil is pretty vulnerable and fragile, doesn't take much of a "bump" to whack it out of round.
 
#13
THB_bassman said:
Man, that is a sweet way to go! Nice job, Peavey! And the price is right, too. The kit for my EV ran around the same price as that whole basket.

The only thing that might be a potential problem is - be very careful when assembling the basket to the magnet. The voice coil is pretty vulnerable and fragile, doesn't take much of a "bump" to whack it out of round.
Click to expand...
those tiny teeth like thingies make it almost idiot proof... in a way :)
 
#19
I have a Peavey 15" cab but unfortunately it came with the Scorpion speaker instead of the Black Widow. even though I didn't push it hard at all, the speaker quickly got fuzzy, and I found that the basket kits were available but they cost only about $10 less than a replacement Scorpion.

It appears to me that the basket kit is essentially the complete speaker minus the magnet. All you do is move the magnet from the old to new speaker. Fair enough, and very handy when you gotta have a working speaker NOW, but not the greatest value around.

I bought a re-coned 15" Eminence speaker with a higher power rating for much less than the cost of a Scorpion basket kit and installed it. works great!
 

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