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Is there an 8" JBL bass speaker?

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by reep, Jun 5, 2020.

  1. Jun 5, 2020 #1
    reep

    reep

    Sep 24, 2006
    Duncan B.C.Canada
    I'm not having much luck looking online. I figured if anybody knows, it would be you guys. Is there an 8" version of the JBL speaker suitable for bass guitar? I've found a couple of brands that describe themselves as JBL clones, but I'm interested in a JBL brand speaker.
     
  2. Jun 5, 2020 #2
    agedhorse

    agedhorse Supporting Member Commercial User

    Feb 12, 2006
    Davis, CA (USA)
    Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
    No, that's an area that JBL never successfully went to.

    For MI and pro audio applications, JBL's 8" drivers were more suited to mid bass applications, even the LE-8T which was a full range driver just didn't have the sensitivity and power handling to be used with more than say a 50 watt RMS amp.

    The closest you could get to this in the JBL line would be the E-110, but I don't recall if an enclosure could be suitably designed to get reasonable low frequency extension. The mid voicing is quite nice however, and this driver was most often used in mid bass applications as well.
     
  3. Jun 5, 2020 #3
    reep

    reep

    Sep 24, 2006
    Duncan B.C.Canada
    Thanks, agedhorse. I seem to remember reading in a guitar forum that people had used 10" JBL's in Fender Princeton and Deluxe Reverb amps, but I'm assuming that was more for a full range type application. Have you any idea whether the E-110 would have a rugged enough voice coil/spider assembly to withstand a bass signal?
     
  4. Jun 5, 2020 #4
    agedhorse

    agedhorse Supporting Member Commercial User

    Feb 12, 2006
    Davis, CA (USA)
    Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
    For guitar applications, there are/were options. The K-110 (and the similar 2120/2123) worked well for (clean) guitar and there were long ago some interesting options in 8" for guitar (2110) but limited to 20 watts for clean applications and 10 watts for distorted applications.

    For bass applications, with LOW powered amps, the LE-8T and the similar 2115 wore ok for bass but at 20 watt power levels.

    For bass guitar, 10" models like the E-110 and 2120/2123 would probably work ok, BUT again for low powered applications of around 75-100 watts maximum. For example, a 210 cabinet like this would be interesting with amps like the PF-20 and PF-50, or the Bassman 100T.

    There were also some models in their MI series, the MI-10 did exist but I don't have any experience with it.