JBL E-140 options ?

[jeff_free69]

I'm a bit of a pack rat, and I like having a backup around just in case. . But my E-140 , in a vented 3.2 cuft cab just started to rubbing its voice coil. (I forgot it doesn't really have enough Xmax to handle kick drums)

I don't want to let sentiment get in the way, and this speaker doesn't go as low as some more modern ones, so what are my options?

recone ? whats the going rate for a high quality job?
sell as is? what's the most its worth in this state?
give to my neighbors kid?

 

[MarkBG]

I just considered the same thing with a K-140 I had laying around,that I was considering using in an older cabinet that needs a replacement. I checked with one of the well known to be reputable shops in the area. The JBL brand recone kit itself was about $150. (They recone these all now to E-140 specs) The labor was $60. I know there are some alternatives as to the Aftermarket kits,that might save a few bucks,but because of the expense,I decided to go a different route.

Though I have been advised that These old JBLs are definitely worth reconing,I was never particularly in love with how it sounded to begin with,so decided to go a different route because of the expense. A JBL 140 basket is supposedly not worth much. I paid $90 several years ago for a working one,and was told that was too much.

Instead I am considering a brand new Eminence
CB15-8 Speaker which has higher RMS and Program power ratings and is very reasonably priced at half what a JBL recone would cost. It seems to have great user review ratings for Bass Guitar use,and I have always been pleased with Eminence sound,so I'm going to give it a try,instead. Not sure how would work for KickDrum.

 

[JimmyM]

If you're going to be doing more modern applications, get a more modern speaker. If you're into tone and only tone, I'd consider getting it reconed. I think you can do better on the price than $210 somewhere else.

 

[jnewmark]

JBL E 140's are going for around $150 on Ebay, reconed or in mint shape. But, if you never liked the tone, what's the point? get an Eminence. I have tried some of the EM's and have always gone back to the E140, probably because I like the way they sound. I have not tried the 3015 Em that everyone here raves about. That might be a good choice. But, imho, nothing quite sounds like an E140 for bass.

 

[jeff_free69]

I have not tried the 3015 Em that everyone here raves about

As a matter of fact I just put an Em 3015LF into my new main cabinet this week. Here's the build thread -http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?t=209278 (this has to updated, it originally had an EV 15B in it)

I also play keyboards/synth bass and when I play a real bass (Rick) its through a BassPod, making the the actual tone of the speaker less important than power handling and extension.

I've had the E-140 for over 20 years, just trying to figure out what to do with it. Looks like its just a (big) low power practice amp now
Oh well, at least I still have an 18" E-155 in a 6 cuft cab sitting around too !

 

[bgavin]

There are factory kits and aftermarket kits.
Orange County Speaker Repair can do the factory kits for you. They are not cheap.

The E140 was a great speaker a very long time ago.
Today, it is a very heavy dinosaur with a very thin bottom end.

If it were me, I would kiss the E140 goodbye and ditch it on eBay for somebody looking for dinosaurs. Spend the cash on a 3015LF rig.

 

[jeff_free69]

There are factory kits and aftermarket kits.
Orange County Speaker Repair can do the factory kits for you. They are not cheap.

The E140 was a great speaker a very long time ago.
Today, it is a very heavy dinosaur with a very thin bottom end.

If it were me, I would kiss the E140 goodbye and ditch it on eBay for somebody looking for dinosaurs. Spend the cash on a 3015LF rig.

yeah - last night I did a side by side comparison of the E-140 and 3015LF , each in about a 3.25 cuft cab and there's no comparison in the low end. personally I don't see the point of refurbishing it for the cost of a new 3015LF, or to try to sell it for that amount.