Musicman 115 RH speaker replacement

[samson3382]

That kappa lite is so sensitive you wouldn't even notice the difference in watts between 4 & 8 ohms anyway.

I have an SWR cab with a 3015. It can hang at the same gigs with 550 (GBE1200@8)watts or 200.(ampeg B2R)

 

[ahc]

Amps are generally rated at a certain percentage of distortion. Typically (I think) 1% THD (Total Harmonic Distortion). They can go louder, but distortion increases and with SS amps, it doesn't sound very pretty. Tube amps usually do.

 

[B-string]

Now I'm totally lost. How can an amp produce more watts than its rated for?

Amps are rated at a relatively clean (undistorted) power rating. An amplifier's job is to make things louder without destroying (distorting) the signal. They can easily put out more power, but that power level then no longer meets the design's basic function. Power is rated for only what it does cleanly, not what the maximum it is capable of doing.

 

[jwinton]

@samson3382, thanks, that sets things right, much appreciated!
@B-string, thanks man! You've gone above and beyond to help me figure this out. The pdf of the JBL info made it perfectly clear. You're the man!

 

[B-string]

I give credit to "agedhorse" engineer at Mesa (formerly with Genz Benz) for locating that document. Send him a thank you for his part in helping clear these myths up . It helps to have a white paper from JBL to point to in our fight to dispel bad information.

 

[lexington125]

Memories.........
That 1-15 Music Man cab was my first new gear purchase (78 or 79?). Kept that cab until '85 when I sold it to buy my Mesa 400 stack

 

[MIMike]

Do you have the bass lites in the Fender cab in your picture? If so, how does it sound? I may have access to that same cab & have been longing for a 2x12 for a long time but have been hesitant about that cab because I see it as more of a guitar cab.

Sorry for the confusion...I actually no longer have ANY of the gear in that photo. The 2x12 Bassman in that photo had JBL D-120's in it...it's long gone to some guitarist. The MusicMan rig and 83' Jazz went too cheap to some poor college kid years ago.
I did like the EV in the MM cab, but it was very mid-forward in my opinion and not exactly the sound I was going for. I still do have a 400W 15" version in a compact cab in my backup rig.
My current rig is a Bassman 100 that I did a major mod to the original 4x12 cab. I got it w/o speakers and cut it down to accommodate the Basslights. I contacted Eminence regarding the ideal internal volume and port size, then modified the cab to those specs. It came out awesome (IMHO).
I have a bunch of pics of the entire process, but here is the finished product:

 

[jwinton]

So you have the EV15B in a small 1x15 cab as your backup? And you cut down the 4x12 Fender cab to accommodate how many speakers? Do you like the bass lites? Any advice on the kappalites? I think I'm going with an 8 ohm kappalite for now & see how it works with my various heads. I'd like to see more pics of the process & if you have any sound clips, please send links. I used to have a bassman 70 but I just couldn't get enough "balls" out of it.

 

[MIMike]

Yes, a EV Proline is my backup, but will be going up for sale soon (note, this is not an ad). Though I don't have personal experience with the kappalites, I would imagine they are great speakers, look at all the great cabinet makers and designs that use them. I would have bought the higher end models if I were buying new, but the basslight 2012s I have came in a used SWR Bigfoot that I bought used. My total cost for the project (minus speakers) was about $75 in supplies. I used all of the original hardware and parts off the cabinet.
Here are a few more shots of the Bassman 4x12 to 2x12 transformation.

Before;

Breakdown;

Fit test;

Resizing;

New baffle;

Bracing and batting;

Reworked grill cloth;

Done!

 

[jwinton]

Aw man, that's awesome!! It looks like you have enough left of the original 4x12 cab to make a matching 2x12 cab or at least a 2x10...Would you mind letting me know what the dimensions of the newly created 2x12 cab are? You said the dimensions came directly from Eminence for those Basslite speakers, right? I ordered a 15' Kappalite 8 ohm for my MM cab yesterday. I'll post the results once it arrives & I install it & take for a few test runs...

 

[MIMike]

The (internal) dimensions I had were 28"w and 15.5"d. I told Eminence what those dimensions were and that I planned to use the two Basslite's on a 3/4" baffle. I asked what my internal height needed to be for the proper cabinet volume for those speakers. I also asked how big the round port needed to be if it's length was to be 3/4".
BTW, even though I used a little less than half the cab height, I didn't save any of it. I used all of the hardware handles and casters from the original. I made sure I had enough of the original tolex left to properly cover what I had left.
I'm sure you have already seen the info on the Eminence website, but here is a link to the recommended cab specs for the 3015. I'm sure it will sound great in the MMHD cab. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Rockbobmel]

I Have a PV BW in mine and it Kills! Sounds great. I tried an EV 15L and the PV sounds better in this cab.

 

[wmhill]

I've never used the neos, but had super luck with the deltas. They are really versatile and reasonably priced.

 

[jwinton]

@RockBobby,
Thanks! Can you tell me what model of BW you use? I looked at BW's but there were a bunch of different 15" models.

 

[Rockbobmel]

@RockBobby,
Thanks! Can you tell me what model of BW you use? I looked at BW's but there were a bunch of different 15" models.

I can't remember but it's the 400 watt 8 ohm. If I remember right there is only 2 to pick from. It's the one from their older 1-15 BW bass cab. You could search that model and find it easy.

 

[CL400Peavey]

@RockBobby,
Thanks! Can you tell me what model of BW you use? I looked at BW's but there were a bunch of different 15" models.

The BW-1505-8DT is the way to go.

 

[Rockbobmel]

Thanks

 

[jwinton]

Thanks for the feedback! I just ordered 2 kappalite 3015's but I'm gonna pick up a BW for another cab I have...much appreciated!

 

[Rockbobmel]

How did the 3015 work out? Did you try and swap to the Peavey?
I just got my cab back into the lineup last week. It needs my Ashdown ABM500 to get the lows I want but it is super focused and the low B on my Dingwall is outstanding!!

 

[kartiste]

IIRC, the 115 RH is the same as a 212 RH cab with a different baffle. I've got a 212 RH. It doesn't resemble a TL606. There is no shelf port. It's a "folded horn" of sorts. I've never pulled my speakers to look inside, but the "top" of the port angles downward and there's a +/- 3 inch opening slot into the cab. There's a vertical board going up into the cab. How far I don't know. I've wondered myself how to calculate internal cab volume and port statistics in case I ever wanted to change speakers. Here's a pic. It doesn't show the "port" very well but you'll get the idea.


View attachment 548569

oooooooooooo.... that's a nice looking bass!