• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Which 15" woofer for this box?

Systolic

Systolic

Nov 29, 2009
2,159
1,078
Madison,Wisconsin
#1
Don't have a ton of specs, but:

15" hole
1/2" plywood
3.25 cf internal volume
Two front ports. 3" in diameter and the tubes inside are 2" deep." Bottom left and bottom right.
Does have a tweeter. Not sure on the crossover point.
Needs to handle a 5 string tuned down a half step.
Definitely prefer a more modern/open sound vs warm/wooly.

I know it's not a lot to go off of, but just looking at that.

What are we thinking? Delalite II? Kappa? Faital?
 
#2
Half inch ply will make a very poor bass cabinet unless it is braced properly. In my mind you’d be better off looking at published plans for a bass cabinet and building a suitable enclosure to suit the driver you select. Often dropping some arbitrary driver into an old box you have lying around ends up as a bit of a fail.
 
#3
BassmanPaul said:
Half inch ply will make a very poor bass cabinet unless it is braced properly. In my mind you’d be better off looking at published plans for a bass cabinet and building a suitable enclosure to suit the driver you select. Often dropping some arbitrary driver into an old box you have lying around ends up as a bit of a fail.
Click to expand...

Well I trying to stay purposefully vague, but this is actually an inquiry for a replacement woofer for a current and popular bass cab. It's just a little too vintagey sounding for my liking.
 
#6
Call US Speaker. They will run your figures through their software and spend however long it takes getting you a speaker you can work with. They spent over a half hour on the phone with me once talking me through my volume/tone/budget preferences after we nailed down the measurements. Great customer service.

Somebody here my have the software but won't have all the parameters of the speakers in a database. They have Eminence and lots if other brands too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bassinflorida, dheafey, andruca and 3 others
#9
two fingers said:
Call US Speaker. They will run your figures through their software and spend however long it takes getting you a speaker you can work with. They spent over a half hour on the phone with me once talking me through my volume/tone/budget preferences after we nailed down the measurements. Great customer service.

Somebody here my have the software but won't have all the parameters of the speakers in a database. They have Eminence and lots if other brands too.
Click to expand...

Yep. Turned out a Kappalite 3015 was pretty much a perfect match for my GK NEO115III cab. I was going to buy it anyway, but the info from US Speaker was comforting and gave me confidence that it wouldn't be a complete failure. Some knowledgeable TB'ers familiar with the switch also helped affirm what US Speaker told me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: two fingers
#12
two fingers said:
Call US Speaker. They will run your figures through their software and spend however long it takes getting you a speaker you can work with. They spent over a half hour on the phone with me once talking me through my volume/tone/budget preferences after we nailed down the measurements. Great customer service.

Somebody here my have the software but won't have all the parameters of the speakers in a database. They have Eminence and lots if other brands too.
Click to expand...
+1,000,000

Also, ask about recommended dampening material (I've used mattress topper from Walmart.) and, as mentioned above, bracing for 1/2" plywood is EXTREMELY important.
 
#13
dheafey said:
+1,000,000

Also, ask about recommended dampening material (I've used mattress topper from Walmart.) and, as mentioned above, bracing for 1/2" plywood is EXTREMELY important.
Click to expand...

Ya, they should have an answer for me today, I'll certainly inquire about padding as well. I haven't really opened it up yet, but I believe it's already braced internally. Not sure how I'd go about adding more bracing.
 
#17
CL400Peavey said:
To be fair, it is a well respected cabinet. You may do better selling it and finding something that suits your needs better. YMMV.
Click to expand...

Lol, I'm aware and I generally really like the cabs. They're just too "vintage/warm/wooly" sounding for me. Well, while we're looking it all this then, let's do this.

I don't have a lot of cash hanging about otherwise I'd probably just get the Mesa 115's.

The Fender's can be sold for about $225 each and I can get a brand new Kappa 3015 (as an example) through my work for about $125. What 1x15 can I get that's going to be as loud, as light, and sound at least as good for $350?
 
Last edited:
#18
Systolic said:
Lol, I'm aware and I generally really like the cabs. They're just too "vintage/warm/wooly" sounding for me. Well, while we're looking it all this then, let's do this.

I don't have a lot of cash hanging about otherwise I'd probably just get the Mesa 115's.

The Fender's can be sold for about $225 each and I can get a brand new Kappa 3015 (as an example) through my work for about $125. What 1x15 can I get that's going to be as loud and as light for $350?
Click to expand...

Do you have the capability of building a cab?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back