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Yorkville Bloc 80B - replacement speaker?

#22
So there's a few used options on Reverb, which leads me to a couple of questions -

1. Is it even a good idea to buy a used speaker online??? I've bought a cab used online but somehow this seems riskier.

2. Any opinions on an SLM speaker? Worse than an Eminence? Doesn't matter in an amp of this caliber anyway?
 
#23
Random speaker in a random box yields random (and usually poor) results. Who manufacturers the driver doesn't matter (and many SLM drivers were Eminence).

It's the performance parameters that matter, not the ones advertised but the ones that describe the speaker's performance.
 
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#24
agedhorse said:
Random speaker in a random box yields random (and usually poor) results. Who manufacturers the driver doesn't matter (and many SLM drivers were Eminence).

It's the performance parameters that matter, not the ones advertised but the ones that describe the speaker's performance.
Click to expand...
Well...that's the problem with this amp. I don't think any other 1x15" cab or combo has the weirdo dimensions that Yorkville used when they made this amp. So the gods only know if there even is a suitable replacement.
 
#25
definenredefine said:
Well...that's the problem with this amp. I don't think any other 1x15" cab or combo has the weirdo dimensions that Yorkville used when they made this amp. So the gods only know if there even is a suitable replacement.
Click to expand...

True, but I think your best bet is to contact Yorkville/Traynor. See if they'll give you a part number for the speaker. They may even throw in the service manual if you ask for it. They're pretty good about that. With the speaker part number in hand, contact Eminence and see if they can work out for you an equivalent speaker, or at least one that will work with the box.

It wouldn't surprise me if they pointed you to this model:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

By the way, in terms of using it as a stand-alone amp, be careful with that chassis. They tended to have very sharp edges and lots of protruding components. It was very easy to get zapped or cut your fingers handling one of those out of the box.

EDIT: According to my notes, the part number for the speaker is 7320, and was about $50 in the 90s. It's a 100 Watt 4Ohm speaker.
 
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#26
frankie5string said:
True, but I think your best bet is to contact Yorkville/Traynor. See if they'll give you a part number for the speaker. They may even throw in the service manual if you ask for it. They're pretty good about that. With the speaker part number in hand, contact Eminence and see if they can work out for you an equivalent speaker, or at least one that will work with the box.

It wouldn't surprise me if they pointed you to this model:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

By the way, in terms of using it as a stand-alone amp, be careful with that chassis. They tended to have very sharp edges and lots of protruding components. It was very easy to get zapped or cut your fingers handling one of those out of the box.

EDIT: According to my notes, the part number for the speaker is 7320, and was about $50 in the 90s. It's a 100 Watt 4Ohm speaker.
Click to expand...
Thank you for all of that. A couple of the listings I found on the Verb are indeed that speaker, so who knows, maybe it's a winner. But you're right - I'll see if I can get up with the folks at Traynor/Yorkville.

As for standalone conversion, again, you right. If I went that route, I would be looking at building a box around it.
 
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#27
So I got up with Yorkville, who pointed me to Full Compass, with whom I placed a special order for the replacement speaker. It's installed now, and WOW what a difference! Wall shaking volume at like 3, whereas before I couldn't get that kind of volume with the amp dimed. Also it sounds great! I...kinda loved my P bass through it.

I kept the old speaker. I thought it might be kinda cool for recording to get like an old radio kind of thin tone. Maybe I'll build a box around it? Who knows.

Anyway, thanks much for your advice, everyone!
 
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#28
definenredefine said:
So I got up with Yorkville, who pointed me to Full Compass, with whom I placed a special order for the replacement speaker. It's installed now, and WOW what a difference! Wall shaking volume at like 3, whereas before I couldn't get that kind of volume with the amp dimed. Also it sounds great! I...kinda loved my P bass through it.

I kept the old speaker. I thought it might be kinda cool for recording to get like an old radio kind of thin tone. Maybe I'll build a box around it? Who knows.

Anyway, thanks much for your advice, everyone!
Click to expand...
Reviving a zombie thread!

I own a Bloc80B! My first combo bought as a teen in the 80s. I can’t get rid of it because of the sentimental value and, it sounds really good!
 
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#32
I bought a Bloc40B in 1984 and it was my church amp for years. I found a Bloc40K years later, and gave the 40B to a friend. I still have the 40K. I’ve modded it some over the years. I replaced the power transformer with one for a Bloc80b making the 40 into an 80. I’ve had a few different 10” speakers in it. I ran an 8 ohm for a while, so I could also use an 8 ohm extension cabinet with it. I’ve had a 4 ohm, Eminence Neo in it for the last year or so. I carry this amp in the car for practice and use it at a homeless shelter gig every week. It’s been a great amp. I did add an effects loop and upgraded the tweeter.
 
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#33
Steve Dallman said:
I bought a Bloc40B in 1984 and it was my church amp for years. I found a Bloc40K years later, and gave the 40B to a friend. I still have the 40K. I’ve modded it some over the years. I replaced the power transformer with one for a Bloc80b making the 40 into an 80. I’ve had a few different 10” speakers in it. I ran an 8 ohm for a while, so I could also use an 8 ohm extension cabinet with it. I’ve had a 4 ohm, Eminence Neo in it for the last year or so. I carry this amp in the car for practice and use it at a homeless shelter gig every week. It’s been a great amp. I did add an effects loop and upgraded the tweeter.
Click to expand...
Curious how you used an extension cab, they don’t have a speaker out jack?
 
#34
Root 5 said:
Curious how you used an extension cab, they don’t have a speaker out jack?
Click to expand...
And for good reason, they can't safely support the internal 4 ohm load plus any external load.

Beware of hacks and claimed hacks, they usually don't work well or last. They may also become unsafe.
 
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#35
Root 5 said:
Curious how you used an extension cab, they don’t have a speaker out jack?
Click to expand...
I added the speaker jack. I had it when I had an 8 ohm speaker in the amp. With 8 ohms, the amp put out 40 watts. Adding an 8 ohm extension changed the load to 4 ohms and upped the power to 80 watts. When I decided the amp was more useful for me without using an extension speaker, I removed the ext jack, plugged the hole with a tweeter switch, and went back to a 4 ohm speaker.

The only difference between the Bloc40 and the Bloc80 was the 80 had a higher voltage power transformer. The circuit boards and components are identical, except the 80 added effects loop jacks, which are easily added to the 40.
 
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