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Author Topic:  Speaker for Deluxe Reverb
Robert Daniels


From:
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 20 Jan 2014 8:52 pm    
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I just picked up a beautiful 1968 Fender Deluxe Reverb. The only thing not original is the Speaker and filter caps. Lots of nice old tubes and recently serviced. It has some sort of newer Eminence speaker in it that I THOUGHT sounded good until I plugged in one of the old JBL D120's from my Twin Reverb. YOWSA! Sounds incredible for both Tele and steel - probably the best Tele sound I have ever had as the amp can break up a bit and the speakers stay tight. Steel is smooth and buttery like a baby Twin.Plus of course it's like twice as loud with the JBL over the Eminence.

I am looking for a good, very efficient replacement speaker for a gigging amp that I don't need to worry about blowing. I have the Twin with D120's for louder shows.

I can be pretty picky. D120's I know are hard to recone as the old parts are not available. I tend to vastly prefer vintage over new, but I am open to something that sounds close. I know Pete Anderson ran EV SRO's in his Deluxes and I love that sound for Tele on the old Dwight records.

I would love some input for something loud, bright (but smooth), and punchy for both steel and 6-string.

Thanks!
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Emmons Student Model 3x4,Twin Reverb with JBL's, clams galore!
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Tom Wolverton


From:
Carpinteria, CA
Post  Posted 20 Jan 2014 9:21 pm    
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I had a D120 in my old DR. Sounded great for steel. But it was damn heavy. I put an 8-ohm Telonics 12 in it and really like it. Of course, I'm not playing a tele, just PSG. Love it.
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Robert Daniels


From:
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 20 Jan 2014 9:35 pm    
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Thanks, Tom. Do you find the Telonics similar? I love how the JBL sounds chimey without being like an icepick in the mids.
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Tom Wolverton


From:
Carpinteria, CA
Post  Posted 20 Jan 2014 11:43 pm    
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I find it to be very similar.
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Stephen Cowell


From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2014 2:47 am    
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You could probably get away with a Celestion Blue in there... really great speaker.
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Chris Boyd

 

From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2014 5:45 am    
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Why not look for another D120 ?.. or an EV SRO coffecan 12"? I put an SRO in my '66 Princeton Reverb and it is terrific...(and yes...heavy !)
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Bob Hoffnar


From:
Austin, Tx
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2014 5:52 am    
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I have an old Fane speaker in my 69 deluxe and it sounds amazing. Being as weight is not so dramatic with a deluxe I would stick with an old JBL if that is the sound you like. Since you are in Chicago you might want to talk with TC Furlong about speakers. He know what he is doing and understands steel guitar.
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Len Amaral

 

From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2014 6:41 am    
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I have a reissue Deluxe that I changed the tube rectifier to a SS version and changed the speaker to a Celestion Vintage 30. Nice upgrade with more headroom.
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Ken Metcalf


From:
San Antonio Texas USA
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2014 7:16 am    
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I have a Weber 50 watt 12f150 in mine and it sounds better with it.
https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/12f150.htm
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Atom Schmitt


From:
Nashville, TN
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2014 8:17 am    
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If you like the JBL thing, the Telonics might be nice (I just swapped in a 15" Telonics for a blown K130 in my Webb). But I haven't tried the 12" so no idea. However, I will say that I used D120s in Deluxe Reverbs for years, eventually got sick of the weight, and went to a Jensen Neo. No complaints. It's a great sounding amp.
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Michael Brebes

 

From:
Northridge CA
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2014 9:01 am    
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My Deluxe Reverb sounds great with either a Celestion Vintage 30 or an EVM12L.
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Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
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Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
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Ivan Posa

 

From:
Hamilton, New Zealand
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2014 12:20 pm    
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Weber Vintage Series Ferromax.
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Robert Daniels


From:
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2014 1:22 pm    
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Thanks for all the feedback, guys. The only thing keeping me from getting an old D120 is the expense when most have been re-coned and you dont know what you will get. I may still go that way, but was curious about the SRO and if they are easier to get re-coned with original parts. I do like that the Deluxe is light and easy to grab an go for guitar and steel. A little more weight doesn't bother me much. It's mostly about sound for me.
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Emmons Student Model 3x4,Twin Reverb with JBL's, clams galore!
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Ken Metcalf


From:
San Antonio Texas USA
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2014 2:28 pm    
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I guess if I were to do it again I would try the Telonics.
It is always a crap shoot as for personal taste but I like as much clarity as I can get.
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Bill L. Wilson


From:
Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2014 9:01 am     The Speaker.
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A good friend gave me an Orange frame D-120F JBL for my '77 Deluxe Reverb, and I can say, it made that amp sound better than ever. And if it goes south on me, I'll send it to Freeman Tuell in Dallas, and have it reconed.
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Dave Grafe


From:
Hudson River Valley NY
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2014 10:24 am    
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Vintage JBL can't be beat in that amp
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Jim Sliff


From:
Lawndale California, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2014 3:22 pm    
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For a JBL like sound at a lower price (and lower weight) try a Weber California 12 (ceramic). It was engineered to emulate the JBL sound but without the harsh highs and power handling issues (many players still think D120's are 100 watt speakers when even the designer has posted clarifications on the web that they handled 60 watts may when new and most have lost 30-50% of that capability by now.

Which is why I replace a lot of blown ones!
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional
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Jim Sliff


From:
Lawndale California, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2014 3:22 pm    
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For a JBL like sound at a lower price (and lower weight) try a Weber California 12 (ceramic). It was engineered to emulate the JBL sound but without the harsh highs and power handling issues (many players still think D120's are 100 watt speakers when even the designer has posted clarifications on the web that they handled 60 watts may when new and most have lost 30-50% of that capability by now.

Which is why I replace a lot of blown ones!
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional
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Paul Arntson


From:
Washington, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2014 4:26 pm    
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What Jim said.
I have a weber in mine and it is perfect. Clean detailed highs.

In another thread, I talked about the celestion neo that is on sale for $79 at parts express right now. Right after I bought mine, I saw three of them hanging on the wall for $50 each at a local store called Trading Musician.
The big problem is that the bolt pattern is different on the celestial, and you would have to pull the grill cloth off the baffle board in order to get at the mounting screws.
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James Morehead


From:
Prague, Oklahoma, USA - R.I.P.
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2014 5:51 pm    
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Robert Daniels wrote:
Thanks for all the feedback, guys. The only thing keeping me from getting an old D120 is the expense when most have been re-coned and you dont know what you will get. I may still go that way, but was curious about the SRO and if they are easier to get re-coned with original parts. I do like that the Deluxe is light and easy to grab an go for guitar and steel. A little more weight doesn't bother me much. It's mostly about sound for me.


If you could not find an original cone, I would look for a blown D-120 or K 120 speaker and send it to Woody. Mr. Woody Woodel is the JBL reconer in Nashville area-- he does Lloyds, Paul's, Bubby's and a slew of other's speakers and amp repair. He's been at it since 1948. And he is very reasonable, and KNOWS his stuff, and above all, knows how to KEEP that JBL sound--well aware of what the junky kits do to tone. If you like the JBL tone, why get a copy? A Deluxe Reverb and a JBL D120 is a perfect match.
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Dave Grafe


From:
Hudson River Valley NY
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2014 6:56 pm    
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The Deluxe does not have the juice to blow even the earliest JBL speakers...
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Robert Daniels


From:
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2014 7:42 pm    
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Thanks again everybody for the replies. THANK YOU big-time to James for the info on Woody. That's just the kinda guy I am looking for! I'll be getting touch with him soon and will tell him who sent me.

Thanks!
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Emmons Student Model 3x4,Twin Reverb with JBL's, clams galore!
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Tom Wolverton


From:
Carpinteria, CA
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2014 10:48 pm    
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Gerry Walker is a good source for JBLs.
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mike nolan


From:
Forest Hills, NY USA
Post  Posted 27 Jan 2014 11:58 am    
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I just put a D-131 in a SF DR. Really great for steel, and I don't usually like the JBL thing.
I have had this 131 sitting around for years... it came in a 64 DR that i found. I didn't like it in the blackface, so I replaced it.
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Charlie Thompson

 

From:
South Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 14 Oct 2014 5:29 am    
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Anyone ever try an E-120?
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