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Topic: Altec 12" speaker |
Steve Spitz
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2014 3:26 pm |
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I have a chance to purchase a pair of Altec 417-8c speakers. Is this a good steel speaker for moderate volume? Is the 8c referring to 8 ohms ?
Thanks! |
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Chris Boyd
From:
Leonia,N.J./Charlestown,R.I.
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Bill Duncan
From:
Lenoir, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2014 4:30 am
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If you don't want the speakers I'll take them.
_________________
You can observe a lot just by looking |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2014 9:15 am
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| one of the best sounding speakers ever made!! just make sure they have not been reconed with non altec parts. if they have, they are nowhere near the same sound. |
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Steve Spitz
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2014 9:54 am Reckoned ?
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What would be the obvious signs of a recone ? Does the 8c imply 8 ohms, and therefore a mismatch in Nashville 112 ? Would the pair of 8 ohms be a nice set up for a twin ?
Thanks again. |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2014 10:52 am
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if the seller cannot vouch for the original cones then beware for sure. paper should be thin. unlike a jbl.
take a meter and read the ohms on the speaker. an 8 ohm will usually read between 5-8. speakers for some reason rarely read the exact ohmage. always a bit below. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 12 Apr 2014 11:00 am
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I agree with Bill; they are my favorite speakers ever.
I bought a pair from Dave Zirbel and the dust cover looks different from the usual Altec cover--it's flat black with no markings. But they are the real deal. I have one in a cab by itself and the other is in a 2x12 amp in my studio (one speaker is a JBL). I usually always mic the Altec.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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John De Maille
From:
On a Mountain in Upstate Halcottsville, N.Y.
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Posted 12 Apr 2014 12:44 pm
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| I had a Fender Twin from the 70's, that had Altec 12's in it. It was a great sounding amp. I wish I never sold it. Back in those days, we played on the loud side and that amp held it's own and never broke up with those speakers. |
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Steve Spitz
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2014 4:01 pm Recone
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I'm having a difficult time figuring out which is the recone. The seller says the paper cones look the same, with the exception of the glue on the dust cap on one of the speakers is more "orangey" than the other. Maybe that's the recone. Claims it was done in the 70s. I believe him, he is a really solid guy. Both speakers test out at 6.6 ohms, meaning it's an 8 ohm speaker. So..... Would you put one in a Nashville 112 which wants a 4 ohm load ?
Any " Magic " here ?
Thanks ! |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2014 7:23 pm
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It won't hurt to try it in the N112... the watts will go down, but the efficiency might make up for that. Be a shame to split them up, though.
_________________
Too much junk to list... always getting more. |
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Steve Spitz
From:
New Orleans, LA, USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2014 7:49 pm Split them up
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Stephen ,
The seller feels the same way you do. He doesn't want to split them up, and I really would need only one. I'm not sure if it violates forum policy for me to pass along the sellers contact info, but if it doesn't break the rules, I'd be happy to pass it along to one of you. The seller is a great guy. Thank you to all who responded. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 12 Apr 2014 9:16 pm
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How would you guys who use them describe the sound ? How do they compare with JBLs ?
_________________
Bob |
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Bill Bassett
From:
Papamoa New Zealand
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Posted 13 Apr 2014 11:45 pm
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| I replace the stock Scorpions in a Peavey Classic VTX with a pair of Altec 417s. They kick butt. Heavy as all git out but the sound great. I've been an Altec fan since the old Voice Of The Theater days. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 14 Apr 2014 3:43 am
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| Bill Hatcher wrote: |
take a meter and read the ohms on the speaker. an 8 ohm will usually read between 5-8. speakers for some reason rarely read the exact ohmage. always a bit below. |
One thing to remember: speaker coil wire is THIN. Don't hold your meter on it for long, it's not meant for DC and COULD overheat (even with the low voltage, you can get some current going).
Two: the reason the numbers vary from the listed impedance is that resistance doesn't equal impedance and doesn't QUITE mean the same thing.
Impedance is kinda like the AC analog to resistance, which is DC. Capacitive reactance and Inductive reactance also figure into impedance, which vary with frequency. It's kinda complicated.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 14 Apr 2014 6:21 am
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The differences between the 417-8C and 417-8H, according to the specs, the 8H is rated at 100 watts as compared to 75 for the 8C, and the voice coil of the 8H is copper compared to aluminum in the 8C. Also, the 8H has aluminum dust caps compared to the 8C, which is paper. Both speakers have AlNiCo V magnets.
Bob, I would describe these speakers as clean with a tendency to be a little bright when overdriven, which is remedied with simple tonal adjustments. In my experience with this, it results in a complex and rich sound. They are responsive and sound good at any volume. I get a very nice percussive pop out of my 8Hs that I haven't really had in any other speakers--there is also great definition. It could be the guitarist in me that really prefers this speaker.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Paul Honeycutt
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2014 3:50 pm
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I have an 417 8H in a Mesa Boogie Studio .22+ that's my grab and go guitar amp. Besides the Altec speaker, I hand select the 12AX7 in the V2 position to get the warmest and fullest tone. I use pedals for dirt and rarely use the extra gain stage for distortion.
To me it's somewhere between a JBL K-120 and an EVM 12L, two other speakers that I'm fond of. |
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