New Eminence Speaker... (UPDATED July 29th w/ product links)

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 10 Dec 2014 11:25 pm

The D130 has already been successfully replicated by the Eminence Commonwealth 15.

kevin ryan · Post by **kevin ryan** » 11 Dec 2014 7:50 am

I have been using the 1201-8's for a couple of years now... 100's of gigs.. I use 2 of them loaded in a single cabinet, run stereo with the Gerry Walker amp.. It is the most consistent sound I have had... Used 1501's for years before that along with d130's... NO sizzlely top end that I get with the JBL's... Just a perfect choice for me. I would be interested in the new Eminence speakers...

Jerry Hedge · Post by **Jerry Hedge** » 13 Dec 2014 10:44 pm

Paul Honeycutt wrote:Now if someone would only build an accurate reproduction JBL D-120/130 the universe would be in harmony.

YES!!!

Dustin Rhodes · Post by **Dustin Rhodes** » 14 Dec 2014 7:41 am

Kevin Hatton wrote:The D130 has already been successfully replicated by the Eminence Commonwealth 15.

At best its an E130 clone. Most would say it just looks like a jbl with its aluminum dust cap.

Travis Toy · Post by **Travis Toy** » 2 Feb 2015 9:03 pm

Hey guys/gals. Just to update on progress...I played a sample speaker today that sounded AMAZING. Tweaking one or two more things and I think this speaker is gonna be ready for the masses.

Billy Knowles · Post by **Billy Knowles** » 3 Feb 2015 6:26 am

Travis,
Please keep us informed on the progress.
Thanks

Wally Moyers · Post by **Wally Moyers** » 5 Feb 2015 7:12 pm

Travis Toy wrote:Hey guys/gals. Just to update on progress...I played a sample speaker today that sounded AMAZING. Tweaking one or two more things and I think this speaker is gonna be ready for the masses.

Looking forward to hearing it Travis, I have the standard one now and I agree, it is too bright for me too. I hear distortion in the high end on my Nashville 112 that was not audible before.. BTW, I get my Little Walter 80 tomorrow! Can't wait!

Vic Lawson · Post by **Vic Lawson** » 11 Feb 2015 11:48 am

For those of you who like and use the BW 1501. Eminence is in the process of "cloning" the BW 1501 (which BTW is out of production) with a light weight version. So please check with us in the next couple of months for availability on those as well.
Vic Lawson
Steel Guitars of Nashville, Inc.
615-822-5555

Travis Toy · Post by **Travis Toy** » 20 Feb 2015 9:19 pm

I am on to something special here. This speaker is sounding really spectacular. Eminence is sending me a few more variations to try out while I'm in Vegas with Flatts for the next three weeks. I'll be putting them through their paces, and hopefully finding THE special recipe that I'm on the hunt for.

Just to update a little bit...this process originally started as trying to create a lightweight (neo) version of the 1201-8. Through the process of working with the engineers at Eminence, it has since turned into considerably more than just that. That really was just a starting point for what is going to wind up being my own signature series speaker with Eminence. I am very excited to get this thing done and have it become available for everyone to hear. I believe it will be the best sounding modern steel speaker available on the market. More updates to come in the following weeks...

Wally Moyers · Post by **Wally Moyers** » 21 Feb 2015 6:20 am

Looking forward to hearing it! Thanks for you effort!

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 23 Mar 2015 12:16 pm

Any updates on this?

Travis Toy · Post by **Travis Toy** » 23 Mar 2015 12:30 pm

Hey Chris. I am SO close I can taste it. The sample I have right now is the best sounding NEO speaker I've ever heard (some others who have heard it agree) without a doubt. There is one final frequency dip I'm trying to get out of the high mids and I think it'll be ready for mass consumption. I will update.

Chris Bauer · Post by **Chris Bauer** » 23 Mar 2015 12:36 pm

Thanks! Looking forward to checking it out.

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 25 Mar 2015 11:02 am

Travis, is your speaker going to have that famous Eminence "Honk" that I so hate? No matter which Eminence built speaker I try, I hear that high mid "Honk", man I hate it. I stayed with BW's and another company because of that very reason... honk is gone. You design a nice little 12" built by Eminence, without the honk, I'll buy it. Check out my past For Sale threads. Total I've sold 4 Eminence designed steel speakers, including the Telonics. Let's hear your 12".

Travis Toy · Post by **Travis Toy** » 3 Apr 2015 10:01 pm

George Redmon wrote:Travis, is your speaker going to have that famous Eminence "Honk" that I so hate? No matter which Eminence built speaker I try, I hear that high mid "Honk", man I hate it. I stayed with BW's and another company because of that very reason... honk is gone. You design a nice little 12" built by Eminence, without the honk, I'll buy it. Check out my past For Sale threads. Total I've sold 4 Eminence designed steel speakers, including the Telonics. Let's hear your 12".

George...no it will not. The EPS series sounds nothing like the speaker I'm designing. Thank goodness for that.

Travis Toy · Post by **Travis Toy** » 11 Apr 2015 8:27 pm

Got the last frequency dip ironed it. It's SO good. In the coming week or two I'll be getting it into the hands of some very trusted peers for further feedback/opinions. Be patient...it's gonna be worth it.

Jay Ganz · Post by **Jay Ganz** » 11 Apr 2015 8:49 pm

So, when they're ready...who's gonna be selling 'em?

Travis Toy · Post by **Travis Toy** » 11 Apr 2015 9:07 pm

I assume they'll be available to any Eminence dealer, like any other speaker they sell.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 11 Apr 2015 9:15 pm

Ill have them at special Forum member price when they become available for dealers. Contact me then.

Travis Toy · Post by **Travis Toy** » 11 Apr 2015 9:17 pm

There you go. Kevin's your man.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 11 Apr 2015 10:39 pm

How much power can they handle ?

Also how efficient are they ?

My questions come from these different needs:

I lower power single 12" amp like a Fender Deluxe is louder with an old JBL D120 in it then with a current production neo. An efficient speaker will make a bunch of tube amps more usable for steel players in battle conditions.

Also if it can handle the output of current amps using those massively loud class D power sections it would be a big help. Those things are so powerful there is little need for efficiency though.

Travis Toy · Post by **Travis Toy** » 12 Apr 2015 12:39 pm

Bob Hoffnar wrote:How much power can they handle ?

Also how efficient are they ?

My questions come from these different needs:

I lower power single 12" amp like a Fender Deluxe is louder with an old JBL D120 in it then with a current production neo. An efficient speaker will make a bunch of tube amps more usable for steel players in battle conditions.

Also if it can handle the output of current amps using those massively loud class D power sections it would be a big help. Those things are so powerful there is little need for efficiency though.

Hey Bob. I am told by the guys at Eminence that it's a very efficient speaker design. I believe it's rated for at LEAST 200 watts, possibly more. I honestly don't know the specific spec details at this point. That's something that I'm sure can be shared once we are final on the design. I'll update when I can answer those questions with more authority.

Travis Toy · Post by **Travis Toy** » 13 Apr 2015 5:33 pm

Well, I have found it. The one. I am beyond thrilled about this speaker. I used it on a recording session this morning with my Little Walter 80, and it sounded killer. I left there and took it over to Steel Guitars of Nashville. Vic Lawson and Dan Galysh both got a chance to try it out, and they flipped out. If they read this post, I'm sure they can weigh in with their impressions of it. It could very well be the best sounding steel speaker I've ever heard. We played it through a Little Walter, a Milkman, a Fender Dual Showman, and a Peavey Session 500. It sounded killer with every amp. I will be finalizing details on it in the next week, and will make an official announcement about it with more details, availability, etc. Stay tuned. This speaker is worth your wait.

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 14 Apr 2015 9:26 am

Cant wait to hear it! The 1201 sounds great and if its better than that then it will deff be a keeper

Dan Galysh · Post by **Dan Galysh** » 14 Apr 2015 10:13 am

Travis has a winner here, folks! The new speaker was A/B-ed with a 1201. Let me say, I love 1201s and have used that speaker for years. I'm just reporting on what my ears heard. With the volume pushed, the 1201 exhibited a bit of clarity loss in the lows, subtly. Travis' new speaker had very clear lows and note definition, along with silky highsâ€¦and PUNCHY through the volume spectrum. I did not detect any offensive frequencies, whatsoever. So lightweight, too. I must say that this is the first neo speaker that has flat-out impressed me. Nice work, my friend. I am looking forward to the release.