Speaker Preference 12", 15" or what?

Frank Parish · From: Nashville,Tn. USA

I've always used 15" speakers and although I like the JBL's for tone I use the Peavey BW speakers for tone that I think is a little sharper and not as mellow as the JBL but very exceptable and the endurance. I haven't found a JBL that'll will hold up like the BW's. How many of you use 12" speakers and what kind do you use? How about those of you that use different combinations. What's your speaker set-up and why is it your preferance?

David Spires · From: Millersport, OH

After years of using 15" BW in Nashville 400 and Session 400 Limited amps, I went to the Nashville 115E cabinets for my rack system. Finally, about 2 or 3 years ago, I tried the Nashville 112E cabinets (12" BW 4ohms each), and I really like them. Besides being smaller and lighter, I find that they sound punchier to me - in the mid range, and that the high end is more defined. The cabinets that these are in are ported, to try to improve the bass response. It works pretty good; however, the bass is not quite as defined compared to my old 15" cabinets.

I find that it is a good trade off, and has actually helped me to fit in the mix better (live). My wife says that I am just as loud as I ever was... :-)

Have fun,

David Spires

Patrick Ickes · From: Upper Lake, CA USA

Hi Frank,
I like to use a Peavey Classic 115 cabinet with a Classic 410 cabinet on top of that. They are an old Jensen style speakers. Plenty of bottom end and very punchy.
The 410's cabinet alone works well also.
Pat

Mike Delaney · From: Fort Madison, IA

I normally use a Peavey Studio Pro, which has one twelve. I don't carry that heavy stuff unless its absolutely necessary.

RON PRESTON · From: Dodson, Louisiana, USA

18" (Heavy Dudy) Like the old "Sho-Bud" Amps way back when. Did I spell DUDY right? Don't look right. Bobby Seymore Taught me...So, What can I say.....Wher IS HE ANYWAY? Is he still on this earth? I really miss his humor. 18" is the sound I like. Super Highs...Super Lows. Bottom end is killer. JMHI

Dan Tyack · From: Olympia, WA USA

I like to mix speakers, IMHO the whole is greater than the sum of the parts when you do this. My favorite cab now is a THD 2X12" cab with a Celestion Century and a JBL E120. Close behind is a THD cab with 2X10" THD speakers and a JBL E120. Back when I used a stereo setup I would often use a cabinet with a JBL E130 15" and another cab with either 1X12" or 2X12" Celestions.

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www.tyack.com

RON PRESTON · From: Dodson, Louisiana, USA

Dan, I belive that what you are using BLOWS my 18" right out the Door.

I would LOVE to hear your set-up.

Michael Holland · From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA

I really like the EVM15L.

Robert Thomas · From: Mehama, Oregon, USA

I use two speakers cabinets I built 30 years ago. Each cabinet has two 12" 16 0hm Speakers by Jensen and one 8 ohm horn driver. I have always enjoyed the very best sound I have been able to find. I have not found anything that equals it. I have tried many others to see how they compare, but that is just my opinion, I know we each have our own set-up we swear by.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Sometimes, you can make generalized statements about speaker sound vs. size. But in my opinion, the efficiency and response of a speaker is equally, or more important. Some cheaper 15" speakers sound like 12" speakers, whereas some expensive (read-efficient) 12" speakers sound more like 15" ones.

Added to this is the type of cabinet they're in. A closed-back cabinet adds tremendously to the perceived lows a speaker is capable of producing, while an open-back cabinet adds brilliance and presence...at the cost of efficiency (especially low frequency efficiency).

Speaker choice should be made with as many variables as possible taken into consideration. Among them are...size/weight issues, available amplifier power, desired frequency response, desired power handling/projection factors, availability, and lastly, overall cost. Often, it's a tradeoff situation, with the player seeking a balance between practicality and performance.

Also, there's the option of getting the same output from a small amp with an efficient speaker, or a powerful amp with a less efficient (cheaper) speaker.

All this to say that's why there is no general concensus as to what's the "best" speaker. The real answer to your question is "It depends...".

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 15 January 2003 at 07:00 PM.]

James Quackenbush · From: Pomona, New York, USA

I'm building a cab with a closed back 15" speaker, and another for an open back 2 - 12" speakers...The 15 will handle the lows, and the 2-12's will handle the mid's and highs...I'll have 2 sets of these for stereo and there will be a seperate stereo amp for each set of speakers and it will be bi-amped
I think I will be heard !!...
I have to agree with Donny...It all depends

Aaron Balano · From: San Anselmo, Ca

What would the difference be between a 15" speaker and a two 12" speaker set up? I've read many posts in the past about guys puting a 15" into a Twin and loving the results. How does it effect the tone in terms of distortion/break up (if at all)? I play a Stringmaster through a silver face Pro Reverb (2x12) and I am pretty happy with the sound, but have been toying with the idea of sticking a 15" speaker in the cabinet. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Frank Parish · From: Nashville,Tn. USA

Aaron,
I wouldn't change a thing on that amp. You don't have the lower gauge strings you'll find on a pedal steel C6 so the two 12" should be enough. Of course that's just my opinion. The day I got my Stringmaster I set it up and was recording with it in the studio the same day. All I had to use were 15" speakers and it came through just fine and may have sounded better than anything I used that day. I'm currently considering going to speaker cabinets and getting away from the traditional amps and am thinking like Dan about mixing it up a little with 12" and 15" speakers. Maybe two of each as I play stereo for live gigs where the stage permits me to set it all up.

Bobby Boggs · From: Upstate SC.

A 15 JBL or Peavey BW 1501 in a Twin sounds much sweeter to my ears than the JBL 12's.I use 2 BW 1501's on gigs and have a set at the house.I've tried to get away from them but can't.I read Newman's article on how Peavey 112's go boom and they will.
A good friend of mine had a set he wanted to sell.He told me, you want like em.I said, I can EQ them to sound like the 15's.Well I got kinda close.But then I'd plug back in the the 15's and it was over.I did like carrying the 112's.

I think if your into the mid-range thang they should work just fine.Just my worthless opinion.

----------bb

jim milewski · From: stowe, vermont

I just finished installing a BW 1501 in my 65 Reissue Twin, along with the Svetlana 6L6's and setting the bias, the amp is so much better now, from the lows to the mids and the highs are just as good, much more presence, all my amps now have Black Widow 15" speakers, and sound great

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