Anyone Tried a Weber 15" Cali in a Twin Reverb?

Tim Bridges · From: Hoover, Alabama, USA

I have a Twin that is 135 watts. I believe the Weber 15" Cali is rated at 100 watts at 8 ohms. I need 4 ohms @ 135 watts. Has anyone tried the Weber in a Twin Reverb? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

You can get a Cali at any impedance you want. They are actually rated for 80W. But that is a very conservative rating. I pushed one with a 100W Dual Showman Reverb for quite a while (couple of years) with absolutely no problems. Considering that 135W Vibrosonic Reverbs had JBL D130F's that are considered 50W speakers at best, well.....
The trouble with that fact is that a lot of them blew so I'm not sure how useful that info is. The 135W issue is one that I'm not sure about either. Seems to me that it's right on the edge of being risky. Personally, I'd go for it. On the other hand, I've been real tempted lately by the Weber Neo speaker. But it costs a lot more than a Cali and I'd have to think twice about the 135W thing at that $$ level.

David Doggett · Posted 31 Dec 2007 2:12 pm

It depends on how you use the Twin. If you don't dial it up to 10 on both volume knobs, you might be okay with a 4 ohm Cali. And even if you put both knobs on 10, if you don't attack notes with your volume pedal maxed out, you're probably safe. Playing steel with finger picks and conservative volume pedal use (attacking with the pedal half or more off, and using the full throw only for sustain) is a lot different than a 6-string rocker diming the amp and wind-milling with a flat pick and no volume pedal. Ideally, however, if you want to max out the amp and your volume pedal, you need a more heavy duty speaker, or put the amp in a head cab and get two Cali's in separate enclosures (my favorite option).

Mike Vallandigham · From: Martinez, CA

I have a Fender 135W Vibrosonic(8 Ohm output x-former instead of the twin's 4 ohms)
and I put a Weber Cali 15" w/ the aluminum dust cap it it. And i can tell you that it sounds like a million bucks.

As far as the power, i play ONLYmadison square bedroom, and it works fine, but I never get the channel volume over 5. The master stay on 10.

Go for it, it's a cheap speaker.

Tim Bridges · From: Hoover, Alabama, USA

I can't recall ever driving an amp at full throttle. I don't know how linear power and volume are, but if it is somewhat proportional, I should be OK.

I've used the 8 ohm 15" Cali for guitar and it is a great sounding instrument speaker. Seems it would be perfect for steel.

Anymore feedback appreciated.

Joe Shelby · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

I've been using the 15"/8 ohm Cali (alum. dust cap)
for about a year now. This is with a 135W twin (in head cab/Rick Johnson speaker cab[s]).
Before that, I was using stock JBL D120f's in the original twin cab.
For me, going to a single (occasionally double) 15"
was a step up in terms of fullness and smooth tone.
The first 15" was the Eminence Patriot Commonwealth
which according to Eminence's claims was 'sposed to
sound like a D or E130 (depending on which literature
you read), but even though it is very full sounding,
definitely didn't sound like any JBL I've ever heard.
It also breaks up (and not smoothly or quietly) at
certain (random?) frequencies. This is like with the
amp volume at 4 (master at 10).
Then tried a Jensen Neo 150/15". That sounded more even accross the board, frequency-wise, not bass, low-mid heavy as the Commonwealth. Good enough, but
I'd heard too many good things about the Cali's.
The Cali has been, by quite a bit, the best sounding
of the bunch. I don't know how close it actually sounds to a D130f (the one I have was reconed 30 years ago, and I've hardly used it since).
Sorry this is so long...
Most of the time, in or out of the house, I have the
amp volume at 4.
Also, the Cali sounded great right out of the box. I
haven't noticed much change over time.
As always, this is just my opinion, and no doubt, YMMV, as applied to psg usage.

Joe

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Call Ted Weber and tell him you need a 135W 15" for clean steel - he can mod almost everything except the signature series to different specs (I have a California with a lighter magnet, a Chicago with a lower-wattage VC...he knows his stuff.
_________________
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

Tim Bridges · From: Hoover, Alabama, USA

Jim, I did talk to Ted. He said at the present time, they do not have anything to handle the power. He did say they are working on it. I even inquired about the "Custom" series.

On a positive note, Ken Fox just finished doing some work on my Twin Reverb and doing some mods. He informed me that a grounded 1/4" jack in the normal speaker out will enable me to use the extended speaker out which will now give me an 8 ohm load at the 135 watts (Ken said it is actually closer to 100 watts). Now the K-130 at 8 ohms that I have will match up nicely.

I will continue to monitor what Ted Weber has going. I personally think the 15" AlNico Cali is one of the best sounding speakers out there.

Rick Johnson · From: Wheelwright, Ky USA

Tim
Thats nice of Ken to give away
some of his trade secrets Very Happy

Rick

www.rickjohnsoncabs.com

Cody Russell · From: Arkansas, now in Denver

Any opinions on a Cali in a Steel King?
_________________
carter pro, 66 twin revrerb, steel king, tut taylor dobro, gibson rb 250

Mike Vallandigham · From: Martinez, CA

I think a Steel King is at least 250W, and the Cali is only 80W I believe. not a good match.

Forum Index > Electronics		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: