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Topic: EVM 15L vs. Altec 418B for steel |
Daniel Jones
From:
Nederland, CO USA
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Posted 4 Mar 2010 8:31 am |
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I am in the market for a 15" speaker, and I'm curious about people's experiences with EVM 15L vs. Altec 418B speakers for pedal steel. Any opinions?
Thank you |
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Dave Zirbel
From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
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Posted 4 Mar 2010 8:44 am
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Hi Daniel.
I've used the Altec 418B quite a bit and really think it's a great sounding speaker. To my ears the highs are a little sweeter and the upper mids are not as harsh when compared to JBLs. They sound real musical to me. I don't have much experience with EVs.
Dave
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Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 4 Mar 2010 11:40 am
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| I use them both and if it's going to be loud, I use the EVM15L. If it's going to be "normal" and sweet I use the 418B. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 4 Mar 2010 11:44 am
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| chas smith wrote: |
| I use them both and if it's going to be loud, I use the EVM15L. If it's going to be "normal" and sweet I use the 418B. |
I much prefer the Altec and if it's going to be that loud I just stay home. 
I find the EVM series to be on the harsh side, although I like the EV Force speakers for guitar. SROs are real nice.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 4 Mar 2010 4:14 pm
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| I agree with Chas .....I wish I had all the Altecs i blew up !!!......The EV's while not as sweet , will surely handle the power in spades ....Not a bad sounding speaker , but the Altec's are my favorites ....Jim |
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Byron Walcher
From:
Ketchum, Idaho, USA
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Posted 4 Mar 2010 5:50 pm
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I switched to the Altecs a few years ago, I had all JBL D series and have also had the EVMLs. The Altecs win in spades for me.
Byron |
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Dave Zirbel
From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
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Posted 4 Mar 2010 6:03 pm
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You can get your old Altecs reconed here by former Altec employees with parts that are made to original spec.
Looks like they are releasing a "classic" series including the 417-8H but with the GPA name.
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Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps |
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Byron Walcher
From:
Ketchum, Idaho, USA
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Posted 4 Mar 2010 8:00 pm
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Good call Dave, I have an original cone and one that I sent to Great Plains Audio for re-cone and it is absolutely the same sound and parts as the original, didn't take but a few days either,
Byron |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 4 Mar 2010 8:41 pm
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| Quote: |
| and if it's going to be that loud I just stay home. |
Oh man, what do they say, "if it's too loud, you're too old..." I'll bet you don't play in metal and noise bands. And someone is going to say, if I want to hear noise, I'll go listen to the freeway, which now that I think of it, probably sounded better than we did, the last time we played. |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2010 3:38 am
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Dave ,
The last time I used Altecs ( back in the day ), they were very easy to come by , and I gave away all the speakers that needed reconing ..... I now know that I should have saved them ..... How do Altec's sound reconed ? .....I know I really don't care for the older JBL's reconed ....Not the same sounding speaker at all ....
Jim |
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Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 5 Mar 2010 8:15 am
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I will throw in a plug for the EVM15L. These speakers do not add color, but deliever the true sound of your Steel or guitar. They take a little more adjustment on the controls. Chas has a good point about loud, as these 15L will handle a lot of power also. I have a couple of these stashed away. I used one in my old Fender Vibrosonic reverb, and have one in the new one (1975) that I bought a while back. They are great speakers. I have the Altec 418B in my Mesa Boogie 1-15 and it sounds good also, though. Not quite as sweet as a D-130F JBL to my ears. All are good choices in my opinion. The JBL K130 is also good.
regards,
Lefty |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2010 8:25 am
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| It's funny how the speakers that handle less power seem to have the best tone ...Maybe it's the thinner paper ? ....Maybe because the power from the amp overdrives the coil and cone a little bit ? ....Celestion 15 watt Blues ...Great sounding speaker ....20 watt Greenbacks ....Great sounding speaker ..... I'm not saying that the higher powered speakers sound bad....I'm saying that the lower powered speakers sound better, but can't handle the power ....Jim |
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chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2010 12:02 pm
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| Quote: |
It's funny how the speakers that handle less power seem to have the best tone |
That's because low power amps sound better than high power amps. I know that's blasphemy, but it's true, for the most part. Really high power amps sound "Big", but that's an issue of volume.
I have 2 Sho-Bud Christmas tree amps. One of them sounds better with a D-130, the other sounds better with a 418B and I can't tell you why. Black Widow 1501s sounded good in my Evans, but I kept blowing them. (No one has ever told me to, turn up the steel) I switched to EVM's and I have an EVM in a MusicMan "Rubbermaid" cabinet (if you ever find one,buy it. If you don't want it I'll buy it sight unseen) and I have an EVM in a Standel Imperial XV cabinet. If you have something that sounds better than the Standel cabinet, I really want to know about it. |
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James Quackenbush
From:
Pomona, New York, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2010 12:34 pm
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Chas,
That's interesting that you kept blowing 1501's .....I've done OK with them but they only sound good on certain amps .... The EV's are my "go to " speakers because they don't sound bad, and they handle the power .... I'm not familiar with the M.M. "Rubbermaid " cabinet ...I'll have to look into that one ... I'm going to build a cabinet that has a sealed 15 inch bottom, and a semi open 12" top ...My thoughts are that I will get a good punch from the bottom end, and get a nice open tone from the top speaker ....I might even do a crossover network as not to work the 12 but only for the mids and high end .... then bi amp the setup ....I've never owned anything Standel ....I would sure to though for some low powered gigs and for recording .... After I sell off a bunch of gear , I may just look for one .....Thanks for the info on the lower powered amps ....Not sure why they would sound better , but when I think about the amps I've owned , the lower powered ones sounded the sweetest ....Jim |
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