Vibrosonic Reverb speaker replacement?

Joseph Barlow · Post by **Joseph Barlow** » 15 Apr 2020 5:28 am

I have a 1974 Vibrosonic Reverb that my amp tech says needs a new speaker. I also need it to be lighter if I am to ever use it other than in my practice studio. I am interested in TT 15 or the Telonics 15 but they are both 4 ohm and I need 8 ohm. Do these speakers come in a 8 ohm version or do I need to be looking somewhere else? Thanks for any help anyone can give.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 15 Apr 2020 6:17 am

Joseph..Antique Electronic Supply (AKA:Tubes and More) has the Sica 350 watt Bass speaker in an 8-Ohm configuration. Use the 4-Ohm version in some of my amps and cabinets, sound great and extremely light weight.

Michael Butler · Post by **Michael Butler** » 15 Apr 2020 10:44 am

you'll come close to the original with an eminence.

play music!

Bill A. Moore · Post by **Bill A. Moore** » 15 Apr 2020 2:00 pm

Fender expected another 8 ohm speaker to be plugged into your amps AUX jack. That would effectively be a 4 ohm load, no different than using a 4 ohm speaker for the main.
(I wouldn't use the AUX if you do install a 4 ohm main speaker though!)

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 15 Apr 2020 2:00 pm

Joseph Barlow wrote:I have a 1974 Vibrosonic Reverb that my amp tech says needs a new speaker. I also need it to be lighter if I am to ever use it other than in my practice studio. I am interested in TT 15 or the Telonics 15 but they are both 4 ohm and I need 8 ohm. Do these speakers come in a 8 ohm version or do I need to be looking somewhere else? Thanks for any help anyone can give.

Both available 8 ohm - email the manufacturers to order.

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 15 Apr 2020 2:09 pm

I'm a JBL guy, so take that into consideration. I had an 8 ohm 15" D-130 that was great. I sold it because I needed a 4 ohm. They are about 10 LB. heavier than the neo speakers. I am waiting for somebody to try a D-130 in a Twin Tone Master and post their impression before I take the plunge on one.

James Holland · Post by **James Holland** » 15 Apr 2020 7:51 pm

I think my '70 Twin weighs 55-60 lb without any speakers. I've got a 15" Eminence that weighs close to 5 lb, 50W rating. Not my favorite speaker, but its functional. I'm a sucker for Twins/Vibrosonics with a JBL(s), and just tolerate the weight.

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 16 Apr 2020 7:00 am

Johnny, are you saying you have a 15" JBL in a Vibrosonic? I think that is what Dicky Overbey used. How does it sound compared to the stock 12" speakers?

Ken Pippus · Post by **Ken Pippus** » 16 Apr 2020 9:38 am

An orange frame JBL 15â€ was stock in the Silverface Vibrosonic and a grey one in the brownface Vibrasonic, with a few exceptions in the later ones (EV?)

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 16 Apr 2020 10:14 am

Didn't Vibrasonics always have 15" speakers.
I know that's what mine has and it's a JBL.

Erv

Ken Pippus · Post by **Ken Pippus** » 16 Apr 2020 11:58 am

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 17 Apr 2020 12:59 pm

If itâ€™s a JBL Iâ€™d have it reconed. Although you canâ€™t get the original cones, the speaker would warrant it, unless youâ€™re also looking for something lighter.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 18 Apr 2020 6:45 am

JBL 15" alnico, i.e. D130f or K130, by far the most volume per watt and the clearest sound available. Deal with the weight.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 18 Apr 2020 7:42 am

No pain, no gain!

Erv

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 18 Apr 2020 8:26 am

The JBL's are not heavy like a PF-350. I replaced the lightweight neo speaker in my Evans SE-200 and it only added about 10 LB. but the improvement in sound made it more than worthwhile. I only have one standing gig a month, so it's not like I'm having to sluff it around a lot. The Vibrosonics were basically a Twin with one 15" speaker. I will be getting a Tone Master in a couple of weeks. I am going to disconnect the stock speakers and jump it to a D-130 in my Walker cabinet. If I like it better, then I will make a new baffle and install it into the Tone Master, assuming the Tone Master is a keeper.

Steve Schmidt · Post by **Steve Schmidt** » 18 Apr 2020 8:47 am

If you're still gigging with your twin, I'd for certain go with a neo speaker. I still gig with my twin and I have a Telonics 15 in it and it sounds outstanding. I can't comment on the TT15 as I don't have one but I'm sure it's great too.

Justin Griffith · Post by **Justin Griffith** » 19 Apr 2020 4:40 am

George Kimery wrote:Johnny, are you saying you have a 15" JBL in a Vibrosonic? I think that is what Dicky Overbey used. How does it sound compared to the stock 12" speakers?

Ive got Dickys old Vibrosonic it certainly has an orange JBL. I wouldnâ€™t consider anything else for these amps. Iâ€™ve tried all the neo speakers I can find and I donâ€™t care for them.

An EV might be ok. I havenâ€™t tried one in there.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 19 Apr 2020 6:18 am

The 4-ohm transformer used in the old Twin Reverbs is Fender part number 022889. The 8-ohm transformer used in the single-speaker Showman (and likely in the Vibrosonic), is part number 022897. They may be swapped out to accommodate whichever speaker you choose to use. I did this in my old TR when I went to a single fifteen.

Bill A. Moore · Post by **Bill A. Moore** » 19 Apr 2020 9:04 am

Another option is to use the OT from the ProTube series, 002 6478 000. 4-8-16 ohm capabilities, with a line out winding!
I used one with my AB763 Twin clone, (I had intended for a head, but now installed in a combo cab, with an SRO 15.)
Very easy to match impedance when adding an extension, (Like my K130).

Joseph Barlow · Post by **Joseph Barlow** » 21 Apr 2020 9:15 am

Thanks everyone for all the good info and suggestions. The speaker that is there is a Fender PS 15 made by Cerwin Vega so I not sure if that is what came in it originally. I think Iâ€™m am going to try to find a JBL K130 or D130 as Dave suggested in earlier post. Do yâ€™all have any opinions on one of these over the other and where I should look to locate one? Thanks again!!!

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 21 Apr 2020 3:31 pm

I fully cranked Vibrosonic can take out a vintage D130f with the original gooped paper surround, save that for somebody's BF Vibroverb. The K130 is essentially a D130f magnet and basket with a fabric surround, i.e. K or E series cone, and most D130f speakers have been reconed to that spec by now. Same magnet, gap, etc., so either unit will do.

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 24 Apr 2020 7:17 am

I found an 8ohm K110 in a local Vintage shop, and installed it in a very large, deep, 1x10 Cab that came out of an old Hammond organ console.
I am currently running it from the Speaker jack of a Silver Face Fender Vibrosonic Reverb that only has two power tubes at the moment (Ken Fox told me you can run it with either the outer two or the inner two).
I would say it sounds very good for Steel here at the house, but it sounds phenomenal for electric guitar!
I took the original Orange-back JBL out of the Vibrosonic and have it in a 1x15 Cab (the amp seems lighter but it is still pretty hefty, it has casters). It sounds good too but I am really enjoying the K110 by itself!

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