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Topic: help identifying a vintage speaker? |
Dave Stagner
From:
Minnesota, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2007 8:50 pm |
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I have an old speaker lying around and wanted to see if anyone knew what it was... it's a 15" alnico. Frame is stamped, not cast, painted in a greenish-brown color. There is a bell over the magnet, with no label (probably removed). On the magnet itself is stamped SK67 and 328010 in blue ink. On the back of the cone is stamped 106752-1.
Any ideas what it is? And is it worth re-coning? The cone is shot.
_________________
I don’t believe in pixie dust, but I believe in magic.
1967 ZB D-10
1990 OMI Dobro
Recording King lap steel with Certano benders |
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Blake Hawkins
From:
Florida
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Posted 29 Dec 2007 9:30 pm
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| 328 is the code for Utah. So it was probably made by them. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2007 10:53 am
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Most Utahs are NOT worth reconing if the intent is to make it like the original, unless you can have it essentially made into something else. Talk to Ted Weber at WeberVST (www.tedweber.com) - he specializes in instrument amplifier speakers and will give you the right kind of advice.
_________________
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 |
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Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 30 Dec 2007 11:11 am
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Why did Fender ever use those UTAH speakers anyway?
Probably for a cost reduction when the company changed hands is 67-68?
The best thing I ever did was to replace those in my 68-71 Fenders. I have a pair in my 68 Bandmaster that I had reconed twice in the late 60's. They would not take the abuse of a Fuzz and Wah-Wah during that period.
Lefty |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 30 Dec 2007 2:09 pm
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The Utah speakers (specifically, the "Cadence" - their replacement, high-grade musical speakers) were easily the equal of the Jensens or the Oxfords.
A fuzz-tone (improperly used) will kill just about any speaker. (I've killed about a dozen with a Boss-Tone.)
Fender had three priorities for speakers...they had to be available in large numbers, they had to sound good, and they had to get them at a big discount. |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2007 2:59 pm
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| Utahs were fine.. They sounded great in those old Fenders.. The will blow up as easily as an Oxford or Jensen if pushed however.. They weren't designed to handle what most of us "rock stars" put them through!!!... bob |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 30 Dec 2007 9:37 pm
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IMO changing a Utah to a CTS in an early-70's Deluxe Reverb is like taking a blanket off the front of the guitar. And my Leslie 16 literally doubled in volume when I swapped out the stock Utah for a Weber California 10.
Gee, Bob - if you like Utahs I have a working, Fender-labeled Utah 12" sitting here in a box...it was the original in my '72 Super Reverb, and I was only keeping it in case I ever sold the amp to maintain its vintage "vibe"...but make an offer and I might part with it....
_________________
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 |
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Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 31 Dec 2007 7:28 am
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I have "Vintage" Utah's for sale also.
The 68 Twin Reverb I bought this year had a pair like the 68 Bandmaster I bought in 68.
They don't do it for me.
Lefty |
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Jay Ganz
From:
Out Behind The Barn
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Posted 31 Dec 2007 7:34 am
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The Fender blue label speakers made by Oxford were among my least favorites.
Luckily all the old 60's Fenders I've got ahold of have the Fender brown and gold label Jensens. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 1 Jan 2008 9:25 am
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Utah (like Jensen) made cheap as well as good speakers. Efficient speakers have big (at least 32-64 oz.) magnets. Generally, an alnico magnet that's no bigger than a hockey-puck indicates a cheap, inefficient speaker.
Also, you have to be very careful when reading things like Harmony Central reviews and straight guitar discussion boards when seeking information. I usually advise avoiding speakers and amps that straight guitar players rave about, as they're looking for altogether different characteristics in sound than most pedal steelers. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 2 Jan 2008 9:57 pm
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| Quote: |
| I usually advise avoiding speakers and amps that straight guitar players rave about, as they're looking for altogether different characteristics in sound than most pedal steelers. |
Very true. The speakers I recommend on this forum are usually speakers I would NEVER use, even for steel - because I understand most steel players are looking fro good clean tones. I WILL recommend warmer-sounding, tighter speakers than a lot of players have used in the past though...plus I've found with high-wattage equipment modern bass drivers, especially in 2x10 arrangements, make tremendous steel speakers - clean, warm, and harmonically rich...with far more highs than one would expect.
_________________
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 |
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