Speaker Question??

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

I have a Super Twin that I put into a seperate head and speaker boxs.
Looks nice thanks to JD Newell at Newell Amps, Good prices.
The super twin has heavier upgrade speakers 2-12s.
I have wondered if you change 2-12 Jensen's or such to a JBL 15 inch how much is the 15 inch and how much is the JBL?? Has anyone compaired 2-12 JBLs to a 15 JBL.

Thanks
Ken Metcalf D-10 Carson Wells/ Super Twin

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I had an AB768 chassis Twin Reverb that came with two JBL D-120F speakers. I replaced them with one 15" K130 JBL (4 ohms) and it made a big difference, to me.

BTW, this should have been posted in the Electronics section. I'm sure b0b will move this. He had to move at least 3 amp/speaker posts yesterday.

[This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 13 May 2006 at 03:06 PM.]

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

I'm a little unclear about the question but if you asking about how much of the difference you will get in a change from two Jensen 12's to one JBL 15 will be from the 12>15 change and how much of the difference will be from the Jensen>JBL change, that's an interesting question. There is a definite sonic characteristic to a 15 vs. a pair of 12's. There is a definite sonic difference between Jensens and JBLs. I think---think---that you will get a more significant difference out of the size thing than out of the speaker name.
However---a JBL D130F will not handle a Super Twin. A K130? I don't know. What do you have there? 180 watts? I'd go for a Black Widow to be safe (plus it's a great sounding speaker.)

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

That's a lot of amp! I'd consider two fifteens, or two twelves, but not "one" of anything. The differences between types of speakers used with this amp is kind of a moot point, anyway. The amp has so much tonal variation that changing speaker types (e.g., Jensen to JBL) really won't get you anything extra. Unless you're getting the new speakers for free, you're literally throwing your money away.

Also, I feel comparing the Twin Reverb amp to a Super-Twin Reverb, is like comparing a Ford Pinto to a Shelby GT-500. The best 135-watt ultra-linear Twin Reverb out there is just a tinny little box compared to the Super-Twin! It's not the power that does it, but the active graphic equalizer. "Ordinary" Twin Reverbs aren't even in the same league with the Super-Twin series.

[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 14 May 2006 at 12:32 PM.]

Paul Norman · From: Washington, North Carolina, USA

A Peavey Nashville 1000 amp has 300 watts into 1----15 inch speaker.

David Doggett · Posted 14 May 2006 7:40 pm

My 135 watt Twin was about as loud as my NV400 (200 watts). I judge my Super Twin Reverb with the boost kicked in (180 watts) as about as loud as a NV1000 (300 watts). That's just the difference between tube watts and solid state watts. The Black Widow 15 is a heavy duty speaker that is designed to handle 300 watts.

I sometimes play my Super Twin through a single heavy duty Eminence 15 (250 watts I think), but I think it sounds best through two JBL D130s. Two D130s are only good for about 120 watts, but the way I use a volume pedal, I attack the notes with the pedal half open or less, and so use the full power of the amp only for sustain. So I never use the full 180 watts of the amp for an initial attack (I wouldn't want to be in the same room with that). Also, Both the JBLs and the Eminence are in closed-back cabinets, which helps protect the speakers. I think K130s handle a little more power than D130s. But I would not use either one as a single speaker with a Super Twin. A BW could handle it, and probably would sound great.

Donny may be theoretically correct, and the Super Twin has amazing EQ capabilities with its 5-band active EQ. But the tonal difference between any 15 and any 12 is much greater than the tonal difference between any two different 12s. Oddly enough it not in the lows that I hear the most difference. A 15 has thicker highs, and different sounding mids, that I can best describe as throaty. I'm not sure I could ever make any 12s sound like that, even with the Super Twin EQ.

There are plenty of 12s and several 15s that can sound great with a Super Twin. Just be sure the total power handling of the speakers is adequate for the Super Twin, and also that the total impedance is 4 ohms.

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Student of the Steel: Zum uni, Fender tube amps, squareneck and roundneck resos, tenor sax, keyboards

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

David Doggett · Posted 15 May 2006 6:53 am

Donny and I agree on that. And at high volume the STR really shines. It has those lush Fender tube lows and that sparkle in the highs. And it plays clean all the way to the top, just like a silverface Twin, only louder. If you have the reverb model, be sure to plug a foot switch into the boost jack and turn it on. Otherwise, it only has about as much volume as a 135 watt Twin. The default without a switch plugged in is for the boost to be off. It was a gimmick designed for lead guitar players. A steel has its own volume pedal, so the boost should be turned on all the time. It has no noticeable effect on tone, just volume.

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