| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Jbl K-130 ?
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Jbl K-130 ?
Richard Tipple


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 18 Nov 2015 8:47 pm    
Reply with quote

Just wondering if this speaker 15" would be a good speaker for steel? priced at $150,00,, im thinking of buying it. I don't have any experience with JBLs
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Paul Sutherland

 

From:
Placerville, California
Post  Posted 18 Nov 2015 9:22 pm    
Reply with quote

It would be a wonderful speaker if it's in good condition. Gently push the cone in with your hands and see if it slides smoothly with no rubbing or scraping sounds. If it passes that test, put an ohm meter on the terminals to make sure it isn't dead. For the 8 ohm speaker you should get a reading of about 5.8 to 6.2. It won't read 8 ohms for an 8 ohms speaker. I don't know why; that's just how it is. Then look on the back side of the cone for a 5 digit number. This is different than the serial number on the magnet assembly. This number is stamped right on the paper cone. If the number is 21057, then that's an original JBL cone, or an original JBL recone, which is equally good. Original cone JBLs are more valuable because most people believe they sound better. In my very limited experience, that is true.
_________________
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.


Last edited by Paul Sutherland on 18 Nov 2015 11:12 pm; edited 1 time in total
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ray DeVoe

 

From:
Hudson, FL
Post  Posted 18 Nov 2015 11:05 pm    
Reply with quote

Hi Richard

Paul is right on as to everything he stated. I just want to throw in one extra.

An original JBL K 130 will only handle a maximum of 200 watts so keep that in mind for whatever application you are using it for.

If its been reconed, chances are that it now has different voice coil material which is heavier and the speaker will handle more power.

Even if they have been reconed, they are still a terrific sounding speaker if the work was done properly. I have 8 ohm reconed K 130's in all of my 15" amp setups.
_________________
Zum SD 10 Hybrid, Zum D 10 Hybrid, Emmons SD 10 P.P.
SMS: Revelation & Classic Preamps: Furlong 12" Splits.
Webb 15" Splits: Telonics 500 C: Quilter-T.T.12":
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Paul Sutherland

 

From:
Placerville, California
Post  Posted 19 Nov 2015 12:33 am    
Reply with quote

You also have to accept that a K130 weighs about 15 pounds, which is almost double what a neo 15 weighs.
_________________
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
chris ivey


From:
california (deceased)
Post  Posted 21 Nov 2015 3:38 pm    
Reply with quote

i have a nashville 400 with a black widow and my friend has a nashville 400 with a k130...
mine sounds good.
his sounds sweeter.
View user's profile Send private message
Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 22 Nov 2015 3:27 am    
Reply with quote

I put a 4 ohm JBL K-130 in a Twin Reverb. Made a big difference for steel.

When I got an Eminence EPS-15C and the first time I tried it, it reminded me of the K-130.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Brad Sarno


From:
St. Louis, MO USA
Post  Posted 22 Nov 2015 2:27 pm    
Reply with quote

Is there a better speaker for steel than a K130? Isn't that the benchmark?

B
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Bill Hatcher

 

From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
Post  Posted 23 Nov 2015 8:39 am    
Reply with quote

Brad Sarno wrote:
Is there a better speaker for steel than a K130? Isn't that the benchmark?

B


as much as i love the old jbl stuff, i think that the altec 418b is probably the best all around 15" speaker ever made for both super clean guitar and electric bass at low-moderate vol levels. problem is that they are getting so old now that its really hard to find an original one that has no issues.

reconed with other kits...they sound awful...as does a jbl with a non original cone kit.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Tim Bridges

 

From:
Hoover, Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 24 Nov 2015 7:49 am    
Reply with quote

I have one in a Twin. I think it's an all around great setup. Tom Fox biased mine so that channel 1 is for steel & channel 2 is for Tele. He also made both channels active reverb and you can't beat the spring reverb that comes in those older Fender Twin's! I can add that I have had a lot of amps and sold lots of amps. But the Twin is a keeper, regardless it weighs more than I do.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Dave Zirbel


From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
Post  Posted 24 Nov 2015 10:05 am    
Reply with quote

Quote:
i think that the altec 418b is probably the best all around 15" speaker ever made for both super clean guitar and electric bass at low-moderate vol levels. problem is that they are getting so old now that its really hard to find an original one that has no issues.

reconed with other kits...they sound awful...as does a jbl with a non original cone kit.



Bill, is that true for the 418b recones from Great Plains Audio? It's owned and operated by ex-Altec employees and and claim that their recones are true to the old specs......I've heard a few and thought they sounded fine. I'm also an Altec fan! Very Happy
_________________
Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Jamie Mitchell

 

From:
Nashville, TN
Post  Posted 24 Nov 2015 1:33 pm    
Reply with quote

Bill Hatcher wrote:

reconed with other kits...they sound awful...as does a jbl with a non original cone kit.



i've heard/played a hemp re-cone D130 that sounded nice! under a Dumble...

in any case, i've been wanting to get a 15" extension cab for my Vibrolux for awhile now, was thinking of a D130, but i'll have to keep my eyes open for an Altec, i like clean!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 24 Nov 2015 3:28 pm    
Reply with quote

Bill Hatcher wrote:
Brad Sarno wrote:
Is there a better speaker for steel than a K130? Isn't that the benchmark?

B


as much as i love the old jbl stuff, i think that the altec 418b is probably the best all around 15" speaker ever made for both super clean guitar and electric bass at low-moderate vol levels. problem is that they are getting so old now that its really hard to find an original one that has no issues.

reconed with other kits...they sound awful...as does a jbl with a non original cone kit.


I had one in perfect condition in a cabinet and I had a hard time selling it here. I think I sold it in the can formless than 200. A little too much bottom end for me, I'll stick with the 12" Altec 417-8H.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Bill Hatcher

 

From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
Post  Posted 24 Nov 2015 5:31 pm    
Reply with quote

i have a pair of the 417 12" altecs that i bought a long time ago. need to find the right cabinets to put them in. in a 15" the 418 is beautiful sounding and the 417 in the 12" is just as nice.

in regards to the reconing...has to be done with parts that are either NOS or exact replicas. for a time, EV owned the altec name i believe. you could get your speaker guy to use the original altec paper and then use a more powerful voice coil they were making at the time. dont even know if they still own the altec name.

hopefully someone is reconing them correctly now. i just dont know for sure.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Dave Zirbel


From:
Sebastopol, CA USA
Post  Posted 24 Nov 2015 11:06 pm    
Reply with quote

Bill, this is the place for Altec recones:
http://www.greatplainsaudio.com
_________________
Dave Zirbel-
Sierra S-10 (Built by Ross Shafer),ZB, Fender 400 guitars, various tube and SS amps
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 25 Nov 2015 5:37 pm    
Reply with quote

Brad Sarno wrote:
Is there a better speaker for steel than a K130? Isn't that the benchmark?


Not to me! I'll take the old Electro-Voice SRO series for pedal steel, anyday. Cool
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron