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Topic: JBL D120 clone recommendations |
Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 31 Dec 2017 3:00 pm |
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| What replacement JBL D120 cones are available? Weber had a Neo 12 inch 70watt model that was supposed to be in the JBL zone but no longer in the line. |
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 1 Jan 2018 9:07 am
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| I’m looking for a low wattage 70 Watts or so, to replace the speaker in a Silkyn amp to serve double duty on steel and guitar. I going to leave this amp at a friends house to jam with. Less to carry but I want a good vibe for both instruments. |
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Don Mogle
From:
Round Rock, TX, USA
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Posted 1 Jan 2018 10:50 am Speaker
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Lenny,
One to consider is the Eminence Cannabis Rex. The hemp cone will give you warmth for steel. It's also a great speaker for guitar too. Pete Anderson used to use this speaker before he came up with the Eminence Hemp Dog.
https://www.eminence.com/pdf/Cannabis_Rex.pdf
I can't say if this is a JBL D-120 clone or not, but it seems to be a good speaker for dual-purpose duty. The specs look good too.
Have you thought about the Celestion Vintage 30? You used these in a Fender Twin and seemed to like them is this amp.
Don |
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Tom Wolverton
From:
Carpinteria, CA
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Posted 1 Jan 2018 8:04 pm
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I pulled a D120F out of my Deluxe Reverb and put a Telonics 12” neo in it. I am very happy with the resulting tone and headroom.
_________________
To write with a broken pencil is pointless. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 2 Jan 2018 6:06 am
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Tim has a Milkman branded neo 12” available on his site that looks real good.
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Bob |
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Norman Evans
From:
Tennessee
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Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 3 Jan 2018 7:31 am
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I am with Norman concerning the Weber California ceramic. It is as close to a JBL as I have found. I have a pair of these in a 66 Bandmaster cabinet that I use with a 66 Showman head, and the sound is wonderful. I got these with a paper dust cap. I also have a 1-15 showman cabinet (6 and use a (6 dual showman head. It sounds enormous and the speaker has the correct ohm rating.
I have not herd the alnico.
Lefty |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 3 Jan 2018 6:29 pm
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| Bob Hoffnar wrote: |
| Tim has a Milkman branded neo 12†available on his site that looks real good. |
I do, but its not modeled on a JBL in any way.
I gave up chasing that ghost after trying almost every new speaker known to man, and comparing them to my beloved D120s, and never being satisfied.
That said, there is a flicker of hope. One of my suppliers is working with a paper company to re-create the cone. So maybe there will be news this year? I don't know... we are on year 5 of this project.
My advice to the D120 chasers... don't spend money on new speakers that claim to sound like a JBL. None of them behave the same, even the best of them. Try to find an original with a cone in decent shape. They can still be found!
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Milkmansound.com |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 3 Jan 2018 6:43 pm
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Len, Are looking for a clone or a cone ? The title and body of your post are different.
I'm with Tim about JBLs. About all you can do is use a speaker that sounds good. Nothing I have ever used does what the old JBLs do.
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Bob |
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 3 Jan 2018 7:10 pm
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| Bob, that was a typo in my first sentence, I meant “Clone” All the speakers suggested are good and I have played most of them. Several months ago I bought the last 12 inch Neo Weber speaker that is close to D-120 but will no longer be available. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 4 Jan 2018 5:51 am
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Len,
I would start searching on reverb , Ebay and generally all over the net for that particular model speaker. Somebody out there probably has a few.
If you are into experimenting with available neo speakers I would first check out the new milkman 12” and then try out what Celestion is offering.
I find it super frustrating when I try to find gear that sounds like something I’m into. Never quite works.
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Bob |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 4 Jan 2018 7:28 am
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Bob, why not just get the real thing? A K120, a D120F? They're not hard to get reconed. And a seemingly well-kept secret is the early, flat-magnet Peavey Black Widow 12" speaker with aluminum dustcap. That's a fantastic speaker that very much sounds like a JBL. It was modeled after the JBL.
B |
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Dave Diehl
From:
Mechanicsville, MD, USA
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Posted 4 Jan 2018 2:30 pm
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| Brads pointing in the right direction. Nothing sounds like a JBL speaker. There are really good new speakers out there but the don't sound like a JBL. I took the speaker out of my Fender Steel King and put a JBL D120F in there because Fender was trying to match the D120F with the speaker they were using. I have to say, that original speaker did not sound as good as the JBL. They are heavy but you have to ask yourself, am I willing to sacrifice to go light. |
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Mark Hershey
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 4 Jan 2018 5:00 pm
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| I love my ceramic Weber California’s with the aluminum dust caps. Sounds amazing paired up with a Twin. |
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Olli Haavisto
From:
Jarvenpaa,Finland
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Posted 5 Jan 2018 2:02 am
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Echoing what the guys say:
I`ve tried them all, none of them match the JBL. None
Get a K120, maybe pay $250+ for it but it`ll be worth it. Really....
_________________
Olli Haavisto
Finland |
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George Redmon
From:
Muskegon & Detroit Michigan.
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Posted 8 Jan 2018 11:02 pm
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| I own more JBL's then the law allows one person to hoard. And Len you are correct, the Weber Neodymium 12" which sadly is no longer available, is as close to the D120 as you can git. I currently own 6 D120's, and 4 Weber 12" Neodymium clones. Incidentally i have the Weber 15" Neodymium JBL clones in my Milkman rig, i enjoy them as much as the JBLs. Nope not any fur sail...... |
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 9 Jan 2018 4:51 pm
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| Be nice if Weber makes this model again |
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Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 11 Jan 2018 8:48 am
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I don't know if Mr.(Woody) Woodell in Goodlettsville is still re-coning.
He did a couple of pair for me and they are excellent.
He worked for JBL for 19 years.
Lefty |
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Rex Blevins
From:
Jenks, Oklahoma USA
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Posted 12 Jan 2018 6:53 am Speakerworks
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| If you need your JBL's reconed. Contact David Miller @ Speakerworks in Tulsa. He has been DOING this for a number of years, and knows everyone in Northridge. Does great works and is very competent. Call him @ (918) 664-6299. He can even do the paper edged recones.. |
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Mark Hershey
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 12 Jan 2018 7:14 am
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In the spirit of the original question asked by the OP, what is the best alternative to JBL that is still being made and readily available?
These threads always circle back to just get a JBL, lets say getting a JBL is not an option and you want something in the ballpark. |
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Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 12 Jan 2018 9:40 am
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Mark,
I think that has already been addressed, but everyone has their own opinion.
I prefer the Weber California.
JBL E120's are left out here.
To me they are wonderful sounding speakers.
They are one of the most heavy choices though.
Lefty |
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Mark Hershey
From:
New York, USA
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Posted 12 Jan 2018 9:55 am
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| Lefty wrote: |
Mark,
I think that has already been addressed, but everyone has their own opinion.
I prefer the Weber California.
JBL E120's are left out here.
To me they are wonderful sounding speakers.
They are one of the most heavy choices though.
Lefty |
Whoops I missed your response up there. Yep, I have almost the same rig. 66 Showman Amp but I have the cali's with the aluminum dust caps. I love it. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 16 Jan 2018 7:17 pm
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Len - "70 watts" is higher than JBL's power handling when new! "D" series speakers were 60 watt speakers. JBL's specs were strange and for years many have though they had 100 watts of RMS power handling. Not so.
_________________
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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gary pierce
From:
Rossville TN
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Posted 16 Jan 2018 7:39 pm
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| Two JBL's in a Twin was the best sound ever. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2018 10:12 pm
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| Quote: |
| Two JBL's in a Twin was the best sound ever. |
Unless - like me and quite a few others - you think it's one of the worst sounds ever.
IMO JBL's and Twins are often a harsh combination with really a really nasty bite to the highs. Nowadays it's often tough to use Twins at all. With venues requiring lower volume levels it can be tough to turn up a Twin Reverb enough to get full frequency response and drive the speakers fully. The result is limited low end, weak mids and a whole bunch of treble. Ouch.
_________________
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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