Looking for Jupiter Speaker opinions

Will Slack · From: Texas, USA

I love the old jensen speaker in my deluxe reverb for quieter gigs. I have a bandmaster reverb chassis that I plan to put into a 1x12 combo cab for a little more clean headroom compared to the deluxe, and I'm interested in giving Jupiter speakers a try. I know they get used in Milkman amps, so they must be decent!

Has anyone compared both the 12LC and the M12C midnight (both 50 watt) when playing steel?

David Higginbotham · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

I purchased a new pair of the LC’s for my twin after reading Tim’s recommendation and I was ecstatic with the tone. I unfortunately sold the amp the following day so I still have a new set of Jupiters sitting in their original boxes with 30 minutes of playing time on them. Not even broken in yet and they still sounded fantastic. I’ll likely part with them at some point as I have no intention of getting another twin.

I haven’t had a comparison with the M12…but I glanced over the description and it seems they’re geared more toward the Celestian sound which I believe would be better suited for guitar as they break up much sooner. At least with the series I’ve had. The LC’s stayed crystal clear at higher volume.

Dave 🙂

John Ducsai · From: New Hampshire, USA

I use the 12LA Alnico and love them.
I had a Louis Electric Columbia Reverb with a 12LC and it was awesome. The guy I sold that amp to still raves about it.

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

had Jupiter Ceramics in my Milkman amps for years and happy with them...but Tim has moved on...my new Pedal Steel Mini has a Missing Link Hybrid JBL D120
https://www.mlapedals.com/store/The-HYBRID-JBL-D120-or-K120-p268027069
Tim says, "be careful...once you hear one you'll never be able to go back to anything else"
Listened to separately my Jupiters and the Hybrid both sound great...but A/B'd (same amp, switched output) the Hybrid has more crystalline highs and tighter lows...
I can't compare the Midnight....haven't heard one.
Send Tim an email and I'm sure he can tell you what and why for any of these...
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https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

I recently put a new Jupiter 12 in a combo I was selling. It sounded fantastic. Unfortunately I have a problem. All roads lead me to JBL’s. It’s been this way since I was 15 so I’m a hopeless case. I gotta say that the Jupiter speaker is right up there with the best.

Get in touch. I have a pile of speakers over here you can check out. Hybrid, JBL, Beyma and a surprisingly good sounding neo.
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Bob

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Btw

Keep in mind that different speakers have very different overall dimensions and some are very difficult to retrofit in combo cabs.
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Bob

Steve Lipsey · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

By the way, Tim also said that JBLs aren't for everyone - the extra note definition makes it hard to hide, you hear everything you play...and they are HEAVY!! MLA does the Hybrid on either a JBL or Black Widow basket, he did Black Widow one for me, much lighter...but still a lot heavier than the Jupiter...
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https://www.lostsailorspdx.com
Williams S10s, Milkman Pedal Steel Mini & "The Amp"
Ben Bonham Resos, 1954 Oahu Diana, 1936 Oahu Parlor

Will Slack · From: Texas, USA

Thanks for all the feedback. Definitely helpful. It seems that even if the Jupiter isn't THEE best, it's certainly a great speaker. So no one has played the midnight?

I've never played a JBL D120, but I own 2 D130F's. I love them, but I prefer a 12" these days. Also, most importantly, the JBL's are HEAVY! The Jupiter claims to be about 9lbs, which sounds great to me. I have a history of back issues, so I don't think I want to add JBL or Black Widow weight to a fender tube combo. The D10 is bad enough.

Bob, I definitely need to find time to come by. I'll reach out. Thanks!

Tim Marcus · From: San Francisco, CA

the 50W Large Ceramic Jupiter is an incredible speaker for steel guitar. I can not imagine any scenario where you would need anything more than that - unless you want a JBL - but as you said, the weight to tone ratio of the Jupiter can not be beat. There is no single 12 that performs like that speaker.

Regarding the Midnight - that speaker has a slightly larger coil gap, which drops the efficiency quite a bit (midnight: as in, playing at home at night)

because of that you should probably stick with the OG version of the speaker. For pedal steel you want to milk as much headroom from your amplifier as you can and the midnight would take you into the other direction
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Milkmansound.com

Will Slack · From: Texas, USA

Thanks for the reply, Tim! I think that pretty much settles it for me.

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