Eminence speakers for empty Sunn Concert 215 cab?

[ryco]

Most everybody seems to recommend the KappaLite 3015 & 3015LF.

Was wondering if there might be a more affordale (read: cheap) model number someone might recommend. I don't play out enough anymore to justify spending a big load of dough on speaks. Have read some reviews on the neodymium DeltaLiteII 2515 and people didn't seem all that impressed - anybody try any of the other models? I could justify around $150+ per speak - I know another $50 doesn't seem like much, but x2....

Scored an old Fender Bassman 215 cab that has vintage JBL D130F 15s. 'Spose those could be put in this cab, but peep here seem pretty set on the D & K 140s. I don't want risk blowing the 130's out since, of course, JBL doesn't make them anymore.

I have 200s and Concert head to run this cab.
Thanx!

[loudthud]

Which 2x15 do you have? Early rear folded horn? Early Sorado? 215S, speakers on left long vertical vent on right? Many speakers won't fit in those early cabs.

[ryco]

Concert 215S with the  speaks on the left, long port up the right side.
Says it originally had Sunn Transducers in it.

[cosmic erosion]

My 2x15s cab is like that. I have peavey black widows in it and it's a monster! I use it for bass with a solarus.

[Walt-Dogg]

Electro-Voice EVM-15L or B Series II sound great in the later 70s version of that cab.

[ryco]

Thanks for the EV suggestion. I have EVs in my Sunn SPL 8028 cab and they do indeed sound great.

However - EV, along with great vintage speakers like JBL, Cerwin Vega, Altec, etc no longer produce these replacement speakers. The ones they do offer are of way different design and are incredibly expensive.

Add also the fact old vintage speakers offered up on places like E-Bay are that = old. Being sold in the 70s/80s they very well may be recones or they are so old they are close to crapping out. In that case they would have to be reconed, and the recone would be to modern spec - not the original.

The reason I am citing Eminence speakers is they are available in many models, most at reasonable prices. Not looking to restore this cab to its original Sunn spec, looking to make it a useable, functioning cab with  good tone quality. Would like to get close as possible to the original Sunn vibe = warm, crisp, & punchy with a modern speaker. If an Eminence blows replacements are readily replacable. Also Eminence has been producing speakers for a long, long time, so they must be semi good at it by now. lol

Again, have two JBL 130Fs available in an old  Fender Bassman cab. Question is: are they sturdy enough for the job.

[Isaac]

I think D140's would sound great. Keep in mind that they are low wattage drivers. I wouldn't want to put more than 150 watts into a pair of them, as an absolute maximum. On the plus side, they're pretty sensitive, so you get quite a bit of sound with that 150 watts.

K140's will handle twice the power of the D140's. The 2205 is essentially a K140 with a paper dome instead of aluminum.

D130's are another thing. They were never intended as bass guitar drivers, although many people like them. Originally, they were more of a hi-fi woofer. I have a couple of cabinets with D130's in them, and I've used them for bass, but I find them lacking on the low end. That could be because of the cabinets they're in, though.

If I were in your position, I'd give the D130's a try. What have you got to lose, other than the labor involved?

[ryco]

Thanx for the reply, Issac

I am going to try the D130Fs, but, like you say, don't want to risk ruining a good, OLD pair of vintage speaks that are nearly irreplaceable if they are damaged.

These D130F speaks are in an old Bassman Dual Showman Rev. D130 cab, so yes they were intended to be bass guitar speaks. By the look of the cabinet it doesn't look like much thought went into the build as far as sonics. Prob'ly just built a box big enough to hold 2 15"s and called it good enough. lol

Just worry about damaging OLD OLD stuff. Also have a '70s Marshall Bass 4x12 cab with Greenie NOLA "4" Celestions I don't use anymore for the same reason. This old stuff is irreplaceable, and if damaged, sure, can be reconed - but to modern specs I would imagine. The Celestions in the Marshall break up way to fast for my taste anyway. And YES, it IS a bass cab, too!

Just looking for a good plentiful, durable, not too expensive set of speaks I can throw into this 215s and still get kind pf close to the same old 70's vibe.






EDIT: Hey, Isaac --- after thinking about it, I bet this WAS a guitar amp - why else would it say "Rev."? Apologies - I have the Bassman stuck in my head. Damn AADD!
I've never known a 6 stringer to play through 15"s, but I'm thinking the Fender Dual Showman was a guit-fiddle amp - not a bass amp.

[Walt-Dogg]

Wait I suggested a vintage speaker, you only looked at their new models because you didn't wanna go with vintage speakers but you're going with vintage speakers anyways?

[ryco]

Hi Walt-Dogg

No, I'm not going with vintage speakers. sorry if my posts caused you any confusion. Looking for new speaks.
Have vintage speakers available to use - but am not going to use them for the reasons cited in every one of my posts = they are old and irreplaceable. Will load the 130s to see how they sound (THEY'RE OLD JBLs!!!!!), but not as permenant replacements -- they will prob stay in the Fender box they are housed in now.

Again, thank you for your recommendation. peace

[Walt-Dogg]

You should check out the WGS15C then that Ed suggested in your other thread.

[ryco]

Thanx, Walt-Dogg -

Yes, am looking into the WGS as Ed advised. Am very interested!

As far as a particular Eminence brand for a replacement, a buddy who does DIY design builds recommended the model Legend CB158 would suit this cab for a non-neo. Just throwing that out there so if anyone "searching" this site in the future is set on Eminence, they can see this thread for info/discussion.

Then to top things off my drummer called today to tell me he's got two KappaLite3015 he'll basically give me. Which of course is much more speaker than my Concert or 200s heads need.

Leanin' heavily towards the WGS, tho. Ed knows Sunn!

[EdBass]

Eminence makes some real nice stuff, and on top of that they makes things extremely easy for the do it yourself-er. They will essentially design a box for you, and they have a knowledgeable and very helpful staff that is just a phone call or email away.
They have done a fantastic job of capturing the amateur speaker builder market; probably responsible for creating thousands of overnight "speaker experts", and as I said initially they don't make crappy stuff. It's really hard to go wrong using Eminence for DIY projects.

I don't know that the KappaLite 3015 is a good choice for your 215S project, however for free you can bet I'd be wiring them up, bolting them in, and finding out!
Who knows? Might end up being the "holy grail" of bass cabs!

[Isaac]

I gotta agree with Ed. For free, I think you have to at least try the Kappalite 3015's!