any thoughts on the weber californias? i really don't think i can afford the alnico one, as the ceramic is $100 cheaper. any recommendations for a good loud & clean 15" speaker besides the jbl's?

I replaced the stock Eminence 15 in my 100W '96 Custom Vibrasonic with a Weber ceramic California 15 with an aluminum dust cap...it is noticeably louder and cleaner than the stock speaker with great low end. Ditto for the 12" AlNiCo Cali that I installed in my '65 (original) Deluxe Reverb.

I agree 100% with Eddie regarding the EVM15L's, but they are getting hard to find in good shape, and a brand new ceramic Cali is less $$ than buying a used EV and reconing it.

Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)

Last edited: Dec 31, 2006 20:44:24

Because like most any major corporation out there, they are cost-driven. Profit is the primary motive.

Then again, much of their equipment costs less now than it did in 1965 when inflation is factored in. A new Dual Showman was $800 in 1965 dollars. That was a ton of money in those days!

Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)

DualShowman
Yeah, Bill Aqua uses a '65 Bandmaster w/ matching cab. Right now, he's got CTS 12"s in there, but he just bought 2 new AlNiCo Jensens from me and where gonna put them in there next week. I really like the new production Jensens, and there pretty inexpensive. We've also been toying with throwing a Bassman output transformer in his Bandy for better bass response, but we'll wait and see what the Jensens do. Bill's Bandy puts out a little over 50 W with a 1KHz @ 1mV RMS input signal. Treble for days...

I use a '66 Dual Showman w/ 2 D140Fs for bass. Need I say more?

Matt Aqua

Matt put the speakers in for me and restuffed the cab. I played it all day today and this thing is about 100 times better sounding than it was prior to this upgrade. I pushed it pretty hard and it still sounds really good and clean with the Jag and tank.

"as he stepped into the stealthy night air... little did he know the fire escape was not there"

https://www.facebook.com/reluctantaquanauts/
https://www.facebook.com/TheDragstripVipers/

eddiekatcher
My take on speakers is that the EV-15L's rule hands down. They sound bigger and meaner and much smoother than the D-130's. They are also practically indestructable. We played bass out of them in a Dual Showman cab for years. One of the problems with Bandmasters is that the large Fender cabinets with 2-12's seem to have too much volume and as a result tend to fart when turned up loud. Opting for say a good EV or Celestion will help but the stock set up is pretty wimpy. One quick and dirty fix is to remove the back and leave it open. This will improve its stage presence but will reduce it's projection. If you are on a big stage and mic'ed up that won't really matter. One thing that you absolutely want is to match the speakers so that they are really in phase. Mismatched speaker's "rise times" will absolutely drive you crazy. EV no longer makes the 15L but they are lurking everywhere and only cost about $75 to recone with factory parts. If you have to have that JBL look and sound, consider the Peavey 1504-4 SB, It is Peavey's copy of the JBL D/K-140. It has the chrome cap and shallow basket from the JBL design and sounds good in my tone ring single 15........ed

 I have vintage EV sro 15`s and they kick butt. They are all original, and the cleanest youll ever see with out being redone.... Its a toss up for me between these and the JBL D130F`s.  Slight edge for the EV`s. If I could figure out how to post a pic of them I would.....

Gotta love Showmans...... More volume than you`ll ever need

One question.. Wats a Reverb tank... Never really used one in my area of playing...

I never really had much terminology on guitar tech..

-Fly on little wing-

Couldn't Stand The Weather...

www.myspace.com/yougottabeshittenme
...add me...

WR
I bundled a bunch of reverb tank threads a while ago, Ill see if I can dig 'em up....

WR

found it!

this is from nov 8th, I bet a lot has been written on the subject since....

WR
who'd have guessed? reverb tanks have been discussed before!

so go and read the gospel:

tank thread
another tank thread
oh boy, yet another tank thread
and another!
they just don't know when to quit, huh
damn, another? what so great about these things anyway????
I cant befuckinglieve it, is this all they talk about?
jeez Louise, another tank thread....
my God, these people truely LOVE REVERB TANKS!

So, this must be the 10th Reverb Tank Thread!
Amen!
WR

Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."

https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/

I've seen that picture before, and wondered if the 12" is a tone ring cabinet. Anyone familiar with this?

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

DGG
...interesting thread....I'm finishing up the first production run of Gomez Surfer amps as we speak. They're a blonde showman clone-same circuit similar look. I'll be using the Weber Cali Alnicos for the 15" cabs unless I hear something that REALLY sounds good. Honestly folks that speaker is a great detailed crystal-clean 15. Ask Waimea he has one.

Why alnicos?
I put a Weber Calif 15 ceramic in my Showman cab because that's I assumed the original JBL 130's were...less breakup at higher volumes, no? I also had a tonering baffle installed for the 15 (it's a custom repro cab made by Zack at Vibroworld for me 66 showman head).
g

JakeDobner
Kyle, the best year for a Showman is the year that you own. Therefore '64 is superior to the '66.

What's the dif between a 64 and 66 showman? Aren't they exactly the same, both BF, same circuit etc ? Or is the 66 s CBS-era model and therfore actually inferior in some way?

g