SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1401
Memphis, TN
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Posted on Jun 30 2023 08:35 PM
Hi guys,
I just wanted to give a quick review of this speaker. This is the 15 inch speaker that Surfer Joe recently did a YouTube video on. My first impression was that is absolutely blew me away! It has a certain "POP" to it that is hard to explain.
This may be in my head, but it definitely seems to have better touch sensitively than my Weber California did. It is light weight, and loud as hell. It is rated at 300 watts, so I am not worried about blowing it (blown 2 speakers already). It is expensive, but in my opinion definitely worth it.
I am going to buy a second one, so when I play through two brownface Showmans at the same time, I will have one on each side of the stage. I give this speaker a 10/10, couldn't be happier with it.
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New Singles "Finish Line" and "Paradiso" on Bandcamp and website.
Last edited: Aug 23, 2024 15:15:11
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ZoukBoy
Joined: May 04, 2008
Posts: 80
Lubbock, Texas
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Posted on Jul 02 2023 11:17 AM
Thanks - I have been curious about those speakers since Quilter first released the Steelaire.
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11053
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Jul 02 2023 12:20 PM
I love my Steelaire, why lug around a heavy tube amp when this combo does so much for it's 35lbs?
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
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
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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2533
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Jul 02 2023 12:35 PM
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DeathTide
Joined: Apr 13, 2018
Posts: 1374
New Orleans
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Posted on Jul 02 2023 02:22 PM
I have one in a '72 Twin and it RULES!
I sometimes use two Showman to play as well, but they are both doubles and have 215 cabs with vintage speakers (JBL and Jensen). I am not rich enough to load those with Steelaires! I would love to hear what that would sound like...
— Daniel Deathtide
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SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1401
Memphis, TN
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Posted on Jul 03 2023 11:41 AM
Thank you so much for the replies, everybody. Just to be clear, I am talking about the relatively new speaker that Eminence/Quilter put out within the last several months or so. Seriously, when I hit that fat Low E string, it sounds glorious!
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New Singles "Finish Line" and "Paradiso" on Bandcamp and website.
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archimedes
Joined: Dec 10, 2006
Posts: 104
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Posted on Jul 09 2023 12:11 PM
Thanks for the review, SixString! I have the Quilter 1x15 Blockdock can loaded with the Eminence/Quilter Steelaire speaker with the aluminum dome. To your knowledge, is this the same speaker you bought? This is the one that has been described as having the “orange dreamsicle” tone. Regardless of whether it’s the same as yours or not, I am also loving my speaker. I bought the Blockdock new from Zzounds in early December I believe and have really enjoyed getting the best surf tones of my playing life. The weight to power ratio is off the scales, exactly what I was looking for at the time. I was looking at Weber speakers before this but decided to go for the much higher wattage offered by the quilter speaker. Couldn’t be happier.
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AndrewTesta
Joined: Mar 18, 2020
Posts: 123
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Posted on Jul 22 2023 10:24 PM
This is the only Quilter Steelaire I can find… this “replacement” doesn’t give any details other than a brief description on how it’s not the Eminence EPS 15C lol
Is this the one we’re all talking about?
https://www.quilterlabs.com/products/replacement-guitar-speaker-steelaire-15-speaker
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archimedes
Joined: Dec 10, 2006
Posts: 104
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Posted on Jul 23 2023 11:09 AM
Yes, it is apparently the only Steelaire speaker. I had corresponded with Pat while trying to decide on a speaker and cab for me late last year and he gave me some info about the speaker. At the time they were offering another 15” speaker called the Lead 15” that was basically the same speaker without the aluminum dome that worked much better with higher gain settings. I don’t see anything about that speaker on the current website so maybe they discontinued it or maybe it’s just not listed there. Pat told me that the Steelaire speaker is similar to the Altec 418 speaker. Surfer Joe said it sounds like a JBL D130F to him. I just know I really am enjoying it and I’m finally getting that big, wide, fat and clean sound I’ve been wanting for surf music.
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DeathTide
Joined: Apr 13, 2018
Posts: 1374
New Orleans
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Posted on Jul 23 2023 12:28 PM
I'd say it's less harsh than a D130F, although I do have the old 212 grill cloth frame with its natural beam blocker. I find it wonderfully articulate. It's a beautiful speaker and I'm glad I paid the dough for it. I didn't realize there was another version. Once I got a D130F reconed with a cloth dome and it sounded super muddy and lifeless. With overdrive I bet it would be great, but for clean reverb it sucked.
— Daniel Deathtide
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SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1401
Memphis, TN
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Posted on Nov 01 2023 06:07 PM
Just ordered me a second 15" Steelaire speaker to go in my new cabinet being built by Armadillo Amp Works. I ordered the cab in August, so I should expect it by late December. Excited about playing through two brownface Showmans at the same time!
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New Singles "Finish Line" and "Paradiso" on Bandcamp and website.
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4446
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Nov 01 2023 08:33 PM
SixStringSurfer wrote:
Just ordered me a second 15" Steelaire speaker to go in my new cabinet being built by Armadillo Amp Works. I ordered the cab in August, so I should expect it by late December. Excited about playing through two brownface Showmans at the same time!
Only two? I’m assuming that you’ll be using this as a bedroom-only rig. 
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
Last edited: Nov 01, 2023 20:34:18
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DeathTide
Joined: Apr 13, 2018
Posts: 1374
New Orleans
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Posted on Nov 02 2023 10:04 AM
SixStringSurfer wrote:
Just ordered me a second 15" Steelaire speaker to go in my new cabinet being built by Armadillo Amp Works. I ordered the cab in August, so I should expect it by late December. Excited about playing through two brownface Showmans at the same time!
Excellent! That was my main live rig, a real '62 and a Carl's 6g14 clone. A 215 cab and a 15" tone ring cab, at the moment all JBL D130Fs with aluminum domes. Nothing sounds like it. I wish I had a real 6g14 Showman but I guess that's not for this life. I have not used a Showman with a Steelaire, and I wonder how it compares to JBLs and Jensen P15Ns. I bet it's closer to the JBLs but less harsh, the Steelaire bass seems tighter also. With the '72 Twin the Steelaire is like a magical device, it can get warm and meaty but also dry and piercing.
Are you going to use them as simply doubling your sound, or do a stereo or wet/dry thing? I highly recommend the wet/dry. With this I can put the reverb at 10-10-10 and still hear every note and stroke.
— Daniel Deathtide
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SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1401
Memphis, TN
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Posted on Aug 23 2024 03:01 PM
My speaker blew! I thought these were rated at 300 watts!? Sadly, quilter does not have phone support anymore. I have already emailed them, and am waiting for a reply. I bought this speaker in November of 2023. How could this happen if my Showman is rated at 100 watts?
UPDATE I found a number and called support. He politely told me I am past the 90 days warranty period, and that I am out of luck. He offered to send me a discount code. Do any of you guys know Pat or Matt? I am not asking for anything for free, please just let them know about this. I am very disappointed. Thank you.
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale. New Singles "Finish Line" and "Paradiso" on Bandcamp and website.
Last edited: Aug 23, 2024 15:16:26
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RobinsonCrusoe
Joined: Aug 08, 2009
Posts: 49
Saarbruecken Germany
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Posted on Aug 24 2024 02:44 AM
I broke my quilter speaker 3 times.
I replace the dust cap with jbl d130,
e130 and now jbl d120 3" dustcap
and now it works.Pat dont have
aluminium dustcaps replacement just
paper.
Last edited: Aug 24, 2024 02:45:50
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Surf_Skater
Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1300
Lawrenceville , GA
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Posted on Aug 24 2024 08:48 AM
An amp rated at 100 watts continuous power can have peaks that significantly exceed the 300 watt rating.
I once had a set of Kenwood stereo speakers rated at 400 watts pushed by a 100 watt power amp. Thankfully the speakers had built in circuit breakers. I shut them down quite often.
If you want to play at Dick Dale volume you may need to go 2x15.
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