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Bass Drivers [message #66] Mon, 05 June 2000 11:47 Go to next message
artto
Messages: 9
Registered: June 2000
Junior Member
As I'm sure all of you are aware, JBL was the premium speaker upgrade for Kustom amps. This is especially important to bass players as JBL made (still makes)a special version of their 15" drivers for bass & organ. Typically these are the "140" series, such as D140F, E140F, etc.. These drivers have 1/2" peak to peak excursion (twice that of the "130" series). And while the specs on the standard CTS drivers indicate higher efficiency, your ears and shaking pants will tell you otherwise. If you're a bass player, I urge you to try the JBL 140's. It will be the equivalent of at least doubling the amplifier power. And don't forget.....until recently JBL had a different polarity convention. The red (positive) lead produces a negative cone travel (inwards)so be sure to reverse the leads. I recently installed D140F's in two 1x15s & drove them with a 400 head. Outside in the garage with the doors wide open the wife said it sounded like thunder......INSIDE the house!! And plenty of headroom. Believe me, these drivers will blow out a match or lighter 5 feet away!. Many guitar players seem to like the extra "heaviness" in the sound they get from these bass drivers too.

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Re: Bass Drivers [message #479 is a reply to message #66] Wed, 11 April 2001 19:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
For use in a Kustom 3x15 cabinet, which vintage speaker is better for electric bass, the JENSEN or the CTS brand?

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Re: Bass Drivers [message #481 is a reply to message #479] Wed, 11 April 2001 22:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
KustomDan
Messages: 42
Registered: January 2000
Member
The Jensen 15" was sold as a Guitar speaker while the CTS was sold as a Bass speaker; I do not know whether the Jensen will hold up as a Bass speaker. Kustom also offered the JBL D140F bass speaker, the Altec 421 bass speaker and in the K250 series they also offered a proprietary 15" Bass speaker. The most commonly available seems to be the CTS.

---Owner, VintageKustom.com

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Re: Bass Drivers [message #3245 is a reply to message #66] Tue, 18 November 2003 10:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
I tried the JBL`s and I found the Peavey 1502 ohm 15 blackwidows drive just as good at half the price.

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Re: Bass Drivers [message #3246 is a reply to message #66] Tue, 18 November 2003 10:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
I tried the JBL`s and I found the Peavey 1502 ohm 15 blackwidows drive just as good at half the price.

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Re: Bass Drivers [message #3247 is a reply to message #66] Tue, 18 November 2003 10:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anonymous
I tried the JBL`s and I found the Peavey 1502 ohm 15 blackwidows drive just as good at half the price.

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Re: Bass Drivers [message #3250 is a reply to message #3247] Tue, 18 November 2003 14:24 Go to previous messageGo to next message
KustomBlues
Messages: 494
Registered: June 2001
Location: Michigan
Senior Member
well, I like the Carvin PS 15's and they are cheaper than the 1502 peaveys. :-) Deb

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Re: Bass Drivers [message #3253 is a reply to message #3250] Wed, 19 November 2003 08:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4773
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
Hey gang.I have both the 3-15 and 2-15 cabs and JBL K140s, Altec bass 421s and their guitar serise 15s,and also the CTS bass 15s. Heres my take on all this.The 3-15 cabs produce only slightly more lows than the 2-15 cabs due to the fact that the cab needs to be alot bigger than what it is and it needs much larger port tubes for 3 15s. So what it seems to give is more mids depending on what speakers its loaded with, but it sure looks cool!The JBLs only go up to 2000 cycles, a little low for me when I play with a pick or need slap bass. The CTS go up a little higher but do not have the punch of the JBLS or Altecs. The 421 altecs are great they go up fairly well to 5000 cycles and are ceramic magnet speakers compared to the alinco JBLs so you do not have to worry about flux loss with age, althouh they can be remaged by a good speaker rebuilder.My prefered set up is a one bass 15 and one lead 15 in the top . I hate the sound of new type cabs with a small horn or even worse a pizeo tweeter for highs. The crossover points they use are very harsh to my ears and for sure not smooth.

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Re: Bass Drivers [message #3255 is a reply to message #3253] Wed, 19 November 2003 16:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky
Senior Member
Steve.....I totally agree SMOOTH is the key, and I think the thoughts of a full range cabinet is the way to achieve it. Lately I have been using a 250 with 2x15 421 Altecs. It takes some work with the mid and bright controls to get it right in small clubs. Outside it seems fine. When I first acquired this amp it had the Altec 418Bs that I sent your way. The upper range was all there and clarity like you dream of.....but lacking in bottom. I think a 421-A and a 418-B in a 2x15 cabinet would be something to try. Foxy....also a Kustom user built a 1x18 1x12 cabinet for a guy from a 200 style 2x15. It has an 18" Black Widow and a 12" Alnico guitar speaker with NO crossover.....lots of tone there. I have also used a 2x15CTS cabinet and a 3x12 CTS cabinet under a 200 head with great results......My conclusion is to increase the range of the bass cabinet by making it like the stereo cabs at home! BC

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Re: Bass Drivers [message #3259 is a reply to message #3255] Thu, 20 November 2003 07:49 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4773
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
Thats another good way to go! I have 2 JBL 10s" sitting around and a second 3-15 cab, but really beat up covering wise.And I have toyed with the scheem of a new baffle and loading the 2-10s in the top in their own sealed off section.I have tryed the 18" thing and while giving great low end, for some of my playing needs the that big 18' cone just responed to slow for the note tightness I need.

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Re: Bass Drivers [message #3268 is a reply to message #3259] Sat, 22 November 2003 21:00 Go to previous message
bassndrumboy
Messages: 9
Registered: October 2003
Junior Member
I've had a lot of problems with the original JBL i found that the cone walls are TOO thin and are easy to blow out i blew a speaker in the middle of church and you don't want to be around them when they blow at max. vol. i replaced them with 12" celestion the new kustom kba100 have the 15" celestion i don't know about the 15"s but the 12" kicks pants hard Bass N Drum Boy

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