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Replacing 15s with Kappalite 3015 Neo [message #27833]

Tue, 18 August 2020 13:13

rvasoundguy
Messages: 7
Registered: August 2020

Junior Member

I really like the Kapplite. I have several 3015s and 3015LFs. Ive been using one in a Greenboy Fearful cabinet with my Bassman 800 now for a couple years.

I just picked up a really nice 1969 Kustom 200B-1 with 215 cabinet. I opened the cabinet and it has Carvin PS-15 8 ohm speakers in it. I have one 3015 neo on hand and just ordered another one to try in the Kustom cabinet. I wonder if anyone of the forum here has tried the Eminence 3015 neos in the Kustom cabinet. They are very efficient at 100.8 db 1w/1m. They are also 7 lbs lighter that the PS-15. Ill post again after I install them in a couple days.

Bob
Richmond VA

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Re: Replacing 15s with Kappalite 3015 Neo [message #27836 is a reply to message #27833]

Wed, 19 August 2020 07:06

stevem
Messages: 4775
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Those speakers will work, but the two of them combined need 10.8 square ft of cabinet volume ( the VAS spec of the driver ), the Kustom cabinet has less then that so when / if you play at very loud volumes that high 100+ db rating will not hold true!

[Updated on: Wed, 19 August 2020 07:07]

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Re: Replacing 15s with Kappalite 3015 Neo [message #27840 is a reply to message #27836]

Wed, 19 August 2020 11:55

rvasoundguy
Messages: 7
Registered: August 2020

Junior Member

Thanks for the reply. Ill put them in there in the next few days and give it a try. If it doesn't work out a new build may be in my future. I have been using one of the 3015s in a Greenboy Fearful 15/6 cabinet. I know the cabinet is designed for the 3015LF but I pulled that out, put in the 3015, stopped using the crossover and 6" and ran the 3015 full range. Been using that for a couple years now. It sounds good and is loud enough for the 60s band I play with. Im hoping the 2 3015s will also be "good enough" for the Kustom cabinet.

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Re: Replacing 15s with Kappalite 3015 Neo [message #27846 is a reply to message #27833]

Sat, 22 August 2020 03:05

rvasoundguy
Messages: 7
Registered: August 2020

Junior Member

I put the 2 Kappalite 3015s in the cabinet and it sounds great. Definitely louder than the Carvin PS-15s. With a 4 ohm load I can't get the fairly low wattage 200B past the 3rd mark, between 10 and 11 o'clock, without distorting. The Kappalite 3015s give me more volume with some nice low end at that volume setting. I think the amp and cabinet will work great for most of the gigs I do playing 60s music in mostly small venues. That is when we start playing again.

I hooked up my Fender Bassman 800 to the Kustom cabinet with the 3015s and it can get as loud as Ill ever need to be on stage. The 3015s sound really nice to me in the Kustom cabinet. They arent cheap but worth it.

I found the specs online for the Carvin PS-15s (not from Carvin though) and the VAS is higher for those than the Kappalite. The Kappalite is 153 liters and the PS-15 is 204 liters,

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Re: Replacing 15s with Kappalite 3015 Neo [message #27847 is a reply to message #27833]

Sun, 23 August 2020 05:31

stevem
Messages: 4775
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

If you want to carry to a gig one more item of equipment you can feed the RCA output from the rear of the amp into a nice big 500 watt power amp, not use the kustoms output jacks and play as loud as you need to live.

Also note that if your Bass as active pickups Kustom preamp sections have too much gain since they where made before active pickups.

If you have such then turn your bass at a lower volume and you may get to play the Kustom louder then 3 before clipping takes place.

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Re: Replacing 15s with Kappalite 3015 Neo [message #27848 is a reply to message #27847]

Sun, 23 August 2020 11:08

rvasoundguy
Messages: 7
Registered: August 2020

Junior Member

Thanks Steve. Ill try that. I actually have a spare Powerlite amp I can use for that if I need to.

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Re: Replacing 15s with Kappalite 3015 Neo [message #27849 is a reply to message #27833]

Mon, 24 August 2020 05:37

stevem
Messages: 4775
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Since you will have no choice but to go into the power amp unbalanced due to the RCA output of the Kustom, this will mean that the output of the Kustom may not be enough to drive the power amp to its max wattage.
What works real nice in this case is to then use a power amp who's output section can be bridged and run like a big mono amp, not a Stereo amp.

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Re: Replacing 15s with Kappalite 3015 Neo [message #28018 is a reply to message #27847]

Thu, 11 February 2021 21:12

Cody UNO
Messages: 35
Registered: February 2021

Member

"Also note that if your Bass as active pickups Kustom preamp sections have too much gain since they where made before active pickups."

I learned this firsthand last night. Plugged my active Carvin 5 string into my K250 and it sounded... well... ok.

Put it down then plugged in my Jazz bass with passive Bartolinis then my custom Tele bass with a passive Geezer Butler P-Bass pickup and BOOM... awesome tone again.

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