speakers for SSS

[212Mavguy]

I very recently scored a pretty fresh pair of original cone late 70's Altec 417c's, 12" 75w, 3" VC, insanely strong 13 pound coffee can alnico magnets, cast aluminum frame, they are as good as my late 40's early 50's vintage 600b's are on the cleans (PHENOMENAL) and dirty are very well balanced between the openly detailed but not ice picky top and bottom, which is huge. They sound as if they put out exactly what the amp is doing. Bigger VC than the EV and likely significantly softer spider/surround suspension. These work well at less than ear bleeding volumes, instruments cut through well with these at a gig mix. I 'm not up to doing clips, but can really hear the SSS circuit type sounds, the pick touch, inductor settings, etc coming out of my #"NIk." These hide nothing, if you play well you sound good in if you mis touch or whatever you will have to cover for it if you can.

What my ears learned from these old Altecs is that one, these low (600b/25w, 417c/75w) wattage rated speakers often sound better with low wattage amps/ or lower, loud but ear friendly settings on down to softer volumes than high wattage rated speakers do at similarly driven outputs, and two, because of the soft suspensions that these speakers were designed to have, that more amp and and instrument based harmonic color comes out in the tones at these volumes. When they get turned up, the tone pots' balance stays the same from practice to gig volumes. Cool.

[Phazor]

Was not aware of Warehouse Speakers. The Invader sounds great for $79.00. Its from the clips on the site. Not sure how much you really know from sound clips but that price is what I paid for my original G30 H Celestion's in 1971.

[grtamp]

found a pair of JBL E120 , can be a good compromise?

[vibratoking]

The E120s have a stiff sound with a light of bottom, at least in the JBL cabaret cab that I have. I also have a pair of D120s in a Twin combo. I don't care for the Es or the Ds to be honest, but some guys love'm.

[212Mavguy]

G125/G135 sound better than D or E series to my ears, also MI-12/MI-15 are the under the radar JBL secret weapons here.

[dobbhill]

Mav: You keep metioning the G125. Your gonna make the price of my favorite high power speaker skyrocket if you keep that up! They are rare enough as it is! I'm just picking at you, of course. It's a great speaker. I have 1 in a tuned/ported cabinet that is a gem. I've heard that they sound good in open back, also. Haven't heard anything about them in a D-style oval back cab; have you?
I love my Altec 417C, but others don't....

2cents...
D

[212Mavguy]

G125 in a d-style oval back cab should kick out what was in before 9 times out of ten, they are that good. I'm not worried about their value going up, they are so under the radar that the herd just ignores them in favor of what is being talked up the in magazines, forums, GC salesman, shop gossip, etc. I just bought the speakers I wanted to listen to that a friend told me about years ago, and was flabbergasted how good they ended up being. If I wanted to know how a speaker sounded that I thought I might like, I just bought one used. Same thing for the MI series, have 15's and 12's, they are harder to find than the G series, which haven't budged in average closing price on fleabay in the last 4 years. MI's have doubled in that time. A 1/15 OB or Oval back with an MI 15 is a potent, easily portable tone weapon that weighs less than a 2/12 with decent speakers in it. They are IMO more desirable than the G series because of their light weight, construction, efficiency, as well as their sound, which is quite similar to their heavier poundage (double) G- brethren, if a tad less punchy in the lower mids and bottom from a slightly smaller (2 1/4") VC than the G series 3 incher. I'm a fan of tuning the open, semi closed or oval back cabinet by the size of the back opening, and find that a slot all the way across properly sized, centered over the VC centerline(s) can sound just fine, not completely sold on the absolute necessity on the oval back, I have a 2/12 that way and also a slot back. Both are awesome to my ears. YMMV. Peace.