15" speaker for Fender ?

[flora]

Any recommendations for 15" speakers for Blackface Fenders ? I've always used 12".

[Maschinenmann]

I ran a 15" Weber Cali in a sealed cab with my '64 tremolux, great for small/medium venues and easy to transport.

[bnwitt]

The Jensen reissue C15N and the C15K are great speakers and resonably priced.  I have 3 SRV vibroverbs being played in different working bands and they sound great.

[Fresh_Start]

Isn't the Weber California a really clean, tight sounding speaker?  I only have experience with a 12" in an extension cab with a Blues Jr. and a Tech 21 amp.  Ted Weber actually recommended it for the Tech 21 as a very clean, uncolored speaker.  Look at the description given by Weber for the 12".

Not trying to dissuade Flora, just don't know what tone he's looking for.  Personally I'd prefer a speaker with more warmth but YMMV.

Cheers,

Chip

[bigdaddy]

Not as many choices as with 12's. One speaker that intrigues me is the old Jensen P15L, I got one off ebay but the guy didn't pack it right and it was destroyed. But if reconed properly it might make a great speaker. I really think the best sounding 15 I ever used was a JBL D130. They can still be gotten and I think the recone kits are good, I'm not sure, not so with every JBL aftermarket recone kit, the ones for the D208 suck.

For new Speakers there are a few models from Webervst, although I have not had good success with that brand. The same for Jensen reissues, but IMO they do sound better then Webers, sorry Ted(RIP). There's also the Eminence ones, I have had great success with their 10s. http://eminence.com/guitar.asp?speaker_size=15 Their sound clip all sound good to me and each speaker has a different character. The Legend has an almost Alnico sound, the Commonwealth is supposed to be very close to a JBL E130 and the Big Ben is kind of like a huge Greenback.

My money is on a pristine D130 for a 40 watt Fender amp as long as you don't push the lows. I was using a BF bassman with a Gibson Firebird and a SUNN 1-15 bass cab with a D130, loud as hell and a great sound.

[skyclad]

Eminence Legend 1518 sounds great, and is relatively cheap.

[flora]

A few years ago I read good things in the Tonequest Report about the Eminence 151.

[P Batty]

If you can sacrifice a little of the top end, a JBL D140F will give you all the bottom you need.  You might be able to find a Altec 421, it will be a little more neutral, with a higher top end. I think it is what the Weber was patterned after. A fifteen is a good choice if you play with dropped tunings and your amp has the low response.  It wouldn't make much sense with a Marshall.  Make sure they will fit in your cab- sometimes the magnet will be up against the back board!

[bigdaddy]

Weber has a few different models patterned after either a Jensen (15F series either the 150=N, 200=L models), JBL (Cali series), EV SRO (Michigan series), Thames (Brit sound), plus a Texas and Chicago model all having different voices which could also be augmented with different paper and dustcaps. This is as far as I remember.....kind of like Baskin Robbins.

[Maschinenmann]

Isn't the Weber California a really clean, tight sounding speaker?  I only have experience with a 12" in an extension cab with a Blues Jr. and a Tech 21 amp.  Ted Weber actually recommended it for the Tech 21 as a very clean, uncolored speaker.  Look at the description given by Weber for the 12".

Not trying to dissuade Flora, just don't know what tone he's looking for.  Personally I'd prefer a speaker with more warmth but YMMV.

Cheers,

Chip

It is, being a "semi JBL" clone type. I was getting the grind I needed from the power section but you raise a valid point, he hasn't mentioned what tone he is going for.

Lots of fifteens out there, different horses for courses....

[thermion]

my grail 15 came out of a ~1980 fender 75; a square magnet jensen ceramic that is supernaturally efficient and has *that* sound. makes 20W sound like 50W and 50W sound like 100W.

[Rev D]

 I like 15's in some fenders. Mike Lewis (president of marketing I think it is for Gretsch) plays gigs here with Big Nick and Gila Monsters and I'll tell you he has a vintage Tweed Pro with a 15 that is quite possibly the best sounding blues amp I've ever heard. Seriously considering building one.

Regards,

D.

[Maschinenmann]

my grail 15 came out of a ~1980 fender 75; a square magnet jensen ceramic that is supernaturally efficient and has *that* sound. makes 20W sound like 50W and 50W sound like 100W.

Those usually came with CTS, I've never seen a square mag Jensen ceramic.

[bigdaddy]

Jensen had a C12L and C15L with huge square magnets.

[Maschinenmann]

I vaguely remember something about those in Leslie cabs? I owned a couple of 75's way back and they both were stock CTS air motors.

[JayB]

Weber has a few different models patterned after either a Jensen (15F series either the 150=N, 200=L models), JBL (Cali series), EV SRO (Michigan series), Thames (Brit sound), plus a Texas and Chicago model all having different voices which could also be augmented with different paper and dustcaps. This is as far as I remember.....kind of like Baskin Robbins.

I love his Michigan series. My favorite speaker.

[thermion]

Jensen had a C12L and C15L with huge square magnets.

Yeah i think its a c15l; looks like the square magnet 15 in my leslie.

[rafe]

I really like the 15" eminence that came in my 64 custom vibroverb ......It compares to the 1965 jensen 15" jensen in my thunderbolt which has  22051177 but it also has EM1501 C7735 What is this ?? now I am perplexed is this a Jensen or Eminence?? It's a great speaker it appears old enough

[rafe]

Well I have some info on the Jensen....

"Chris - are there any other/additional numbers or marking on that 15" speaker ?(Lots of #'s R)

Often the Jensens sold for musical-instrument reproduction (that weren't labelled with the amp-maker's name) were in the "Electronic Musical Instrument Loudspeakers" line - the 'EM-XXXX' series.(Explains why there was no label R)

In 15's, there were (according to my 1966 Jensen 'instruction note' # 245): the EM-1500, EM1501, EM1502, EM1520, and EM1550 drivers. The last 2 models had an alnico-5 magnet. "

OK that explains some but not all, the C7735? Concert? Well the only important question is how does it sound in the thunderbolt......pretty darned good.....that's quite an understatement though....I do believe it is the original but can't be sure.....Here is another question, I wonder if it can be answered here, did Supro ever use a Red grillcloth? .....it looks original but it's red......

[Teleguy61]

Fenders and similar amps are made to be mated to a JBL D130 or K130 for a 15, D20 or K120 for a 12.
A marriage made in heaven.