Ceramic or Alnico replacement speaker for Ampeg B-15N ???

[jorstua]

Hi, I just purchased an Ampeg B-15N (I think it´s a 1970 or 1971 model) without it´s original cabinet (only the head), and I´m about to buy a speaker for it.

I was thinking of buying a new Weber speaker, but I don´t know if the Alnico speaker is better than the Ceramic speaker (which I think would similar to the original Jensen ceramic speaker). Weber offers both, but for some reason recomends Alnico.

Which type of speaker would you recomend for the B-15N (alnico or ceramic)???

thank you very much !!!

[dbbubba]

Good question because I am about to buy a replacement speaker for my Ampeg SB-12 which is the 12" "guitar" version of the B-15 flip top.

My gut reaction would be to go with as close to stock as possible, so if the Jensens were ceramic.... I'd go ceramic.

Alnicos were older generation speakers I guess.
Ceramic was popular by the early '70s.

My friend in Maryland has a mint, early issue B-15.
I should ask him what speaker his has.
I am fairly certain that it is the original.
I'll see if he can tell me.

Any more knowledgeable replies?

[softwareguy]

I don't own a B-15, although I've played through them. I have a lot of speakers, but when I want to get "that" sound I run my Ampeg V-4 through an original Jensen Alnico 15" and it's heaven. That's not really what you asked, but I hope it's a useful data point.

Best of luck and enjoy your lovely Ampeg.

[Kiwiburger]

Speakers or pickups - the correct answer is always Alnico. Ceramic magnets are a cost cutting measure - Alnico is the real deal, and it comes at a cost.

[dbbubba]

My friend's B-15 in Maryland has a JBL D-130.
Upgrade?

Remember that JBL was just down Roscoe Blvd. in Van Nuys from Ampeg's factory, so maybe a JBL was an "upgrade?"

Still, if you want it stock...

Even though an Alnico speaker is "better" I bet that it did have a ceramic Jensen.

You need to find a kknowledgeable amp guy.

I'm going to keep looking.

[dbbubba]

Ok, the original 61-67 B-15N had either a Jensen C15N or C-15P.
There was an "upgrade version" with the JBL D-130F which is what my friend's amp in Maryland has.

the new Jensen C15N version: Jensen Vintage Ceramic C15N

My SB-12 originally had a C12N.

All were ceramic except for the JBL D-130.
I actually have a recently re-coned pair of early '60s D-130s.
The go in my T-38 Baron JBL monitor speakers.
Ain't parting with them though.

[jorstua]

thank you all very much,,, all this info is really very very useful to me.... it seems alnico speakers in general are better speakers than ceramic (that also explains it´s cost, which is almost double)
i see now why weber said the alnico is the best option for this amp...

thanks again for your advise

greetings from argentina!!!

[pan60]

JBL D-130 or D-140

[Brad McGowan]

The breakup is totally different with an Alnico speaker. I actually prefer the way ceramic speakers break up. And they always sound punchier to me. I like Alnico pickups, but the speakers throw me off.

I put an Eminence Delta in my B15 clone amp and it sounds great.

Brad

[sysexguy]

Welcome to Fliptops -- Parts for Ampeg and other Vintage Amp Lovers is a great resource for things ampeg.

I put a Jensen 15 in mine, when I get around to it, I'll likely get the eminence in there instead so that I can crank it.

Andy

[softwareguy]

Just one man's opinion, but if you're not going to go vintage (and there are a lot of reasons not to, especially if you're pumping bass waves through that old paper) I think that the Weber recreations of the classic Jensen models really beat the frames off of the "new Jensen" reissues.

I would go with Ted Weber's recommendation and his products.

[Evanskyler]

Mine has a Jensen but go to Welcome to Fliptops -- Parts for Ampeg and other Vintage Amp Lovers and they can make you a cab and even put your b15 guts in a head cab.

[jorstua]

Thank you all again... this info is very helpful...

jorstua from argentina

[breck]

Many of the mid-1960's B-15s used a CTS 15". This speaker had a very distinctive square magnet- kind of looked like a thick metal sandwich. These are my favorite sounding speaker in a B-15.

[TAVD]

I gotta say that I'm a little surprised by all the alnico recommendations. The B15 isn't a clean sounding amp even with a good ceramic speaker. I think it would be pretty unusable with the volume past 12:00 if you had an alnico speaker. I've tried vintage Altec & JBL speakers in mine and prefer the EV that's in it now.

[pan60]

Originally Posted by TAVD

I gotta say that I'm a little surprised by all the alnico recommendations. The B15 isn't a clean sounding amp even with a good ceramic speaker. I think it would be pretty unusable with the volume past 12:00 if you had an alnico speaker. I've tried vintage Altec & JBL speakers in mine and prefer the EV that's in it now.

i had a EV in mine for some time and like it as well, but i could not put the amp in the box with it in their as it would hit the speaker.
i have some of the original CTS speakers that belong in the B-15 but i do prefer the JBL D-140.

[TAVD]

Originally Posted by pan60

i had a EV in mine for some time and like it as well, but i could not put the amp in the box with it in their as it would hit the speaker.

I'd probably swap speakers too if I had that problem.
Mine is a B-15S so maybe the cabinet is larger.

BTW, I had to massage the hole to fit the Altec. Probably a good idea to get the exact mounting size before buying any replacement speaker.

[jorstua]

i was also suprises by all the alnico recomendations, only because i now know that the original speakers were made in cermaic.. also i read that ceramic speakers have more head room... i´ll have to try and see

best regards to all of you

[pan60]

i like the JBL D140 for me that hits the spot, also remember this amp is seldom crank much above 10:30 or 11:00 just not much wattage here with these amps.
i think they are only rated at 30, 35 watts.
the original CTS driver just do not cut it for me, i am a hugh EV fanatic and if size was not a issue i would just as easily go with the EV as the JBL.
i think after the first few years they did enlarge the cabinet size but not sure when or what or any of that.

[Evanskyler]

The D140Fs are 30 Watts?!! (Oh wait yea the B-15N is 30 watts. Blows the pants off of everything else though)

what is the rating on the JBLs?

Man, I got a matching cabinet for my Dual Showman Reverb and the head is 120 WATTs!!!! I guess I should do some legwork to find out about those speakers.


Thats funny about the ev speakers, I have the 12 inch variant and it rocks like a pre rola.
Go figure, I didn't buy the B-15 to have headroom, I bought it so I could fuzz it up.

[jorstua]

i have one more doubt.... the JBL D-140 is an Alnico Speaker, and the EV is Ceramic... is this correct???

Thanks

[pan60]

Originally Posted by jorstua

i have one more doubt.... the JBL D-140 is an Alnico Speaker, and the EV is Ceramic... is this correct???

Thanks

EV has made both, Ceramic as well as Alnico Speakers, the Ceramic EVs with cast frames do not fit the original B-15n, but in later years they did made the cabinets somewhat larger, so it my not be a issue.
for what it is worth, many many many, B-15's have had their original drivers replaced with JBSs.
and at low levels they are very clean!
and yes i do like the EV and the one i am using is a Ceramic cast frame EV, and although i have a reflex cabinet with the EV i still mostly use the B-15 with the JBL.

[TAVD]

You can try an EV Force (w/ the smaller magnet) if you care about flipping the amp.

[pan60]

for me it is just as easy to keep the JBL in as i love it, and just put the EV in the other cab.
then i can use either of the two at my discretion.

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally Posted by jorstua

i have one more doubt.... the JBL D-140 is an Alnico Speaker, and the EV is Ceramic... is this correct???

Thanks

All the JBL "F" series speakers use Alnico magnets. The D-140 is a D140F.

The "D" stands for Aluminum Dome, and the "F" is for Fender ( who originally distributed them to Musical Instrument stores).

[jorstua]

Thank you all once again... very very useful info!!!

Francisco