Other JBL clones? How to tell without pulling speaker?

[seven]

Hi,

Were there any other speakers on the market at any time that looked like a JBL? Like with the signature aluminum dome, etc.? Reason why I ask is because I have a line on what I am hoping is a D120F. My dilemma is that I don't want to clue the seller in on what may be a score. Also, I'm thinking this seller has no idea what type of speaker this is.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/fazeka/speaker/speaker.jpg

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

[toddalin]

The dome is the key here. IME, most clones that use an aluminum dome certainly have a much smaller voice coil. As such, the dome is applied afterwards and coveres the leads where they attach to the cone.

On JBLs, the dome is the same size as the large voice coil, so the leads still show on the cone.

Perfect example is my 2235 (4" VC) and W15GTI (3" VC). Note the leads on the 2235, but that they are covered by the dust cap on the W15GTI.

BTW, you pic looks like the real thing to me.

http://www.largescaleonline.com/eimages/lsolpics/Team_Member_Pics/toddalin/center-2235-w15gti.jpg

[edgewound]

Hi,

Were there any other speakers on the market at any time that looked like a JBL? Like with the signature aluminum dome, etc.? Reason why I ask is because I have a line on what I am hoping is a D120F. My dilemma is that I don't want to clue the seller in on what may be a score. Also, I'm thinking this seller has no idea what type of speaker this is.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/fazeka/speaker/speaker.jpg

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

99.9% sure it's an E120. Looks like it's sitting under a Fender Bassman head

[seven]

Hi Edge,

So you're thinking it's a E120? OK. Why? Why not a D/K-120?

BTW, that head is a solid-state Fender head:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/fazeka/speaker/head.jpg

[edgewound]

Hi Edge,

So you're thinking it's a E120? OK. Why? Why not a D/K-120?

BTW, that head is a solid-state Fender head:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/fazeka/speaker/head.jpg

Hey Seven,

A D120F would have a less dark surround color due to age and being paper, and not so thick a glue-line around the dust cap. Now...you're right....I don't know for sure what the structure is without seeing the back. But.....Odds are that it's an E120 since that's what the front looks like and many more were produced from about 1980 till 2003? Could be a D or K with an E120 recone. If the cabinet weighs about 50 pounds it's an E120....if it weighs 35 pounds or so it's a D or K120 frame. The definitive answer is to take it out and look....but I'd still say E120-8

BTW...thanks for the correction on the head.:)

[seven]

Hi Edgewound,

Good information! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Is the weight difference between the 'D'/'K' and the 'E' series that significant? According to the spec sheets, it's 6 pounds or so, unless there's a typo on one of them:

http://www.jblpro.com/pub/obsolete/k_series.pdf

http://www.jblproservice.com/pdf/Discrete%20Sales%20Models/E120-8-16.pdf

I'm not trying to nitpick, I'm just bummed a little as I won't have an easy time trying to determine what the speaker is without opening up the cab... and the seller is unwilling to do this. How would an 'E' sound compared to a 'D' or 'K'?

Unfortunately, I don't know what kind of model of Fender the head is just from that pic. I'm just going on what the seller has told me.

Again, thanks for your help. I'll try to take a look at it tomorrow sometime. Will report back.

Chris

[John]

Also it could be a aftermarket recone??? :blah:
Could be why the seller is uneasy about you getting in to the cabinet:(

[Rex Everything]

Just to give you a bit more info the Altec guitar/bass speakers also had the same aluminium dome ie....417-8c, 421, 425........

[edgewound]

Just to give you a bit more info the Altec guitar/bass speakers also had the same aluminium dome ie....417-8c, 421, 425........

Well....not really.

The Altecs have a 3" voice coil and a deeper cone.

But yes, an aluminum dome.

[edgewound]

Is the weight difference between the 'D'/'K' and the 'E' series that significant? According to the spec sheets, it's 6 pounds or so, unless there's a typo on one of them:
http://www.jblpro.com/pub/obsolete/k_series.pdf

I might be a little high on the weight difference, but it is around 10 pounds....specs say difference of 6...I stand corrected, I was estimating. 6 pounds feels like 10-15 pounds at 2am post gig tear down:p :D

http://www.jblproservice.com/pdf/Discrete%20Sales%20Models/E120-8-16.pdf


How would an 'E' sound compared to a 'D' or 'K'?


E series is a little louder with a little more midrange...'bout 2db more sensitive....it has a more powerful magnet and more gap flux.

1.2T for the alnico D/K with full charge, 1.35T for ferrite E series.

Either one sounds great.

[seven]

Hi Edgewound,

I didn't mean to bust your balls or be a wise-ass :o:, it's just that I'd rather have a D/K because that's something I know I dig, whereas I've never even heard an E120 before (not that I was aware of anyway).

But maybe the E will sound the same more or less.

Anyway, thank you again for the info and will follow up shortly.

Thanks!
Chris

[seven]

Dang, someone else beat me to it. Oh well, it probably was an E120! :p

[edgewound]

Dang, someone else beat me to it. Oh well, it probably was an E120! :p

Well...now you've got some good info to use in your search. You're welcome to PM me if you need help.

[seven]

Hi Edgewound.

Thanks. I will be contacting you shortly. :D