Author Topic: JBL or Altec (Read 256 times)

skyboltone · « **on:** March 21, 2011, 10:39:35 PM »

There are a whole nuther bunch of bass speakers than there used to be. The old standbys though were Altec and JBL. Fender had a relationship with JBL so they were used a lot, but I found that the big old 4 voice coil often couldn't stay in the gap and you could easily overdrive them. Altec had a 3 voice coil and a deeper gap. Altec also always published Xmax figures that were minimal compared to those published for JBL but then they were tougher speakers. I found out recently from an old retired Altec engineer that Altec always published it's Xmax numbers at a far lower distortion level than JBL. The Xmech was always 1/2, far more than JBL drivers.

Anyway, I just acquired a pair of 418LF that are going into a bass cab for a biamped setup. I'll probably use 2 high power 10 aluminum dust cover drivers and a suitable tweeter with passive crossover for the high end. Say above 4 or 500hz. I haven't selected those yet. JBL K-110s are unobtainium. Perhaps you folks know of another....
Dan

elwoodblue · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2011, 10:53:00 PM »

Interesting,
I'm just beginning to learn about the vintage specs of JBLs,Altec,Gauss...
In fact I'm dumping the Mackie PA and am psyched to build up an old school PA for the band.

I can ask my JBL guy if he has any K-110s if you like.

poor_nigel · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2011, 10:53:35 PM »

Hey Dan - JBL 2010H speakers go from 70Hz to 7kHz and will handle 300 watts. I sold off eight I was planniong to make a couple of bottoms with. Shame on me. I currently use a pair of dual JBL K-110's (4), and they go up to 6KHz, matching my bass's highs nicely. You do not need a tweeter with these, as four or five string basses do not put out anything usable above 6kHz. I do not believe they make these speakers anymore, but they can probably be had on eBay, I'm sure. Something to think about, anyway.

skyboltone · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2011, 11:07:06 PM »

Yeah TK:
I got JBL K-110 in my favorite searches. They're scarce. The K-140 shows up frequently. Nice, but I'm just an altec guy I guess. Altec made nothing suitable for this purpose though. I'll keep a sharp eye out for 2010s.

crobbins · « **Reply #4 on:** March 22, 2011, 07:58:53 AM »

I use JBLs in all my guitar amps.

funkyjazzjunky · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2011, 11:35:13 AM »

Trivia

Is the original name Altec Lansing?

Wasn't the person JBL was named after the same Mr. Lansing?

tubeperson · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2011, 11:53:42 AM »

JBL stands for James B. Lansing. The Altec Lansing is a brother I beleive, kind of like Puma versus Adiddas.

skyboltone · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2011, 11:54:38 AM »

Elwood, here's yer system!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALTEC-LANSING-CONCERT-PA-SYSTEM-16-817-32-421-10-291-/350247567048?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item518c61bec8#ht_1710wt_951

elwoodblue · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2011, 12:14:55 PM »

hehe...yup...but we need some more sunshine for some good outdoor gigs.

Here's one we did last year, I'm going to borrow a few cabs and horns from this little system.
JBLs and Gauss up top

Fun,fun,fun !!

Thanks for thinking of me,
Elwood

skyboltone · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2011, 12:35:50 PM »

Altec Lansing was the original company sorta. The All Technical Company. They actually evolved from an outfit named Western Electric. They bought the Lansing Manufacturing Company in '40 something. Later, James B broke off his own company based on some engineering issues. Both made a fine product. JBL is in the process of moving all it's manufacturing to Mexico because of California's unbearable tax issues. Crown is a JBL product also but was manufactured in Ohio I think.

Altec sold out to LTV in 1960 something?, and then another outfit in about 1990. The new folks dropped the pro audio line in '90 to concentrate on toys like computer speakers. Crapola. What remains of the Altec pro audio stuff is made on original equipment by Great Plains Audio. He also re-cones everything.

If you really want to get some perspective on this, research why a surface on which a movie is projected is called a screen.

That early stuff is priceless.

(Message edited by skyboltone on March 22, 2011)

poor_nigel · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2011, 01:23:58 PM »

I do love old speakers. So much so that in the wasteland of northern Maine, I would do things like bring my home stereo to the company pic-nic to get it some use time. It was a nice mix of 1960's drivers and horns: Gauss 15" in the dual horn-loads, 10" and 12" JBLs for mid, and old JBL 2395 plate hrons and their tiny equivalent sitting on top of the 21" cabs. I cannot remember their model number, but all used 2" drivers, except the Altec 5005B's on the VOTs in the back (they had JBL D-140-F's in them). They sounded wonderful. They do not make better speakers these days in my opinion, just cheaper speakers. Lighter ones, too I guess, as these required a truck and hand-trucks to get them to the gig and back.

skyboltone · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2011, 01:42:02 PM »

I love the 816 cabs on their sides. Never looked at them that way. Wait, those aren't 816s they're 816 dash something. Same cab, just with a pair of drivers.
Is that a pair of JBL 123 above the monster ported bass cab?

I assume the JBL lenses are the ones you sold a few years back. Awesome!!!! I'm so glad we didn't know each other then.

Dan

(Message edited by skyboltone on March 22, 2011)

skyboltone · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2011, 02:37:38 PM »

The curved white surface behind the scaffolding is the back of a cinemascope screen. The sound passes through the screen. Smart folks thought up stereo so that the sound would seem to be coming from it's source visible on the projection screen.

http://www.leesound.com/bw_photos/photo13.jpg

(Message edited by skyboltone on March 22, 2011)

(Message edited by skyboltone on March 22, 2011)

skyboltone · « **Reply #13 on:** March 22, 2011, 02:48:32 PM »

Here's what my headstone might look like:
http://www.leesound.com/bw_photos/alteca7a.jpg

poor_nigel · « **Reply #14 on:** March 22, 2011, 08:27:40 PM »

Not JBL 123s. Left pair are orange basket JBL Fender 12's, and the right pair are JBL K-120's. Gee, I wonder why they don't make HUGE Voice Of The Theaters any more??? What would those do to the bottom line of theaters these days? Enough wood in a set to house a homeless family of three. Old speakers are so much cooler than new ones, IMO.