Peavey/JBL 15" speaker

Phil Turcotte · Post by **Phil Turcotte** » 7 Aug 2009 8:38 am

I just picked-up a 15" Peavey speaker made by JBL. Is anyone familiar with this ? I've never seen such a beast. Just wondered if it was originally made for a early Peavey steel amp.

Peavey part number is 70777022 if that helps.

Thanks in advance....Phil

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 7 Aug 2009 9:26 am

Phil Turcotte wrote:Just wondered if it was originally made for a early Peavey steel amp.

Yes, that's one they made especially for Peavey (back in the '80s, I believe).

Dan Murphy · Post by **Dan Murphy** » 7 Aug 2009 3:14 pm

Yes I have one ,Its a grey frame jbl with a M131 logo on the back . It came out of a session 500.I want to get it reconed someday .

Bob Cox · Post by **Bob Cox** » 7 Aug 2009 3:24 pm

That is a good one,if it needs reconed it is well worth the money.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 7 Aug 2009 3:30 pm

I've got one that has a black frame. It's a K130-4ohm, according to Woody Woodell. Great speaker.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 7 Aug 2009 6:36 pm

I believe after they discontinued the JBL D series they reissued them at the request of certain manufacturers. The ones in Sho-Bud amps in the '70s were labeled M31, which may have stood for "manufacturer #31" (just guessing). Apparently the ones for Peavey had a different number.

Phil Turcotte · Post by **Phil Turcotte** » 7 Aug 2009 6:43 pm

Well this one says " custom made by JBL", and it has the Peavey logo.

I also have a JBL M31-4, but there's no indication on it who it was made for.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 8 Aug 2009 12:00 am

Here's mine.

Phil Turcotte · Post by **Phil Turcotte** » 8 Aug 2009 3:39 am

That's it. That's exactly what mine looks like.

James Morehead wrote:Here's mine.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 8 Aug 2009 6:38 am

Well if yours looks like mine, you have a mighty fine specimen of a 4 ohm JBL. These speakers were the speaker that appeared in the early chrome knob Session 400's and Peavey LTD 400's. These are the speaker that the Black Widow was patterned after, the BW being rated for higher output ability--LOUD application. Did you hear me?? I said LOOOOUUD applications!!

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 8 Aug 2009 6:41 am

I'd add that these JBL's are great for dropping into a Twin Reverb, which want's to see 4 ohms. Of course, you can recone JBL's to 4 ohm. It's easey enough.

Johnny Thomasson · Post by **Johnny Thomasson** » 8 Aug 2009 7:23 am

James, I have one exactly like that in my 65 Twin Reverb. Got it from James Wood, probably 15 years ago. It still sounds great.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 8 Aug 2009 7:30 am

Johnny Thomasson wrote:James, I have one exactly like that in my 65 Twin Reverb. Got it from James Wood, probably 15 years ago. It still sounds great.

Tremendous combination, Johnny. Tremendous.

Dan Murphy · Post by **Dan Murphy** » 8 Aug 2009 8:21 am

Does anyone know where to get a 4ohm cone kit ? Ebay doesnt show any listing for a recone kit. Just 8-16 ohm kits

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 8 Aug 2009 8:41 am

Hey Dan, Woody Woodell has them, and 4 ohm, too. (615)-851-7058

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 8 Aug 2009 11:39 am

Just be careful with those single JBLs with a Twin, Dual or Vibrosonic. They are 60 watt speakers. Lots of them were blown in Twins and early Peaveys. That's why stock Twins have two speakers, and why Peavey started making the Black Widows.

Casey Lowmiller · Post by **Casey Lowmiller** » 8 Aug 2009 2:35 pm

I LOVE the Peavey JBLs. Great speakers!!!

I've always heard that the Black Widows were made to withstand Jerry Reed because he was blowing the JBLs in his Session 400s.

How many pickers actually inspired/necessitated a new speaker to be built? AWESOME!!!

Casey

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 8 Aug 2009 5:48 pm

David, the D's were 60 watts.The K's were about 125 I've heard.

Phil Turcotte · Post by **Phil Turcotte** » 8 Aug 2009 7:25 pm

James Morehead wrote:Well if yours looks like mine, you have a mighty fine specimen of a 4 ohm JBL. These speakers were the speaker that appeared in the early chrome knob Session 400's and Peavey LTD 400's. These are the speaker that the Black Widow was patterned after, the BW being rated for higher output ability--LOUD application. Did you hear me?? I said LOOOOUUD applications!!

Thanks for all the info James.

What year(s) were the early Sessions 400's and LTD's made ?

I also have an enquiry about this speaker going-on over on the Lansing Heritage forum. So far, one poster has sized-up the speaker as a version of the K-130.

BTW, mine appears to have been re-coned at some point for 8 ohms, even though the name plate is stamped as 4 ohm. My serial number is just a bit earlier than yours : 14151

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 8 Aug 2009 7:34 pm

Yeah, mine is also a recone. it's an aftermarket kit, and it does not have the 'goods" for steel. It's a cool guitar speaker, but i'll send it off and get Woody to do iit right. Ya gotta watch out for the afer-market stuff--it ain't the real deal, in my book.

I got a perfect pair of original cone K130-8's I use now--love 'em.

Johnny Thomasson · Post by **Johnny Thomasson** » 9 Aug 2009 7:41 am

Mine's a recone too, tho' it was reconed by JBL. That was a few years ago, and I don't know if they still do that or not. It was James Wood's 'spare'... he always carried one.

I'd exercise some caution too with one of these in a high powered amp like a Session 400. That's what James always liked and used (and why he carried a spare). JBLs sound better than any other speaker to my ears, but it's a fact they won't take punishment like a Black Widow. Still, I've leaned into my "Peavey JBL" pretty hard with my 85 watt blackface Twin, and never had a problem so far. The only time I ever blew one in it was my own fault. It was a regular gray frame D-130.

Anyhow... me likey.

Jon Jaffe · Post by **Jon Jaffe** » 9 Aug 2009 1:00 pm

There must be something in the air because I found one this morning. I had picked a spotless Session 400 head, with large Peavey bottom (closed back-bottom ported), and no way to see what the speaker was without pulling it. I emailed Mike Brown and he said computer data did not go back as far as the serial and had no idea what speaker was in it.

I pushed it hard with the Session head, an Evans, and a NV 400. And while I could get it to rattle with high volume on the low end, it was remarkably tight. I pulled it and found it was the Peavey/JBL, and spotless as well.

I always thought that JBL could not keep up with Peavey's demand, not that there were failures with 200 watt amps. Correct me if I am wrong.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 9 Aug 2009 1:16 pm

Good score Jon. Of course, that speaker will never hold up, so you should just send it to me, as I know how to properly dispose of those nasty old JBL's.

Jon Jaffe · Post by **Jon Jaffe** » 9 Aug 2009 2:01 pm

James, I believe I will keep the speaker. However, I plan on breaking down the cab for parts, if anyone needs some. I may sell the head as well. I bought it for my son who uses a 4x10 bottom and will give it a try with his own band next weekend. I hope it is loud enough for him, and will list it in the appropriate section, if he does not want it.

Casey Lowmiller · Post by **Casey Lowmiller** » 9 Aug 2009 7:10 pm

Jon,

Was that the $200 bargain of a lifetime that was on Craigslist???

I saw that one listed...but it was already sold!!!

If it is the same one, you got a remarkable deal. A Session 400 head unit + a speaker cab with a JBL. SCORE!!!

Casey

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Peavey/JBL 15" speaker

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