Which speaker for SS rig

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 3 Jan 2014 7:22 am

Which speaker is preferred for a stereo steel rig, a D-130F, or K-130. I've heard a lot about the Telonics, but have not heard one. I have both of the JBL's, and a BW 1501 now, and I'm trying to decide which JBL to run with the BW.

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 3 Jan 2014 7:28 am

Hello Gary;
On the JBL's I would suggest the K-130 because it can handle more power/watts than the D-130F can.
Also the Telonics Neo is modeled after the K-130 JBL but a lot lighter weight speaker - it's your choice.
Thanks ... Ron

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 3 Jan 2014 8:57 am

Thanks Ron, I think I'll use the K130 with the BW until I can save for a Telonics.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 3 Jan 2014 11:10 am

The Telonics is "modeled" after the JBL in that the guys have put a lot of effort into replicating the sound, but it has a much smaller magnet structure and as such is not so efficient as the JBL, i.e. you will have to turn your amp up a bit to get the same volume from the Telonics speaker.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 3 Jan 2014 11:41 am

Also keep in mind that a "modeled after" JBL is not the same as an actual JBL. After swapping around a bunch of speakers I have found that nothing sounds like an original JBL except and original JBL. My current favorite is the D-130F. It sounds perfect.I was just hanging with a full time player who just went through the same thing. Old JBLs are highly sought after around here. I could make a long list of famous Texas players who swear by them.

You already have the best speakers ever made for pedalsteel and they are not making any more of them. But if you decide you want to downgrade with some modern speaker I'll buy the D-130F from you right now.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 3 Jan 2014 11:49 am

BTW: The speaker of choice for many top Nashville players is the Peavey BW. Paul Franklin, Wayne Dahl and on and on. The Nashville guys can get anything they want and have tried everything and a bunch of them go for the BW.

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 3 Jan 2014 12:08 pm

Thanks Bob I'll let you know if I decide to sell it.

Warren Tavernia · Post by **Warren Tavernia** » 7 Jan 2014 2:19 pm

gentlemen I have to respectfully differ on the telonics remark of having to turn up the amp with the telonics speaker I just installed it in my SK and the volume controls are still in the same place. but the telonics being a different speaker I had to change the EQ. no complaints here I can now hear every note. warren

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 7 Jan 2014 3:27 pm

I use a closed back Telonics Cab with a BW-1501-4 and an open backed Tel cab with the 15" Telonics speaker and it is a stunning combination .. I prefer the Telonics over the JBL for a number of reasons, the obvious one being the weight.

Ron Whitworth · Post by **Ron Whitworth** » 7 Jan 2014 4:03 pm

Hi Warren;
I found the same exact thing when switching between the JBL K series & the Telonics speaker as you
stated above.
I have tried several clones of the JBL speakers ( I have used JBL speakers for years & love them ).

I am just saying if you like that JBL sound & want less weight to carry then I recommend the Telonics -
it has the closest sound to the JBL ( after you tweak your amp controls some ) & I did not have to move the volume up either.

Dave's thinking on the Telonics speakers was he could not get a rebuilt that would hold up power wise, reliable, dependable & sound like an original JBL.
The reconed speakers just sound a little different to some of us.
He even went as far as to have one of his men who works for him learn how to do a total recone to include remagging the magnet.
All of this ended up very costly by the time you added in shipping a used speaker to & from the Telonics company.
Dave told me in the beginning he did not want to get into the speaker business but his customers kept asking & if you know Dave - well, enough said there.
He was over 2 years working with Eminence speaker company to get the sound that they have arrived at & not just using ears alone -
Telonics has the equipment to test all of their products all the way to failure limits.

I said all of that to say this -
Here is another speaker that will make some of the steel players happy - of course not everybody -
but at least you have another choice now.

Sorry for the long winded post but many folks do not know these facts.

In the end it is still your choice -
play what you like & be happy.
Happy Picken'
Ron

Ken Metcalf · Post by **Ken Metcalf** » 7 Jan 2014 5:38 pm

I like the Telonics speakers.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 13 Jan 2014 6:34 pm

i've come to the thinking that the reason my bw 15's sound so good 'to me' is because i've played 'my sound' through them for many years. my nash400 has an older silver dome magnet 1502-4, and my ltd400 has that same style mag..it's a 1501-4...i replaced the spider web bw15 ages ago.. these were just the standard speaker back then, but i forget that that was 30 yrs ago. that's a long time for a speaker to settle in with me coming through it. the cabinets probably age to your tone also.