Anyone ever used an amp with an 18" speaker?

Don Benoit · Post by **Don Benoit** » 9 Oct 2005 1:44 pm

Just curious. Has anyone ever used an amplifier with an 18" speaker as a steel guitar amplifier?
Don

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http://www.steelguitar.ca

[This message was edited by Don Benoit on 09 October 2005 at 02:45 PM.][This message was edited by Don Benoit on 09 October 2005 at 02:45 PM.]

Bill Crook · Post by **Bill Crook** » 12 Oct 2005 6:42 am

I did, one time............... didn't care for it.

Way too much bass, NO highs, and very little mid-range.

The amp was a "Fender" Prinston Reverb.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 12 Oct 2005 7:27 am

I was told (don't know if it's true) that the second model of the Session 500 had a larger size cabinet so it would accomodate an 18" speaker. I don't think they ever went into production with an 18", just left it with the 15".

Bill Ferguson · Post by **Bill Ferguson** » 12 Oct 2005 10:35 am

Peavey did product the Session 500 with an 18 speaker. Don't know how many they made.

I had one for a while and it sounded great, I just couldn't pick it up.

Bill

Roger Kelly · Post by **Roger Kelly** » 12 Oct 2005 4:20 pm

A buddy of mine's Father had a Jukebox and Pin Ball Business back in the 50's and 60's and most of his Jukeboxes, which were Wurlitzer and Rock-Ola, had 18" Speakers in them. I listened to a LOT of Ray Price, Hank Williams, Kitty Wells and Hank Thompson, to name a few, through those 18" speakers. I'd think they would make good instrument speakers if you didn't mind the extra weight.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 13 Oct 2005 2:09 am

I worked for a juke box company in the mid 60's (and did repair). Those speakers wouldn't really be good for a instrument amp. First they wouldn't handle the power and second like most "hi fi" or "stereo" speakers they are not really suited (voiced) for musical instruments.

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 13 Oct 2005 3:12 am

I once experimented with an amp with an18" spkr, I can't remember the make of the amp. I was using an echoplex at that time. Everything was acceptable on E9 and was fine on whatever 6th I was using at the time. CC

Don Walters · Post by **Don Walters** » 13 Oct 2005 8:38 am

My back hurts just thinking about a Session 500 with an 18" speaker ...

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 13 Oct 2005 10:30 am

I may be wrong, but I think it would need a lot of power to make it work. Usually the bass frequencies use up the power first and then mids and high end gets what's left; at least, that's the way it seems to me.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 13 Oct 2005 1:03 pm

I don't think a larger speaker requires more power. In fact the opposite should be true. A larger speaker will be more efficient for the lows. A stiff heavy duty cone might be less efficient and require more power; however, stiff cones are usually used with larger more powerful magnets. The greater efficiency of the larger magnet might overcompensate for the stiff cone, so a heavy duty speaker might be more efficient.

The main difference a larger speaker makes is the difference in voice. The whole spectrum of sound will seem to be shifted deeper, because the larger speaker is more efficient (louder) for the lows and low-mids, and less efficient for the highs and high-mids. All typical instrument speakers (8" or larger) are woofer size and inefficient for highs. Therefore, they automatically roll off the highs and de-emphasize the high-mids. This usually sounds good with solid-body guitars with magnetic pickups. Replacing the missing highs and mids with a tweeter usually sounds too bright and harsh. A metal dustcap restores some, but not all, of the highs.

Since I love the mellow mids and fat bottom of a 15" speaker for steel, I'm wondering what an 18" sounds like. The few 18" speakers I see on the market today are bass speakers or PA woofers. I'm not sure they would have adequate highs. However, maybe Peavey made their own? With a metal dustcap and curved shallow basket cone, it might sound fantastic. Can you imagine playing through two of them?! [This message was edited by David Doggett on 13 October 2005 at 02:04 PM.]

Jerry Van Hoose · Post by **Jerry Van Hoose** » 13 Oct 2005 4:41 pm

Although I've never used an amplifier with an 18" speaker, I was once on tour with an artist that used a complete Peavey sound syetem which included 18" black widow equipped bass bins (did I spell that correctly?) and I ran direct out of my Profex II (mono) and really liked the sound that I got, both in the mains & the monitors.