JBL D120F

[SILVERGUN]

I harvested this from an early 80's Fender 30 (which is basically a Deluxe Reverb but with added overdrive)
I think it sounds good clean but is not very good with overdrive.
The guy I got the amp from says his uncle 'special ordered' it with the JBL in there...(?)
It's not for me and I'd like to see someone get it who will actually appreciate it.
Just looking to get some thoughts about possible value and see if there is any interest before I list it on Ebay...there are a couple current listings and they are all over the place pricewise.
serial number #40767
The surround is painted yellow and the doping looks a little sloppy and is still tacky.
  
 

[sluckey]

Check the completed auctions to see what they are selling for.

[SILVERGUN]

Good call. Man, what a wide range of results..
Everything from $75 for one that looks like someone removed the cone with a sledge hammer, up to about $750 if I can prove Duane Allman played out of it.
 
This is my favorite of the current listings:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/JBL-D120F-12-Vintage-Signature-Speaker-Monitor-8-Ohms-D-120F-D-120F-/252315711919?hash=item3abf3039af:g:qRwAAOSwZ8ZW4ZbI
 
 

[Willabe]

Aw, come on, why are you laughing? If you buy it at $899.98 you save $678.94 that's 43% off.     

[HotBluePlates]

I bought an original, near perfect JBL D130 on eBay for $120-130 (can't recall precisely). So that should give you a typical range, though up to $150 or so would be the upper end of typical.

I notice that most of the completed listing fall around $100-120/ea for the D120F. Then there's another batch that are closer to $200/ea, and I can't tell exactly why.

There's an odd miss-mash of values for original cone vs recones on eBay. Don't know why as typically good, original cones fetch more.

When I got my JBL, the seller did some very awesome packaging: He had a plywood "baffleboard" with mounting screws installed, to which the speaker was bolted. No hole cut in the board, so the cone & dome were protected. Then that was lowered into a cardboard box with the exact same internal length/width dimensions as the board. I don't recall if he double-boxed, but might have.

If you sell on eBay, I'd encourage you to take your photos, then box the thing however you'll actually ship it and get accurate size/weight info. Otherwise, there's a good chance eBay will underestimate your shipping costs. Come to think of it, a local sale via craigslist might be a better move...

I'd be interested, but have too many partially-complete projects right now to take on anything new. 

[jojokeo]

Just saw the speaker's been discounted to $784, 45% off as of 4/19. What a steal 

I got a D120 F a while back that was coneless from Weber where the winner had to option for whatever he wanted included for the recone. I think I paid a little over $200? Not sure exactly but these routinely go for $300 or more when I watched them for a while. Maybe people like orange better than yellow? I haven't played it in a while but remember it sounding not too bad with overdrive? Better than the reputation for this anyway. Like HBP (too many various projects) I've got a Princeton Reverb chassis & all parts to restore back to glory (ala MScaggs) with a nice aftermarket 12" cab that this gem may fit the bill for?

[Ed_Chambley]

Have you sold it?  I would like to have it, but I just ran across a EV12L new and I had to shell out $25 whole dollars.  Flea Market gem.  No sticker, just markings so it pays to get a touch on knowledge on speakers.  But hell, anyone should know a quality speaker when they see it.


  PM me if you still have it.  I have 2 already so I really do not need it, but if I only got things I needed I would not be a forum member.

[SILVERGUN]

Still have it.
I'm nervous to sell it because I couldn't tell if it has a problem. I don't have a solid method for testing speakers and I am wondering if what I was hearing with overdrive was somehow the speaker showing a flaw. I honestly don't have enough experience with failing speakers to diagnose what I thought I was hearing.

Maybe I could talk you into a favor??
I'll ship it to you so you can test it and make a decision based on what you hear, and if you don't want it just send it back and give me your advice on how to handle it. I've just been too busy to give it the attention it deserves.
It's just sitting here.....and I'm not much of an Ebay/Craigslist shark

[Ed_Chambley]

Still have it.
I'm nervous to sell it because I couldn't tell if it has a problem. I don't have a solid method for testing speakers and I am wondering if what I was hearing with overdrive was somehow the speaker showing a flaw. I honestly don't have enough experience with failing speakers to diagnose what I thought I was hearing.

Maybe I could talk you into a favor??
I'll ship it to you so you can test it and make a decision based on what you hear, and if you don't want it just send it back and give me your advice on how to handle it. I've just been too busy to give it the attention it deserves.
It's just sitting here.....and I'm not much of an Ebay/Craigslist shark

Trust me don't ya?


Testing a JBL is pretty easy, but a lot were used by Bass players.  I probably don't need it like I said.  If you got time ship it on.  With a JBL and a lower watt amp, say up to 40 watts it should let you hear the amp with very little coloration.


At low volume it should have a HiFi feel to it with a clean amp.  IMO a pair of JBL like these in a Fender Twin is beautiful and should hold together until the tubes begin to distort.  No they are not for playing an over driven signal, but I will say they are one of the best speakers to hear what tubes sound like.