15" Speaker Recommendations

[W5FH]

Getting ready for two builds, both in blackface 1x15 Vibroverb combo cabinets -
     One will be for a bass amplifier (bass, upright bass, possibly other instruments), the other for lead guitar (mostly clean to moderate crunch, no heavy metal). Wanted recommendations on speakers if this is not too generalized. Thanks.

[Bieworm]

I used a weber bass15 for an ampeg B15 build some time ago.  Great speaker!

[tubeswell]

I've used 50W Weber 15F150 (with the Kapton coil) with great success. https://www.tedweber.com/15f150/


(Don't get the 30W version unless you're going to run a really low-powered amp. The Nomex voice coil former in the 30W version is different from the 50W model, and is prone to outgassing when it overheats - causing bubbling and jamming inside the pole gap.)

[Willabe]

For guitar, I have a WGS/Warehouse Guitar Speakers 15" alnico, I love it. They also so make a ceramic version that costs less than the alnico. (It's says discontinued for the alnico 15" on their web store page, but I spoke with them a few weeks ago and they told me they are now able to get the parts they need to build them again and will be selling them again.)

https://wgsusa.com/g15a

https://wgsusa.com/g15c

And guys love the Emience Legend ceramic 15". It's on sale for $144.99. Their web site says their out of stock and says you can pre-order.
Doesn't say if you still get the sale price if you pre-order.

https://eminence.com/collections/legend-guitar-series/products/legend_1518

[W5FH]

Thanks all-
    I am not very knowlegeable on speakers, thanks again.

[NewYorker]

If WGS is resuming production of their G15A, then give it serious consideration.

Background ...

Way back in the day (early 1970's) I was learning to play and cobbled together an Allen Organ C3 tube amp and a Jensen K310 HiFi speaker to use as a guitar amp.  The K310 was a coaxial 15" LF/HF speaker, and I eventually blew out the HF driver.

Circumstances took ever, and the K310 languished in my mother's basement for 40+ years.

I rescued the K310 several years ago, and decided to turn it into a Jensen P15Q, which was essentially the LF portion of the K310.  After stripping off the non-functioning HF driver and cleaning up the frame, I had Bill Legall at Miller Sound re-cone it.  The original smooth cone was replaced with a ribbed cone with a multi-fold surround.  The driving amp was a 10-watt Allen Chihuahua, and the result sounded outstanding.  Kind of hi-fi sounding, with a cool, squishy compression.  On the downside, not very efficient and kind of quiet.  And anything much more than 10 watts would probably blow it.

Looking for a similar sound, I ended up getting a WGS G15A, which, on paper, seemed to be similar to the P15Q, but more efficient and louder.

End result - the G15A sounds a lot like a P15Q-clone.  Louder, and more gnarly; more mid-rangey, and less compressive.

I still have both speakers.  The Jensen is back in the cab now.

Ed

[echuta13]

My personal favorite is the Eminence Legend 1518.  Description from Eminence is pretty close: "Higher power, vintage guitar tone.  Big low-end, with a mellow, but singing top end. Medium break-up modes."
The bottom is full but firm.  Not boomy at all.  It has a super high efficiency at 103db which means you will definitely get more volume out of your amp if you're using something less efficient (that could be a bad thing).It's a really good fit for most Fendery style amps (tweed & blackface), haven't really paired it with anything else so YMMV.

[mresistor]

If you can find one an Electrovoice EVM-15L series II is a great speaker.  I played a lot of guiar amps through one, I did have two, and I decided to sell them and I have regreted that ever since. They were maybe the cleanest speakers I have ever played. A JBL 15 would be a good choice too, and these are easily reconed if necessary.


example https://reverb.com/item/961104-electro-voice-evm-15l-series-ii


And the EVM-15L II are considered bass speakers, with extended range, so will work for bass too. , http://www.mypicsonline.net/archive/archives.telex.com/archives/EV/Speakers/EDS/EVM-15L%20Series%20II%20EDS.pdf

[Purgasound]

If you want to go old school you can find old CTS squareback speakers.  They would have been in a B15 and a Bassman respectively. Although I didn't like them for guitar.  It may have been the cabinet but I thought a 2x15 sounded great with bass guitar through a Bassman.
I have one from '69 I can sell.
For a 2x15 refurbish I ended up getting two '70 CTS 15" drivers and the '69 is leftover.

For guitar I like the Celestion Fullback 15"

[NewYorker]

If you want to go old school you can find old CTS squareback speakers.  They would have been in a B15 and a Bassman respectively. Although I didn't like them for guitar.  It may have been the cabinet but I thought a 2x15 sounded great with bass guitar through a Bassman.
I have one from '69 I can sell.
For a 2x15 refurbish I ended up getting two '70 CTS 15" drivers and the '69 is leftover.

For guitar I like the Celestion Fullback 15"

This goes away back, but I had a 1970-ish Ampeg with the CTS square-magnet 15".  Great for bass, terrible for guitar.  Ironically, it seemed too bright for guitar; the problem likely was ragged upper-mid / treble response.  Swapping-in another 15" (an EV SRO, I think) smoothed things out for guitar.

Then again, that was a while ago.

Ed