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G15A speakers [message #8131]

Mon, 29 January 2007 22:03

el84
Messages: 2
Registered: January 2007

Junior Member

I'm trying to find the Altec-Lansing number for the Kustom G15A speaker to get at the Thiele-Small data on them. Any clues ?

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Re: G15A speakers [message #8135 is a reply to message #8131]

Tue, 30 January 2007 07:47

stevem
Messages: 4745
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

The g15a was a 418B model altec lansing driver with a alinco magnet, you can get its specs from the unofficial altec lansing site.Great sounding driver I`ve got 8 of them, if I recall right they go from 30Hz to 5000Hz pretty flat and are good all the way to 8000 and they will take 100 watts RMS, but if you have one witha original cone I would not push it at more than 80.

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Re: G15A speakers [message #8137 is a reply to message #8135]

Tue, 30 January 2007 09:21

daveobergoenner@gmail.com
Messages: 104
Registered: January 2007
Location: Missouri

Senior Member

OK, I have a related question, for Steve, or anyone else with experence with these...

Did Kustom use any of the Altec 421 drivers?

How would you compare those to the 418b?

I think Ampeg used the 421(A or H?) as their upgrade speaker to the CTS in the B-15.

How do you think those Altec drivers compare to the CTS bass speakers supplied with the Kustoms?

Dave O.

Dave 0 Wall-O-Bass
Webpage - <a href="http://webpages.charter.net/daveobieone/" target="_blank">http://webpages.charter.net/daveobieone/</a >

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Re: G15A speakers [message #8139 is a reply to message #8131]

Tue, 30 January 2007 12:48

stevem
Messages: 4745
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

I do not know when the 421a driver came into the altec lansing product line ans how that would relate to the year span you could get them in kustoms, but I have seen kustoms with them in it, but I do not know if they where orignal to the cabinet although the speaker cabinet jack plate did say altec.
I do know that the reconing kit for a 418 and a 421 are interchangable, and some 418s had steel voice coil domes and some had aluminum.

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Re: G15A speakers [message #8141 is a reply to message #8139]

Tue, 30 January 2007 16:44

BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky

Senior Member

I do not know about the 200 series......but I know the 250 series used 418B in the 215A (Altec) cabinets and 421A in the 215AB (Altec Bass) cabinets.My feeling is that they always used the 421 for bass and 418 for guitar....as Kustom loaded D-130 for guitar and D-140 for bass in the JBL cabs. Dan once had an SC 1x15 combo with a 421 if I remember correctly. I have non original 421s in a 250 series 2x15 cabinet and in a 100 series 1x15 and they sound great. BC Cool

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Re: G15A speakers [message #8145 is a reply to message #8131]

Wed, 31 January 2007 06:51

stevem
Messages: 4745
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Well let me add add some mystery to the mix.yesterday I recived the altec 418 I got off ebay last week, its an original from a kustom cabinet, its got the cast black frame and no bell cover and a kustom by ross sticker with slip on spade connections not the more normal round /push spring terminal.
Now from what I understand the kustom by Ross era ended in 1968, and this altec has a 391104 cast date which would make it a 1961 driver or a 1971 driver in which case it should not have a kustom by Ross sticker.So I`am thinking this has to be out of a 1961 Kustom??
Today I am going to call the guy up I got it from to see if the cabinet he pulled it out of had port tubes or not, to at least pin the drivers age down to the early to mid 60`s.
Real strange I gotta say!

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Re: G15A speakers [message #8153 is a reply to message #8131]

Wed, 31 January 2007 22:55

el84
Messages: 2
Registered: January 2007

Junior Member

Thanks Steve,
The unofficial altec page lists the 418-8h and 418-8lf. Other info on that site shows the same original part no. for the 418B and the 418-8HII, so I'll try using the Thiele-Small data for the 418-8H. The vintage products section of altecpro.com has the original spec. sheet for the 418B and shows frequency response of 45-8000 hz and 100 W rms power handling. I'm going to try running a keyboard through the 418's and see what happens. Looks like they might be a little weak on the lowest octave or so of the piano but what the heck. What was the application of these speakers in the Kustom line?

John el84

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Re: G15A speakers [message #8154 is a reply to message #8131]

Thu, 01 February 2007 06:44

stevem
Messages: 4745
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

You will probibly have to only make up 3DB or so with the bass control on the amp to bring up those lows a bit.If you are running 2 of these drivers you should realy be having a smile on your face when you hear them.

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Re: G15A speakers [message #8155 is a reply to message #8131]

Thu, 01 February 2007 06:50

stevem
Messages: 4745
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Kustom used them for guitar.I called my uncle up last night, who had a music store in the 60`s and 70`s, and since he was a bass player he got a Kustom franchise due to the fact that they where selling like mad (good for income), and also to get for himself a double 2-15 k200 rig loaded with altc 421a`s. Even a bass with dead strings sounds good thru 4 of those drivers!

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