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CTS speakers [message #4718]

Fri, 20 August 2004 13:55

voided3
Messages: 200
Registered: July 2004

Senior Member

Hello. I was wondering, where can I get a hold of some old 15" 16 ohm CTS speakers as used in Kustom and some Fender amps? Thanks!

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Re: CTS speakers [message #4728 is a reply to message #4718]

Mon, 23 August 2004 09:54

stevem
Messages: 4735
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Hi, log on to cold springs eletrical works, at www.coldspringselectricalworks.com. they have a huge list of used speakers, although you may pay alot.For a cheaper newer speaker the sounds just as good or better, get a new Jensen K series ceramic magnet 15" they make it in 16 ohm.

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Re: CTS speakers [message #4735 is a reply to message #4728]

Tue, 24 August 2004 17:00

voided3
Messages: 200
Registered: July 2004

Senior Member

Aren't the Jensens only for guitar though? I am more interested in bass speakers. Thanks!

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Re: CTS speakers [message #4737 is a reply to message #4718]

Thu, 26 August 2004 07:41

stevem
Messages: 4735
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

No, Jensen 15s are made for bass and organ use also.

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Re: CTS speakers [message #4795 is a reply to message #4737]

Wed, 08 September 2004 11:30

KustomBlues
Messages: 490
Registered: June 2001
Location: Michigan

Senior Member

Take it from me, a bass player and a guitarist; Jensens suck for bass!! They are great for guitar though.

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Re: CTS speakers [message #4801 is a reply to message #4795]

Wed, 08 September 2004 14:29

boogie brother
Messages: 11
Registered: June 2004
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC (USA)

Junior Member

Haven't used the Jensens for bass yet. I recently redid a old 200 cabinet with Jensen 15's (16ohm) from "MOJO". I love that company!!!! They are great guys! They bought the business from a guy who had it before in California and moved it to Winston-Salem, NC. I mean it their "Mojotone" series of speakers relly kick butt! I put 2 12's in a 100 cabinet and loved them! They have others as well. Also, their prices are right on compared to the other replacement part guitar companys. I went to the site mentioned above. Those guys are trippin' !!!! If you really believe that those speakers are worth what those yo-yos are asking, I've got a bridge to sell you............. Very Happy

Boogie Brother

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5107 is a reply to message #4718]

Sat, 20 November 2004 00:25

voided3
Messages: 200
Registered: July 2004

Senior Member

Hello. Bringing up an old post here, but what is the wattage on the above mentioned CTS speakers? I'd like to know how big of an amp I can use to push my 1x15 100 cab and a borrowed pair of 200 series 2x15's. Were there ever any T/S parameters for these speakers posted either? I really like how they sound a lot and I just want to know how loud they can go within safe limits. Thanks!

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5108 is a reply to message #4718]

Sat, 20 November 2004 09:20

stevem
Messages: 4735
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

When CTS went out ,companys like Kustom and ampeg who relied on that square 54oz magnet style speaker for the sound of their portaflex amps that where the main stay in recording records in this country back then, turned to Eminence for a speaker.Eminence made a perfect copy, probibly due to the fact that the engineer who started eminence use to work for CTS.Eminence does not make a square type magnet speaker any longer, but any bass speaker that they do make with around a 54 ounce magnet, a steel, not cast frame, and a responce that goes to about 4000 cycles would replicate the original CTS well. The original CTSs would have been good for about 60 watts and as far as t/s specs go, a new Eminence would have better specs, a higher SPL rating and handle atleast 150 watts.

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5110 is a reply to message #4718]

Sat, 20 November 2004 11:02

stevem
Messages: 4735
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

For people who collect vintage amps like around pre 1965, having the original type speaker with about the correct production date stamped on it will raise the value of the amp alot. Hense the prices seen on that coldspring site. Call me crazy but last year I bought a 1954 Gibson amp for $450, and part of my reson for doing so was that it had the original and working Jensen P15N 15" speaker in it valued at $350.

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5111 is a reply to message #4718]

Sat, 20 November 2004 16:35

voided3
Messages: 200
Registered: July 2004

Senior Member

Hello. Really? Only 60 watts? That's a little disappointing haha. Judging by the specs, is an Eminence Delta-15B (16 ohm) or Delta-15A (8 ohm) a good high-power replacement option then should any unrepairable problems with my speakers come along?
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&PartNumber =290-419&DID=7

Are there any mods that can be done to the original CTS speakers that can give them a boost? They seem to have pretty small voice coils in them, but if you replaced them with one of heavier gauge wire, would that boost the power handling capability (if possible without a recone)? Also, I noticed that the magnets are bolted on and that there is one bolt directly in the center. Would removing that center bolt allow the voice coil to vent out better or just make the magnet fall off? Then again, it would probably be a better option in the long run just to opt for different speakers that were built to take higher wattage, but I really like the sound of the CTS speakers a lot. I guess i'm just a little power hungry, even though i'm not using any huge bass heads with my speakers (i'm using a K200-B6 and an Ampeg SS140C stereo guitar head; i'm using the power amp input on the amp with a separate preamp, and the amp only puts out 70 watts at 8 ohms per side). Has anyone ever done a side by side comparison of new Eminence speakers with the old CTS with the same amp? I'd be curious as to how that sounds. Anyway, thanks for the info!

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5115 is a reply to message #5111]

Mon, 22 November 2004 08:13

C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...

Senior Member

The only way to modify the voice coil of a speaker is to have the speaker reconed. The outer edge of the speaker and the spider around the voice coil are glued onto the frame and the cone and voice coil need to be cut out, literally, and replaced with a new one. Now here comes the next problem. The gap the voice coil sits in is a set distance and cannot be altered. Only the proper size voice coil will fit. Even if you got the proper diameter, the larger wire might interfere in the gap and rub against the magnet structure. Also, the larger wire would be heavier and slow the voice coil down, causing the speaker to loose frequency response. For example, a JBL E130 with an aluminum voice coil, has a frequency response of 40-6000 Hz. A JBL E140, which has the exact same magnet and basket, has a copper voice coil and its frequency response is 30 to 2500 Hz. The power handling of the E140 is more, 200 RMS, 400 Peak to 150 RMS, 300 peak with a lower frequency response. Speaker alteration is best left to professionals who know what will fit and what won't.
Conrad

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5116 is a reply to message #4718]

Tue, 23 November 2004 00:36

voided3
Messages: 200
Registered: July 2004

Senior Member

Hello. Yeah I figured a total recone would have to be done to do that. I'll just leave it, it sounds great. Are you sure though that the T/S parameters say these speakers can only take 60 watts though? My friend's dad who owns a pair of CTS 2x15's used to use them in conjunction with some home made reflex cabinets thorugh a 300 watt amp head with no problems, and I tried them with a 175 watt PA amp and they had absolutely no problems with it (they sounded the best with my Kustom K200-B6 though of course Very Happy

). I don't push them that hard regularly though; they and my 1x15 100 cab usually see between 70 and 100 watts. In my honest (yet non-scientific) opinion, these speakers could be conservatively rated the same as the K200s; 100 watts RMS 200 peak. Any thoughts on that? Thanks again!

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5163 is a reply to message #4718]

Fri, 17 December 2004 12:52

stevem
Messages: 4735
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Most original speakers of that time, unless they where JBL, ALTEC or EVs where rated at 30 to 60 watts at best. The big JBLs and ALTECs where good for 150 RMS, but even that pales to the 1250 watt RMS eminence kilomax series that can be had now.Since you like the way they sound, baby them, do not forget alot of vintage speakers fall apart from dry rot, and playing them full up will only speed up their failing. A good un-blown voice coil does not sound good when its part of a rotted cone or spider.

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5513 is a reply to message #5163]

Wed, 23 February 2005 10:55

Smoke1
Messages: 107
Registered: September 2003
Location: Southern Maryland Solomon...

Senior Member

Is it correct that CTS stands for Chicago Telephone System? Confused

Smoke1 Plays Kustom Amps & Old Tube Amps Loud in S. Maryland

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5515 is a reply to message #4718]

Wed, 23 February 2005 16:49

voided3
Messages: 200
Registered: July 2004

Senior Member

Hello. Yeah, it's either Chicago Telephone Systems or Chicago Telephone Services, something like that from what I hear.

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5521 is a reply to message #5515]

Thu, 24 February 2005 06:59

Smoke1
Messages: 107
Registered: September 2003
Location: Southern Maryland Solomon...

Senior Member

Maybe This is IT??? Chicago Telephone Supply ??? Confused

Smoke1 Plays Kustom Amps & Old Tube Amps Loud in S. Maryland

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5564 is a reply to message #4718]

Sun, 06 March 2005 21:43

voided3
Messages: 200
Registered: July 2004

Senior Member

Hello. I have and have worked on many cabinets with vintage CTS speakers (pair of Kustom 2x15's, a Kustom 1x15", a Cordovox rotating speaker, a Traynor 2x15 cab, a Kalamazoo combo amp, and a pair of Fender 4x10 PA columns) and I was wondering, were these speakers availiable for individual sale or only availiable in an amplifier? If they were sold individually, was there any literature availiable detailing different models with their specs? I just find it strange that these speakers were so widespread yet hardly promoted in any way (not to mention I like their characteristic warm sound with a little bark on the side). Thanks!

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5565 is a reply to message #4718]

Mon, 07 March 2005 08:33

stevem
Messages: 4735
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

It seems that their is no alot of info around about CTS, although I have never put time into finding out more than what has come my way, and I have heard different statements as to when the person left CTS to start the Eminince company. Some say was 1969 some say early 70s,Maybe the enginner left in 69, but their speaker production stopped in the 70s.I have all so heard that they may still be around, but in a different form.Someone told me that they bought the motorola line of Pizo tweeters and driver and sell those now.But as far as the specs on the speakers, mabe Bud Ross can give some info the next time someone talks to him?

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5569 is a reply to message #4718]

Mon, 07 March 2005 16:35

voided3
Messages: 200
Registered: July 2004

Senior Member

Hello. The CTS to Eminence change must have occured in the mid to late 70's since I have a modded Traynor 2x15 with a CTS from '74 (if I read the faded number correctly). But yeah, good speakers, little info. I wonder if the people at Eminence would have any info on it...hmm. Thanks!

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5572 is a reply to message #5569]

Mon, 07 March 2005 22:04

QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003

Senior Member

I know that they are tough good sounding old speakers.

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5574 is a reply to message #5565]

Mon, 07 March 2005 23:20

BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky

Senior Member

CTS was making speakers in Paducah, KY ...near my home in the 60s and 70s. I do not know if they had other plants. When we met Bud in 2000 and I told him where I was from he immediately said "CTS speakers". There is a small speaker place out in the sticks called Creedence speakers but it is almost impossible to talk to anyone there. Every time you call to speak to someone you are told....."he is in a meeting" If this is true...it is no wonder you never hear of them because they are always meeting and never doing anything else! These were supposed to be some of the CTS folks that also went out on their own.....or that is the local story. BC

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5575 is a reply to message #4718]

Tue, 08 March 2005 08:37

stevem
Messages: 4735
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

I looked back thru some of my info last night(notes from reading other things)and it was a engineer who left CTS TO start eminemce,In fact as I write this I just went to the eminence site for info, and Bob Gault started Eminence in 1966. So I guess CTS made speakers into the early 70s, and this makes sence, since Fender, one of the largest users still at that time went to using more speakers made by Oxford in their amps.

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5579 is a reply to message #5575]

Tue, 08 March 2005 22:37

BC
Messages: 583
Registered: March 2000
Location: Kentucky

Senior Member

I just called a guy whose father worked at CTS in Paducah.....he thinks the Paducah location shut down in 77 or 78. He said the operation was moved to Matamoros, Mexico near Brownsville, TX about that time.

The old CTS building is being used as a warehouse last I heard. I was in the buiding in the early 80s and some guy had three new 76 Cadillac Eldorados stored in one section of it. Maybe I should drive by and get some pics for posterity! BC

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Re: CTS speakers [message #5582 is a reply to message #5579]

Wed, 09 March 2005 17:42

QModer
Messages: 413
Registered: June 2003

Senior Member

Thats strange that its still there. But I guess there are lots of locked up factories. I have seen a lot of those locked and chained places in Memphis near the quarter mile track. Lots of lives were lived there. Wonder why CTS would ever go out of business anyway. They were sure good speakers. It would be cool if you could put up some pics of it BC.

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