Any opinion on who makes a better speaker for guitar? Have the opportunity to by a set of either for $200 just need to know which is the better brand of speaker. What about the D-130 as well. Thanks for the info.
stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY
Senior Member
Better is very subjective to your own ears!
What model Jensen 15?
The Alinco magnets on the 130s make for nice smoth compression when played loud enough, and speaking of loud there SPL rating is for sure higher than the Kustom driver, no sure about the Jensen without knowing what model.
When it comes to being played with distortion I far and away perfere a driver without a aluminum dust cover for smother none ice pick top end.
I have no idea about the Jensens other than they are in a kustom 2-15 cabinet and have the square magnet on them.....plate even says Jensen's on the cabinet. I prefer a clean, smooth sound......if I want distortion a fuzz box with do that for me.
stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY
Senior Member
If it's a square magnet Jensen then they are rare top of the Jensen line C15L model.
These have a fairly thick cone and sound like a cross between the normal Bass CTS driver that they used and a Jensen C12N driver.
The top is a bit subdued!
Well the Jensen's got sold unfortunately so guess I will hold out for a set of JBL's......don't think I'll bother re-coning my KEI's, sell them for what I can get and let someone else do it. Thanks for the input.
Kustom_Bart Messages: 601 Registered: October 2010 Location: Greenville, MichiGUN
Senior Member
mine are hanging on the wall just the empty frames with the cone slot cleaned and taped over so no junk can get in the magnet slot. Not really worth anything as they cost 90.00+ to recone and you would be hard pressed to get that for them when they are done.
Kustom_Bart Messages: 601 Registered: October 2010 Location: Greenville, MichiGUN
Senior Member
16 ohm JBLS with the Kustom stamp are tough to find as far as that goes any 16 ohm JBL is like a needle in a hey stack to find. I have a few spares and a 5-6 altecs 421's and 418's bt have been collecting them back when people didn't want them like they do now or not near as many people at least. That way I can always replace one if I have one go out in my PA cabs or want to make a 2 x 15 cab into a JBL or Altec cab. I love the Altecs above all. The JBL's sound great for a bass and for subs, but if you take the center cap off and change them out for a cloth or paper cap it gets rid of the tinny sound and they sound even better, but just don't look as good...lol!
Kustom_Bart Messages: 601 Registered: October 2010 Location: Greenville, MichiGUN
Senior Member
Also if you can get a recone kit for them, it is simple to recone them yourself if you have some basic hand tools and a little bit of time. I have done a bunch of Altec 421's they have held up great and sound great as well. If you want a good place to get parts and info, I would be happy to walk you through the process.
I couldn't find anyone that offered the re-cone kits for the KEI's. The place in Mn that offered to rebuild them didn't say anything about a repair kit either only that they could repair them at a hefty price.
stevem Messages: 4733 Registered: June 2004 Location: NY
Senior Member
It looks like Ted Weber sells the parts to recone both the C15L and the CTS which is the KEI but for the metal dome, but you could add a JBL or Altec dome and the parts for either will still not top 20 bucks without the needed glue.