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Wanted: Replacement for 12" CTS speakers [message #29363]

Wed, 20 November 2024 21:21

Kustom14
Messages: 9
Registered: May 2024
Location: Batavia, Ohio

Junior Member

I really love the CTS speakers in 2x12 cabs, but they are hard to come by. I seem to get the best combination of lows-and-highs from them. But given they are tough to find, I'm looking for suggestions from the group for the nearest modern replacement. I've tried others, including Eminence Legend 1258s, but they're not quite what I'm after (Fogerty/Les Paul/Early Creedence tone). The CTS speakers work really well with K100 and K150 heads.

Thoughts?

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Re: Wanted: Replacement for 12" CTS speakers [message #29364 is a reply to message #29363]

Thu, 21 November 2024 05:45

stevem
Messages: 4828
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

Do the CTS 12" drivers your taking about have a Aluminum voice coil cover ?

That in and of itself will make a difference as compared to any modern replacement driver.

If the CTS drivers your talking about have a paper voice coil cover with a mesh lined hole at its center then that is a CTS bass driver, not a guitar driver.

Also note that even if you could find a very low usage CTS driver it will not sound the same as a 50 year old driver that has been played thru no less a modern new driver from whoever.

New speakers and very low usage old drivers need to be broken in andt there are ways to speed that up without playing thru them for months on end.

Also the Creedence 6 string guys played thru 15" drivers that where JBL or Altec drivers from what I have seen over the decades and your not in anyway shape or form getting that out of a vintage CTS or vintage Jensen driver

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Re: Wanted: Replacement for 12" CTS speakers [message #29367 is a reply to message #29364]

Thu, 21 November 2024 14:02

Kustom14
Messages: 9
Registered: May 2024
Location: Batavia, Ohio

Junior Member

Creedence played through 2x15 cabs in concert, but not always in the studio. They made use of K100s/2x12 too, as well as Fender Vibrolux, etc.

Regardless, I DO get a good approximation of the CCR/Fogerty tone with CTS in a 2x12 cab, played through a Les Paul Custom. I have the K200 head and 2x15 cabs, but that won't do in a home setting. They are pretty much for display only.

This is the best combination I've tried for home use, but I'd like to either get more of them for backup or get a modern equivalent. It gives me a full, rich bass tone, and the highs are crisp as well.

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Re: Wanted: Replacement for 12" CTS speakers [message #29368 is a reply to message #29363]

Fri, 22 November 2024 12:42

mathias61
Messages: 29
Registered: February 2016
Location: belgium

Junior Member

Hi, I have read that John Fogerty had 2 x 15" JBL D130's in his Kustom Cabinet at the time.

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Re: Wanted: Replacement for 12" CTS speakers [message #29473 is a reply to message #29363]

Fri, 07 March 2025 06:51

stevem
Messages: 4828
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY

Senior Member

If you had a 2-15” cab back then purchased for guitar usage then the base line driver was a top of the Jensen line C15L model, which had a Ciramic magnet .

The next upgrade was a Altec Lansing A15 model which had a Alinco magnet.

The next upgrade was the James B Lansing D130 mode, which also had a Alinco magnet.

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