Paul Franklin PF Speaker Opinions

[Bob Snelgrove]

How would you compare to Black Widow, Stock N 112, TT, etc?

Also, difference between PF 350 and PF 400?

thx

bob

[Karen Sarkisian]

I just replaced my TT12 with a PF speaker. To me the PF sounds fuller to me but it is quite a bit heavier than the TT. Both are excellent speakers but w my surgical steel amp I prefer the PF. I also have a Quilter tone block which I haven’t tried w the of speaker. It sounds excellent w the TT12 that it came with. The PF has a huge magnet on it which makes it very heavy but it sounds more full and balancedd to me w my SS head. It may be a tad louder as well. Ii think the 400 is 15” while the 350 is 12”. Not bashing the TT here as it is a great speaker but to me the PF sounds fuller and more balanced.

[Dale Rottacker]

I just replaced my TT12 with a PF speaker. To me the PF sounds fuller to me but it is quite a bit heavier than the TT. Both are excellent speakers but w my surgical steel amp I prefer the PF. I also have a Quilter tone block which I haven’t tried w the of speaker. It sounds excellent w the TT12 that it came with. The PF has a huge magnet on it which makes it very heavy but it sounds more full and balancedd to me w my SS head. It may be a tad louder as well. Ii think the 400 is 15” while the 350 is 12”. Not bashing the TT here as it is a great speaker but to me the PF sounds fuller and more balanced.

I wasn't looking to replace my TT12 with a PF speaker, but when I friend of mine was selling one, I grabbed it. It's been a year or more? since I swapped my TT12 for the PF350 in my Quilter 202 Combo, so my exact recollections are a bit blurred. That said, aside for it being MUCH heavier than the TT12, It seems to be a bit warmer, maybe creamier, but also with some really nice sparkle to it as well, Rich w/Bite. So now I have the PF350 in my Quilter 12" Cabinet and the TT15 in my 15" Quilter Cabinet sitting underneath it. I love the combination and except for the number of "grace" notes I tend to hit, I play with a big smile on my face.

[Bob Snelgrove]

Thanks, My N 112 w/ fox mod is so touchy for mids and highs. The slightest move on the shift knob makes way to much difference. Compared to my Session/LTD 400's, I find it very difficult to dial out the harshness without sounding muddy.

I need to add that I have a "stock" Blue Marvel speaker, NOT the OEM factory speaker so that could be part of the problem

bob

[Jack Stanton]

My two cents- I have no experience with either speaker in the Nash 112 but have used both speakers in my Little Walter 89. I found the TT-12 VERY mid forward with a tight low end and not much chime. The PF 12 is much more balanced to my ears, more lows and highs, but still very defined in the mids. Of course, it's apples and oranges, TT is much lighter and cheaper, PF is heavy and more $$$. I sold the TT..
Thank said, one of the best recorded tones I ever got was with the TT.. but that was before I had the PF.
YMMV!

[Larry Ball]

Here is a great combo “Head weights 16 # and Speaker Cabinet (Eminence 15”) 21#. Clarity is beyond expectations…

[David Wren]

Bob, I have a BW 1501, in a separate cab.... and it has always been my go to for tone....

That said, I recently bought a P2P "Bad Dawg" tube amp (great amp BTW!)... and strangely enough it sounds much better with the PF350, even though it's a 12" speaker. IMHO, the PF350 sounds very much like a reissue of the old EV "SRO" 12" speakers... which were also just great speakers.

Hope this helps.

[Bob Snelgrove]

Bob, I have a BW 1501, in a separate cab.... and it has always been my go to for tone....

That said, I recently bought a P2P "Bad Dawg" tube amp (great amp BTW!)... and strangely enough it sounds much better with the PF350, even though it's a 12" speaker. IMHO, the PF350 sounds very much like a reissue of the old EV "SRO" 12" speakers... which were also just great speakers.

Hope this helps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV9Zb4op8wQ

[Mitchell Smithey]

I’ve been playing D130s most of my life. Now i use the PF 350, it’s better for me. Sounds great but heavy!

[Tommy Boswell]

How would you compare to Black Widow, Stock N 112, TT, etc?

Also, difference between PF 350 and PF 400?

thx

bob

I had matching 12 and 15 inch cabs loaded with a PF350 and a PF400. Together the sound was huge, but one at a time I preferred the PF350. So I sold the PF400 and loaded another PF350 in the 15 inch cab using a baffle reducer. That cab seems to have a stronger bottom end due to the extra volume I guess.

Playing through a pair of PF350s gives me what I want to hear.

And for what it's worth, I've tried all the Neo mag speakers. I keep going back to the PF350.

[Tommy Boswell]

As for the difference between PF350 and PF400, I think what my ears heard can also be seen on the frequency response graft. The PF400 had more bottom end and more top end. But overall I preferred the PF350. It does need some break-in time. One of the new ones was a little harsh sounding right out of the box, but sweetened up nicely after a few hours of play time.

First image below is PF350, second one is PF400.

[Quentin Hickey]

The pf350 to me has a very tight focused upper mid range
The tt12 favors more rounded over all fullness with a bit more pronounced low end perhaps.

I have never used a 12 inch black wido so I cant comment on those.

I have both tt12 and pf350 and really enjoy them both I have a steelaire head and use open back crate cabinets

[Tim Harr]

I have two PF350 (12”) speakers. They are fantastic and I will never need to use anything else. In fact, I’m getting ready to order one to put in my Fender HR Deluxe III amp. Sounds amazing.