Best single 12” speaker

[Payton Vermeesch]

Looking for some buying advice from folks who’ve tried a lot of em.. I’m planning on running a single 12” speaker in my twin reverb. 4ohm, 150+ watts. Neodymium or Ceramic. Any brands/models y’all prefer? Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

[Steve Lipsey]

Been through a LOT of speakers over the years...Just got the one Tim Marcus recommends (Milkman Amps)- this last decade I've been using whatever Tim likes, starting with the Telonics NEOs, recently the Jupiter Ceramic, and now the Hybrid JBL....he says "Be careful, once you get used to it, you won't be able to go back..."

The notes seem to physically jump from the instrument...tight bass, crystalline highs...never heard anything like it...I've always wondered what the "JBL thing" was...now I know...

Hybrid JBL D-120 from Missing Link Audio.
https://www.mlapedals.com/store/The-HYB ... p268027069
The site says that they all are 8 ohm, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that they will do 4 ohm on request...

And of course, it sounds batter in a Milkman Amp...currently playing the Pedal Steel Mini, recently greatly upgraded...circuit mods, Jupiter caps, Soursound Transformer, power has gotten a lot stronger...Tim says if is the best amp he's ever offered...

[Chris Willingham]

That looks quite intriguing, Steve. What's the weight on the hybrid D120?

[Steve Lipsey]

Weight...well, now you've asked the right question! Great tone isn't weightless...
They have a number of versions, depending on whether the D120 recone kit goes into a Black Widow or JBL frame...
I got the Black Widow version which is 10 lbs. lighter...1x12 in a Milkman cab is about 32 lbs.
Look at the website for more details, and give them a call at 706-693-0008...they are happy to chat about the whole story. I found the conversation useful...
https://www.mlapedals.com/store/The-HYB ... p268027069

[Payton Vermeesch]

Thanks Steve! I know people have been using JBLs in fender amps forever, but wouldn’t using a single 100 watt speaker be underpowered for the 82 watt output of a Twin?

[Nikolai Shveitser]

I had fun running my twin into a single EVM 12L at home. Haven't tried it on a gig though. Not sure how many 4 ohm EVM12L's there are out there. Or if it would really save any weight lol!

[Steve Lipsey]

Payton-
Talk to them. I think I read somewhere that the K120 is higher wattage. And I don't know how conservative the ratings are.
Talk to them, they are very willing to chat...

[Mike Fried]

Weight...well, now you've asked the right question! Great tone isn't weightless...
They have a number of versions, depending on whether the D120 recone kit goes into a Black Widow or JBL frame...
https://www.mlapedals.com/store/The-HYB ... p268027069

JBL D and K series speakers have AlNiCo magnets, while PV Black Widows use Ceramics (lighter for the same magnetic flux but somewhat "harder" highs). JBL E series speakers have ceramic magnets.

[Bob Hoffnar]

I use 12’s and my favorite is a JBL D120. I also like the new hybrid JBL cone on a black widow. Really great sounding. The other one I’m into is a beyma liberty.

Right now I’m checking out a new neo that Tim Marcus is into. It’s real close. Sounds very very good. They should be on the market soon.

[Steve Lipsey]

Well, actually, any of the speakers that Tim has used in Milkman amps are pretty great...the Jupiter Ceramic and the Hybrid D120 are his current "go-tos" but he is always looking at what is out there. I liked the old Telonics NEO I had in my Milkman a decade ago, I'm sure the newer ones are better...

My point with this post is that ALL of these choices are quite good, and audiences will never hear the difference...I haven't had my Jupiter and Hybrid cabs in the same room yet, but listened to separately I'm completely happy with both of them...

Tim says that the Hybrid has definitely crisper bottoms and more sparkling highs, but that the increased definition is something that some folks might not really want - he told me to play mine for a while before thinking about upgrading my Jupiter cab, to be sure I wanted what it gives...

[Jerry Overstreet]

Seems everybody wants flyweight stuff these days, but you can't beat the conventional mag speakers such as the K120 or the BWs for moderate to high powered handling drivers.

BW 1203-4 or -8....BW 1201-8 from the 80s, early 90s era. Later ones are no good for guitar. They are sound reinforcement speakers, so selection is a must.

These early BWs handle at least 250 watts of power, have a beautiful voice, clean, great clarity but heavy, yes. Around 17#.

Haven't had the opportunity to try the hybrids but I bet they do sound great. I know our forum brother Jeff Maxwell does these and I know from personal experience that he does a fine job at reconing.

FWiW, I have a 1201-8 listed in the classifieds. I have a roomful of these old BW speakers....beat everything else I've tried.

[Jeffrey Maxwell]

Thanks for the mention Jerry.
I do quite a bit of reconing of speakers for Steel Guitar use.
Mostly JBL D130 K130 D120. and some 2220A or 2220B modded to K130 specs.
I have been doing the "Hybrid" JBL/Black Widow modification for a while now
and have lots of really good comments about the sound of them. I usually put the
JBL K-series cones in the 1201 or 1501 black widow.

Jeff

[Payton Vermeesch]

Thanks for all the input you guys, this is great information! It seems like there's a few great options in this thread alone. Jerry, do you have any 4 ohm BW's for sale?

[Jerry Overstreet]

Sorry Peyton, I don't have any 4 ohm speakers I can part with. The 1201-8 is the only one I can give up presently.

[Michael Brebes]

The EVM12L speakers sound great. A Twin should work fine with the 8 ohm load of the one speaker. They can handle at least 200 watts so there shouldn't be any problem there.

[Curt Langston]

Is Telonics still offering the 12 inch 4 ohm NEO?
Does anybody know an estimated price?

[Bob Carlucci]

,,,

[Lee Rider]

The Altec 417 gets my vote.....

[Curt Langston]

Are the Telonic 12 inch 4 ohm speakers still available?

[gary pierce]

http://www.telonics.com/products/proaud ... hp#pickups

[Curt Langston]

Yes, I did find that.
Thanks Gary.

[Steve Lipsey]

Oh well...he's done it again. the best 12"? Check out the post at the top of the Milkman Sound FB page...
https://www.facebook.com/milkmansound

Here's the text, pictures on his page:
"I want to share a project I’ve been working on for a few years that’s finally taking shape, and I’m STOKED about it. This is a faithful reproduction of the JBL K120 Alnico speaker, which I consider to be the best guitar speaker ever made.
So what does this mean? It means that in the coming months we will be manufacturing these speakers here at my shop in San Francisco. Assembling, magnetizing, testing, and putting them into brand new amplifiers and cabinets.
For the first time since the 1980s you will be able to get a brand new, fully magnetized, fully warrantied K120 that is shipped in the correct product packaging. No more rolling the dice with vintage frames and magnets. Clean assembly with no chance for metal to get into the coil gap. A speaker that will last for generations just as the originals did. "
I’ll post more updates as we get closer - I’m hoping to start rolling these out at the end of the year, or early 2025 depending on how quickly we can get the parts in hand.

[Curt Langston]

Been through a LOT of speakers over the years...Just got the one Tim Marcus recommends (Milkman Amps)- this last decade I've been using whatever Tim likes, starting with the Telonics NEOs, recently the Jupiter Ceramic, and now the Hybrid JBL....he says "Be careful, once you get used to it, you won't be able to go back..."

The notes seem to physically jump from the instrument...tight bass, crystalline highs...never heard anything like it...I've always wondered what the "JBL thing" was...now I know...

Hybrid JBL D-120 from Missing Link Audio.
https://www.mlapedals.com/store/The-HYB ... p268027069
The site says that they all are 8 ohm, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that they will do 4 ohm on request...

And of course, it sounds batter in a Milkman Amp...currently playing the Pedal Steel Mini, recently greatly upgraded...circuit mods, Jupiter caps, Soursound Transformer, power has gotten a lot stronger...Tim says if is the best amp he's ever offered...

Will they make a 4 ohm? I cannot find anywhere that indicates that..

[Steve Lipsey]

I don't know...may have read that somewhere....call them, they are very helpful.
And when Tim's JBLs are ready in a while, he says he will do 4 ohm

[Ron Funk]

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