Thanks guys, I'm feeling better about modding these cabs. So, two key questions. What should I be looking at for contemporary 15" speakers? Second, what material should I use for damping and where should it be placed?
I did forget to mention that the speakers seem to be fine, but they really were distorting with volume. Really not up to the bass I was pumping through them.
First, although the JBL is a fine speaker, using both cabs call for similar speakers - in my opinion that is.
I know people who likes both biamping and even using brighter 15"s for the top cab, but then you have to trial and error a lot,
as these cabs are somewhat - uh.. different.
Anyway, with two 115RH's I'd either look up something with similar specs as the EVM15L. I know that EV does not make cast frame 15"s
anymore, at least not for instrument reproduction. Talk to the speaker factories, they usually gives good advices.
Current production 15"s for bass, well, I've been through several standard ferrite/ceramic ones from china, italy, etc (various brands, jensen etc)
in the 100-200w range that are similar sounding and OK but nothing special- in another cab they might be great.
I only use the EVM15L these days, when it comes to 115 cabs, exept for a small ampeg cab with a stock china 15" that sounds OK at it's best.
If I had to replace my EVM for some reason, I'd check out the Celestion BN15-400(S) neodymium. It is the same series as the 12"s i bought for my
212RH, and they are really givin' me a good time. They were recommended to me by celestion.
Remember that neodymium, being a rare earth material, might be tougher to find in years to come. Prices have gone up, and neo speaker prices
are expected to be tripeled now - so grab 'em while you can!
When they first came around, many wouldn't touch them - and I agree that it doesn't look good in the back of an old open cab guitar amp.
Maybe in 40 years neo speakers of a 'certain vintage' will be worth a fortune.
As we all know, it happened to alnico in the 60's, they are available now of course - but are still high priced.
Both neo and alnico are very good speaker magnet materials, and similar sounding though neo is way more powerful.
People have different opinions and taste here, but a good bass speaker can be made of anything if the design is good and it fits the application.
Now, what do you call that dampening material? Good question, don't know! Have to check my encisclopheediac.
It's sort of a foamy, white blanket that is used both for HiFi and furniture building.
Didn't measure any resonance, stick your head in - when you can say HO-HO loud and it sounds pleasant, it's fine really!