7704A
Well-known member
Randomly came across this video. I think it's the first time I've seen someone actually demo a JBL for high gain, and I figured it'd be appreciated here.
R
Racerxrated
Well-known member
Those 120s are killer for high gain. Mix them with mid heavy speakers, and you're golden.
Yehuda
Well-known member
@braintheory got me into jbls and altecs and I absolutely love them for high gain- the jbls pair really well with redbacks
B
braintheory
Well-known member
Some of the best speakers of all time. All metal guys should have some. All the 12” JBL’s were killer. The E120’s are awesome too and have the heaviest low end I’ve in a speaker (300w). No Celestion has the lows or highs like JBL’s and thus not the same crisp chuggage abilities
B
braintheory
Well-known member
My favorites mixes were with redbacks or 20w GB’s on top, but if that’s golden then a full quad of them is platinum. For punch, chuggage, and crisp highs the best I’ve heard other than Crescendo’s
B
braintheory
Well-known member
Altec’s are amazing too. I use them even a bit more often for my taste. Sorta like a warmer, woodier cousin to the JBL’s
thegame
Well-known member
When I was really young and stupid, I used a 31 band graphic EQ in my high gain rig and regularly boosted frequencies 10k and above, thinking I was getting some super sick sizzling crunch. With experience came the realization I was only boosting white noise, shhhh sibilance type frequencies. That’s what those JBLs remind me of with high gain.
RaceU4her
Well-known member
im digging those g12m70s here, i have them in a randall cab i havent used in a while, think ill bust it out
PurityS.L.G
Well-known member
Same! It was his love for them with high gain amps and his descriptions. Plus I also wanted them to see if it was indeed a key ingredient for the VH1 album sound. One of the ONLY times I've ever wanted to emulate the VH sound.
FYI, Milkman Audio is just about done with making the reissue of the E120 speakers. He got the blessing from JBL and they are spec'd to originals. I'll be buying a pair when they are released.
Yehuda
Well-known member
Thats very exciting news!
V
VonBonfire
Well-known member
Would've never suspected you heavy dudes would like those D and K series. I bought most of mine from a guy who was re-tolexing and rewiring cabs for heavy players and they/he just wanted them gone. Them out their cabs and him out his shop. I paid $150 each for two really nice D's and $75 for a nice D130. I told him to call me if he got more but never heard back. Probably figured out what they have become worth. It's complete madness now. 350-500 bucks each online.
B
braintheory
Well-known member
If anything I don’t get how metal guys aren’t more aware of them. They’re pretty naturally voiced for metal with their huge, tight, punchy lows, fast response, scooped mids and sharp, sizzly highs. If anything I don’t think any Celestion sounds as metal or aggressive (besides M20’s). The E ones are also awesome. The K I find the weakest to me of the 3, but still great
And the overall complexity of tone and way the notes connect is in another league to any celestions I’ve played besides the pulsonic GB’s and ‘60’s Alnico Blues and Silvers. I agree on price, but I’d rank them overall (for me at least) higher than pulsonic GB’s (besides the white voice coil ones) and those are as expensive or more for a much lower powered speaker that imo is not as well rounded in what it can do
Another benefit not talked about as much is the pinch harmonics also screaming more on them (also with Altec’s, Crescendo’s and Roger Charles) since they have more extended, sharper highs than any celestions
V
VonBonfire
Well-known member
I agree with your entire post but I've never tried the E series. I like the K's cause I felt like I was still getting good D tone but they are 100 watt rating and take a lot more pounding. Needless to say, I blew my well worn K after a lot of abuse a month or two ago. I'd love to find another one for reasonable because they sound so good with a Twin but the cost is just crazy. Even the recone will run me $250 with the shipping, which is why I sold all my D's after blowing them many times, lol.
B
braintheory
Well-known member
The E series I'm not sure if you'd like as much or not as a blues player (you still might if you like both the D & K's), but for metal I love how heavy the low end is along with its horsepower and ceramic flavor (D and K's are alnico). I find the '50's Cletron's/Roger Charles's in some ways to be like a better JBL (and they're cheap), but they only had 25 watt speakers. They sent my JBL D123's packing
V
VonBonfire
Well-known member
I'd probably like the E's. I like loud and clean speakers but those things are massive. I have some Eminence PF-350's in my '72 and it's 94lbs without the reverb tank. 85lbs with JBL's is my limit, that extra ten pounds is pure spine collapse especially post gig. I been looking at Neos lately for that reason tbh. Eminence EM12n or maybe a Celestion Copperback or maybe mix the two, I dunno yet, not a lot of info on those speakers out there.