The Steel Guitar Forum

Rasmus Broegaard · Post by **Rasmus Broegaard** » 2 Sep 2024 7:19 am

Hi all,

The help on this forum has been great and I appreciate it a lot.

I have been searching for Peavey Black widow 1501 speakers. But no luck yet. I live in Denmark, so that might be why it is hard to come by.

I also got a 15" JBL E130 and sold it quite fast after getting it. Long time ago I tried a 15" JBL D130 that I also did not like (even less than the E).

So I guess the JBL sound is not my thing. I feel it is too dry and crisp in a way. It has an unbearable upper midrange push and the highs are too harsh.

I now play EVM15L - but just wanna get the Black Widow 1501's really.

thanks

Lee Rider · Post by **Lee Rider** » 2 Sep 2024 8:38 am

I have both the JBL D-130 and Altec 418. They are both great speakers. I prefer the Altec, better mids IMHO....

J Fletcher · Post by **J Fletcher** » 3 Sep 2024 12:27 pm

How much output power does your amp have ?

Rasmus Broegaard · Post by **Rasmus Broegaard** » 5 Sep 2024 3:39 am

J Fletcher wrote:How much output power does your amp have ?

I play a dumble style 50 watt head, similar to a redplate redverb. Plenty of clean headroom. Loud amp.

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 6 Sep 2024 9:06 am

Rasmus: Dumb question here.

You have a Dumble style amp.
That is not "normally" thought of as a pedal steel type amp.

What are you playing?
6 string?
Lap steel?
Pedal steel?

So the speakers you've tried so far:
EVM15 - OK
BW - ?
JBL D130 - No go.
Altec 418-8H - Maybe

Rasmus Broegaard · Post by **Rasmus Broegaard** » 6 Sep 2024 12:05 pm

ajm wrote:Rasmus: Dumb question here.

You have a Dumble style amp.
That is not "normally" thought of as a pedal steel type amp.

What are you playing?
6 string?
Lap steel?
Pedal steel?

So the speakers you've tried so far:
EVM15 - OK
BW - ?
JBL D130 - No go.
Altec 418-8H - Maybe

I play everything though my dumble - mostly 6 sting, but also steel.

No, the Black Widow 1501 sounds amazing, out of the EVM15L, JBL E130 and the BW, the BW seems like a perfect mix of the JBL and the EVM - the BW has the power of the EVM, but with the crisp alu dome of the JBL.

I just can find them where I live. After really trying.

So I ask if the Altec is close to the JBL, because if it is, then it is a no go as well.

Abe Levy · Post by **Abe Levy** » 13 Sep 2024 2:48 pm

In my opinion the Altec is the best speaker ever made. I have them in multiple amps.

Rasmus Broegaard · Post by **Rasmus Broegaard** » 16 Sep 2024 1:24 am

Abe Levy wrote:In my opinion the Altec is the best speaker ever made. I have them in multiple amps.

Thank you for the reply ! - have you tried the Altec compared to the peavey Black Widow 1501 (spider web) 15" speaker ?

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 16 Sep 2024 7:01 am

Abe Levy wrote:In my opinion the Altec is the best speaker ever made. I have them in multiple amps.

Agree. I tried several 15" speakers in my Twin Reverb, including a JBL D130F, and the Altec 418b was the best by far. Magic in a Twin for steel guitar and very good with regular 6 string.

Abe Levy · Post by **Abe Levy** » 16 Sep 2024 1:09 pm

Yes - Totally agree with Tim's comment above. I've tried BWs, D130s (which I like in other amps, but not twins, and tons of other speakers). The Altec is magic. I have a couple of 417bs as well, the 12" version and they are awesome too, but even harder to find and more expensive than the 418s.

Rasmus Broegaard · Post by **Rasmus Broegaard** » 17 Sep 2024 1:42 am

Abe Levy wrote:Yes - Totally agree with Tim's comment above. I've tried BWs, D130s (which I like in other amps, but not twins, and tons of other speakers). The Altec is magic. I have a couple of 417bs as well, the 12" version and they are awesome too, but even harder to find and more expensive than the 418s.