Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've been netshopping for combo bass amps and noticed that some have aluminum cone speakers and similar models don't.What difference would that make, and why should I choose to have or have not?(Price difference aside)

I would assume that they are emulating the old JBL D series speakers with the aluminium domes. The aluminium gets a brighter top end, which sometimes can be a bit harsh. I'd suggest to email Ted Weber or check out his site for more info about the differences.

http://www.tedweber.com

Greg

Don, are you talking about Hartke speakers? They have been making aluminum cones for a couple decades I believe.

Yes I mean the aluminum cones ,not dust caps.
Specifically as applied in Behringer combos,with similar models that have or don't have said cones.
I stopped in the GC today to check them, but that branch doesn't stock the combos.So, I had no chance to compare.

My guess is the alum. cones are brighter, but I have a feeling that brightness may be a bit on the harsh side of bright. I have never tried either the Hartke or Behringer speakers as I tend to prefer the sound of paper cones and cabinets sans tweeters.

A trip to GC was a waste of time as the local branch doesn't stock Behringer combos;ergo no way to compare nor try one out.
I'n thinking that an alu cone, if it's stiffer than paper, might end up being less bright.But it would be nice to see some of them;I'd hate to order one in and then not be happy with it.

BTW kitty's thankful for the comments,it makes this place well worth visiting.

Don, investigate Behringer aluminum cone speakers before fully considering them - they seem to not be too reliable. Could be from the young boneheads pushing them past distortion though.

What about Carvin - they have combos too, at good prices.

I heard about the stock Hartke ones blowing in combos, actually I have witnessed it firsthand. I don't know anything about the Behringer ones.

rickenmetal wrote:I heard about the stock Hartke ones blowing in combos, actually I have witnessed it firsthand. I don't know anything about the Behringer ones.

If the Hartkes go south then for sure the Behrs will and probably sooner!

I'm sure that any speaker will go south if fed too much power or isn't well enough damped.
The ratings on Beheinger's own web site state that the speakers aren't power rated as high as the amps at least for the wedge combos.Typically the speakers are rated 2/3 as high as the amp sections.That holds true for alu cones or the other choices.
Still, I wish I could walk into a GC and crank one up to see if it pops.
And, that may be why none are in my branch.
It's beginning to look like there's no cheap answer for my oncoming problem.

Agree, but they might not put speakers of a high enough rating in their amps, then if someone has loud pickups (80s or 90s Hi-gains for example) or uses distortion, then they turn the volume up high and they blow, so I would say to get at least twice the rating of the amp or more. But then again, maybe those speakers don't like it if you put too much bass through them, I really don't know.

Incidentally, Eminence also makes an aluminum bass 10", and I also remember some cabinets by some other brand, something like Bullfrog (perhaps not the correct name, something with "frog" in the name anyways). Though the main thing about those speakers is, someone has to like the sound to use them.

I have one of those Bag Ringer Bass combos--why can't manufacturers use useful names instead of a mouthful of macho-sounding numbers and letters? It's something like a TCHXBRS3000XB3...well, I know the "3000" is correct, because it's supposedly 300 watts, and it does have an aluminum-coned speaker. I have played bass, guitar, and keyboards through it and the sucker is LOUD, even outdoors, especially considering its size...but I've never played it at the Capitol Mall or Shea Stadium, so I've never had the chance to really test the speaker to its limits and---BEYOND!!!

As far as I know, this type of amp is considered a club combo; it's sufficient for that, so OK. I'm only an occasional bass player, anyway. The last track I recorded--a Brasilian number for backing at my daughter's talent show--was done with my Hofner Icon and close-miked '66 Magnatone (8" toilet paper cone speaker) M10, because it was all I had in the house at the time.

Did Juliana show the guitar she built for the talent show?

Like father, like daughter!

jps wrote:Did Juliana show the guitar she built for the talent show?

Like father, like daughter!

Nope--she was working on an automotive clay model at the time...