guitar speakers

[Old Guy]

just for grins, thought some may wanna see this:

Not mine, I'm a better Photographer than that.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Altec-Lansing-ER...QQcmdZViewItem

[LICORNE]

I found this article on Carlos Santana and the
type of speaker that he use's.

Carlos Santana
By Andy Ellis <biography.asp?iam=268> | Backstage
The astounding success of Carlos Santana?s Supernatural-which has sold more than 24 million copies since its June ?99 release, and earned eight Grammy Awards (including Album of the Year)-has made fans wonder what the soft-spoken guitarist could possibly do for an encore. With his latest record, Shaman [Arista], Santana proves that his fiery licks and singing tones are, in fact, hotter and more vocal than ever, and that his collaborative instincts remain strong.


According to Adair, Santana brings four signature Paul Reed Smith guitars on the road-including the original prototype-and strings his namesake PRS models with D?Addario lights, gauged .009-.042. Onstage, Santana plays through two amps: his faithful ?72 Mesa Boogie Mk I combo (loaded with a 417 Altec 12") and a 100-watt Dumble head. The Dumble powers a Marshall 4x12 with stock Celestions, and a straight-front 4x12 made by A Brown Soun of San Rafael, California. The Brown Soun cab is loaded with alnico Tone Tubby 12s sporting hemp-paper cones. ?The Brown Soun cab is rather compact, so we use the Marshall to kick out extra bottom,? reveals Adair

http://www.backstage-lounge.com/stor...storycode=5694

Again Altec 417 is still considered today as
a good instrument speaker.

Convergence

.......................

[damudbug]

Originally posted by Russ Farrell:
Hi Airboss:
The "C" you remember may be for a 417-8C. The 8C and earlier 417's were popular for lead guitar amps. Altec engineering started "improving" the 417-8C by reducing distortion. The later 417-8H and 8H II were improved so much, they made good PA and monitor woofers. But most musicians (and guitar amp companies) liked the Electro Voice EVM-12L type for their upgrade lead guitar amps. The right kind of distortion gives the speaker its unique sound.

The Altec ER-12 designed by Scott Leslie in the early 1980's was easily the equal or better than the EVM's in most peoples' opinion. Scott is a musician, and he engineered in the "right sound". If you get a chance, try one; or the 417A, B, or 8C. They all sound a bit different.

73, Russ

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I guess I am the odd musician, then. I am still using a 417-8H (12") in my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, but that speaker has been in four different amps over a 20 year period. It has never been reconed. I continually get questions from other guitarists as to how I get the tone I do, and the first thing I do is turn the amp around.

I am seeking a 10" version of the 417, to put in an old Fender Princeton. If anyone knows where I can get one of these, please respond.

And all this time I thought I was nuts for thinking that Altec Lansing (old) made the best stuff. I have been a soundman long enough to remember when the A7 was the standard of the concert biz.

Peace,
damudbug

[kladmin]

I am the proud owner of 2 417-8C speakers - the dust cones are kinda jacked, the speakers seem to lack high-end also. Is it worth reconing them or should I just use them as-is? They don't sound bad, just have to add lots of treble compared to my other 4x12 cabinet....

[kladmin]

Here is a pic of the front of the 417-8C's:

[LICORNE]

The frequency response of those are 60hz to 8000hz.
If you have access to a signal generator through your computer hook it up to your amp (not the pick up input because that's very high impedance.
If you have an impedance converter you could do it.
Better use a regular amp and check the frequencies above 500 hz.
If you notice carefully some will be weaker than others.
If you have a major drop in DB at 4K for example
I would get in touch with GPA.There might be something wrong with the speakers or your amp.


http://www.greatplainsaudio.com/

http://www.greatplainsaudio.com/


................................

[Old Guy]

Should be no problem running the signal generator into a high impedance input Convergence- Why do you think there might be?

Re the 417s- check your cone numbers- my bet would be at some point they have been redone with fake parts.

Or they could be just really tired, but again I bet on fake parts.

[LICORNE]

There are different high impedance levels as you know.
Line level, Microphone level, Electric guitar level
because of the pick up underneath the steel chords.

We usually use a DI box with thruw for guitar amp
and line (MIC)level matching splitter for mixer.

This brings the high level to either line or mic level for matching.

If you plug your line level signal generator into
a mic input or higher you won't have a match.

[Old Guy]

I don't know where your info is coming from- what mic input is 2000 ohms? Standard for hi-z mics is way higher than that.

Most mics are 150-300 ohms in lo z.

As far as a computer out overdriving, just turn it down. Again, it will work just fine.

[Old Guy]

The signal generator should have an output leevel control.

A low impedance output device will drive a high impedance input just fine generally.


What you are saying just isn't correct- there is no need to use any kind of matching device.

Going the other way- a downward mismatch- is a different story. Also, the DI is there to balance the signal. Line outs are common on the back of instument amps. they are low z but not suitable for long runs since they are unbalanced.