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Author
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Topic: Is Peavey Black Widow 1203 the 12" of choice?
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T. C. Furlong
Member From: Vernon Hills, Illinois, USA
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posted 25 July 2005 04:42 PM
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I am doing extensive speaker/amplifier listening tests and I am wondering if the Peavey Black Widow 1203-4ohm or 1203-8ohm is still the bomb for steel (12" category). I did a search and read a bunch of comments as far back as 2000 and there certainly a a variety of opinions. Anyone like to weigh in with some 2005 wisdom? Many thanks.
TC |
Larry Robbins
Member From: Fort Edward, New York, USA
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posted 25 July 2005 05:10 PM
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Dont have any wisdom for you TC. but I just picked up an old Peavey 2x 12 cabinet W/ the BW 8ohms. I believe these are the same speakers. A cab I used to own years ago and just happened to get back whilst doing some horse trading! never tried them for steel but back in my rock'in days they sure sounded good for lead guitar and those shallow cones could sure take a lot of bass!Ill sure be interested in any response that you get!  ------------------
SHO~BUDS, Steelkings,
Fender guitars,
Hilton pedals, Preston
covers, and Taylor(Tut, that is)Resos.
"Of all the things Ive lost in life, I miss my mind the most"
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Jack Stoner
Sysop From: Inverness, Florida
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posted 25 July 2005 05:13 PM
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I'm using two 1203-8 speakers in my rack system. (8 ohm models as that is what MosValve says for "best performance" with the MosValve 500 power amp). They are the same speakers that Peavey used in the Nashville 112E speakers (not the new Nashville 112 amp). Those speakers used 4 ohm speakers but the response curve for the 4 and 8 ohm are almost identical and very close to the response curve for a 1501 speaker (what is used in later Nashville 400's and what is used in the Nashville 1000). Jeff Newman used the 112E speakers in his stereo rack system. |
Dave Grafe
Member From: Portland, Oregon, USA
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posted 26 July 2005 10:31 AM
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JBL |
Mike Brown
Member From: Meridian, Mississippi USA
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posted 26 July 2005 12:51 PM
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The 12" BW's that we used in the Nashville 112E cabinets were the 1203-4 ohm Black Widow speakers. Item #00021100. You may purchase these speakers through your local authorized Peavey dealer. Should you have further questions, please feel free to contact me here at the factory by calling toll free in North America at 1-877-732-8391, ext. 1180. I'll be glad to assist you. Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation |
David Higginbotham
Member From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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posted 26 July 2005 07:44 PM
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I have used 1203 speakers extensively both 4 and 8 ohm versions. To my ears they are fantastic! They have plenty of low end response and clean crisp highs. They are my speaker of preference. I prefer them over the BW 1501 or 1502 as well as any of the JBL's both 12 and 15 that I have used in E or K series. This is of course only my opinion.The 8 ohms are better suited using a stereo setup since many power amps can not "effeciently" handle a 2 ohm load without overheating. Dave |
Dennis Detweiler
Member From: Solon, Iowa, US
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posted 26 July 2005 08:43 PM
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I have a pair of 1503 BW. Are these the same animal only bigger?
DD |
T. C. Furlong
Member From: Vernon Hills, Illinois, USA
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posted 27 July 2005 04:49 AM
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Thanks to everyone for your comments. I really appreciate them. David, I would think that you would want 4 ohms for a stereo set up and 8 ohms for a two speaker mono set up. I agree that most amps like no lower than a 4 ohm load. With a stereo rig, you would have two power amp channels, each driving one 4 ohm load. For a two speaker mono amp rig that had one power amp channel, two 8 ohm drivers in parallel would be the ticket. Also, good to hear that the 4 and 8 ohm versions sound the same. Thanks again.
TC |
Jack Stoner
Sysop From: Inverness, Florida
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posted 27 July 2005 05:11 AM
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Peavey used to have a document on line that listed the various Black Widow speakers and a response graph for each one. That is where I got the info for the response curves of each speaker.I don't know if it's still available on line. |
John Macy
Member From: Denver, CO USA
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posted 27 July 2005 08:56 AM
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TC--I use the 4 ohm 1203's with my MosValve with excellent results... |
Olli Haavisto
Member From: Jarvenpaa,Finland
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posted 27 July 2005 11:42 AM
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BW 1203-4 in one 1x12 cab and a JBL K-120 from a Twin in another , driven by a MosValve 2x80.
Great combination ! This week... next week maybe something else.------------------
Olli Haavisto,
Finland
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Tom Gorr
Member From: Three Hills, Alberta
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posted 27 July 2005 11:46 AM
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Jack - I would LOVE to have those response curve charts - not only for BW's but for Scorps too.MIKE BROWN !!!! (where are you?) |
Mike Brown
Member From: Meridian, Mississippi USA
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posted 27 July 2005 02:14 PM
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Check it here; http://www.peavey.com/search.cfm?c=3&lang=&term=black+widow Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation |
David Higginbotham
Member From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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posted 29 July 2005 06:13 PM
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T.C. the problems I have had with the 4 ohm speakers is when I want to use a mono setup and bridge the power amp. It would overheat because it is seeing a 2 ohm load. The only power amps I had good luck with in this situation was a Carvin DCM 600 and a Peavey 50/50. That is why I say I prefer 8 ohms. I certainly agree when using a stereo setup with a two channel amp that the best power rating would be a 4 ohm load on each channel. It just takes some of the versatility out of the system for mono in smaller venues. I guess I should have explained myself better. I have a disability tho, I am from Louisiana ya know!
Take care,
Dave [This message was edited by David Higginbotham on 29 July 2005 at 06:15 PM.] |
T. C. Furlong
Member From: Vernon Hills, Illinois, USA
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posted 31 July 2005 10:19 AM
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Olli, I played a Peavey 1203-4 (loaned to me by my friend Jerry Erickson, thanks pal) in one cabinet and a JBL D-131 (predecessor to the D-120) in another cabinet. The combo sounded just great. I think that Redd Volkeart plays a JBL and an EV in his Fender Twin to get the best of both sounds. David, I had actually thought about upsizing the power amp and going with 8 ohm speakers for the very reason you point out. Glad to hear that you are thinking along the same lines! BTW we have plenty of people with disabilities in Illinois. If you don't believe me, try driving on our highways! Also, many thanks to Jack Stoner for the awesome spec sheets. TC[This message was edited by T. C. Furlong on 31 July 2005 at 10:21 AM.] |
Tom Gorr
Member From: Three Hills, Alberta
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posted 31 July 2005 10:55 AM
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I looked thru the BW spec sheets and noted a major bump in the 1203 curve at 3 kHz. What are the +/- of such a bump for different guitar sounds ...eg. steel, sizzlin tele, rocking les paul ??? |
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