Weber California Speakers

[jwright]

- I just found the Weber site and saw that they have a high powered 'California' speaker that basically seems like a direct replacement for the old JBL D and K series. Does anyone here have any experience with these Webers? How do they sound to you? I have been thinking that the JBL sound is what i'm looking for and I have been trying to find a new version of that speaker. It looks like you can choose either alnico or ceramic magnet versions as well.

Thoughts on these?

Thanks!

 

[PhatTele]

Great speakers. Warm and clean. They sort of get out of the way and let the amp do the talking. I use the 12s a lot and I've put 15s and 10s in several amps. The Californias and the 12F150 series are my favorites. I tend to stick with the ceramics...mainly because of the cost.

 

[11 Gauge]

If you were lucky enough to have the original JBLs and liked them, the Cali's should not disappoint.

Weber's ceramic Cali is probably my favorite speaker from them. Very balanced - a really big sound. If you want to really hear what the amp itself is doing, these are a great choice, IMO.

They are also really loud. Ted doesn't like to play the sensitivity game, but the Cali's are easily some of the loudest that I've tried.

If you need really late breakup and your primary amp is a BF/SF Fender or similar to it, you'll probably really like them.

The one slightly tricky thing with them is which dust cap to choose. Everyone seems to favor a different one. I like the aluminum one, but other folks think it's a touch too bright. If you aren't sure, email Ted.

 

[jwright]

Thanks for the opinions.

A friend of mine plays a 67 deluxe with a jbl k120 and the tone is fantastic. I have been looking on ebay at the JBL's and you can't seem to get one for under 200 bucks at least. Personally, I think I would rather get a new set of Webers instead of throwing that much dough on vintage speakers.

 

[OaklandA]

Tremendous speakers...I've had both alnico and ceramic and you can't go wrong either way. What's nice is you get clarity and volume, but they're not sterile....have a nice warmth to them.

 

[Spidercaster]

I use a pair of 10" ceramics with my Dr. Z Carmen Ghia. Nice and warm sounding speakers.

 

[CancerLeoCam]

They are the best for really clean playing. Think surf, steel, instro, country, etc. There's a depth and note definition in them that you will notice immediately compared to other speakers.

I dig this look but the sound is what matters.

image removed

 

[trag-o-caster]

A few years back I had two DR's - a 69 and a 77. I put a 12F150 in the 77 and was thoroughly please with the results. Nice and warm, with a little of the brightness shaved off. A perfect match for the DR IMO. In my 69 I put in a ceramic Cali with a paper dome, which is a bit too bright for a DR IMO. I used to use both amps together, and that made for a good blend. However, it became necessary to sell one DR - the 77 - I was left with the 69 with the Cali (I should've switched speaker before I sold it - oh well...). It's not bad - just not what I was looking for in a DR.

Here recently a buddy had an old orange Roland Cube 60 that had a blown speaker in it. Curiosity got the better of me, and I yanked the Cali out of the DR and dropped it in the Cube. The results was ASTOUNDING! The Cube sounds like a whole new amp now!

So, the bottom line is that it depends on what amp you're using it with, and what you're looking for in an amp tone. For clean country guys who want lots of twang - I'd say go for it. For blues guys who want some low down grit, and not too bright, I'd say look elsewhere.

And there are some fans of the old JBL's out there who say that the Weber Calif. sound NOTHING like the JBL's. I dunno. I've never had the opportunity to compare them.

 

[mad dog]

The weber cali ceramic paperdome 12" is one of my all-time favorite speakers. Personally, I don't find them all that JBL like. It has a fair amount of warmth to go along with the volume. Not harsh at all. It's a perfect match for a gainy old Gibson (GA40).

 

[jwright]

Ok, let me ask- what do you think about putting them in an open back 2-12 cab for a 67 bandmaster head? I want well articulated tone, but not too ice pick like. I mostly play my 335 or my 61 re-issue SG through the amp. I realize that some here don't like the sound of humbuckers through these fender amps, but I am hoping to get a tone I like. Would you try the ceramics or the alnicos and would you go with aluminum or paper domes?

 

[WrapAround]

They sound quite good.

 

[mad dog]

Just guessing, but two of the Cali ceramics with paper dome would probably sound excellent in that cabinet.

 

[bluesfordan]

I had the aluminum dust cap ceramic 10 speaker in my '74 princeton reverb. Really woke that amp up, loud and clear. Sold it with the amp, should have kept the speaker and NOS glass, big mistake. If I were going to do it again, I'd get the paper dust cap.

 

[elwrongo]

I LOVE the sound of humbuckers through a blackface Bandmaster. In particular Ibanez Super 70's (LP or 335) sounds astonishing with this set up. I'd go with ceramics as that's whats in my 2x12. Accident but worked a treat. I don't know what the comes are as they are old Jensen's (paper?). cheers

Ok, let me ask- what do you think about putting them in an open back 2-12 cab for a 67 bandmaster head? I want well articulated tone, but not too ice pick like. I mostly play my 335 or my 61 re-issue SG through the amp. I realize that some here don't like the sound of humbuckers through these fender amps, but I am hoping to get a tone I like. Would you try the ceramics or the alnicos and would you go with aluminum or paper domes?

 

[gridlock]

I had a pair of Weber California's in a 1966 BF Fender Twin Reverb. Amazing sounding and perfect for that amp.

 

[Paul G.]

Had a 12" and a 10" Weber California, ceramic mags and paper dust caps. I've owned Twin Reverbs and Dual Showman amps with OEM JBLs.

The Webers are clear, full and warm. Very loud (the 10" made my Princeton Reverb very giggable). At least as good as the JBL version. Maybe better.

P.

 

[bigben55]

They are also great for adding some volume and clean headroom to a small amp. And some weight;-)

Had one in a Blues Jr, currently have one in a Roland Blues Cube 30.

 

[Justjammin]

I use them (3) with the paper cones, I have heard that the aluminum domes can be shrill.
I have 1 in a (Billm) Blue Jr. and 2 more in a 69 SF Twin, very please with them in both applications

 

[bigben55]

My current one has the H dome, and is NOT at all shrill.

 

[old goat]

I have 2 of them in a BFSR, other two are alnico weber vintage models, can't remember which. Amp sounds great but I'll probably replace the californias to knock 10 pounds off the amp.