JBL Speaker Recone/Repair

[BoogieMKIIA]

I have two JBL E120s that our other guitar player was ditching. The cones are no good so at least a recone is needed.  I’ll ohm the terminals as a check on the voice coils. 

1. Are there any other checks I should do?
2. Any recommendations for where to get it re-coned?  Especially if the could check magnet strength?
3. Ball-park cost for a recone? I’m sure shipping is expensive due to weight.

 

[DaveH]

Reconing

[Saul Goodman]

The Speaker Exchange is the only one I've ever used. It used to be $125 for recone and voice coil if you sent them the speaker only. They charge more if they have to take it out of the cab. My JBLs back then were out of L-100 studio speakers. 

[BoogieMKIIA]

I’ve looked/asked in the Grateful Dead forum and found mixed reviews on Weber. @DaveH have you used them?

@Saul Goodman a friend recommended The Speaker Exchange as did Tone Tubby - said I should do it myself to save money, especially shipping.

I have seen supposed OEM recone kits for $275! Can get a used speaker for that. Weber, The Speaker Exchange and others have non-JBL kits. Wonder how close they come to the real deal tone-wise?

[BoogieMKIIA]

Here they are. The voice coils measured open but can't tell if the tinzel wire is broken. Heavy as all getout

[Dave Scepter]

Gonna cost a lot... that's a full rebuild... $150 & up, plus shipping 

Edited January 16 by Dave Scepter

[duncans]

I've only reconed one speaker, a Celestion G12H annivesary. I bought the drop in kit off Reverb. The easy part was the actual gluing in the pieces. The hard part was taking all the glue off the surround and voice coil cover. Labor intensive. I'm sure the experts are much better at it than I was.

[DaveH]

16 hours ago, BoogieMKIIA said:

I’ve looked/asked in the Grateful Dead forum and found mixed reviews on Weber. @DaveH have you used them?

I was a Weber dealer in the 2000's, they had good product then, but never had anything re-coned. Don't know about now. I remember Ted saying the magnet had to be de-mag'd and re-mag'd for the process, not sure why. 

[bubs_42]

I have a set of EV12L’s and a Set of SRO’s and next on the list is a set of JBL. All the research I’ve done points to one guy for recones for JBL Speakers. Glenn Harrell Wesley Music, former JBL employee. I don’t screw around with recones on my speakers. Assembling a fresh speaker takes no how, but recones are an art. Most company’s don’t even recone their own speakers because it cost them more than selling you a new speaker. 

Spend the money and have it done right. 

 

[Jimbilly]

A thing Peavey did right was to make it user-friendly to replace the 'basket'(as I remember it being called) with just 3 bolts (3 bolts and you could pull the frame/cone/voice coil assembly off the magnet part), but maybe they somehow knew that would be done frequently? I'm sure I'm not the only one who has 're-basketed' a few Peaveys.  

[BoogieMKIIA]

I reached out to Brad Sarno and got referred to a Dan Jamison. I’ll make a choice for recone and report back. I may do one to start and see the results. Besides, I don’t want to lug a 2x12 that weighs around 50 lbs!  I have my original Boogie combo cab to use as a 1x12 cab and check it out. If it is that good, my hardwood combo will become super heavy. 

 

[Jimbilly]

4 hours ago, BoogieMKIIA said:

I reached out to Brad Sarno and got referred to a Dan Jamison. I’ll make a choice for recone and report back. I may do one to start and see the results. Besides, I don’t want to lug a 2x12 that weighs around 50 lbs!  I have my original Boogie combo cab to use as a 1x12 cab and check it out. If it is that good, my hardwood combo will become super heavy. 

 

Just because they have some 'pedigree' doesn't mean you have to get them fixed, - especially if they're too heavy and you won't use them.  I recently gave a pair of EV Force 10s to a friend who might use them, they needed re-cone, I have no regrets about giving those away.

 'Weigh' the cost of getting those repaired against getting a lightweight cab or some Neo 12s and save your back. I pretty recently had a Fender Bassbreaker 2x12 cabinet, it was really surprisingly light, and I liked how it sounded, $200-250 ish is used market value for those iirc.  I have four old alnico speakers in a '72 Univox 412 cab, I got those speakers while scrapping out a couple of organs. They sound great with a low wattage amp, and the cab is light enough to actually move around.  If you have a low wattage amp, you can do a little legwork and get old alnico 12s almost for free. I almost kept that Bassbreaker 2x12 to put organ speakers in, that would have been crazy lightweight  

[BoogieMKIIA]

19 minutes ago, Jimbilly said:

Just because they have some 'pedigree' doesn't mean you have to get them fixed, - especially if they're too heavy and you won't use them.  I recently gave a pair of EV Force 10s to a friend who might use them, they needed re-cone, I have no regrets about giving those away.

 'Weigh' the cost of getting those repaired against getting a lightweight cab or some Neo 12s and save your back. I pretty recently had a Fender Bassbreaker 2x12 cabinet, it was really surprisingly light, and I liked how it sounded, $200-250 ish is used market value for those iirc.  I have four old alnico speakers in a '72 Univox 412 cab, I got those speakers while scrapping out a couple of organs. They sound great with a low wattage amp, and the cab is light enough to actually move around.  If you have a low wattage amp, you can do a little legwork and get old alnico 12s almost for free. I almost kept that Bassbreaker 2x12 to put organ speakers in, that would have been crazy lightweight  

I’ve always wanted a JBL because it’s a JBL, because of the players that used them at some point. I have a variety of lighter weight speakers and cabinets to use. I’m playing my MarkIIA (60W) combo almost exclusively with a Tone Tubby red, slightly lower rating than the amp. If the JBL really sounds that great with it, I might manage to haul it around despite the weight.

If I want to go bigger, I have a pine 2x12 open back cab built my Peter Mather. Put the Marshall 50W on top and break windows! Might could find a gig where I could use it, will be fun knowing I have it.

The speakers were free, I should be able to at least break even should I decide to sell one or both. Or trade for something.

 

[Dutchman]

I remember using JBL's and EV's because that what amps came with back in the day. They where loud and brite. Your headed in the right direction with your recone choice!

[stobro]

JBL, Electro-Voice, Altec-Lansing and others were primarily sound reinforcement equipment manufacturers. A lot of the speakers were for permanent installation public address systems where weight wasn't even a thought. They didn't really spend much time, effort or money voicing speakers for musical instrument amplification. JBLs were offered as "upgrades" in some amps for people who needed the loudest, cleanest sound they could get from an amp. Most people these days are looking for more modest volume with "character". Character is something to avoid at all costs when designing for sound reinforcement.

[Jimbilly]

I had a mid/late 60s Twin Reverb for a bit with JBLs: clean and heavy! I should have weighed it to compare against my two 4x10 combos

[hamerican gigolo]

OP, even if you have them reconed/rebuilt, there's no guarantee that you'll like the result from an aural standpoint. You may or not. A lot of $ to find out...

[BoogieMKIIA]

20 hours ago, hamerican gigolo said:

OP, even if you have them reconed/rebuilt, there's no guarantee that you'll like the result from an aural standpoint. You may or not. A lot of $ to find out...

Understood, even if the recone makes it equivalent to a mint E-120. Likely to be too bright for my taste. Brad Sarno told me it will need a lot of break-in and the best tone is when it gets driven a bit (very loud). Worth it to me to find out and own this iconic speaker.

You are around Morehead, KY? Our band will be at Frankie’s Plaza on February 21 starting around 9pm. I understand it is not a place for everyone! We always have a good time and their sound person does a good job with the mix.

[Falcnr]

https://www.dixiespeaker.com/

 

[bubs_42]

On 1/20/2026 at 7:40 AM, stobro said:

JBL, Electro-Voice, Altec-Lansing and others were primarily sound reinforcement equipment manufacturers. A lot of the speakers were for permanent installation public address systems where weight wasn't even a thought. They didn't really spend much time, effort or money voicing speakers for musical instrument amplification. JBLs were offered as "upgrades" in some amps for people who needed the loudest, cleanest sound they could get from an amp. Most people these days are looking for more modest volume with "character". Character is something to avoid at all costs when designing for sound reinforcement.

Exactly why you either love these types of speakers or you don’t. For me, after using an EV Style Speaker live for a few years you just couldn’t miss. My rig always sounded great and it didn’t mater if you were standing in front of it, or hearing it back through the monitors. I never fought with the sound of my live tone. 

To anyone reading this thread: Experiment Damnit, get out there and try something new! 

[Jakeboy]

I have used the Weber recone service a couple times and they did a great job. 
Now I use Slice Inc. in Kansas City. They can do anything. Fair prices too. Call them and see what they’d charge for a full rebuild. Tell them Mark in Sedalia sent you.

+1 to @bubs_42 recommendation to experiment and find what you like. I LOVE my EV SRO alnico…big, chimey and holds together like no other alnico. I also love my low watt organ pull alnicos which breakup immediately with any amp. All are tools for whatever job is needed.

[BoogieMKIIA]

I sent one of the E120s to Dan Jamison (dan-jam.com). He came recommended by Brad Sarno and is know in the Grateful Dead board. Fast turn around ad great communication. Measured the magnet, 13,000 gauss 

Only a quick trial using the Marshall 50W and no pedals, Studio Custom with Gravelins, sounds great. Plenty of treble but not overpowering. 

I'll update as I try it with different guitars, with pedals and with the Boogie MKIIA. And more volume.

I certainly don't regret spending a little money to find out for myself. Only downside is weight if I want to take it to gigs 

Edited March 13 by BoogieMKIIA
Spelling twice

[Dave Scepter]

That's great news... It looks awesome, The treble will calm down a bit once it's broken in and becomes more rounded/fuller sounding