T39 leaves good impression

[eddog]

I built 2 T39's about 4 years ago loaded with the el cheapo MCM 10" driver. Snce that time I have used them as PA for my own band and as the sound system for my annual haunted house. In each situation they have been excellent performers. This last weekend my bass player didn't have room to bring his 8x10 ampeg cabinet with him to rehearsal so I offered up the T39. His SWR head is bi-amped so we sent the lows to the T39 and the highs to a smaller 4x10 ampeg box. Before it was all hooked up I could see the usual look in a persons eyes who have not used a speaker of this type before, you know the "OK I'll humor you" look. We started rehearsing and low and behold the bass player was all smiles.I fact he was very pleased by how he didn't have to turn his rig up so loud to hear himself over the VERY LOUD guitar players. He said he could feel the sound now as well as having better definition. I sent him your webpage link............I think he and I will be bulding a 30" Wide 12" driver version this coming summer (One more for the dark side)

[Harley]

(One more for the dark side)

Ahem..I would defer to "One more rescued from the dark side" After all we are enlightening the great unwashed...

[crockettnj]

what width did you use for the mcm loaded t39's? The mcm 10's work well enough?

[eddog]

I went with the 19" wide version. At the time I built them I had little too no money so I used the MCM. IT works better than great for the price. Now however I would spring for the better driver just for the sake of the extra power handling and probably better extension. Also if you have room for it I would build them as wide as you can for the extra sensitivity. The 19" wide version is so easy to haul around that going 24" wide would be still easier to haul than commercial cabs.
Your right Harly, I stand corrected My bass player used it again this weekend.

[eddog]

A little update of interest for any bass players that might be building the T39. I (my) bass player was finally able to destroy my 10" MCM loaded cabinet. The cone seperated from surround material after being pushed hard for 5 hour practice session. It could be because these speakers have been stored in intense cold (-25 today) and intense heat and humidity for the last 3 years. My point is that the MCM 10" cabinet worked great for a very long time for very little money invested. Nothing at that price point could even touch it. I will upgrade to the higher power handling of a 12" version for my next build though, just because I have learned that even brutally load levels of sound somehow aren't enough sometimes and ludicrous sound levels are sometimes whats needed. Anyway, have a great new years all and thanks for posting your results with these cabs...I read this forum everyday and always learn from somebody elses experience.

[Mark Coward]

My point is that the MCM 10" cabinet worked great for a very long time for very little money invested. Nothing at that price point could even touch it. I will upgrade to the higher power handling of a 12" version for my next build though

Those MCM drivers are pretty much OEM Beta 10's, good bang for the buck but limited in XMax for sub duty. I had the same thing happen with one of my first T24's, bass player killed it. It would be well worth the money to reload them with BP102's -they're quite reasonable from Leland. Even if you build 12" versions in the future, you can use the whole herd together when you need/want to.