Altec 417 8H Series II Speakers

[Mmusicmann]

Does anyone remember Altec 417 8H Series II Musical Instrument Speakers (12" 8 ohm)? They are widely known as the "Santana sound" speaker which I recall he used with his Boogies. I used them in the '80s (I'd always used JBLs in the '70s).

I've seen wanted ads where people were seeking them to use in their Marshall cabs. I just saw two sell on eBay for $250 ea. So apparently they are still sought after.

I bought two of them new in 1989 that I never used. I recently pulled them out of storage and decided to break 'em in. So far I've hooked them to a Peavey 100 watt head, a Mesa Boogie 50 watt, and my old 1977 Musicman HD-130 head. They really are good sounding speakers.

I'm interested in knowing more about them. How sought after are they, if much at all? Any particular applications? Who uses them? Etc. Just for curiosity's sake. I'm sort of a history buff.

Best regards,

[DreamTone7]

Although Santana used those at some point, Abraxas (when he first started using his Boogie) came out long before those speakers were available (which was sometime in the late 70's I believe). Santana used the 417-8B in his first Boogie. The 8A, 8B and 8C had paper formers for the voice coil...they sounded sweeter but could handle less power (about 75 watts). The 8H models could handle upwards of 100 watts, but used fiberglass formers that gave it a harder sound. It's the 8H models that Randy Rhodes used in his Marshall cabs back in the day. That sound is all over Ozzy's first two solo albums.

All that said, they don't demand nearly the price that the D-120F's (with original cones) do.

[Mmusicmann]

Although Santana used those at some point, Abraxas (when he first started using his Boogie) came out long before those speakers were available (which was sometime in the late 70's I believe). Santana used the 417-8B in his first Boogie. The 8A, 8B and 8C had paper formers for the voice coil...they sounded sweeter but could handle less power (about 75 watts). The 8H models could handle upwards of 100 watts, but used fiberglass formers that gave it a harder sound. It's the 8H models that Randy Rhodes used in his Marshall cabs back in the day. That sound is all over Ozzy's first two solo albums.

All that said, they don't demand nearly the price that the D-120F's (with original cones) do.

Seems I remember these JBLs of Twin fame. And yes, the Rhodes connection makes sense. These are speakers for those who want to get loud. In my old age I tend to prefer low watt Greens so I don't have to melt my ears to get to break up. But these Altecs are indeed sweet to the ear nonethelsss. Thanks for the comments.

Best regards,

[pckpat]

i never realized carlos used boogies on that album i just assumed it was fender combos(probably because of the woodstock footage)he sure had some smokin tone back then,for sure.

[methodofcontrol]

don't forget the original Boogie's were just hot-rodded fenders!

417-8h: i used to have 4 of them in my traynor cab. too bright for my marshalls, but DEVASTATING with my ampeg V4 and mesa boogie SOB.
HUGE sound out of those. i sold the speakers only because i was afraid that if i blew one i'd have to pay too much to replace it. i originally scored the altec loaded traynor cab for $75 back in '00 or '01. sold the speakers as a quad about 2 years later for $850 or so. still have the cab. aside from me missing those speakers (sonically only. i certainly don't miss the weight!) that was a good day!

[DreamTone7]

Although Santana used those at some point, Abraxas (when he first started using his Boogie) came out long before those speakers were available (which was sometime in the late 70's I believe). Santana used the 417-8B in his first Boogie. The 8A, 8B and 8C had paper formers for the voice coil...they sounded sweeter but could handle less power (about 75 watts). The 8H models could handle upwards of 100 watts, but used fiberglass formers that gave it a harder sound. It's the 8H models that Randy Rhodes used in his Marshall cabs back in the day. That sound is all over Ozzy's first two solo albums.

All that said, they don't demand nearly the price that the D-120F's (with original cones) do.

Seems I remember these JBLs of Twin fame. And yes, the Rhodes connection makes sense. These are speakers for those who want to get loud. In my old age I tend to prefer low watt Greens so I don't have to melt my ears to get to break up. But these Altecs are indeed sweet to the ear nonethelsss. Thanks for the comments.

Best regards,

NP...the reason I mention the JBL is because, in those days, Boogie offered four diff speakers in their amps. The Altec, the JBL, the EV and something else (can't remember). The EV was the basic stock speaker offered, but for a little extra you could get the Altec, the JBL or ? The JBL absolutely kills in a Boogie for clean or slightly overdriven tones...but if you wanted to push it, the Altec was the way to go.

[MajorWatt]

To me, the Altecs and EV's have mids the JBL's don't. I tried a mix of two 417's and two V30's in a Marshall cab, and it was crunch city.

[conchmariner]

Although Santana used those at some point, Abraxas (when he first started using his Boogie) came out long before those speakers were available (which was sometime in the late 70's I believe). Santana used the 417-8B in his first Boogie. The 8A, 8B and 8C had paper formers for the voice coil...they sounded sweeter but could handle less power (about 75 watts). The 8H models could handle upwards of 100 watts, but used fiberglass formers that gave it a harder sound. It's the 8H models that Randy Rhodes used in his Marshall cabs back in the day. That sound is all over Ozzy's first two solo albums.

All that said, they don't demand nearly the price that the D-120F's (with original cones) do.

I bought some two 417s in 1973 at Ace Music in Miami. Originally had them in an Ampeg VT-22 but put them in a closed back no name cab which I still have after putting JBL D-120Fs in the Ampeg which I sadly no longer have. I still hve the receipt for the speakers somewhere so I have to check whether 8A or 8B. I'd actually thought they were 8Hs, but if they weren't available until the late 70's, then I guess that's not the case. I'm primarily using that cab with a blonde 6G6B Bassman.

[DreamTone7]

Altec 417-8B


Altec 417-8C


Altec 417-8H Series II

Visuals can make ID easier. Notice the curved supports on the 8B...the 8A was very similar. That changed with the 8C, with angled supports more like the D-120F. Then we got the H that had the larger, extended magnet cover on the back.

Seems the 8H came out in the early 70's and the 8H Series II in the mid 70's. FWIW, I've seen pics of the back of Santana's original Boogie where you can see that the speaker had the curved supports...so it was not an 8C or 8H...though I know he used the 8H in the late 70's. I've also read somewhere that it was an 8B in his original Boogie which, based on the photos I saw, makes sense.

[pckpat]

wow- those altec pix are gettin me to droolin- i remember goin to a santana/john mc laughlin concert(around the love supreme album time)mahavishnu had a marshall full stack, while carlos was wailin thru a princeton and an echoplex setup- i thought that was so cool

[OldSchoolDave]

Visuals can make ID easier.

THANKS for posting those pics! I couldn't remember which Altecs I installed in my Twin, back in '73.

Now, I can say definitively, they were 8C's.

Dave

[methodofcontrol]

here's some more images for you to drool over. catalog style!
scroll your mouse over the image and you can blow it up.

http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/a ... page04.jpg

http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/a ... page07.jpg

[conchmariner]

Visuals can make ID easier.

THANKS for posting those pics! I couldn't remember which Altecs I installed in my Twin, back in '73.

Now, I can say definitively, they were 8C's.

Dave

Yes, thank you indeed. Looking at those pics makes me pretty sure mine are 8Cs as well.

[MajorWatt]

I peeked at mine again and the four 8 ohm speakers are "B" models while the four 16 ohms are "C" models.

[DreamTone7]

I peeked at mine again and the four 8 ohm speakers are "B" models while the four 16 ohms are "C" models.

IIRC, Altec made a lot of 16-ohm C models (labelled "Type 417 Diacone") for Ampeg 4X12 cabs. They did a lot of special order stuff when it made sense (ie, there were a lot to make), but the stock speaker for all models was 8-ohm. Other oddball 16-ohm models were sometimes referred to as "417-16C" or 417-16H" and so on.