Is my Speaker blown ?

joel · 2012-01-01T16:27:05+00:00

Help please :-[ .....cough * calling Gearhead / MikeM / any expert ? * cough I have a 2 x 12 Mesa Rectifier cab . Spec : 2 x 120 Watt V30 Speakers , 8 Ohm...

Is my Speaker blown ?

Gearhead

I'm certainly no expert in blowing up speakers, but from what I understand this blowing up only happens when the coil overheats and starts coming apart. It would then make no sound and have resistance 0 or infinite.
Your description sounds to me more like there is something loose on the one driver. I expect a speaker tech to be able to fix it, but it might even be something rubbing against the cone. My advice would be to take the speaker apart and to take out the offending driver. You can probably even tell yourself what's wrong by comparing with the other speakers.
Meanwhile, you can probably still play your cab as a 1x12 if you rewire it. Hope this helps.

TomCat

Could be a couple of thing:

1. As Gearhead has said, something might be touching the loudspeaker cone from inside the cabinet. This could be either the lead wire from the input jack to the loudspeaker or the short pigtail wire that goes between the loudspeaker basket and the cone itself, so a peek into the cab might save you from any "Repairs".

2. If the lead is terminated with spade lugs onto the loudspeaker terminal then maybe one of the terminals is loose and is vibrating at higher volume levels. I had this on my Vox 15R and a slight squeeze of the terminal with a pair of pliers fixed that.

3. If nothing is touching the loudspeaker cone then the possibly exists that the voice coils is rubbing in the magnet gap and only a recone will fix this.

My suspicions would be with either 1 or 2 above as 3 normally exhibits more distortion at lower volumes and often cleans up at higher volume levels.

vic

OR....it may be one of the nuts holding the speaker in positon which is a bit loose. Check to see if all 4-6 nuts and washers are tight.
It's a vibration at certain freq's which sets it off. a Blown speaker has either no sound or it sounds like a blown speaker.....very muffled and k2a ?

Johnny-B

Joel, last year I came across a speaker repair shop in Malibongwe Drive (aka Hans Strydom) in the small shopping centre right opposite Randburg Hoerskool. Closest corners are Rabie and Silver Pine. I called in to see the place and it is run by an old immigrant guy. I never used him but he must have lots of experience! I don't have a contact number and the shop just has a hand painted sign outside saying "speaker repairs". He might be worth a try.

TomCat

Joe Moore wrote: 8) , okay , thanks to all.

During the week , I'll open up the cab to have a look. I wanted to do his when i first got this , just to see the insides , but the back was such a tight fit , it wouldnt come off.

I looked on the net at the time and its supposed to be like that . You have to remove the whole jackplate assembly in the center of the back cover and put both hands inside there and gently pull the back cover of the cab off.................sadly , I don't think my ~~muscular~~ chubby hams are going to fit in there to do this , but I'll give it a go in the next day or three. :-\

Not sure where you are located but If you want, you can bring the cab past me and I'll have a look at it for you....

FruitarGeek

Let me know if you fix this problem. I have the same problem with all my amps, as you said, especially when a lower frequency note is played. It fizzles. Very annoying!

TomCat

Hey Joe

It was really great to meet up with you and I'm glad the cab is now sorted......Lets hope it stays that way...... ? ?.....Sounds great and I was quite pleased with the sound of my TC-8W through the Mesa 212.........First time I've tried another cab with the Amp so it was a nice little revelation for me... 8) 8)...Very different sound to the Laney Cub Head.

To me the Lany is a little more toppy and the TC-8W more mid Biased and overall a little darker. The Laney also had the built in reverb which mine does not have. I particularly enjoyed the OD channel on the TC-8W....Put a lot of work into that sound...... ? ?....The Cub OD was also pretty good, but a different sound.....

Edit...BTW those Vintage 30's are a real treat and they are the original UK Built ones as well......

MikeM

We have a few great al gurus here on the forum, Tom is one of them and is super helpful!!! Big ups T ?

TomCat

MikeM wrote: We have a few great al gurus here on the forum, Tom is one of them and is super helpful!!! Big ups T ?

Ag...it was nothing.........really..... :rolleyes: ?......just glad I could help...... ?