Adding a switch to a tweeter

[grundles]

Does anybody know what kind of wsitch would be best to add to a tweeter to be able to turn it on and off and also if i did this would i have to add in some kind of impedance to act as a dummy load?

[johnk_10]

i've installed them on a couple of my cabs and it doesn't require a dummy load.
if your cab has a crossover, you should bypass the crossover/tweeter completely. if it doesn't you can just use a simple SPST switch to turn it off. if it does, i used a DPDT switch to do it.

[grundles]

Thank you. thats cleared it up for me

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

i've installed them on a couple of my cabs and it doesn't require a dummy load.
if your cab has a crossover, you should bypass the crossover/tweeter completely. if it doesn't you can just use a simple SPST switch to turn it off. if it does, i used a DPDT switch to do it.

All cabs will have a high-pass filter, and the switch should be placed prior to it. If the tweeter is bypassed post-filter the possibility of amp damage exists.

[Fine Cut]

Not to highjack, but would adding say, a volume pot to attenuate the horn be wired in the same way as the defeat switch?

[Mjury02]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

All cabs will have a high-pass filter, and the switch should be placed prior to it. If the tweeter is bypassed post-filter the possibility of amp damage exists.

I have a cheap Carvin 2x10 and I didn't like the way it sounded with the tweet, so I unplugged it... Unless I'm misunderstanding you, this is harmful to my amp, and I should plug it back in?

[NKBassman]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

if your cab has a crossover, you should bypass the crossover/tweeter completely. if it doesn't you can just use a simple SPST switch to turn it off. if it does, i used a DPDT switch to do it.

This is what I did and it seems to work great.

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by Mjury02

I have a cheap Carvin 2x10 and I didn't like the way it sounded with the tweet, so I unplugged it... Unless I'm misunderstanding you, this is harmful to my amp, and I should plug it back in?

If the cab has a proper crossover like Bill describes, not loading the high pass section can lead to damage in the crossover. A damaged crossover can easily cause problems for your amp.

[grundles]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

If the cab has a proper crossover like Bill describes, not loading the high pass section can lead to damage in the crossover. A damaged crossover can easily cause problems for your amp.

If i was to add in a DPDT switck after the high pass filter and send the signal to an L R circuit that had the same impedance as the the tweeter would this work?? Because surely if you were to take the tweeter out of circuit then the overall impedance of the cab would be higher and i wouldn't get maximum power from my amp

[Mjury02]

Thanks for the help... So buying another jack plate and input to avoid the crossover completely would be the easiest solution while still being completely reversable?

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by Mjury02

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, this is harmful to my amp, and I should plug it back in?

It could be, and there's only one way to find out. The better safe than sorry route is to put the disconnect pre-low pass filter.

Because surely if you were to take the tweeter out of circuit then the overall impedance of the cab would be higher

No, it won't.

and i wouldn't get maximum power from my amp

A moot point in any case.
Of course if you really don't like hearing content above 5khz you could just turn down the HF EQ. That's why those knobs are there. That, along with turning the LPad down to about the 1/4 setting or so should be adequate, it's non-invasive and offers no ill consequences.