DB412 Blown Tweeter? or More Compression?

akaTRENT · #1 07-03-2010, 09:16 AM

Hey guys, I was rocking out at a gig the other night and suddenly to my dismay my cab starting farting out. (I use a fender jaguar in standard tuning btw.)

I usually have the tweeter to set to 40 percent. On my db751 I usually have the settings like this Gain at 11 oclock, treble at 12, mid at 2 oclock, bass at 11-12oclock, and master volume to taste usually at around 10/11 oclock.

With the said the 4x12's do get a slight crunch on their own which is fine, but the tweeter fart never happened before. I seems to mostly go away when I turn the tweeter defeat all the way off.

To trouble shoot, I have run different eq settings, multiple basses, volumes etc. And there is still some evidence of farting especially on the e string and when i attack the strings. And I am positive the speakers aren't blown due to what im describing with the tweeter defeat.

So here's the question. Do you think I blew my tweeter or am I in dire need of some compression?

ps. Already have in a call to aguilar but since its the holiday I figure it'll be a bit before I hear back! Thanks guys!

Fetusyolk · #2 07-03-2010, 01:40 PM

bumpfer ye

akaTRENT · #3 07-03-2010, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fetusyolk

bumpfer ye

Thanks! still no replies though haha

bongomania · #4 07-03-2010, 11:20 PM

Tweeters blow super easily. They are usually rated for a lot less wattage than the other drivers. So while I don't know because I'm not there hearing it, my bet is that the tweeter did indeed take a hit.

tony_clifton · #5 07-04-2010, 05:09 AM

Possible, but

1 - Aggie probably uses hi-quality tweeters, they can take a hit I guess
2 - More than half the signal is converted to heat in the crossover
3 - The cab can handle the amp, so the tweeter should be able to deal with (most of) it too.

Did you play with distortion by any chance?
I'm thinking failure without your involvement (I don't think you blew them).

Jaco who? · #6 07-04-2010, 05:49 AM

Have you tried a different instrument cable?

akaTRENT · #7 07-04-2010, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony_clifton

Possible, but

1 - Aggie probably uses hi-quality tweeters, they can take a hit I guess
2 - More than half the signal is converted to heat in the crossover
3 - The cab can handle the amp, so the tweeter should be able to deal with (most of) it too.

Did you play with distortion by any chance?
I'm thinking failure without your involvement (I don't think you blew them).

I did just start using an agro....

akaTRENT · #8 07-04-2010, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaco who?

Have you tried a different instrument cable?

Yes multiple ones

bongomania · #9 07-04-2010, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony_clifton

...Aggie probably ...I guess ...the tweeter should be able...

High quality doesn't infer high wattage handling. Equipment specs can't be guessed at based on what we think "should" be the case. I'm really not busting on you, just clarifying that we don't know these data yet.

The distortion was a good call though, because hard clipping at high volume means a lot more power in the high frequencies than is normally found with bass guitar--and that means a lot more power going into the tweeter than is typically expected by bass cab designers.

akaTRENT · #10 07-04-2010, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

High quality doesn't infer high wattage handling. Equipment specs can't be guessed at based on what we think "should" be the case. I'm really not busting on you, just clarifying that we don't know these data yet.

The distortion was a good call though, because hard clipping at high volume means a lot more power in the high frequencies than is normally found with bass guitar--and that means a lot more power going into the tweeter than is typically expected by bass cab designers.

So by boosting the presence on my agro (4-7khz) and running it line level with the amp, if not a bit louder, I could have blown my tweeter? Fun stuff. I have a huge show in 19 days So I really have to fix this haha.

stingray56funk · #11 07-04-2010, 10:36 AM

You've got plenty of time to get it fixed...whether it is your crossover or your tweeter. I've replaced tweeters in a matter of minutes and since you endorse Aguilar I'm sure they will take care of you. If you can't wait for it in the mail then I'm sure you wouldn't mind a drive up to Aguilar in NY!

bongomania · #12 07-04-2010, 11:05 AM

That's one of the reasons many distortion-using bassists prefer tweeterless cabs, as well as amps that inherently round off and compress the high end (e.g. SVT types).

akaTRENT · #13 07-04-2010, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingray56funk

You've got plenty of time to get it fixed...whether it is your crossover or your tweeter. I've replaced tweeters in a matter of minutes and since you endorse Aguilar I'm sure they will take care of you. If you can't wait for it in the mail then I'm sure you wouldn't mind a drive up to Aguilar in NY!

Ive done it before haha!

akaTRENT · #14 07-04-2010, 03:33 PM

Wait so, lets say it wasn't the distortion? How else would it have gotten blown? Aguilar doesnt seem to have any info listed on the crossover freqs

bongomania · #15 07-04-2010, 05:19 PM

Was your amp cranked to max master volume, or near max, at that least gig?

akaTRENT · #16 07-04-2010, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Was your amp cranked to max master volume, or near max, at that least gig?

Nope. it was at about 11 oclock. I never go past 1 oclock ever. and the gain never goes higher than 11 oclock.

akaTRENT · #17 07-06-2010, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingray56funk

You've got plenty of time to get it fixed...whether it is your crossover or your tweeter. I've replaced tweeters in a matter of minutes and since you endorse Aguilar I'm sure they will take care of you. If you can't wait for it in the mail then I'm sure you wouldn't mind a drive up to Aguilar in NY!

Just got back from that trip, new tweeter diaphragm in tow. I attached a picture of it. Ill take a picture of the the most likely blown one in question tomorrow when I replace.

Just In time for the show on thursday! Crossing my fingers we had this right.

Also spoke with them about the agro. They said its very unlikely more likely is that i probably had a transient spike occur.

akaTRENT · #18 08-20-2010, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingray56funk

You've got plenty of time to get it fixed...whether it is your crossover or your tweeter. I've replaced tweeters in a matter of minutes and since you endorse Aguilar I'm sure they will take care of you. If you can't wait for it in the mail then I'm sure you wouldn't mind a drive up to Aguilar in NY!

So a few weeks later and we finally figured out the problem!

Turns out it wasn't the tweeter. I was sitting down in front of my cab testing a pedal when I realized....

2 of the speakers were defective and had not been working. Brought it an they Basically found out the leads going into the voice-coil coil had a bad connection. The air pressure in the cab mad it look like the two busted ones were working. Apparently It was so rare they have only seen it once before. The fix is simply replace the two drivers which is currently being taken care of!

So I had been cranking my amp to compensate with out realizing, and the tweeter was getting a loud signal it was never intended to get. Also I couldn't understand how I was cranking my amp close to clipping and still getting low volumes but now it all makes sense.

The guys at Aguilar have been amazing in helping me fix the problem, and they are even trying to have it ready for my gig on wednesday.

Thanks for all the help guys this one is solved! Finally!