Dead Cab D=

BassManMike73 · #1 11-17-2011, 09:02 PM

I found out this morning that my GK 115 BLX-II cab died, no sound whatsoever.

I also own a 410 BLX-II and a 210 BLX-III.

So i need to replace the speaker, or buy a whole new cab (probably my best option). What I'd like right now are some suggestions on replacement speakers for the 115 especially, and the 410 as well. I'd like to use them together, but the power handling in replacing them with stock isnt enough, I'm running an 800 watt head, and the cabs are 410=400 watts and 115=200 watts.

Not really sure why the 115 died though, since I havent played it much recently, and havent played at high volume with it since i had my 300 watt GK head.

JohnMCA72 · #2 11-17-2011, 09:09 PM

I hope you tried the amp with one of the other cabs, to make sure that's where the problem is.

If it is the cab, I'd make sure that there isn't a wire broken or pulled off of a connector. Something like that can be fixed in seconds at zero cost.

Speakers don't usually just suddenly die completely, with no sound at all where there was sound before. Usually you'll get some sound, but it's very low & distorted, & it happens while you're playing.

If you're 100% sure that the speaker is blown, I'd look into a recone.

**Thor** · #3 11-17-2011, 09:10 PM

Have you opened it and checked the wiring as well as the continuity through the driver?

A rat shack or Home Depot multimeter is your friend in diagnosing problems.

If you have read anything at all about speaker replacements and the physics of bass cab design on this site, you will understand this recommendation:
Buy the exact replacement from GK for the cab, it is designed around the specs of that driver.

This is not so critical for guitar speakers, but critical for bass cab performance. That's the short version.

brendanbassist · #4 11-17-2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnMCA72

...
Speakers don't usually just suddenly die completely, with no sound at all where there was sound before. ...

+1

BassManMike73 · #5 11-18-2011, 04:56 AM

I've checked the head with my other cabs and it works fine. And I opened up the cab and all of the wires are fine, I don't have a multi meter though.
This is blowing my mind, I'm not dumb when it comes to electronics stuff, but the fact that this speaker just all of a sudden doesn't work doesn't make sense to me.

bertbass666 · #6 11-18-2011, 05:49 AM

put a battery across the speaker terminals and see if you get a click. That will tell you if it's the speaker or not.

BassManMike73 · #7 11-18-2011, 06:59 AM

Just a 9 volt?

Bass_Pounder · #8 11-18-2011, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassManMike73

I found out this morning that my GK 115 BLX-II cab died, no sound whatsoever.

I also own a 410 BLX-II and a 210 BLX-III.

So i need to replace the speaker, or buy a whole new cab (probably my best option). What I'd like right now are some suggestions on replacement speakers for the 115 especially, and the 410 as well. I'd like to use them together, but the power handling in replacing them with stock isnt enough, I'm running an 800 watt head, and the cabs are 410=400 watts and 115=200 watts.

Not really sure why the 115 died though, since I havent played it much recently, and havent played at high volume with it since i had my 300 watt GK head.

1X15 and a 4X10 is a terrible pairing, and will most likely lead to the death of the 15 again.

dmusic148 · #9 11-18-2011, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassManMike73

..... but the fact that this speaker just all of a sudden doesn't work doesn't make sense to me.

If it was last being used together with the 4x10, it might have cooked while you were playing and you didn't even notice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass_Pounder

1X15 and a 4X10 is a terrible pairing, and will most likely lead to the death of the 15 again.

+1. 1x15 cabs work OK matched in pairs or multiples, but alone with a 4x10 is asking for trouble.

BassManMike73 · #10 11-18-2011, 09:22 AM

I'm not actually going to do this, just curious: what about the 210 and 15 together? They're the same ohms and the same power handling. Is it mixing different sized speakers that's the problem? Or using different power speakers?

dmusic148 · #11 11-18-2011, 09:34 AM

It's mixing different speaker sizes and different cabs that is generally frowned upon. Cabs, and speakers, should be matched for best results. Having said that, the combo you suggest would be a much better match, from a power-handling point of view(what it would sound like is unknown- you may like it, or not). A 4x10 can usually take much more power than a 1x15 can. So when a 1x15 and 4x10 are used together, you are very much at risk of over-powering the 1x15.

will33 · #12 11-18-2011, 09:44 AM

Yes, you can check woofers with a 9volt battery.

And +1 to what everybody else here is saying.

BassmanPaul · #13 11-18-2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassManMike73

but the fact that this speaker just all of a sudden doesn't work doesn't make sense to me.

It makes perfect sense to me if you have been pairing it with your 4x10. No single 15 can keep up with a 4x10 in any regard. It has less efficiency and power handling and most likely won't go any lower.

BassManMike73 · #14 11-18-2011, 12:25 PM

Just to clarify: using mixed cabs isn't my ideal setup, I just can't afford to buy a new cab yet. I'm really looking for a temporary quick fix that's cheap to get me by with what I have until tax return time, when I buy my Aguilar 810

Bass_Pounder · #15 11-18-2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassManMike73

Just to clarify: using mixed cabs isn't my ideal setup, I just can't afford to buy a new cab yet. I'm really looking for a temporary quick fix that's cheap to get me by with what I have until tax return time, when I buy my Aguilar 810

Except that in all fairness, you were told about this exact problem in your posts 4 months ago............

Question on cabinet wiring...

Unfortunately there is no "quick fix". Replacing the 15" is only going to put you back in the same place until it blows again.

Alex1984 · #16 11-18-2011, 12:35 PM

I wouldn't bother with a cheap quick fix. Given your situation, the 115's not doing that much for you (except maybe raising your 410 a little higher), and it might actually be limiting your 410. The only reason I'd bother fixing that cab would be to resell it right afterwards.

BassManMike73 · #17 11-18-2011, 04:49 PM

good catch bass_pounder, i really didnt intend on this going in the same direction as the other one, but it kinda turned that way. =/

BassmanPaul · #18 11-19-2011, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassManMike73

Just to clarify: using mixed cabs isn't my ideal setup, I just can't afford to buy a new cab yet. I'm really looking for a temporary quick fix that's cheap to get me by with what I have until tax return time, when I buy my Aguilar 810

Please don't think that I am knocking you in any way. You see the 1x15 plus 4x10 pairing everywhere. Manufacturers show it in almost every advert. The fact that it's a poor mating never seems to get consideration. A lot of times folk buy this stack because they are available used and they look cool. It's classic engineering by looks rather than science. Marketing over usability.

**B-string** · #19 11-19-2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Please don't think that I am knocking you in any way. You see the 1x15 plus 4x10 pairing everywhere. Manufacturers show it in almost every advert. The fact that it's a poor mating never seems to get consideration. A lot of time folk buy this stack because they are available used and they look cool. It's classic engineering by looks rather than science. Marketing over usability.

Just like an 810 cab

RickenBoogie · #20 11-19-2011, 01:44 PM

Also true^.