How to diagnose a broken speaker...

g&lplayer · #1 06-22-2010, 08:28 AM

Hey so Please dont bash me too hard if there is some forum already on here about this but my amp is buzzing a LOT lately, even at low volumes. Does this probably mean i have a broken speaker? Its a combo amp that has been around the block and gigged with a lot that ive now retired into being just a practice amp, but I love it and want it to work again! Is there some way to tell if its just a blown speaker vs. something else?

Im guessing the speaker is blown becuase again, its been gigged with and after being dragged to bars for two years and played at max volume I would be shocked to find out i haven't blown the speaker. Just curious because depending on what the problem is I would take it to different places.

ALSO, about how much do you think it would cost to get a SINGLE speaker cone replaced on a combo amp? Its an ampeg BA 115HP

SurferJoe46 · #2 06-22-2010, 09:33 AM

Gosh - the answer runs from 'parts falling off/from the speaker cone" all the way to "smoke is escaping".

Typically cones/speakers can fail in myriads of ways and they manifest different sounds - if they even make any sound at all. If it's been really pushed too hard, the farting may have terminally damaged the driver too. That's a serious consideration!

Scratchy? Possible voice coil is contaminated with dirt, old electronic shellac (do they even use this any more?)

Rips/Tears? Kinda obvious, I think. This also applies to holes and beer bottles stuck in the grill

Darker or burnt area around the center cap? Overheated at some time or currently still happening, but not for long.

There MIGHT be an amplifier problem too and I lean this way since this noise is at all volume levels.

If in doubt - ask someone else to listen to it - and I just KNOW there's gotta be a guitar shredder kid on your block somewhere and as luck might have it he may be very well versed in blown speakers and smoke depleted amplifiers.

nysbob · #3 06-22-2010, 10:53 AM

With two hands (spread your fingers out so you're not applying too much pressure on any one area of the cone) manually move the cone back and forth through its full excursion. If you feel rubbing or binding of any sort, you've probably got a slightly burned voice coil. If it's truly fried, it'll lock up and you won't get any movement at all, but it sounds like yours just might be about half gone.