How many of you have blown speakers?

dog1 · #1 11-29-2011, 05:47 PM

I just replied to a couple of threads where guys were either looking for replacement speakers or recone kits for blown speakers.

Regardless of whether the speakers were defective, or you just pumped too much through them, how many of you have ever blown a speaker?

I have only been playing for 44 years, but I have never blown a speaker.

Just wondering

BurningSkies · #2 11-29-2011, 05:50 PM

Only once, and quite a while ago. I moved from a passive Precision to an active bass that had not only a lot of gain, but a pre-baked tone curve that scooped my mids and produced a lot of bass in the 40hz and below range. Needless to say, about 3 gigs into the new bass I tore through the cones of my 4x10.

spaz21387 · #3 11-29-2011, 05:53 PM

twice... both in my swr 6x10 cab. 2 were on their way out to begin with. One blew after a show the other died recently... Im still in the market for an 8 ohm pas driver ha

Dustin Teel · #4 11-29-2011, 05:55 PM

I've blown a speaker before. I conducted an experiment with one of the Seismic Audio 4x10s in which I intentionally blew one of the drivers just so I would know what blowing a speaker would sound like and to help me better identify such a situation in the future.

Also, I suppose melting voice coils counts as "blowing" speakers, which I have accidentally done. A band I was jamming with hooked up an Ampeg head to two Peavey 1x15 PA speakers and played so loud that, during a song, the voice coil on one of the drivers burned out. This was identifiable by a burning smell and then a sudden massive reduction of volume from the cab.

dog1 · #5 11-29-2011, 06:00 PM

Hmmm. Interesting.

Who I believe are two seasoned players do not really have a history of blowing speakers.

So, so far, what I believed may be true. Blown speakers mostly, but not always, come from rookies pumping too much through them.

I started this because I had responded to Duke's "Audio Kinesis" thread where a player was concerned that "if" he blew Duke's custom design speaker, maybe he couldn't get a recone kit. I never considered this a selling point for any particular cab I have considered buying.

Will be interested to hear of anyone else's experiences.

BurningSkies · #6 11-29-2011, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dog1

Hmmm. Interesting.

Who I believe are two seasoned players do not really have a history of blowing speakers.

So, so far, what I believed may be true. Blown speakers mostly, but not always, come from rookies pumping too much through them.

I started this because I had responded to Duke's "Audio Kinesis" thread where a player was concerned that "if" he blew Duke's custom design speaker, maybe he couldn't get a recone kit. I never considered this a selling point for any particular cab I have considered buying.

Will be interested to hear of anyone else's experiences.

My experience, which was about 20 years into me playing regularly on stage (of many sizes and types) showed me that its definitely possible to tear through speakers. Before that I'd never had a problem. If the speaker distorts, turn it down. What I had done was under-estimate the extent that the bass' preamp was boosting the sub-lows, much of which you can't really hear. I actually retired that bass soon after, mainly because the preamp is such a mess.

skychief · #7 11-29-2011, 06:10 PM

Many moons ago i had a Carvin 215 loaded with EV something-or-other drivers. Blew one at a gig, replaced it , and within two weeks managed to blow the OTHER one!!

My fault - - - -was waaaaaay overpowering the cab. Im suprised they lasted as long as they did.

godofthunder59 · #8 11-29-2011, 06:10 PM

I go through a couple of drivers a year I use quite a bit of feedback the drivers don't like it. Btw I have been playing since '71

RitchS · #9 11-29-2011, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustin Teel

I've blown a speaker before. I conducted an experiment with one of the Seismic Audio 4x10s in which I intentionally blew one of the drivers just so I would know what blowing a speaker would sound like and to help me better identify such a situation in the future.

Also, I suppose melting voice coils counts as "blowing" speakers, which I have accidentally done. A band I was jamming with hooked up an Ampeg head to two Peavey 1x15 PA speakers and played so loud that, during a song, the voice coil on one of the drivers burned out. This was identifiable by a burning smell and then a sudden massive reduction of volume from the cab.

I've been looking at the Seismic stuff recently. I've bought four 15" monitors and am very happy with them. I've considered buying a 4x10 or 2x15 just out of sheer curiosity. What did you think of it before you sonically Gallagarized it?

rpsands · #10 11-29-2011, 06:11 PM

I had an old Genz Benz LS410 and the magnet literally fell off the back of one of the speakers

Passinwind · #11 11-29-2011, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dog1

I just replied to a couple of threads where guys were either looking for replacement speakers or recone kits for blown speakers.

Regardless of whether the speakers were defective, or you just pumped too much through them, how many of you have ever blown a speaker?

I have only been playing for 44 years, but I have never blown a speaker.

Just wondering

I've personally blown a dozen or so in 40 years, I think. As a longtime amp repair deWd, I've seen hundreds of blown drivers, maybe thousands even.

**B-string** · #12 11-29-2011, 06:14 PM

When I was real young I bought a Utah 15" from a supply house, built a 3/4 bass relax cab for it. It sounded so bad I though it must be defective. The supply house would not accept a return unless it was known to be defective. A short period of time hooked up with a lamp cord to the wall socket and it was definitely bad.

theduke1 · #13 11-29-2011, 06:15 PM

once
Played my G&L L2500 into a 450 2x10 combo and forgot to tie in the 15in bottom
Poff!!

matboyd · #14 11-29-2011, 06:16 PM

Managed to blow both my 2x10's in my ashdown combo after about five years playing and gigging.

Ripped the head out, built a rack unit for it and bought a 1x15... Burnt out a pa driver after the band kept asking for it to go louder, and louder and pop. I was young... And they were stupid

dog1 · #15 11-29-2011, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by godofthunder59

I go through a couple of drivers a year I use quite a bit of feedback the drivers don't like it. Btw I have been playing since '71

'68.

Your post made me smile. Sorry you go through so many speakers. But, maybe we should start an "old farts bass club" right here on TB. I'll bet there are PLENTY that could join.

Rock on, godofthunder.

dog1 · #16 11-29-2011, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

When I was real young I bought a Utah 15" from a supply house, built a 3/4 bass relax cab for it. It sounded so bad I though it must be defective. The supply house would not accept a return unless it was known to be defective. A short period of time hooked up with a lamp cord to the wall socket and it was definitely bad.

I really did LOL!!!!!!!

dog1 · #17 11-29-2011, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passinwind

I've personally blown a dozen or so in 40 years, I think. As a longtime amp repair deWd, I've seen hundreds of blown drivers, maybe thousands even.

Bummer.

Eric Moesle · #18 11-29-2011, 06:20 PM

I've never melted a voice coil, but I have creased the 10's in a 4x10 cab on two separate occassions. Both times I was asking too much of the cab under the circumstances.

Bassman822 · #19 11-29-2011, 06:22 PM

In 72 I was using my recently purchased SVT head through 2 CTS 15s at rehearsal. After a few songs they gave me the silent treatment

dog1 · #20 11-29-2011, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matboyd

Managed to blow both my 2x10's in my ashdown combo after about five years playing and gigging.

Ripped the head out, built a rack unit for it and bought a 1x15... Burnt out a pa driver after the band kept asking for it to go louder, and louder and pop. I was young... And they were stupid

Sorry. But hopefully we won't have to tell tales of our "young and dumb" experiences. Man....I could write a book on the subject.