I've never blown a speaker before...

Caca de Kick · #1 10-10-2010, 11:31 PM

Until two weeks ago. And I didn't even know it either!

We played a big show opening for a national act. Their touring stage seemed plenty loud with moitors and side-fills that it didn't seem like I needed to run much volume any differently than before. But when we loaded our gear back in the practice studio the next day, I saw my 22 year old Mesa cab had a slightly demolished EV15.

Luckily I have a spare EV stashed in the attic, and put the cab back together today. But I hope the old one can be fixed.

mrkreuzschlitz · #2 10-10-2010, 11:33 PM

I'm no expert, but it looks like the cone itself ripped and maybe the coil isn't bad. Go get it reconed and keep it as your new backup!

Any chance it blew to phasing?

Caca de Kick · #3 10-10-2010, 11:39 PM

I checked the phasing between all drivers in that cab, and well as my 2nd cab I run it with, and all are proper.
Yeah the center completely tore from the cone, and luckily there's no scraping in the coil either, so it's still good. Now gotta find a good repair tech.

gumtownbassman · #4 10-10-2010, 11:43 PM

22 years for a bass driver is pretty good, if you got 10 years from a paper cone it's doing well too.
A recone will sort it, but best to compare the price to a new driver first.

mrkreuzschlitz · #5 10-10-2010, 11:43 PM

Chances are your local amp tech can point you to the right people, you could probably even ship it out to a reputable company and save some dough.

It's a shame to see that happen man, I'm really sorry for you. I'm wanting to say a recone is less than $100 but don't hold me to that. Do you remember if you hit your pickups with your strings or any other kinda weird peaking out? That just looks bizarre that it happened.

mrkreuzschlitz · #6 10-10-2010, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gumtownbassman

22 years for a bass driver is pretty good, if you got 10 years from a paper cone it's doing well too.
A recone will sort it, but best to compare the price to a new driver first.

I'm not sure how easy those speakers are readily available man.

tdvt · #7 10-11-2010, 05:48 AM

If that's the original driver, I think you've done really well.

I've lost a few, don't play really loud stuff but they just wear out.

This last one gave it up during a folkie-ish, quiet song in a fairly small room. One second there was sound, next second there wasn't.

15 years on that one maybe?

They are still recone-able, around $120.

Mr. Foxen · #8 10-11-2010, 05:56 AM

The cone being trashed and the coil being fine kind of demonstrates its excursion that limits speakers, not thermal power handling (quoted watts).

billfitzmaurice · #9 10-11-2010, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrkreuzschlitz

I'm no expert, but it looks like the cone itself ripped and maybe the coil isn't bad.

The coil, spider, cone and surround are replaced as a unit.

fu22ba55 · #10 10-11-2010, 07:29 AM

Orange County Speaker

http://speakerrepair.com/

They've been re-coning speakers since 1968.

They are the only place I trust to recone my vintage EVs. They know their stuff.

Speaker will be as good as brand new.

strke-fender · #11 10-11-2010, 07:45 AM

I just reconed the 15' in my 1516. Can't say I had a good time doing it, but I guess I learned a bit.

mrkreuzschlitz · #12 10-11-2010, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

The coil, spider, cone and surround are replaced as a unit.

There we go. So essentially only the basket is left?

I learn something from you every day, thanks!

craig.p · #13 10-11-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

The cone being trashed and the coil being fine kind of demonstrates its excursion that limits speakers, not thermal power handling (quoted watts).

And a hearty Amen to that. I'll wager he has a subsonic problem, especially with a history of "not much volume." The condition of that cone is Subsonic Problem's calling card. (Though an aging cone can probably tolerate a lot less of it than a fresh one, I'll admit.)

Caca de Kick · #14 10-11-2010, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fu22ba55

Orange County Speaker

http://speakerrepair.com/

Cool, thanks for the reccomendation!

Yeah, it's an old rig I've been playing for over 19yrs now.

rpsands · #15 10-11-2010, 01:14 PM

Might be time to consider a 3015 too =) Lots of folks like them and they weigh like 10lbs less per driver and have twice the displacement roughly.

Passinwind · #16 10-11-2010, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rpsands

Might be time to consider a 3015 too =) Lots of folks like them and they weigh like 10lbs less per driver and have twice the displacement roughly.

Nope, not for Mike. I've heard him play many times, and the 15L is a much better choice in his case, IMO.

Mr. Foxen · #17 10-11-2010, 03:07 PM

A high pass filter set to 40hz or something is probably the best thing to stop it happening. There is a pedalboard sized one called a thumpinator or somesuch you can get.

rpsands · #18 10-11-2010, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passinwind

Nope, not for Mike. I've heard him play many times, and the 15L is a much better choice in his case, IMO.

Why?

Mr. Foxen · #19 10-11-2010, 03:32 PM

If it ain't broke, don't fix, sort of, obviously it is broke, but maybe if it sounds right as is, keep it like that, the change in tone the 3015 will have in that cab might not suit.

rpsands · #20 10-11-2010, 03:34 PM

I'm asking specifically because I've listened to both (owned a 15L, my first bass cab) and don't really find anything magical about the 15L's tone. Feels like it'd be pretty easy to cop in a mix with a bit of eq and / or some dirt.

Sorry, not trying to crap on anyone's thread, just noting that the cost of reconing those guys is getting pretty out there, and the weight is similarly out there