Lightning in my Cab?

[loudness]

So I registered for the forums just to ask about this:

Yesterday at practice I was messing around with my Steel Leather pedal. I also use a Bass Big Muff and a Boss ODB-3. When I put the Steel Leather pedal at the end of the chain, my cab (Ampeg 4x10 of some kind running off of an SWR SM-500), the speaker cones lit up. They weren't flickering, it was a slowly increasing glow, like a lightbulb turning on. It only happened when I was actually playing.

I'm sure this can't be good for any of the parts involved, so I'd like a bit of advice:

1) What is going on?
2) Why?
3) What can I do to stop it other than not putting the Steel Leather at the end of the chain, where I think it sounds best.

[eeyorebass]

Sounds to me like your putting too much power to the tweeter and your lighting up the tweeter protection, literally.

Ampeg uses an automotive type lightbulb instead of a fuse for their tweeter protection circuit. You send too much juice to the tweeter, and the excess energy lights up the bulb rather than blowing your tweeter.

Try turning the tweeter down or cutting some highs at the amp.

Jeremy

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by eeyorebass

Ampeg uses an automotive type lightbulb instead of a fuse for their tweeter protection circuit. You send too much juice to the tweeter, and the excess energy lights up the bulb rather than blowing your tweeter.

Yep. SWR cabs do the same thing. You must be ungodly loud.

[CL400Peavey]

He may not really be that loud, but his pedal may be putting out a ton of signal at the right frequency to light up that bulb.

[Chef]

free light show!

[jlepre]

Yup that's it. All of the above

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by CL400Peavey

He may not really be that loud, but his pedal may be putting out a ton of signal at the right frequency to light up that bulb.

OK, his TWEETER is ungodly loud.

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

OK, his TWEETER is ungodly loud.

Even the tweeter might not be turned up very loud. There may just be a lot of energy in his signal that the bulb is absorbing. Either way he should rethink his signal chain a bit before he blows the tweeter. Depending on the cab and his tonal needs he may want to disconnect it for now.

[morgansterne]

these bulbs used to light up in my old band's peavey pr15 PA speakers. It was REALLY bright in a darkened bar.

[loudness]

I assure you gents, I'm ungodly loud. I rattle the paintings on the walls down the hall from our lockout.

I have no idea how to turn the tweeter down, but I'm glad it wasn't the electrical disaster waiting to happen that I thought it was. My guitar player can probably assist.

[tdub0199]

sounds like your tweeter may not like the fuzz/distortion.... but yes, it's a small automotive light bulb being used as a fuse like others have stated....

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by loudness

I assure you gents, I'm ungodly loud. I rattle the paintings on the walls down the hall from our lockout.

I have no idea how to turn the tweeter down, but I'm glad it wasn't the electrical disaster waiting to happen that I thought it was. My guitar player can probably assist.

I would figure out what kind of cab you are using, and figure out a way to get a second one. Split up the power and you wont have to worry about that bulb as much.

[aproud1]

Originally Posted by loudness

I assure you gents, I'm ungodly loud. I rattle the paintings on the walls down the hall from our lockout.

I guess your name is fitting then?

[Gearhead17]

Originally Posted by loudness

I assure you gents, I'm ungodly loud. I rattle the paintings on the walls down the hall from our lockout.

I have no idea how to turn the tweeter down, but I'm glad it wasn't the electrical disaster waiting to happen that I thought it was. My guitar player can probably assist.

There should be an Attenuation Pad on the back of the cab - this is the tweeter level control. Turn this to the left - probably all the way since distortion sounds awful in the tweeter. Tweeters on Ampeg cabs typically operate in the 4khz through the 10khz range. Reduce this frequency band and you should be just fine.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by loudness

When I put the Steel Leather pedal at the end of the chain, my cab (Ampeg 4x10 of some kind running off of an SWR SM-500), the speaker cones lit up.

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Yep. SWR cabs do the same thing. You must be ungodly loud.

Originally Posted by CL400Peavey

He may not really be that loud, but his pedal may be putting out a ton of signal at the right frequency to light up that bulb.

Originally Posted by loudness

I assure you gents, I'm ungodly loud. I rattle the paintings on the walls down the hall from our lockout.

Told ya.
Anyway OP, the Steel Leather pedal, being an expander and tuned to frequencies that your tweeters see, is hammering your tweeter very very hard.
As Peavey said, turn it down or blow it. Most 4x10's have a dial on the back for this. If not, remove the light bulb from the fuseholder to disable the tweeter.
Oh, please wear earplugs for God's sake.

[will33]

Upon failing to destroy the entire world, the Mayans have taken up residency in your little corner of it.


















Yes, it's the protection bulb and it's doing it's job. That pedal is likely putting out a ton of highend that isn't getting counteracted by the other pedals being at the end of the chain.

Follow the advice already given.

Originally Posted by loudness

I assure you gents, I'm ungodly loud. I rattle the paintings on the walls down the hall from our lockout.

I have no idea how to turn the tweeter down, but I'm glad it wasn't the electrical disaster waiting to happen that I thought it was. My guitar player can probably assist.

What sort of bass player needs the guitarists assistance with a technical problem?

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by will33

What sort of bass player needs the guitarists assistance with a technical problem?

Would a GP even know what a tweeter is?

[will33]

Originally Posted by hdracer

Would a GP even know what a tweeter is?

Let's hope not.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by will33

Upon failing to destroy the entire world, the Mayans have taken up residency in your little corner of it.

No no no. They weren't actually going to do it themselves. They just gave us a date to shoot for.
Then again, they didn't.

[will33]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

No no no. They weren't actually going to do it themselves. They just gave us a date to shoot for.
Then again, they didn't.

Apparently their drummer couldn't land on the one after his fill.