Blown speaker?

[Quinn]

Greetings Fellow Bassists,

I'm just getting back to playing after a long layoff due to arthritis. Thinking I was done for good, I sold off my trusty Ampeg rig, but recently decided I can't be happy without bass in my life, so I dragged my beat-up old Nemesis NC210 combo amp out of storage and I'm getting a (not good) buzz whenever I play an E. It just seems to be that one note and only when I turn it up to a moderate volume. The amp has two 10's and a tweeter and the issue seems to be coming from one of the 10's.

I removed the grill, blew out the dust, and tightened all the screws, but it made no difference. Before I order a new driver, I wanted to be sure to rule out other possible causes, but not sure what else to look for. Can anyone help?

Thanks!

 

[JRA]

sound like you did what you could to trouble-shoot. if you do indeed have a bad speaker = you'd be way ahead to get two replacement drivers.

good luck with your playing! i'm sure you'll enjoy getting back to it!

 

[rockdoc11]

Can you temporarily disconnect the two internal speakers and instead hook up a separate bass cab?

That should tell you whether the issue is electronic (amplification) and mechanical (an issue with one or both speakers).

 

[Quinn]

Can you temporarily disconnect the two internal speakers and instead hook up a separate bass cab?

That should tell you whether the issue is electronic (amplification) and mechanical (an issue with one or both speakers).

Good advice and I would follow it, but unfortunately, I don't have another cab anymore. I'll probably just order the replacement drivers and hope for the best.

 

[Redbrangus]

If it buzzes on just one note, it doesn't seem like it would be a blown speaker. Maybe a sympathetic vibration? Can you get someone else to pluck an 'E' while you feel around on the grill and other parts of the cab?

 

[Quinn]

If it buzzes on just one note, it doesn't seem like it would be a blown speaker. Maybe a sympathetic vibration? Can you get someone else to pluck an 'E' while you feel around on the grill and other parts of the cab?

That was my original thought, as well. Speakers sound okay except for that one frequency. However, I've removed the grill and tightened everything visible. I'll try removing the driver this weekend and see if there's anything going on with the wiring behind it. Thanks!

 

[Downunderwonder]

Try another bass also.

 

[bumperbass]

Trade the 10's around and see if it follows the speaker.

 

[Charlie Tuna]

I was advised in a similar situation to turn the tweeter knob down all the way and see if you are still getting the distorted sound. Also, if there are drums in the room turn the snares off. Our ears play tricks on us all the time.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Disconnect one speaker at a time and see if it's just one of the two or if it happens to be both working in together to cause a cabinet or component vibration.

If only one speaker makes the buzz, it's the culprit or it's in the bad position in the cab. If neither make the buzz, it's probably not a speaker at all, but the combination of the two vibrating something else. If both make the buzz individually, it could be two bad speakers, but it still sounds like it's going tho be the cabinet or something else in the cabinet.

Be careful cranking it up with either or both speakers NOT mounted in the cabinet. Wheather it's a sealed or ported cabinet, if either or both speakers are out of the cab, they will both be unloaded and you could make a bad speaker or two while trying to find out if you have one.

 

[Thumpin6string]

If this has been sitting unused for awhile, try plugging a patch cord between the send and return jacks if it has them. I have seen many amps get corrosion on these and cause all sorts of weird distortions. Anything from weird buzzes to low or no output. Better than buying a speaker if not the problem.

 

[Quinn]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I will try these ideas over the weekend and will update this thread with my findings.

 

[Basstigator]

...might need re-coning. If you push the speaker in does it make a scratchy sound? If so, I would recone or replace. There's lots of tests for speaker replacement. Check out YouTube. And, do you play an active bass?

 

[CrankyGypsy]

might just need to clean the connections?

coincidentally, I had the same issue with my G-K 800RB into my Hartke 410 & 115 cabs last week. i was getting what kind of sounded a little like a blown dust cover. it was only on certain notes of the low E string. narrowed it to the 410 and tried holding the dust covers to see if I could pinpoint a particular speaker - unsuccessful. then i turned the power off and tried wiggling 410's cable at the back of the head. It was tight, but i think i caused it to have a better connection on the 27yo contacts (probably a bit of a patina?) - turned it back on and everything was fine again.

 

[Alivefor5]

Off topic but I used to own one of these Nemesis 2x10s. Was thinking about it the other day wishing I hadn't sold it.

 

[gitfiddl]

Check the connections at the speaker itself. I've had loose spade lugs create what you're describing.

 

[Engle]

Do you have an active bass? Sometimes if the battery for a preamp is low, it will only distort on the lowest note(s). Those require the most juice.
It can sound like it’s the speaker.

 

[Bodeanly]

Does this amp have those spring loaded handles on the sides? Those things can make “oh no” sounds when they vibrate.

Edit: Never mind. Google has shown me that they do not have these handles.

 

[briandavismurph]

Do you have an active bass? Sometimes if the battery for a preamp is low, it will only distort on the lowest note(s). Those require the most juice.
It can sound like it’s the speaker.

This^ is def worth checking

 

[Engle]

This^ is def worth checking

I mention because I have been fooled by a low battery a couple of times and started troubleshooting at the other end of the signal chain