I've had this cabinet for quite some time now. Its an ampeg 410HE. Everything sounds nice and tight until I play an A note. (Usually E string, 5th fret) when I play this note, all the speakers buzz and it sounds like farts domino. Any help or suggestions?
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Cab buzzes when I play an A note
- Thread starter FromZero
- Start date
Are you sure it's the loudspeakers? It can be any other part on/in the cabinet that isn't mounted/installed/fastened correctly.
Perhaps, but wouldn't it do that with all the notes if something wasnt mounted properly? And I have tried this in different rooms, to rule out room vibration. Same thing
Something in/on the cab is rattling when you play the A, have you listened closely on all sides of the cabinet to pin-point the "source"? These buzzes can fool you, it can be anything from a loose screw to the crossover rattling against the inside of the cabinet.... Worst-case it is one of the drivers (e.g. damage to the voice-coil) or a crack in the cabinet.
I took off all the hardware and it still does the same thing. I played a little softer to try to pinpoint the location and its definitely inside the cab housing, not the speakers like you mentioned. I will try to pinpoint it and update you. Thanks!
Does the cabinet have casters? I have an Ampeg B-1 combo that buzzed on a certain note (I think it was Bb). I checked everything - speaker, horn, grill, etc., etc. Nothing was loose. Laid the amp on its side, removed the casters and noticed the buzz was coming from the caster sockets! I removed the caster sockets and saw slits at the top of the sockets. It was air was passing through the slits causing the buzz/farting. I wrapped the socket stems with black electrical tape from the mounting plates all the way up to the top, making sure to seal-off the slits, reinstalled them and... problem solved.
Is all of the original cab bracing intact? You may be experiencing a sympathetic vibration from the cab itself. All matter is made up of molecules and those molecules are bonded together around certain frequencies. If one of your braces has come loose, that changes the amount of surface and their resonant frequency. Does your cab also vibrate on octaves for your "A", i.e. 440 Hz, 880 Hz, etc.? If so, then I would be looking for a loose joint or brace, as I am certain that Ampeg would not have designed a cab that would resonate in this fashion.
If you know how, and are aware of the ramifications of changing the total impedance, you could try wiring up one driver at a time to make sure it's not a blown speaker.
Also, have you tried a different room? Sometimes it's something in the room and it can be very hard to tell where it's coming from.
Also, have you tried a different room? Sometimes it's something in the room and it can be very hard to tell where it's coming from.
The cab does have casters, I thought that might be the issue, and turned it on its side and held every caster with the note played. Didn't help.
How could I check the bracing integrity? I took out the speakers and tried to wiggle the divider between the 10s, but the junction seemed solid. Not sure if that's what you mean.. I don't think its a blown speaker since it doesn't rattle on other notes. Im gettin sad man!
How could I check the bracing integrity? I took out the speakers and tried to wiggle the divider between the 10s, but the junction seemed solid. Not sure if that's what you mean.. I don't think its a blown speaker since it doesn't rattle on other notes. Im gettin sad man!
Hey middy
Thanks for helping. I have tried a couple of different rooms and even outside. It still gets same result
Could be a failed glue joint in between a couple wood panels. Side to side, sides to back, sides to front baffle, even a rattle at the input plate on the back. Someone applying pressure to each panel while it is played is the way to find it, carpenter's wood glue is the (simple and easy) fix.
Thanks man, im thinking this is the problem. I've ruled out about everything else. i'll get back to it after this weekend's shows. I'm using a gk 410mb in the meantime. Sounds ok but it's not my tone. Thanks everyone for your responses!!
