CL Cab, What did I just get? (Cetec/Gauss content)

[Smurf_Byte]

So. I found an old beat up Peavey 215 cab on the relatively local Criagslist. It's not the deep version, but I was still under the impression that it had the Black Widows in it. I didn't pay much for it as one of the speakers has a damaged dust cap. I get it home and pull the damaged speaker to get to work. But what do I find? Something that's not a black widow. It's a Gauss model 5840. The dust cap is all but missing and there is some writing inside and a 1978 date on it.

So what did I get here? There was not too much info I could find with google on this speaker . It sounded okay the quick minute I played with it, but I didn't really put it through its paces with my bass or head. If anybody has any info or advise on this thing I would appreciate it. For now I'll just clean it up and rock it.

Pic:

 

[RoadRanger]

Gauss drivers sounded better than the Black Widows of those days and took more power. If it sounds OK you should be able to just replace the dust cap .

 

[Smurf_Byte]

Thanks. Were these common in that era of Peaveys? I had never heard of them until I did limited research. Now to find a place to replace the dust cap...

 

[RoadRanger]

Those were never stock in a Peavey cab - somebody replaced the stock BW's.

 

[dalkowski]

Those were never stock in a Peavey cab - somebody replaced the stock BW's.

This. Those old Gauss drivers were un-fry-able!

 

[INTP]

<snip>
Now to find a place to replace the dust cap...

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Smurf_Byte]

Thanks for the input. I paid $50 for the cab and it looks like i'll be into it for another $20 and some elbow grease.

 

[will33]

What's the second 15?

That Gauss ain't a bad driver at all. Is that the type of cab that has a "shelf" in the middle, essentially making it like two 115 cabs inside?

If so, you'probably OK if you like how it sounds. If it's all one open compartment inside, it may not sound that good or take as much power as the 2 different types of speaker may not like that. Especially if the other one is the old square magnet model found in some old Peaveys (not a Widow). Those couldn't take much power and will essentially be a weak link.

Some years of those cabs had shelves in the middle with slot ports, but not all of them.

 

[Smurf_Byte]

I just took the second one out and it's a matching gauss driver. The box is two separate compartments with the 2 triangle ports on the right side. Again, it's not the deep version. Should I continue forward with my "restoration" plans or change directions here? And two 8 ohm speakers gets 4 total, right?

 

[will33]

Continue forward, will be a nice rig.

Yep, two 8ohms in parallel gives a 4ohm cab.

The dustcap is cheap and not difficult to do your self if you're careful with a razor knife (cutting off the old one). Or, if there's a speaker repair guy in your town, they'll probably do it for their minimum fee, probably $20-$25.

 

[will33]

Modifications to the port tuning (If needed, might not be) aren't too difficult either if you're the handy type, cutting and fitting few small wood panels.

 

[Smurf_Byte]

Thanks for the info, Will33 (and others). I've ordered the dust cap and adhesive for a DIY project. I watched a video on how to do it and it doesn't look too bad. I'll have to figure out the wiring later. What's in there right now looks a little skinny and I also noted there is no padding or matting stapled to the interior. I could probably do some cab modifications of needed. But, I wouldn't have the slightest idea of figuring out if any were needed. I'm all ears to any advise.

 

[Humbled]

I played bass through a JBL 4530 cabinet with a Gauss Driver like that back in the late 1970s.

It sounded significantly better to my ears than the JBL E140s that I was blowing regularly, and the Gauss proved to be indestructible. Gauss advertised that it's double-spider prevented mis-alignment of the voice coil to the gap in cases of extreme over-excursion. Whatever it was, I never blew it up, ...and man did I try.

 

[RoadRanger]

Yup, $50 for two working Gauss drivers was a steal .

 

[agedhorse]

Just a head's up that factory recone parts are no longer available and while there are some aftermarket parts, they are not the same as the originals. Most were a dual spider design with a spacer ring between the spiders. Reconing these takes some experience as well as a lot of attention to detail. I remember doing a fair number of these probably 25 years ago. Haven't seen one for years.

 

[deeptubes]

I've got an old Peavey 215. Bought it paired with a 400B, back in Feb. They've always been siblings. The head is dated 12/5/77. They are the Peavey stock 15s, not BWs, with big square magnets. Apparently, they may be old Eminences. The dustcaps aren't really domes, but shaped more like hockey pucks.

 

[Smurf_Byte]

The tag on my cabinet is only partial so I can't see the serial # to try and date it. The one speaker is dated 1978. I'm still waiting for parts to do the repair, but i'll post pictures when it's done.

 

[Bassmec]

I used to do some work for the UK importer for Gauss, London Microphone center those drivers where very good and where a fantastic replacement for the JBL 4550 concert series bin.
In those days you hung one side of an old crown DC 300 per 2x15 @ 500 watts and you got back from a 31 day tour all bass drivers intact even with Captain Hornblower mixing as I remember them Gauss.
PS JBL 4" voice coil caps will fit.

 

[johnpbass]

Several years back (well more than several) a band I was in used a sound company that had bass bins loaded with 2 15 Gauss in each. Those bins could knock down walls!

 

[Smurf_Byte]

It almost looks like the dust cap I received is a little too small in diameter. It's kind of hard to get a picture of, but here goes:

This is the 4" aluminum dust cap from Simply Speakers, model DC-4A. Any ideas on this?