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Golight Users - Don't Get Screwed!!!!

N

newburyohio

Inactive
Feb 15, 2002
35
1
USA
www.mikesgig.com
#1
Nice cabs - look good, good specs, light, powerful....

So I'm troubleshooting a problem. My T-max amp is making some intermittent buzzing and output level fluctuations. Doing this just plugged in to an SWR Golight 1x12. And I keep getting a (sounds like a blown speaker sound) :( when I boost the bass and go low. Ok - so I gotta check this out too. Take the golight grill off and gently and evenly press in on the 12" cone and it feels OK - no rub. :) Then, out of habit, I start checking the speaker mounting screws - every one is loose. :mad:Holy S**t - :eek:what's this? So I tighten em all up and test again - same problem. HMMM...OK, lets pop the tweeter and feel around the back of the speaker. One of the leads to a speaker terminal is NOT SCREWED DOWN. Its in the hole but not secured - so when it vibrates it crackles. Oh, by the way, the tweeter is a brand I'd never seen before "Tweeter, Made in China, 8ohm". :confused:

I check further - screws on all handles are loose, back jack plate does not have a gasket. I remedy these problems and the cabinet now sound exactly like it should have when it was brand new from the factory.

Another item I still need to address - the 1/4" jacks are not sealed.

The box now goes deep like never before - I was thinking of selling it because it was low end deficient - but now its a keeper.

So - Golighter's - check your screws before you loose them.
 
#4
Good tip. It's SOP for me check every screw on every incoming piece of equipment for appropriate snugness.

Years ago, I got a fairly expensive bass that was shipped to me. On a whim while checking it out, I started testing the screws on it and found EVERY one was substantially loose.

Been checking every since. It can make a huge difference.
 
#6
Edward G. said:
Good tip. It's SOP for me check every screw on every incoming piece of equipment for appropriate snugness.
Click to expand...

+1

This should be an ongoing process for all bass players. It only takes a few minutes, and can save you some trouble down the line. Another thing to check is your horn-to-lense connection on your tweeter. Most are threaded on, and can un-thread over time, causing a rattle...or worse, coming off, and ending up at the bottom of the cab.
 
#8
I have seen similar stuff on both Ampeg and EBS speakers as well.
Even small cabinet leakage can (substantially) alter cabinet tuning and thereby power handling.
Interestingly, the premium, made in Sweden EBS cabinets were much worse than their mid price products from China.
 
#13
Word... I went to look at a few things the other day and the SWR site is pathetic. The product listings there don't even match the products that places like Musicians Friend and other sites still offer. Too bad... Definitely maintaining and hanging on to all of my vintage SWR gear at this point - even my close-to-100lb Goliath cabinet from 1990. Sounds great, breaks the back. Worth it though. I guess that's sort of strange to bring up in a thread about the GoLights though, eh?

lowfreq33 said:
SWR quality went way down hill once Fender bought them out. Guess it's a moot point now that they've killed off the brand.
Click to expand...
 
#16
I grew up riding and working on old Harley Davidson's. After you rode them you tightened everything down again. Every amp cab I've ever had gets hit once a month with a screw driver to make sure everything is tight. We did this on the road after watching the sound tech check his gear.. He replied if it vibrates it will work lose... last cab I bought I had to tighten all the horn screws and a few of the speaker screws. Its not a knock on any brand. Its just physics. And old Harley's :o
 

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