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Having Problems with Peavey Cab... Diagnosis?

F

Floydian

Nov 17, 2008
33
0
Richmond, VA
#1
Ok so I had never owned a cab before about a week and a half ago. I got (what I thought) a great deal on a 1x18 Peavey Cabinet (Not sure of model number, I'll have to look it up when I go back to practice space) from Craig's List for $100. A couple days later I bought a Peavey 210 watt at 4 ohms amplifier. The cab was also 4 ohms but did not have information on how much wattage it could handle.

Anyways, I jam with my band a couple times and my new set-up sounds amazing, i had never personally played with that much power and I was loving it. About a week after the purchase a couple of my buddies and I have a party above our practice space and then jam for some people at the party. Since were all just a little bit intoxicated things get a little louder than normal I turn up my amplifier a little louder than I ever had jammed with before. I go into a fairly fast slap line and what results is a great jam but by the end I realize any notes on the E string have a horrible rattling to them. For the rest of the three jams I turn down but the rattling is still noticeable. Today it has gotten to the point that my tone is too distorted to even be enjoyable to play.

So one of my friends who plays in a working band tells me the bass player in his band was having a similar problem. Apparently, it had something to do with paper on the speaker cone. I am not too familiar with Cabs so I can't say for sure, but could this be my problem? If so is it an easy fix? If not, then what the hell is it? Money wise I cannot afford another cab so I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks fellow TB'ers.
 
#4
Lesson? Never get so toasted that you can't hear the warning sounds of your speakers being driven to far. A hard lesson many have to learn the hard way.
Sorry for your troubles but you are in good company. Meaning you are not the first and won't be the last to experience this.
 
#6
you dont have to buy a new speaker, peavy sells replacement baskets for the old black widow speakers where you keep your magnet and just bolt on the new basket. Its cheaper than buying a whole new speaker and easy to change, i have changed a few of them and it is a simple 5 min job.
 
#9
username1 said:
you dont have to buy a new speaker, peavy sells replacement baskets for the old black widow speakers where you keep your magnet and just bolt on the new basket. Its cheaper than buying a whole new speaker and easy to change, i have changed a few of them and it is a simple 5 min job.
Click to expand...

yep. if it's a black widow they are super easy to replace the basket. one of the only speakers out there with that design.
 
#10
you need to actually take the speaker out of the cab and look at it. you could have blown the cone and need a replacement basket, the dust cab may have just come unglued if it's really old, there may be bracing or insulation rattling around inside the cab....etc. It could be many things but you have to trouble shoot before you seek a solution. Also you need to know what speaker is in that cab because a black widow 18 can take a lot more than 200 watts. It may not be the stock speaker.
 
#11
lug said:
To verify, actually look at the speaker. You could also have a loose grill, etc. You will actually see a rip. The speaker should also move smoothly in and out when pushed by hand with no dragging.
Click to expand...



Yup - I'd *guess* you've burnt the voice coil, which will be obvious by carefully moving the cone in and out - being sure to keep the pressure even on both sides... If there's any scraping, you've got a burnt voice coil - and a new basket is in order, if it's actually a Black Widow speaker... A new basket for one of those is around $100...



- georgestrings
 
#13
I'm pretty sure the basket assembly for the peavey black widow includes a new cone. the magnet detaches from the frame and is attachable to the new basket. you can get them here: Invalid Link Removed

post a picture of the sticker on the speaker or the jack plate or the whole cab and a TB'er can identify it to get you the right one.

a new whole speaker( if it isn't the stock one) can be purchased here: Invalid Link Removed
 
#14
mmbongo said:
He shouldn't need to replace the basket, that's just another name for the frame. He needs the cone/voice coil assembly...or the 'soft parts'.
Click to expand...


You probably don't know this, but with Peavey's Black Widow speakers, it's more cost effective to replace the basket than it is to have them reconed - another great idea from Hartley Peavey, actually...



- georgestrings
 
#15
Are both cabs toasted. Play each separately so you can narrow down what needs to be fixed. As has been stated if the 18 is blown and it is a black widow it is a fairly simple and inexpensive fix that will leave you with an effectively new speaker. If it is the tens(or the 18 is not a blackwidow) you are probably better off replacing the speakers with aftermarket instrument speakers(eminence, carvin, etc.) While I understand why others have said that the cabinets are not worth it and just buy another used one, I would argue that by replacing the speakers you have effectively got a new cabinet, and 2 ten inch or one 18inch speakers is likely to cost less than any new cabinet.
 
#16
Hello if it is the peavey 1810 cab. it an easy fix the 18 is a blackwidow and the 10 are scorpion's, great cabinet but to big for my taste the magnet for the 18 is also used on the 15 and 12 inch blackwidow speaker's in other word's you could buy the basket's for a 12 or 15 and use your 18"speaker magnet also you can change the imp. by using another basket for instance i have a 8 ohm peavey with the newer bwx basket that used to be the older 4 ohm these speaker 's are great 4 inch voice coil's the poor man's jbl ,the scorpion ten are also basket replaceable as well go peavey!!!!
 
#19
Did some research... It's actually an 1x15 Peavey Black Widow @ 4 ohms. Which Replacement Basket should I go for? I am not sure which to buy off of this list as they only provide model numbers on Peavey's Website. I imagine its one of the 150?-4's but i not sure which one's and I want to make sure I get the right thing.

Also, this cabinet should be able to handle 220 watts correct? According to the guy i bought it from he said it was approximately 6-7 years old if that makes a difference. I don't want to continue to blow out my speakers like this if i can avoid it. I imagine the basket was just old and couldn't handle the amp at full power.

Let me know thanks for the help!

Link to Peavey's Replacement basket List: Invalid Link Removed
 
#20
I think that the older silver dust cap BW speakers had a little less power rating.
I would gently push in on the speaker to listen or feel for drag and I have also powered them up out of the cab just to make sure that nothing in the cab is loose or test the speaker with a Ohm meter.
From what you have described it does sound like your Speaker is bad though.
There sure is alot of options for the 15 inch BW basket,you may want to call Peavey and see what they recommend.
my .02
 

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