Is cone-crease repairable?

[groovaholic]

Last month, I bought a used SWR Goliath III for use as a "leave it at the drummers house" cab. The store had it listed for <$200, and explained that the horn was gone and the crossover was non-functional.

I wasn't overly concerned, since I knew that I'd be modifying the wiring based on my past experience with 4x10 cabs.

So I went to the store and checked the cab, and it was loud and clean and thumpy sounding.

When I got home and started disassembling and cleaning it, I noticed what I thought were water stains around the surrounds of the speakers; closer inspection and a Google of the PAS drivers in question brought me to a discussion of cone crease, which these drivers were apparently susceptible to.

From what I was reading, it seemed like having the drivers reconed or replaced were the only solutions available.

So I thought "what the heck" and tried out an idea:

• Since the fibers were intact, but had been creased, I needed a way to straighten and reinforce them.
• What I did was to stack rolls of tape on the dust cap as a weight, to put the speaker cone under mild tension - just enough to straighten the crease.
• With the weight pressing downward on the cone, I took watered-down PVA glue and worked it into the creases, let it dry (with weight still on it) overnight, then added another coat - essentially making papier-mâché.
• I let the speakers dry for a couple days while I re-wired the cabinet, installed the new Selenium crossover and installed the new horn (Eminence BGH-25).

I have no idea how this would last at rock and roll volumes - this band rehearses in an 8x10 room where a little volume goes a LONG way - but so far the cabinet sounds great and the repairs are holding up well.

If the drivers eventually must be reconed, I don't think I've done anything that would complicate or rule-out the job.

 

[agedhorse]

I congratulate you on your creativity, your premise is good. Unfortunately, once the fibers have become damaged, the only repair that results in a lasting repair is a proper recone.

I have no idea if there is any source for factory equivalent recone kits, but my experience is that most aftermarket kits are nothing like the original parts .

 

[groovaholic]

I congratulate you on your creativity, your premise is good. Unfortunately, once the fibers have become damaged, the only repair that results in a lasting repair is a proper recone.

I have no idea if there is any source for factory equivalent recone kits, but my experience is that most aftermarket kits are nothing like the original parts .

I will probably replace all 4 drivers if/when it becomes necessary.

But I’m trying to delay the necessity of that as long as possible…

 

[agedhorse]

Understood.