I've blown it!

Oooooh no! I've done it.

Last night I blew my 1x15 cab - oh that terrible sound.

I was playing louder than I've ever played before through my cabs. (Usually if it's that loud I'm DI'd, but not last night). I was very happy with my sound, the notes were sustaining wonderfully, the whole stage (and my rib cage) were rumbling. Then we came to do a Stranglers song, and that's when it happened... I hit that button on my amp that said 'crunch'. One note to check the sound and that was it, I'd blown it!
Usually I do turn the volume down first, but can't be sure if I did last night - I sort of went all hazy!

It was the last song in the first set, so we finished early and thankfully I was able to borrow the guitarists 1 x 12 (I also had a 2x10 still working). We finished the gig OK but OOOOH!

It wasn't even a really wild gig. It was a bikers rally - maybe 200ish people, but not many up dancing. It was hard to concentrate after that, and now I'm really nervous about it ever happenening again.

Gotta go now and check out some cabs - our next gig is next Saturday. It'd be good to have it sorted by then.

I'm so fed up about it. Thanks for listening. I feel better now I've shared it with some people who might understand.

 

It gets worse

I went to our (only) shop on the island that sells amps and tried out a 300w 4x10 Hartke, with my current 2x10 and my own head and guitar. We discovered one of the 2x10 cones has gone off-centre basically when I play B on the E string it sounds awful, so really this cone needs replacing too. It isn't noticeable when I bi-amp it though.

Anyway what to do, what to do.....

I like Hartke as they're light, and I like to be able to lift my own gear. I'm pretty strong, but obviously not when compared with your average man.

Ideally I'd get two cabs capable of handling 400w, but that's lots of dosh, and to be honest I rarely play at these volumes - otherwise it would have happened before! The amp is 600w mono or 300w stereo.... maybe I should get a less powerful amp

I used to have a Peavey combo, and that sounded fine, but they are much heavier.

I'll probably replace the 1x15 cone with a 200w one (that's the most Hartke do for a single cone I believe), but I'm thinking I should have something that can handle more power anyway for louder gigs.

Oh what to do... what to do....

 

Thanks I'll check these out.

Meanwhile I'm going to post another thread - Alumabass Cabs.... just a thought. But I have to move quickly for next Sat.

The trouble with Hartke is that they don't seem to handle the power for my amp unless I go for two 4 x 10s or a 4x10 plus a 2x15... My amp is really too powerful... I'm still thinking......I don't very often need it THAT loud, but the speakers should be able to handle what the amp delivers shouldn't they?

 

Amazingly enough, the UK importer/distributor of Carvin is just over the water from me in Portsmouth (the place where Ohiobob was offered PEAS - but that's another story).

I called them - they have a 4x10 (8 Ohm) and a 1x15 (4 Ohm), but theres a mismatch in the total impedance if I buy these two ( I need 4 ohms at 600W or 2 x 8 ohms at 300W). I'd have to get just the 1x15. They're both rated at 600W rms which is pretty good and they seem amazingly cheap at under £300 each. Apart from Alumabass that's pretty much the cheapest I've seen.

Looking on the websites, it seems you get a much better deal in the states than over here - sometimes its almost pounds for dollars equal, if you get my drift.

I'm horrified by the weights. I think I'm just gonna have to bite the bullet, spend lots of cash and start working out!

 

I don't know much about effects, but the 'crunch' button usually gives it a distorted sound - ie. more drive, as per the distorted sound you often hear in Stranglers songs.

When the speaker blew basically, I hit one note that asked too much of the speaker. The note sounded buzzy, flappy, extremely distorted, and the cone flapped like a pair of bellows. So yes it died but it still makes noise. I cannot see any actual damage to the cone itself.

I usually turn the volume down before hitting this button then turn the volume up a little but not back to its original setting. I can't remember if I did lower the volume or not.

I loved the sound I got (particularly that night before I blew it). I will replace the cone - costing me around £200, and then sell it. If it was the correct power rating, I wouldn't hesitate to keep it, as I think it is an excellent cab.

I think the loudness was ok - it was the distortion at that volume that was the deadly combination.

 

Thanks everyone for your help on this. I have been pretty stressed because of needing it for this weekend, so I really appreciate everyones contributions. I've been doing a lot of checking out suggested gear on the internet and by phoning around.

I have done something.... oooh er! I'm still reeling......... I have ordered some Eden stuff - The Bass Centre have let me have this stuff on approval for a week. That's jolly good service isn't it??! Mind you it's loads of dosh! I have taken the bull by the horns.... and the horns have grown!!!

They were unable to supply the 1x15 I would have liked immediately, but have given me a good price on a 1x18, and if I don't like it can swap it for a 1x15. (They couldn't get one of these for at least two weeks, and then there is always the possibility of delays isn't there?). Our next 'loud' gig is 3rd November.....although I may well be pretty loud this Saturday

I have ordered the D210XLT that's an 8 ohm cab that should handle 350W, and a D118XL also 8 ohms that should handle 500W (that's higher than the 1 x 15 would have been)

I've never tried a 1 x 18 and always thought they were the domain of 5 stringers. Anyway it should arrive on Thursday - I'll let you know how they shape up. If you live in the UK and think there's an earthquake on Thursday, you'll know they've arrived!!

Bag Enders sound good from what I've read here, and certainly light, but you're right I haven't been able to find any in the UK.

Anyway I think I could shortly be a very happy bunny, if a little poorer!