Loose connections on mesa subway cabs

[Carl Hillman]

Andy is the Messiah of all things Mesa.

Agree, but sometimes there just isn't enough data to Rameau-tely diagnose a problem.

 

[agedhorse]

Oh no, are the brown ones discouraged?

I haven't had one of the new brown ones in the shop to test, I know the material changed in order to pass updated flame spread requirements for the EU. I would be very surprised if Neutrik screwed this up.

I too would like to know if there is an issue with the brown ones.

Not that I am aware of.

Even if I saved all 4 boxes living on East Coast would definitely give Duct Tape a shot before dealing with that nightmare of Shipping to CA.

Or go against what is considered best and get cable that is
Speakon at Amp and 1/4" at Speaker and not tell anybody especially @agedhorse

Don't screw around with duct tape. All I need is the input plate/crossover assembly. I have a fixture at my shop that allows me to remove the jacks without damaging the PCB. Once the PCB is damaged from an attempted repair, things get a lot more expensive and delays in getting new PCBs vary from a week to a couple of months depending on where in the build cycle we are. If the PCB is damaged, the repair is inexpensive and takes only a couple of days.

If there's damage like this, it's 99% sure it happened with a knock-off plug:

 

[Nebadon2000]

I

I haven't had one of the new brown ones in the shop to test, I know the material changed in order to pass updated flame spread requirements for the EU. I would be very surprised if Neutrik screwed this up.


Not that I am aware of.


Don't screw around with duct tape. All I need is the input plate/crossover assembly. I have a fixture at my shop that allows me to remove the jacks without damaging the PCB. Once the PCB is damaged from an attempted repair, things get a lot more expensive and delays in getting new PCBs vary from a week to a couple of months depending on where in the build cycle we are. If the PCB is damaged, the repair is inexpensive and takes only a couple of days.

If there's damage like this, it's 99% sure it happened with a knock-off plug:
View attachment 7374218

Good to know only need xover assembly

My post was attempted Humor

My Wife reminds me often sometimes my humor doesn't go over well

My Father had an Edsiel and it was basically held together with duct tape and any Band I ever played with someone had a roll at gigs or rehearsal

 

[bullgoose76]

I bought 2 cabs new from the shop and 2 second hand, the cable pictured bottom right is the only one that works 100% with all cabs, all genuine neutrik, I have 2 ampeg cabs they work perfectly with any of the cables, on the mesa cabs they feel loose.. is there anybody in uk to fix ? Excellent cabs other than this but it renders them almost useless especially on a gig.

 

[bullgoose76]

Few other pics

 

[bullgoose76]

I had the same issue with two of my Subway cabs. Probably didn't use a Neutrik plug at some point, not sure. Anyway, I removed the crossover assemblies and sent them directly to Andy (agedhorse) who replaced the connectors. Haven't had any issues since!

Probably need to do this but maybe somebody in uk could help me out.. ?

 

[SpiderBass1965]

It’s most likely that the jacks got damaged from a non-Neutrik plug, but I am wary with all 4 exhibiting the same issue.

What happens when you use the other jack on the cabinet?

There are thousands of these cabinets out there with very few connector issues.

By any chance are the plugs the new brown collar version of the plug?

If the jack is damaged, I do have a service program to Handel this repair, it’s not an easy or DIY repair as it’s easy to damage the PCB without the right tools and experience. A replacement crossover is expensive.

Are there issues with the brown collar Neutrik plugs? I replaced the speakon ends of my 1/4 too speakon cables with them. I use these cables with my earlier all tube Mesa heads (400, 400+) and my Orange AD200. I've played several shows with them and haven't encountered any issues. The last thing I want is a failed connection.

 

[Chuck M]

Are there issues with the brown collar Neutrik plugs? I replaced the speakon ends of my 1/4 too speakon cables with them. I use these cables with my earlier all tube Mesa heads (400, 400+) and my Orange AD200. I've played several shows with them and haven't encountered any issues. The last thing I want is a failed connection.

I bought 2 new cables and the have the brown Neutrik connectors. I have had no problems.

 

[lug]

I bought 2 new cables and the have the brown Neutrik connectors. I have had no problems.

Same. Have been gigging on average of twice a week on the brown ones for about 6 months. Still feel right and tight.

 

[agedhorse]

The blue collar ones are the ones I am familiar with. If that one works fine with all the cabinets, and the brown ones are loose/intermittent, it’s possible that you ended up with either defective or possibly even counterfeit plugs on those cables.

Message me and I will help you get this sorted out.

 

[Mike Caldwell]

No issues with the blue collar Speakons, I have MANY of them on cables.
I would be surprised if the new series NL2 and NL4 are being knocked off yet........give them time though!

I tried a couple of the Neutrik Speakon right angle kits and didn't really like them, seemed more bother than they were worth plus they
would not work due to tight space in some areas, the one in your picture is the only other one
that I've have seen.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Aged horse was just asking about the newer brown connectors. There are no known issues. I don’t want to start the false narrative that the brown connectors break cans.

 

[direwolf333]

It's suggested that you do stay away from that; of course, it's your own trip, so, be my guest." ~ Chip Monck

 

[fdeck]

Send it to Andy. He has a proper band saw to diagnose the problem, and still has all of his fingers.

 

[agedhorse]

Send it to Andy. He has a proper band saw to diagnose the problem, and still has all of his fingers.

Yes, 10 is a special number

 

[beans-on-toast]

Few other pics

Those green neutrik connectors on the amp are combo, they can accept a ¼” speaker cable plug. You can test that and see if the issue still occurs.

 

[agedhorse]

Those green neutrik connectors on the amp are combo, they can accept a ¼” speaker cable plug. You can test that and see if the issue still occurs.

The issue doesn’t exist when using his blue collar SpeakOn cable…

We also switched to black SpeakOn jacks for the combos when safety regulations required the new PA-66 material to meet flame spread requirements of the regulation update. Rean offered this under the Neutrik OEM components line.

 

[bullgoose76]

The only cab that works with all the speakon cables I own is this one with the black jacks.

 

[beans-on-toast]

The issue doesn’t exist when using his blue collar SpeakOn cable…

We also switched to black SpeakOn jacks for the combos when safety regulations required the new PA-66 material to meet flame spread requirements of the regulation update. Rean offered this under the Neutrik OEM components line.

The EU loves to impose new costly regulations.

 

[agedhorse]

The only cab that works with all the speakon cables I own is this one with the black jacks.

Ok, the green jacks are the original Neutrik branded jacks that at the time did not comply with the IEC 62368-1 regulation update for flame spread. The black jacks are the newer ones that use the newer glass reinforced PA-66 material that was first manufactured by Rean (a Neutrik company). Both the Rean and Neutrik parts are now included on the same Neutrik component safety report/certificate.

Since your blue plugs work with the both the green and black jacks, it's sounding more and more like you have defective (or knockoff/counterfeit) brown plugs.