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Replacing Speakers in an SWR Goliath Jr

bigdoug1053

bigdoug1053

Jun 23, 2009
46
1
Lakewood, Colorado
www.dougcraftfineart.com
#1
After getting some valuable input from the forum and some frustration, I made a decision on replacing a blown speaker in an early 90s SWR Goliath Jr. 2x10 cab.

I contacted SWR by email to get some information on replacement drivers - no reply. I went to my local music store who carry SWR, and THEY did not get any reply to their email to SWR. This kind of inert silence from companies bugs me.

However, I contacted Eminence and asked about their recommendation concerning the Legend BP102 driver. I received a prompt reply from their engineering staff indicating that the BP102 would be a "good" replacement for the Goliath Jr. cabinet, but if I was only replacing one driver, I should go with SWR since their custom Eminence driver has slightly higher efficiency. So a BP102 would not be as loud compared to the original SWR speaker and there would be a volume mismatch.

Yesterday, I ordered 2 BP102s and I am going to install them in the cab. I am likely paying slightly more for 2 BP102s than I would for one SWR replacement driver, but the lack of response from SWR sealed the deal for me. The remaining good SWR driver I will remove and use as a cab project. I am planning a small 1x10 extension cab for my GK MB-200 combo that I use for all my low volume gigs.

So, I have nothing but praise for Eminence tech support. If I get another 2x10 cabinet, it will most likely be a Carvin BRX10.2, not another SWR.
 
#5
bigdoug1053 said:
... I made a decision on replacing a blown speaker in an early 90s SWR Goliath Jr. 2x10 cab.

....
Click to expand...

Are you sure that it's blown? The PAS 10s have a quirk that might lead one to believe that it's blown. I discovered it after getting a killer deal on a Goliath II that appeared to have a pair of blown speakers.

The wiring terminal is attached to the cast frame with a screw that threads in from inside the frame. The problem is that the connection between voicecoil lead and terminal is maintained by the same screw that secures the terminal to the frame. If the screw gets loose (as it did in two of the four PAS 10s in the GII that I bought), the connection becomes intermittent, causing the speaker to sound horrible. And it's worse a higher volumes helping to support the false diagnosis.

All I had to do was tighten the screws and the speakers were happy again.

Hopefully that's the problem with yours!
 
#6
BillyB_from_LZ said:
Are you sure that it's blown? The PAS 10s have a quirk that might lead one to believe that it's blown. I discovered it after getting a killer deal on a Goliath II that appeared to have a pair of blown speakers...

All I had to do was tighten the screws and the speakers were happy again.

Hopefully that's the problem with yours!
Click to expand...

I am afraid that one speaker is done - it buzzed at all volumes - while the other sounded good - though I will definitely tighten that screw on the connector panel before I seal the box back up. This problem occurred when a bad contact in the volume pot caused the amp to fart, pop, and crunch (I have sinced cleaned the pots and they are all OK now) but those crunchies apparently sent some strong signals to the speakers.
 
#7
I froze a PAS 10 in my Goliath jr a long time back. I contacted SWR through Fender: nothing. I emailed PAS with the details of my problem and where could I purchase another like it: no reply. I waited until an 8 ohm 10 came up on the classifieds and traded something ( I forget) to get a "Schroeder" 10. Put it in/ the cab works although not as well as before. Part of that may be the cab has seen some heavy lifting in its day and the other speaker is on the way to being toast. Might be a mismatch of speakers. My advice? Find a pair of replacements and march on.
 
#9
I've always had good luck getting SWR customer support on the phone and found the reps to be very helpful with technical info.
The same holds true with several other companies, regarding phone vs email.
SWR will not sell anything direct, however, and will refer you to a dealer.

BTW, Eminence just recently started furnishing drivers for Goliath cabs. PAS made the tens for older ones.
 
#12
I had the problem where my Goi jnr lll fell over under power so 1 PAS 10" then distorted at all volumes and the other never seemed to work well on its own at any sort of volume

SWR were ok by e-mail but my problem was getting PAS cones here in the UK. The only respense i got from 'PAS' was from Germany and the recones were coming out close the price of a new unit.

I decided on Emimence Deltalite 11 2510's for the power upgrade and the weight save.
I will run them with a Son of Bertha 15" bi-amped from a SM400

I will test this in the next few days but I was thinking of replacing the SWR cabs with 2 Aguilar GS 1x12's.

Don't want to derail this thread but anyone think that a good idea?
 
#13
JTUK said:
...I decided on Emimence Deltalite 11 2510's for the power upgrade and the weight save.
I will run them with a Son of Bertha 15" bi-amped from a SM400

I will test this in the next few days but I was thinking of replacing the SWR cabs with 2 Aguilar GS 1x12's.

Don't want to derail this thread but anyone think that a good idea?
Click to expand...

From what I understand, GS112s have strong lows and highs and muted mids...just like Goliaths (to my ears). The Bertha might bring some mids to the table, I really don't know.

For those who want to do some WinISD modeling, I believe that Goliath cabinets are tuned in the low 30s (at least my Goliath II was).
 
#14
BillyB_from_LZ said:
From what I understand, GS112s have strong lows and highs and muted mids...just like Goliaths (to my ears). The Bertha might bring some mids to the table, I really don't know.

For those who want to do some WinISD modeling, I believe that Goliath cabinets are tuned in the low 30s (at least my Goliath II was).
Click to expand...

Not many (one or two only) 10" drivers I've modeled that are put into "full range" bass cabs of industry-prevalent box sizes can be tuned that low and actually have stong lows OR strong mid-bass. Some of the marketing "lit" I've examined often extorts, "box tuned to 30 Hz" or whatever. But when I've examined them and measured they usually fell in between 50 and 60 Hz box tunings. It's actually visually obvious in some of them even before doing the testing because the porting just isn't deep enough.
 
#17
I replaced the speakers in my GJ with 2 eminence basslite cm 2010
I had to add spacers to the front grill as there was some contact when playing on the b string but I think they sound better than the pas and the cab is now a 1 hander .

cheers B.
 
#20
Eminence Deltalites 2510 ll's fit right in a Goliath jnr and retain the SWR characteristics IMV..plus they are louder and lighter, so a win-win all round me..

I think the cab is around 42lbs now and is certain a one hander..as they say..
 

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