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Speaker pop and buzz in a Hartke 8x10

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by dbase, Jun 19, 2019.

  1. Jun 19, 2019 #1
    dbase

    dbase Gold Supporting Member

    Jan 3, 2008
    South Jersey, USA..
    It sounds like I blew out one of the speakers in a Hartke 8x10 bass cab using their Ampeg B2R head at a rehearsal studio I use. It pops and buzzes on an F# but not other notes. I want to do the right thing and offer them a replacement speaker but the owner says it's hard to find a replacement for that type speaker. Question is what speaker goes in that cab? Are they 16 ohms? Another thing, If I use my Mesa WD800 head, It's loud and clear on every note with no buzzing. We are a loud band and I do push the amp. So maybe it's the Ampeg clipping and not the speaker. Thoughts?
     
  2. Jun 19, 2019 #2
    agedhorse

    agedhorse Supporting Member Commercial User

    Feb 12, 2006
    Davis, CA (USA)
    Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
    It's almost certainly not a blown speaker then.

    It's likely that you are exceeding the capabilities of the B2R head which is causing the noise and the speaker is simply reproducing it.
     
    dbase likes this.
  3. Jun 19, 2019 #3
    bobyoung53

    bobyoung53 Supporting Member

    Aug 29, 2004
    Pueblo Libre, Lima, Perú
    Does the sound come out of all the speakers or only one?
     
  4. Jun 19, 2019 #4
    dbase

    dbase Gold Supporting Member

    Jan 3, 2008
    South Jersey, USA..
    Only one ...
     
  5. Jun 19, 2019 #5
    dbase

    dbase Gold Supporting Member

    Jan 3, 2008
    South Jersey, USA..
    When I received my Mesa I was itching to try it with that cab at practice and it blew my mind... It was loud, punchy and clean... no buzz or farting... Other bands use this cab with the Ampeg head and some of them are metal bands... I know the owner and want to make good on the cab.. but if your correct, It's not the cab it's the amp and I do push the Ampeg as I do the Mesa... except the Mesa puts out with no complaints.. Next time I'm at the studio, I'll back down on the master and gain and see what happens.
     
    kpc likes this.
  6. Jun 19, 2019 #6
    bobyoung53

    bobyoung53 Supporting Member

    Aug 29, 2004
    Pueblo Libre, Lima, Perú
    It's the speaker then. I've used 810's for years and that's the way to tell. If the sound's coming out of all of them it's the amp, one, it's that speaker.
     
  7. Jun 19, 2019 #7
    agedhorse

    agedhorse Supporting Member Commercial User

    Feb 12, 2006
    Davis, CA (USA)
    Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
    I wouldn't be so sure. One of the challenges with tracking down noises, especially when an amp is overdriving and/or distorting, is that often enough the symptoms may appear to be something they are not.

    If I was troubleshooting the cabinet, I would be very aware of this phenomenon and test things systematically. It could be something vibrating within the cabinet that SEEMS to be just one speaker when it may be something as simple as loose hardware that is being excited by the distorted tone (which contains a different spectrum of harmonics even though the note played is the same) that may not be present in a different amp.

    It is POSSIBLE that it's a marginal driver, but IME not guaranteed by any means.
     
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  8. Jun 19, 2019 #8
    bobyoung53

    bobyoung53 Supporting Member

    Aug 29, 2004
    Pueblo Libre, Lima, Perú
    I should have said probably, I would have taken it out and checked it before I did anything else, I agree on systematic checking, another thing he could do is take the grille off and gently push the cone in to see if he hears any rubbing.
     
    dbase likes this.
  9. Jun 19, 2019 #9
    BogeyBass

    BogeyBass Inactive

    Sep 14, 2010
    Sounds like your cool guy.

    Cabinets getting hammered by more than one band though.

    Speakers don't magical fix themselves.
    Maybe dangling wire. Or screws coming loose. Certain notes rattle it. Or grill rattles makes the nearest driver seem like the culprit

    Probably gets gigged alot. Cabs moved often I've had wierd stuff fall into ported cabs. And not known for awhile.

    Even found a girls toy in my one of my cabs lol. And had a set car keys stuck to a magnet
     
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  10. Jun 19, 2019 #10
    mikewalker

    mikewalker Supporting Member

    Jul 30, 2017
    Canada, Eh!
    Hartke is very good at customer service, so if it is blown, and there is a replacement still available, (you didn't specify which cab) - they can get you one pretty quick. You can call 201-452-4960 (east coast, weekdays)
     
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  11. Jun 20, 2019 #11
    South Mad Sab

    South Mad Sab

    Mar 13, 2019
    near Detroit
    Just curious... What model are we talking? VX, XL, HyDrive?
     
  12. Jun 20, 2019 #12
    dbase

    dbase Gold Supporting Member

    Jan 3, 2008
    South Jersey, USA..
    It's in a rehearsal studio I regularly play in and usually they buy used gear to stock their studio. My personal gig rig are Hydrives so I know it's not those. All I know is it's 4 ohms.
    If it's a blown speaker I offered to replace it... I haven't heard of other bands using it having trouble so I'm thinking what Agedhorse mentioned that it might be as simple as over driving the Ampeg head which is I believe is 250 watts.
     
  13. Jun 20, 2019 #13
    South Mad Sab

    South Mad Sab

    Mar 13, 2019
    near Detroit
    Does it look like this?
    41TIhCgMGqL._SY355_.jpg
     
  14. Jun 20, 2019 #14
    kpc

    kpc

    Apr 6, 2011
    It can also be the tone controls. Set everything flat and start from there.
     
  15. Jun 20, 2019 #15
    dbase

    dbase Gold Supporting Member

    Jan 3, 2008
    South Jersey, USA..
    Here is a stock picture of the studio.. I'm thinking it's a used Xl cab.
    hartke8x10.jpg
     
    South Mad Sab likes this.
  16. Jun 20, 2019 #16
    South Mad Sab

    South Mad Sab

    Mar 13, 2019
    near Detroit
    Yep.... that's a XL, all aluminum drivers