Struggling Scorpion Speaker—Help, Please

[Riff Ranger]

Ah, if only it sounded as good as it looks.

Well, it does, about half the time; but more and more often, the upper speaker (Peavey 115 BX w/Scorpion) loses a lot of volume and distorts (in a bad way). When the top speaker has trouble, the bottom speaker sounds just like it usually does (though a bit different, as it has a Black Widow in it and another inch or two of cabinet front-to-back). I will try swapping speaker cables, but it happens with different instruments. Volume, EQ, and pedals all set reasonably; most instruments do have hot pickups, but nothing insane.

This seems like something I should have been able to find in the forum, but here we are. Please let me know:

• the most likely cause of the issue
• what a repair would entail
• whether it would be worth the time and money to repair rather than replace (I do like the cab, but it wouldn’t break my heart to replace it with something similar)

 

[Riff Ranger]

Thank you for any help here!

 

[agedhorse]

Are you sure you aren't running out of power and clipping or limiting the heck out of the power amp in your combo? Is the DDT limiter engaged?

Are the eq sliders really pushed all the way up, or is it just the picture?

 

[BogeyBass]

Id say check cables like you mentioned.
Check wired connection to speaker jack and actual speaker connections. Also small silver wires from cone to terminal.

I've had weird things fall into speaker ports and get attached to the magnet.
See if wires or lining is hanging and can vibrate on the cone.

With black widows , little foam on the vented magnets can degrade and get sucked into the speaker coil. You remove the basket and clean the foam from the gap and the coil.
Scorpions have removable basket, can clean the gap and coil if all gooped up

 

[Riff Ranger]

Are you sure you aren't running out of power and clipping or limiting the heck out of the power amp in your combo? Is the DDT limiter engaged?

Are the eq sliders really pushed all the way up, or is it just the picture?

The head’s a Mark IV, so DDT is always on. With PRE and POST both under 2, the COMP light blips on somewhat less than it doesn’t. Only the 100 and 1k sliders are boosted, and only slightly; from this angle they might look extreme.

I switched the cables and played hard at that volume and didn’t have trouble with either speaker. Was it really just a loose connection?

In other news, did you work for Peavey once upon a time, or did you just encounter their gear left and right?

 

[Riff Ranger]

Id say check cables like you mentioned.
Check wired connection to speaker jack and actual speaker connections. Also small silver wires from cone to terminal.

I've had weird things fall into speaker ports and get attached to the magnet.
See if wires or lining is hanging and can vibrate on the cone.

With black widows , little foam on the vented magnets can degrade and get sucked into the speaker coil. You remove the basket and clean the foam from the gap and the coil.
Scorpions have removable basket, can clean the gap and coil if all gooped up

I swapped the speaker cables (same cables, but each to the other speaker from the other output), went at it hard with my usual settings, and had no issues

Was it just contamination in a jack, or a loose connection?

 

[BogeyBass]

I'd say either bad cable/jack.
Or intermittent cable/jack

It's really a guess.
Insertion/reinserting Jack's yes can clean them. Or jiggle or hang a intermittent connection so it's good for awhile

I'd pay attention to the known amplifier output jack/cable/cab input that originally was plugged in your scorpion loaded cab

Or even the smaller silver wires from cone to terminal might need a touch-up. Basically any connections. Drivers don't fix themselves. Unlikely a damaged driver, for the most part

 

[Riff Ranger]

I'd say either bad cable/jack.
Or intermittent cable/jack

It's really a guess.
Insertion/reinserting Jack's yes can clean them. Or jiggle or hang a intermittent connection so it's good for awhile

Sounds better than having to repair or replace speakers, or to try to move a faulty cab in the age of lightweight gear and no gigs, haha.

 

[Riff Ranger]

I almost waited to post until after I tried the cables D’oh!

 

[littlebun]

I swapped the speaker cables (same cables, but each to the other speaker from the other output), went at it hard with my usual settings, and had no issues

Was it just contamination in a jack, or a loose connection?

Try cleaning the speaker connectors and jacks with electrical contact cleaner or alcohol works, too.

 

[BogeyBass]

Sounds better than having to repair or replace speakers, or to try to move a faulty cab in the age of lightweight gear and no gigs, haha.

Yeah for the most part.
States are opening up. Mine already has. Gaming is up. Poopy cover gigs still available.... boring.
Scene will go back to underground or outdoors. Alot of camping/live stuff happening. Otherwise industry still pretty lame. No worries on the lightweights, they keep dying weekly lol. Your Peavey still working...ahhh shucks

 

[AudioTaper]

View attachment 3925914
Ah, if only it sounded as good as it looks.

Well, it does, about half the time; but more and more often, the upper speaker (Peavey 115 BX w/Scorpion) loses a lot of volume and distorts (in a bad way). When the top speaker has trouble, the bottom speaker sounds just like it usually does (though a bit different, as it has a Black Widow in it and another inch or two of cabinet front-to-back). I will try swapping speaker cables, but it happens with different instruments. Volume, EQ, and pedals all set reasonably; most instruments do have hot pickups, but nothing insane.

This seems like something I should have been able to find in the forum, but here we are. Please let me know:

• the most likely cause of the issue
• what a repair would entail
• whether it would be worth the time and money to repair rather than replace (I do like the cab, but it wouldn’t break my heart to replace it with something similar)

How does the top cabinet sound by itself? Do you feel comfortable working on your gear? Example: checking the speaker wire leads behind the speaker?
Good news if it is something like a blown speaker, the Peavey baskets are *fairly* cheap and easy to replace. You will need the part number on the back of the speaker.
A quick google search lead me to this, you might find better deals with more searching.
"Peavey SP-15825 RB 15" Scorpion Speaker Replacement Basket" from www.parts-express.com!

Edit: I missed a few posts, glad to hear its not the speaker. I would start with checking that cable thoroughly.
Also, put the good cable in the questionable jack on the amp - make sure it's not the issue.

 

[littlebun]

View attachment 3925914
Ah, if only it sounded as good as it looks.

Well, it does, about half the time; but more and more often, the upper speaker (Peavey 115 BX w/Scorpion) loses a lot of volume and distorts (in a bad way). When the top speaker has trouble, the bottom speaker sounds just like it usually does (though a bit different, as it has a Black Widow in it and another inch or two of cabinet front-to-back). I will try swapping speaker cables, but it happens with different instruments. Volume, EQ, and pedals all set reasonably; most instruments do have hot pickups, but nothing insane.

This seems like something I should have been able to find in the forum, but here we are. Please let me know:

• the most likely cause of the issue
• what a repair would entail
• whether it would be worth the time and money to repair rather than replace (I do like the cab, but it wouldn’t break my heart to replace it with something similar)

I've had a few *** moments from dirty input and speaker jacks. We forget how dirty they can get.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

 

[Kukulkan61]

Black Widows are awesome drivers!

 

[Riff Ranger]

Black Widows are awesome drivers!

The Black Widow set the standard for me with speakers. For years I had a 1x18 I ran full range and loved, and if it hadn’t gotten stolen, I would still rock it. I was considering replacing the Scorpion with one if the driver needed replacing, but this experience has shown me that I like running both together. The Scorpion really brings out the subtle grunginess of the Mark IV.

 

[agedhorse]

It may still be an intermittent cable. Thoroughly troubleshoot everything before spraying anything into the jacks and maybe creating a new problem.

If you use DeOxit, less is more, really.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

View attachment 3925914
Ah, if only it sounded as good as it looks.

Well, it does, about half the time; but more and more often, the upper speaker (Peavey 115 BX w/Scorpion) loses a lot of volume and distorts (in a bad way). When the top speaker has trouble, the bottom speaker sounds just like it usually does (though a bit different, as it has a Black Widow in it and another inch or two of cabinet front-to-back). I will try swapping speaker cables, but it happens with different instruments. Volume, EQ, and pedals all set reasonably; most instruments do have hot pickups, but nothing insane.

This seems like something I should have been able to find in the forum, but here we are. Please let me know:

• the most likely cause of the issue
• what a repair would entail
• whether it would be worth the time and money to repair rather than replace (I do like the cab, but it wouldn’t break my heart to replace it with something similar)

Maybe just a short. Have you checked the wiring in the back panel? Tried the other plug?

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I swapped the speaker cables (same cables, but each to the other speaker from the other output), went at it hard with my usual settings, and had no issues

Was it just contamination in a jack, or a loose connection?

Oh, there you go. I got some old EV PA speakers from my church when they upgraded the sound system. She said they didn't work anymore. As it turned out, only one jack on one speaker didn't work. Tape over that one to mark it, and I have a fully functional, great sound system free of charge. (Sigh) its the little things in life...

 

[mexicanyella]

I am really enjoying the Scorpion 15 in my TKO115S; I like what it does when you shove a bunch of bright, clean, just-starting-to-break-up guitar sound into it. (In the TKO’s ported enclosure). I would not think it would be a good-sounding guitar speaker based on looking at Peavey’s published specs, but I love it. It lets me put a taste of drunk, homicidal redneck into my guitar sound, and that is pleasant and rewarding.

I find the TKO to sound pretty good cranked up with bass too, but pretty beamy—I have to stand in the right place to hear the upper bass guitar frequencies. I don’t notice that as much using it for guitar, plus it doesn’t seem as volume-limited at 80 watts for guitar.