TIGHTEN UP THOSE CABS !

[jimmydean]

When I buy a new or used cab , I always tighten all the screws , speakers , cab .....everything . Just bought a Fender Rumble 800 combo and I noticed a rattle sound and sure enough , the speakers were loose as Hell . Most people would never think of doing this and they should .

 

[ahbass2500]

I had a rattle sound on a brand new Genzler cabinet several months ago. Silica gel pack had somehow worked its way behind the grill during shipping and found itself in the port. Was a strange sound, but at least it was an easy fix.

 

[silky smoove]

Just don't overtighten the screws, particularly on the speaker itself.

 

[agedhorse]

Just don't overtighten the screws, particularly on the speaker itself.

Excellent advice.

 

[evs]

I found the same a few years back when I had both a Rumble and an ampeg RB, for the same reason.
I went over all the screws and it was surprising how many were too loose.
I didn't over tighten them, but they definitely needed going over.

 

[five7]

I found a screwdriver in a cab. Would vibrate badly when a low G was played. Only that note for some reason. I think a small human put it in thru a rear port.

 

[Low Main]

Once or twice with older cabs, I've had to go beyond tightening up and needed a roll of fresh speaker gasket material.

 

[Ethix4]

I do this with basses as well. I got an ibanez recently that almost everything was loose on after years of use.

 

[TexasHeat]

Most people would never think of doing this and they should .

Nope, never would have thought of that. Great advice, thank you. It will now enter into an annual routine. Maybe Valentine's Day(??)

 

[lowfreqgeek]

That's the first thing I do when a cab is rattling. Hasn't happened often, but it's happened to me before.

 

[TheReceder]

I had a rattle in a practice cab that would drive me nuts. Seemed to happen at specific frequences... something apperently was loose.

Found out it was my grandkids that got loose.. They left a gift in my port.

 

[6thplanet]

I found a screwdriver in a cab. Would vibrate badly when a low G was played. Only that note for some reason. I think a small human put it in thru a rear port.

Funny how small humans like to insert things in newly found openings.

I can't tell you how many times big humans get charged for what little humans install in their various electronics.

 

[yonkrz]

Call it OCD, but i do the same thing. Seems there is always a few loose ones.

 

[shoot-r]

The group I'm with is constantly moving gear setting up/tearing down.
Most things are transported and bounced around in a equipment trailer pulled by pick-up truck.

Every great once in awhile we'll do some preemptive maintenance instead of having a rehearsal. We'll pull everything out of the trailer, open some adult beverages, and have a "check everything" get-together, that'll include checking driver screws, grill screws, power amp screws, side handle screws, even those little-bitty screws on the cords xlr connectors, ect.

It's always surprising how many we find that's loosened up.

(It's been a couple of years since we last did any major group maintenance, but last time we even took the p.a. power amps out of the racks and opened them up. You wouldn't believe the bar crud that had somehow worked it's way into everything. There was even cat fur...atleast I hope that's what it was. )

 

[ahbradot]

I always had the bass speaker cabinets near my head while playing.
That explains the comment my mother used to say to me;
"I think you have a few screws loose"......

 

[Ostie]

I found a screwdriver in a cab. Would vibrate badly when a low G was played. Only that note for some reason. I think a small human put it in thru a rear port.

Someone was preemptively tightening up the screws and left it in there. Ironic foreshadowing at its finest!

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Every great once in awhile we'll do some preemptive maintenance instead of having a rehearsal. We'll pull everything out of the trailer, open some adult beverages, and have a "check everything" get-together, that'll include checking driver screws, grill screws, power amp screws, side handle screws, even those little-bitty screws on the cords xlr connectors, ect.

We did that too! We called it "rock and roll hospital"!

Not to be confused with "day of beauty" which was all hair dying and such

 

[roccobass]

The group I'm with is constantly moving gear setting up/tearing down.
Most things are transported and bounced around in a equipment trailer pulled by pick-up truck.

Every great once in awhile we'll do some preemptive maintenance instead of having a rehearsal. We'll pull everything out of the trailer, open some adult beverages, and have a "check everything" get-together, that'll include checking driver screws, grill screws, power amp screws, side handle screws, even those little-bitty screws on the cords xlr connectors, ect.

It's always surprising how many we find that's loosened up.

(It's been a couple of years since we last did any major group maintenance, but last time we even took the p.a. power amps out of the racks and opened them up. You wouldn't believe the bar crud that had somehow worked it's way into everything. There was even cat fur...atleast I hope that's what it was. )

I remember those bar band days. We played a lot and it always felt like we were moving my house every time.

The band leader would keep all the gear (including my SVT and cabs) in a trailer which kept in his warehouse garage. Yes, it would get shaken to death. I remember at least two occasions we had a meeting where we laid everything out for a good clean up/tightening.

Oh yes, the bar crud. Serious wipedowns were done. Not to mention, some money, numerous business cards and some lost precision tools were located in the process.

The funniest found item was the recovery of a very cute female's ID that was found nestled in between the PA and foam padding of it's case holder. No one would fess up to knowing her.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

When I buy a new or used cab , I always tighten all the screws , speakers , cab .....everything . Just bought a Fender Rumble 800 combo and I noticed a rattle sound and sure enough , the speakers were loose as Hell . Most people would never think of doing this and they should .

Good idea.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Yes, it would get shaken to death.

Also why I stopped touring with all but one of my diy pedals. They didn't like the econoline shaker table test.

So production pedals on the road.

Kind of amazes me that anything survives that long term. Hats off to the builders!