I've got an oldish (1995) Peavey 410TX cabinet, and I was wondering when or if the speakers should be replaced. They don't sound bad, really... no rattles or distortion, but they seem to have lost definition over the years. Any recomendations?
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When to replace speakers?
- Thread starter Tnavis
- Start date
there are so many variables that i dont think anyone could possibly give you a time frame for replacement.
sorry, but i have to go with the tried and true answer of: trust your ears, and if it bothers you, make the replacement.
the only other thing i can think of is to try it with the horn at zero, and then at full.
sorry, but i have to go with the tried and true answer of: trust your ears, and if it bothers you, make the replacement.
the only other thing i can think of is to try it with the horn at zero, and then at full.
Well...ya know what they say.."If it ain't broke..... etc."
Seriously though, I suppose speakers can show signs of age after many years of hard use, but are you really sure they've lost definition? Our sonic memory is one of our least accurate senses and many times, our perception is caused by our own brains working against us. for example, in your mind you're thinking they need upgrading, but that mental suggestion can cause you to believe you're hearing less definition than say, ten years ago.
Are you using the same bass, head, strings, etc. I have some 30+ year old JBL K140s that I know I abused for a long time, but they still sound fine. Same with a pair of Klipsch home speakers I've had from 1979.
It sounds to me like you have a touch of GAS, and subconsciously want a new cab. That's what TalkBass does to us. I went for years without any desire or need to change gear, but reading this forum on a daily basis caused me to buy (and sell) more gear in the last four years than I did in the last twenty!
Seriously though, I suppose speakers can show signs of age after many years of hard use, but are you really sure they've lost definition? Our sonic memory is one of our least accurate senses and many times, our perception is caused by our own brains working against us. for example, in your mind you're thinking they need upgrading, but that mental suggestion can cause you to believe you're hearing less definition than say, ten years ago.
Are you using the same bass, head, strings, etc. I have some 30+ year old JBL K140s that I know I abused for a long time, but they still sound fine. Same with a pair of Klipsch home speakers I've had from 1979.
It sounds to me like you have a touch of GAS, and subconsciously want a new cab. That's what TalkBass does to us. I went for years without any desire or need to change gear, but reading this forum on a daily basis caused me to buy (and sell) more gear in the last four years than I did in the last twenty!
LOL all good options. That is a really good point about the sonic memory. I haven't used that cab in a few years, and have been using some newer 2X10's instead, which probably just sound better than that one ever did.
Try a new set of strings, boss.
This is the best and cheapest suggestion to try first. Whenever you think your sound is getting dull, muddy, lacks definition etc. change your strings. If the speaker works, it works. The sound shouldn't change much once the new wears off unless you've got a creased cone or the suspension is coming apart at the seams, mounting screws are coming loose, etc. A close visual inspection will tell you that. Couple things to try there before you start dropping big $.
So an amusing epilogue to this tale:
The cabinet in question had been sitting in my garage for a month or two, so I was cleaning off some of the dust and checking inside the port to see if any mice had decided to climb in there... and noticed that one of the speaker wires was disconnected.
I then recalled that when I first pulled it out of storage to gig with, my cat had climbed into the port and had to pull him out of there, probably dislodging that wire in the process.
Problem solved. It doesn't sound as off as it did before. LOL.
The cabinet in question had been sitting in my garage for a month or two, so I was cleaning off some of the dust and checking inside the port to see if any mice had decided to climb in there... and noticed that one of the speaker wires was disconnected.
I then recalled that when I first pulled it out of storage to gig with, my cat had climbed into the port and had to pull him out of there, probably dislodging that wire in the process.
Problem solved. It doesn't sound as off as it did before. LOL.
- Jun 25, 2007
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I think speakers develop "Charicter" after being well broken-in.
I'm not a fan of "tight" new speakers at all..
I'm not a fan of "tight" new speakers at all..
TX cab? had one, it was rear ported, unhooked the horn and drove the 4X10s alone, it kicked butt. If you do change the speakers I would recommend Eminence Delta-10A. Around $75 a piece at www.partsexpress.com
Great cab.
Great cab.
use it till you cant get the sound you want out of it then replace em, when that is is different for every body, Ill just blow em up and out then replace em.
