Low end break-up

Kirk P Dighton · Post by **Kirk P Dighton** » 3 Mar 2005 4:58 am

I have 2 Peavey 12" BW cabinets that I power with a QSC power amp and ProfexII with 31 band EQ. Last week, just before the Northeast Iowa Steel Guitar Jam in Waterloo, one of the speakers would start to distort on the low end. Seemed to do it more on the C6 neck with the lower notes. I rechecked, cables, channels, too much input from the ProfexxII etc, and it still does it. Could this be a speaker basket issue?? Is it expensive to replace?? Any help appreciated. Kirk

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 3 Mar 2005 6:07 am

Kirk, If the speakers are connected to a stereo source, you can swap them to determine if the problem is the amp or the speaker.
If they are connected in parallel, it is a speaker problem. Don't overlook the possibilty of the cabinet vibrating. Also make sure the speaker mounting screws are tightened equally so as not to warp the frame.
You can wedge a piece of foam rubber between the cone and the frame. Try placing it at 4 different positions (one at a time)around the cone near the center. If the voice coil is dragging, one location should minimize the distortion. If this happens, the basket should be replaced.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 3 Mar 2005 6:11 am

Kirk, Try your guitar thru another amp. Maybe it is the guitar. If not try hooking each cabinent to a different amp like your old L.T.D. If it doesn't buzz then maybe it is the pro-fex. You can also run the pro-fex into the power amp in on your L.T.D. If it doesn't happen then could be your power amp. I wish I had thought of it last week-end. We could have maybe chased it down.

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 3 Mar 2005 6:13 am

Dang got beat out again. John, you might be closer to the problem.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 3 Mar 2005 6:52 am

The "gap" may need to be cleaned in the speaker, if it is isolated to the speaker. I had a 1203 BW speaker that was distorting and cleaning the "gap" as Peavey calls it fixed the problem.

However, along with everything else that has been mentioned, check the speaker cables and the internal connection from the speaker input jack to the physical wires that connect to the speaker.

But low end breakup can also be a defective speaker. Fortunately with the BW's you only have to buy a new "basket" which is much less expensive than a new one and better than a reconed speaker. I haven't bought one lately, but I bought a new one from someone else and the price printed on the box was $49.95.

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 3 Mar 2005 6:52 am

Craig, He did say it was only (one) speaker with a problem. He could take your advise and try another amp.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 3 Mar 2005 8:07 am

I had this problem a few years ago with my Nashville 400, and it turned out that the Molex connector to the speaker just needed to be re-seated. Simple fix in my case. You mileage may vary.

Read all about it, FWIW: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum11/HTML/000574.html [This message was edited by Jim Cohen on 03 March 2005 at 08:20 AM.]

Kirk P Dighton · Post by **Kirk P Dighton** » 3 Mar 2005 10:13 am

I actually tried a different guitar in the mix and get the same distortion on low end. I believe I have eliminated the guitar, cords, power amp by process of elimination. I'll try some of the other tips to narrow it down. Craig- great to see you last weekend!! Have a great show - in 16 days!!!

Andy Greatrix · Post by **Andy Greatrix** » 3 Mar 2005 5:41 pm

I have a Trayner eighty watt tube amp with two twelves.
It lacked bottom until I hooked up a Yorkville Two hundred watt sub-woofer.
I now have tube top/transister bottom set-up that really rocks.
The sub-woofer is only 45lbs.
It weighs less than my amp.[This message was edited by Andy Greatrix on 03 March 2005 at 05:42 PM.]

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 4 Mar 2005 1:13 pm

Kirk if one side is good, swap the speakers and see if it still occurs on that same side. If not it could for sure be the speaker.

------------------
1985 Emmons push-pull,Evans SE200,Hilton pedal

Kirk P Dighton · Post by **Kirk P Dighton** » 7 Mar 2005 5:55 am

OK- I have done everything suggested. The speaker is not torn, the basket does not look burned and the connsections look OK. Everything is tight. HMMMMMMMMmmmmm??

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 7 Mar 2005 6:06 am

Maybe it is something internal on the pro-fex or your power amp. Tommy B. down there could check that part for you. He is the best as far as I know. One thought, is there an EQ on the pro-fex? Possibly you are overdriving the low end? Just a guess.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 7 Mar 2005 6:39 am

Have you done the "gap cleaning" on the speaker? If not, that is the next step. You will have to remove the magnet from the speaker to do that. When you remove the magnet, CAREFULLY clean out anything that's accumulated around the voice coil, then clean out the "gap" (circular ring) on the inside of the magnet, plus any other accumulation on the magnet.

Once everything is cleaned, put it back together and tighten the bolts (equally).

Given everything else you've tried and if it is still in the one speaker, and you are sure it's the speaker, not something else, then the only option, if the gap cleaning doesn't fix it is to purchase a replacement basket for the speaker (the "basket" is everything except the magnet).

Mark Kelchen · Post by **Mark Kelchen** » 11 Mar 2005 2:15 pm

Hey Kirk! If you have narrowed it down to a certain speaker, In years past, I have had to remove the bolts that hold the magnet to the basket and turn it a third of a turn then re-install the bolts. That was recommended by Mike Brown at Peavey. Are the 12" speakers the superstructure design? At the time, Mike said perhaps turning things a third of a turn then re-mounting could help eliminate possible voice coil drag. Seems that would produce a scratchy sound too though???????

Kirk P Dighton · Post by **Kirk P Dighton** » 12 Mar 2005 7:19 am

I''l try that too. Thanks all. I'll narrow it down yet. In the meantime, I am trying out a Nashville 1000 and using a delay unit, and I am really liking this! What an amp!...and clean. May have a ProfexII and speakers (if working) for sale later.

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 12 Mar 2005 6:17 pm

"Low End Breakup" Try Ann Landers. It's not an uncommon event after many years of marriage.
DD

Kirk P Dighton · Post by **Kirk P Dighton** » 23 Mar 2005 5:52 am

OOoOOhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! I don't think that is what I meant Dennis!!!!! Why do I even ask????