|
Post by JChance on Mar 31, 2006 14:56:11 GMT -7
Ok... Here's the scoop- I've been getting this really ratty sound from my MAZ 18 lately. So finally, after swapping every tube imaginable, guitar chords, etc... I bit the bullet and sent it in to the good Doc... So today, I got it back- very excited to have the little beast running again, especially with a new set of SAG tubes from GT.. (Myles is da man, BTW... ) So I anxiously get the chassis put back together in the cab, and fire her up. DAMMIT! Same problem... At this point, I'm going- This has been in Dr. Mike's hands and gotten a thorough checkup.. This just doesn't make sense. So, I get the bright idea to plus the chassi in to my MAZ 38's cab, with two Weber 50 watter's (Blue/Silver.) Wham, Maz 18 sounds absolutely amazing! My Z 10's are only a couple of months old, and rated at 70-75 watts (I think...) How in the world could the 18 have blown the speakers??? I double checked connections, made sure it was plugged into the correct jack, etc. Just curious to see if anyone else has ever blown these things, as that's my only possible explanation at this point. I had a set in the 18 for a about a year before I started experiementing, and NEVER had a single problem from the stock 10's that originally came in the amp. At this point, just still dumbfounded- J
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Mar 31, 2006 14:58:17 GMT -7
Another head into the cab sounds bad too?
|
|
|
Post by zdogma on Mar 31, 2006 15:03:12 GMT -7
A couple of ideas.
If they are truly "blown" from overwattage the voice coil burns and there is no sound from the speaker. So not likely overwattage.
If the cone has been torn or detached from the edge it will be farty or distorted (think "You Really Got Me" by the Kinks). This is what most people think of as a blown speaker, but usually it is from direct blow to the front or back of the cone, or just wear and tear on a lighter cone.
Lastly, if the frame is warped (from overtightening) you will get voice coil rub, which is a rubbing or scraping sound when the cone moves.
Do any of these sound possible?
|
|
|
Post by JChance on Mar 31, 2006 15:21:08 GMT -7
A couple of ideas. If they are truly "blown" from overwattage the voice coil burns and there is no sound from the speaker. So not likely overwattage. If the cone has been torn or detached from the edge it will be farty or distorted (think "You Really Got Me" by the Kinks). This is what most people think of as a blown speaker, but usually it is from direct blow to the front or back of the cone, or just wear and tear on a lighter cone. Lastly, if the frame is warped (from overtightening) you will get voice coil rub, which is a rubbing or scraping sound when the cone moves. Do any of these sound possible? Well, the closest way I can describe it is choice number 2. To my knowledge, the amp, nor the speakers haven't taken any kind of a blow... Unless it happened at a gig when I wasn't around. I guess anything's possible in a bar with a bunch of drunks- especially as many people who like to "sit in" around here... That doesn't seem very likely, though... I'll keep tinkering with it... there has got to be a logical explanation here... I feel like such a DUMBA$$!! LOL J
|
|
|
Post by terryg on Mar 31, 2006 19:31:58 GMT -7
not a D.A. at all! These things can be absolutely frustrating and with unexpected causes. I was reassembling a Vox AC30 reissue, and during the test drive heard this terrible awful rattle. Troubleshooting included tapping here, holding that there while I played, looking for mechanical flaws, loose screws, whatever, anything. I took that thing apart again, got down on my hands & knees with a flashlight and bent mirror (like what a dentist uses) to see if there were some solder balls floating around behind the cones or something. . . . . (this went on for a while) . .
I eventually found a paper clip half stuck to one of the magnets, vibrating against the cone. A totally unexpected explanation, but logical! That amp has top-mounted vents that will easily admit something like a paper clip, allowing it to find its way into the speakers. It's a great way to torture someone, just chuck some clips at his amp. That's the only way I could think that could have happened.
Best of luck to you.
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Apr 1, 2006 9:21:30 GMT -7
JChance. Let us know what the problem is when you figure it out. I have a 2-10 cab on order so I'm really curious.
|
|
|
Post by JChance on Apr 1, 2006 10:46:09 GMT -7
Well- I got an e-mail from Doc that said that there actually *was* problem with my 18 when they got it last week... Something like a loose pin connector (?) on one of the output tubes that was causing the unpleasing distortion. He said it was an easy fix, and they were able to send it back out the day they got it in (that ROCKS!) So apparently this, in combination with whatever was wrong with the speakers was giving me a double dose of YUCK...
So after prodding around for an hour or so, I found the problem- The speakers aren't blown at all, but I guess after a couple of years of heavy touring, some of the speaker wires had come loose. Not, as in, the terminals disconnecting from the speaker terminal mounts- but the wires actually coming loose from the little connector, if that makes sense. A couple of them were barely hanging on, probably due to heavy use, vibration, shocks & travel in a road case, etc.
So I'm going to completely remove all the speaker wiring and try & re-seat the wires into their connectors. I actually was able to get them put back in and functioned well enough for me to take it to a gig last night. Sure was nice to have it back, sounding as good as ever!
But I'm going to take the extra time to fix the wiring so that they are all really secure- and at least it's a lesson learned if I ever get that type of sound again down the road... Just one more thing to check before deciding it's a problem with the amp or speakers.
JC
|
|
|
Post by zdogma on Apr 1, 2006 14:00:24 GMT -7
Jayson
Are they the liitle plastic quick connectors that connect to the speaker terminals? If so, i've had those fall off many times (both popping off and the wire pulling out of the connector. A couple of years ago, I took them off and soldered all the wires to the terminals and the jacks, and no problems since.
|
|
|
Post by JChance on Apr 1, 2006 14:04:28 GMT -7
Jayson Are they the liitle plastic quick connectors that connect to the speaker terminals? If so, i've had those fall off many times (both popping off and the wire pulling out of the connector. A couple of years ago, I took them off and soldered all the wires to the terminals and the jacks, and no problems since. That's an even better idea... J
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Apr 1, 2006 14:33:27 GMT -7
I'm glad it was only a minor mechanical problem. Here's what I like and why I ordered one to go with a StangRay head, also on order. I like how small and light it is. Soundwise, I think it's actually very neutral and has a good strong midrange. Tell me what you like about it. Do you think beam blockers would make it easier to hear off axis?
|
|