Does this sound like a blown speaker to you?

[ratherdashing]

Here's the story:

In rehearsal, I use a 4x12 cab that belongs to someone else we share the space with. Gear sharing is the norm in the space, and everyone is pretty respectful of other people's things, so it's all good.

Normally my Stiletto head sits on top of the cab, and there's a TSL100 head on a shelf above it. Apparently the shelf collapsed earlier in the week, and as a result the TSL and the shelf landed on the cab. Fortunately my head was not in the rehearsal space at the time, so it's ok.

Fast forward to Sunday's rehearsal. I get my gear set up and start playing. The volume sags big time, and my clean tone starts clipping, but in a nasty way. The problem is intermittent, and also happens on the high gain channel.

My first troubleshooting step is always to bypass the pedal board and go straight into the amp. Same thing. I switched guitars. Same thing. I checked the tubes - everything was firmly seated and glowing orange. I unplugged the Stiletto and plugged into the TSL. At first, it sounded ok, so I assumed the problem was a dead or dying tube, but then the TSL started behaving the same way: sagging volume, and harsh distortion.

The only thing that all the testing scenarios had in common was the cab. I even used a different speaker cable on the TSL. The conclusion was that one or more speakers in the cab is dead.

I just wanted to confirm two things:

1. Does my description of the problem sound like what a blown speaker would sound like?

2. Is there any chance the busted cab damaged my amp in any way?

Thanks.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Does this sound like a blown speaker to you?

that doesnt really sound like a blown speaker to me but im not hearing it either

if all the speakers were blown then youd get no sound. that would be bad for your amp but obviously isnt the case

if at least one speaker is working then you might have a mismatch which could be bad depending on how severe it is

have you tried your head with another cab yet? if not thats the first thing to do to make sure your head is ok

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Does this sound like a blown speaker to you?

that doesnt really sound like a blown speaker to me but im not hearing it either

if all the speakers were blown then youd get no sound. that would be bad for your amp but obviously isnt the case

if at least one speaker is working then you might have a mismatch which could be bad depending on how severe it is

have you tried your head with another cab yet? if not thats the first thing to do to make sure your head is ok

That was going to be my next troubleshooting step, but it was the only cab in the rehearsal room at the time (all the other amps were combos), plus we were already way behind.

It's weird ... when I first heard the problem, my instinct was "bad tube" because that's what it sounded like. I assumed that I need a tube swap right up until I heard the TSL doing the same thing. I find it difficult to believe that both amps had the same problem, but I suppose it's possible.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Does this sound like a blown speaker to you?

well i wouldnt be surprised if the tsl needs a few new things after a fall like that, still odd that yours would have the same issue

 

[J Moose]

Re: Does this sound like a blown speaker to you?

Cabs are pretty tough so I doubt the head falling would injure it much... but anything is possible. Rather then a blown speaker it sounds like maybe a flaky connection inside the cab? The head smacking it could've knocked something loose.

Trying another cab would be the first thing... and open the "bad" cab to inspect for a bad connection.

If the speakers were blown then they simply wouldn't work, it'd be consistent... not going up & down in volume.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Does this sound like a blown speaker to you?

Hmm...in short:

1. No, not to me....

2. I doubt it...

 

[HighGain]

Re: Does this sound like a blown speaker to you?

If it's a cab with stereo capability, like a Marshall, make sure the switch didn't get flipped to "stereo". Make sure your Ohm-age matches up between cab and head.

A dirty power supply also does strange things to tube amps sometimes. Is the power known to fluctuate in the building?

 

[glassman]

Re: Does this sound like a blown speaker to you?

How is the wiring in the room? Do you have means of monitoring 117 volts at the wall.

Your description sounds like a brown out to me.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Does this sound like a blown speaker to you?

well i wouldnt be surprised if the tsl needs a few new things after a fall like that, still odd that yours would have the same issue

Good point re. the TSL. Its owner is rehearsing tonight - I'll ask what he thinks.

Cabs are pretty tough so I doubt the head falling would injure it much... but anything is possible. Rather then a blown speaker it sounds like maybe a flaky connection inside the cab? The head smacking it could've knocked something loose.

Trying another cab would be the first thing... and open the "bad" cab to inspect for a bad connection.

If the speakers were blown then they simply wouldn't work, it'd be consistent... not going up & down in volume.

The theory of a flaky connection is pretty good, and you're right about the cab. Other than a small tear in the grill cloth it shows no signs of damage.

How is the wiring in the room? Do you have means of monitoring 117 volts at the wall.

Your description sounds like a brown out to me.

Hmm ...

You know, this might be the answer. I didn't mention this in my first post, but it seems like the problem got worse whenever the following happened:

1. Preamp volume was turned up
2. OD/distortion pedal turned on
3. Hit the strings harder

All these things would be symptomatic of the amp running out of headroom due to inadequate voltage.

I should also point out that both the Stiletto and the TSL were plugged into the same outlet, though they were never on at the same time.

We've never had power problems in the room before, and nothing else we were using (the PA, the rhythm guitarist's amp, and the Peavey C50 I eventually used as a replacement) had power problems, so either the Stiletto and the TSL eat up a lot more power than those things, or it was outlet specific.

If it is a power problem, that's good news as far as my amp being busted is concerned. Also, our drummer is an electrician, so if there is a power problem in the room we have a guy who can diagnose and repair it.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Does this sound like a blown speaker to you?

It could be a shorting speaker.If the voice coil has got too hot ,its protective coating may have burned off, and may be shorting to the magnet.This would be more obvious at higher volumes[bigger speaker displacement/movement].
With your amp turned on and by pushing on your cone to create movement,this will create crackles ,if there is a short;or you'll hear any "noise"[Audio hum] coming from the speaker dropping in and out as it shorts.It will create volume jumps if you are playing through it and its shorting[Intermittently].
If so get a new speaker before it kills your amp.

 

[Karmadog777]

Re: Does this sound like a blown speaker to you?

I would check the speaker jack to speaker connections inside the cab.