Sparks coming out of speaker cone

[Willis]

My guitar is giving lots of feedback, and I'm not sure why. When I hit the strings, the sound farts out and blue sparks are coming out of one of the speaker cones. I'm using a Telecaster into a Johnson J Station (like a Pod) into a Peavey Classic 60/60 power amp into a Genz Benz G flex cab, with everything plugged into a Furman. Also I smelled something burning, but the smell wasn't very strong and it could be caused by something else. What is going on?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Sparks coming out of speaker cone

voice coil burned up because the amp spiked it with massive current, for whatever reason. It sounds like a component fried in the power amp, sending far more current to the speakers, and now the speaker is gone. It happened to my studio monitors when a CARVIN power amp had the diode bridge go out. Same thing.....smoke and the smell of burned plastic.

Don't turn the power amp back on. Check your speakers with another amp to see if they're fried or still OK. Sounds like the power amp needs to go to a tech.

 

[saladin]

Re: Sparks coming out of speaker cone

Cool! I want to mod my amp so sparks will come out of the speakers whenever I play pwoer chords.LOL.

 

[Willis]

Re: Sparks coming out of speaker cone

One of the speakers blew; I tested it with a different amp and then with a battery and it's definitely gone. I'm going to make a new thread about which speakers to buy. I'm not sure what to do about the power amp yet.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Sparks coming out of speaker cone

The power amp doesn't sound like a tube problem, although it's possible.
When my power amp destroyed my Event 20/20 monitors, it was a solid state power amp, and they said the diode bridge was shorted, sending a whopping amount of current to the speakers. That's what your situation sounds like.

The bad news is that you're looking at $100 repair on your $250 power amp, and also a few bucks for a new speaker. I'd go for a Vintage 30 or H30.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Sparks coming out of speaker cone

Years ago my bass rig was a 4x10+horn with a GK 800rb and a Rickenbacker 4001. I used to stand across the room from the speaker, elevated on a table. I was having trouble hearing my rig, so I went over and turned up and the thing started feeding back like crazy. The fuse in the crossover was a lightbulb used for dome lights in cars. When the crossover started heating up from the feedback the lightbulb lit up and you could see the light behind the cone surrounds.

My story of high wattage juvenile stupidity of the day.

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Sparks coming out of speaker cone

... high wattage juvenile stupidity ...

That would be a great name for a rock band!

 

[Forbes]

Re: Sparks coming out of speaker cone

That would be a great name for a rock band!

I'm having that for a title of a song i was writing, fits perfect!

 

[Interstate 70]

Re: Sparks coming out of speaker cone

sounds like the illegal substance of the day before hasn't worn off yet.

 

[Nite_Maresz_25]

Re: Sparks coming out of speaker cone

sounds like the illegal substance of the day before hasn't worn off yet.

there are illegal subtances for EACH DAY??!!!

 

[Mephis]

Re: Sparks coming out of speaker cone

I wouldn't complain if my amp kicked so much ass it was shooting lightning bolts out of the speakers... But in your suitation it sounds like a bad thing...