Speaker break-in (V30 content)

[sombersoul]

When I bought my 6505, I also bought a Fame 2x12 cab with V30s. Not soon after I got a good deal for a used 5150 4x12 cab, so I never really played through the Fame but gave it to my band colleague who has been using it since. Fast forward four years. I've been through various cabs and speaker combinations but was never fully satisfied. I always thought that my bandmate's Fame cab sounded great. So I tried my own head through it and was blown away: dark and gritty, powerful yet rather tight and focused, smooth and full highs. Needless to say, this is the V30s after four years of good usage.

I decided to let my bandmate keep my old Fame cab and got an Orange PPC 2x12, since I had read so many good things about it. The fact that it was described as dark and deep sounding especially attracted me.

I was not disappointed: the sound is huge and deep and the distortion sounds darkish. However, it sounds less focused and mory flubby in the bass compared to my Fame cab. Also, the highs are nowhere as smooth and can be described as thin-sounding. There's also quite a sizzle going on that I don't get with the V30s in the Fame cab.

Now, this is after doing the Celestion break-in procedure and only two rehearsals. I realize that the speaker will probably take months to properly break in.

My question is: Do V30s eventually sound like I described for the Fame cab (i.e. my first cab)? If yes, then I can't wait for the ones in my Orange to sweeten up.

Just to avoid confusion: I absolutely like the Orange cab. It's high quality. I'm just wondering what the exact differences are between new and broken in V30s.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Speaker break-in (V30 content)

I'm not sure what method Celestion recommends for breaking in speakers, but typically they need about 30-50 hours of use before the differences start to become less obvious.

Get a CD player, stick it in repeat and pump that through the cab for a day or so at a moderate volume. Not cranked way up, but not living room volume either. That's the "pro" process for breaking in speakers of any type. Be it full-range PA drivers or guitar speakers.

 

[sombersoul]

Re: Speaker break-in (V30 content)

Celestions recommends playing with the power amp full up (pre-gain knob regulates volume) for 15-20 minutes, using the middle position on the pickup selector. Here's the full procedure.

Yes, I know about the CD player method. Maybe this is a stupid question but how do I connect the player? Through the amp?

 

[J Moose]

Re: Speaker break-in (V30 content)

Yup... line out of the CD player or iPod (or whatever) right to the amps input jack, clean channel... moderate volume. Typically I'll let stuff run at least overnight... 12-15 hours minimum before I'd consider it broken in. Going with 15 minutes of playing is NOT enough, might be enough to knock the very initial dust out but thats all.

Its no different then a pair of shoes or new brakes on a car... the things that are designed to move, in this case the spider & surrounds are very stiff at first. Breaking them in allows the cone to move more freely & easily.

Check this out... at the end they say 50-100 hours of playing is the point where you won't notice any further changes in tone.

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2009/Apr/Breaking_in_Your_Speakers.aspx

 

[sombersoul]

Re: Speaker break-in (V30 content)

Okay, thank you very much for the help! I'll hook up my iPod to the amp as soon as possible.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: Speaker break-in (V30 content)

i know you already have a cab and whatnot, but you know you could have bought broken in v30s from avatar speakers, sold as a hellatone 60:
http://avatarspeakers.com/

 

[sombersoul]

Re: Speaker break-in (V30 content)

i know you already have a cab and whatnot, but you know you could have bought broken in v30s from avatar speakers, sold as a hellatone 60:
http://avatarspeakers.com/

Yes, you're right. However, I don't live in the USA. There are of course stores in Europe that offer "aging" as well. I wanted to get the Orange cab, though, so there was no reason for buying speakers separately. I'll just wait until the speakers are broken in.

 

[Koreth]

Re: Speaker break-in (V30 content)

Yes, your V30s are not broken in while the bandmate's are. However, have you considered that part of of the difference you're hearing is due to the differences in construction between your Orange cab and his Fame? I don't know just how much of an effect it has, but it strikes me as silly to assume that cabinet construction has no effect on the tone at all.

 

[sombersoul]

Re: Speaker break-in (V30 content)

Yes, your V30s are not broken in while the bandmate's are. However, have you considered that part of of the difference you're hearing is due to the differences in construction between your Orange cab and his Fame? I don't know just how much of an effect it has, but it strikes me as silly to assume that cabinet construction has no effect on the tone at all.

I am not silly, thank you, and I am well aware that cab construction has a huge influence on the sound. The Fame cab is not considered high-end, not even middle ground. It is one of the cheapest V30 cabs out there. This doesn't mean it's bad, of course. To me it sounds good and surprisingly darker and a bit smoother than the Orange cab I bought, which is renowned for sounding dark. So I was wondering how much the break-in factor influences sound as well.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Speaker break-in (V30 content)

After a good breaking in period with music piping through, you should notice that the top end mellows out a bit and the lows become a bit fuller. Things before the break-in can be a bit "hard" sounding.

Here's the thing though, its not a night & day difference... post break-in.

More like a 10-15% difference.

Whatever character the speakers have at the very beginning, they'll still have... all the break-in does is soften them up.

For me its no big deal to hook up a CD player and let it roll for a day or so...

Might drive the neighbours or other people in the house crazy, but it's only a day. No reason to pay "extra" for the service.

Roll some music for a day or two and let us know what 'ya think!

 

[Koreth]

Re: Speaker break-in (V30 content)

I am not silly, thank you, and I am well aware that cab construction has a huge influence on the sound. The Fame cab is not considered high-end, not even middle ground. It is one of the cheapest V30 cabs out there. This doesn't mean it's bad, of course. To me it sounds good and surprisingly darker and a bit smoother than the Orange cab I bought, which is renowned for sounding dark. So I was wondering how much the break-in factor influences sound as well.

Apologies, I was not intending to imply you were silly. Hope no offense was taken.

 

[philthis]

Re: Speaker break-in (V30 content)

I noticed on both my 2/12 cabs that when the speaker broke in it had alot more ambiance and clarity and it sounded smoother and fuller-not rigid and icepicky. it made a huge diff on cleans with reverb. the cleans sounded smoother and richer and clearer-probabley becouse the speaker does have a good dynamic rang and it is noticable when its sounding good especially in the spanky clean tones. the distortion had better clip but less fizzy buzzy tone but still great clartiy to pick up the gain ontop of the notes.
:beerchug:

 

[sombersoul]

Re: Speaker break-in (V30 content)

Apologies, I was not intending to imply you were silly. Hope no offense was taken.

Forget it. Just wanted to make clear that I'm not a beginner. It's only that I haven't dealt with new vs. broken in speakers before. Hence this thread.

I noticed on both my 2/12 cabs that when the speaker broke in it had alot more ambiance and clarity and it sounded smoother and fuller-not rigid and icepicky. it made a huge diff on cleans with reverb. the cleans sounded smoother and richer and clearer-probabley becouse the speaker does have a good dynamic rang and it is noticable when its sounding good especially in the spanky clean tones. the distortion had better clip but less fizzy buzzy tone but still great clartiy to pick up the gain ontop of the notes.

Great! This is basically how I described (and perceive) my Fame cab with the broken in V30s. The V30s in my Orange cab are on their way to goodness then. Can't wait!

Thanks, guys, you've been helpful! Listening to some recordings again, I have to say that the Orange cab sounds amazing despite the new V30s and I'm sure it will sound even better after proper breaking in.

Thanks for clearing this up!