GK neo 212 cab with intermittent crackling sound

JGbassman

JGbassman

May 31, 2011
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The midwest. South of Lakes, North of Rocks.
#1
I'm not sure if this is the place to put this, but I need some help troubleshooting a problem that popped up tonight at practice that has left me puzzled.

I have a GK neo 212 cab that had the bottom speaker start making a crackling sound when I pushed the E string a little tonight. Not quite a distortion, more of a high crunch but only when I dug in. If I turned the amp up a little is seemed to get worse with volume. I checked and it's only in the bottom speaker not the top one, which rules out connections, cables, processing, and the amp in my mind. I figure it's maybe a bad connection or the speaker is cooked (I replaced the top speaker earlier this year, it was farting and was blown)

Then all of a sudden, it started working perfectly normal. I could push it to stage volume (which still isn't that loud) and not a single issue with it for the next hour we practice.

I gigged the amp with another cab three shows this weekend and not a single issue. So I'm really not thinking it's the amp.

The 212 cab I normally use for practice, and I'm an adult whom has played professionally, and I don't abuse my gear. I run my tone mid heavy and roll the lows out. The bass I was using was a passive p bass.

Any ideas? I guess I was thinking that if a speaker is blown it's blown and doesn't intermittently make noises like I experienced tonight. I'm just confused right now.

As I said I've replaced the top speaker in the cab, and tonight it was working perfectly.

I'm going to leave this up to your thoughts. I'm at a loss right now. It's a nice sounding cab and is perfect for smaller shows and I always have foh support, so it's never pushed very hard. I'd like to use it for a few shows coming up but I don't trust it right now.

Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.
 
#2
When you replaced the top speaker last year was it with the same as the original, or did you put in something different?

As far as the bottom speaker goes, it could be mechanical and intermittant. It might start up again at any time or never do it again. The law of Mr. Murphy would suggest that it will only fail again at a gig.

Do you know how to test for a rubbing voice coil?
Kinda thinking that could be a possible problem.
 
#3
Old Garage-Bander said:
When you replaced the top speaker last year was it with the same as the original, or did you put in something different?

As far as the bottom speaker goes, it could be mechanical and intermittant. It might start up again at any time or never do it again. The law of Mr. Murphy would suggest that it will only fail again at a gig.

Do you know how to test for a rubbing voice coil?
Kinda thinking that could be a possible problem.
Click to expand...

The speaker was replaced with a new drop in replacement from GK, so no issues there. Regarding the voice coil, I've always just pushed on the speaker lightly to see it there is any grind. Not sure if that's the way to check or not.

I'm thinking you are probably right if the issue can be intermittent.

Ugh. I just got my GK mb800 out of the shop this week (sounds great too with my Ampeg HLF 410)

I guess I'll just throw this in the storage garage and get to it next year sometime.
 
#4
JGbassman said:
The speaker was replaced with a new drop in replacement from GK, so no issues there. Regarding the voice coil, I've always just pushed on the speaker lightly to see it there is any grind. Not sure if that's the way to check or not.

I'm thinking you are probably right if the issue can be intermittent.

Ugh. I just got my GK mb800 out of the shop this week (sounds great too with my Ampeg HLF 410)

I guess I'll just throw this in the storage garage and get to it next year sometime.
Click to expand...
OK. Sounds like you're good on all points.
Hope you can rock it again soon.
 
#5
Old Garage-Bander said:
OK. Sounds like you're good on all points.
Hope you can rock it again soon.
Click to expand...

It's a nice sounding cab, very midrangy and cuts nice on stage. I've had it about four maybe five years. I just wish it was more reliable and didn't have issues with the speakers. I remember reading GK had some issues early on with the speakers for these cabs when I was looking for info replacing the first speaker... I guess I got one of those cabs.
 
#7
Check to see if the tinsel lead from the connector to the back of the cone is too long. It can vibrate against it and cause that sound. You might be able to carefully bend it back so it doesn't touch the cone. I also sort of remember the first run of GK neo 12s having a more serious issue with those leads - can't remember what it was, though - sucks getting old.
 
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#8
Jaco who? said:
Check to see if the tinsel lead from the connector to the back of the cone is too long. It can vibrate against it and cause that sound. You might be able to carefully bend it back so it doesn't touch the cone. I also sort of remember the first run of GK neo 12s having a more serious issue with those leads - can't remember what it was, though - sucks getting old.
Click to expand...

I'll take a look tonight if I have time. I can't imagine it working fine for four years then having an issue like that, but you never know.
 
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