Older Cabinets, How Long Can They Last ?

[Bubble]

I'm looking at a good deal on a 20 year old Peavy 410. How much longer do you think it might last at 1/2 it's power rating ? From what I read about speakers, cloth roll (what we usually get) surrounds last at least 30 years. But how about the cone, coil, and spider glue ?

Home stereo woofers with foam surrounds are lucky to make it 10 years. I suppose it is cleaning solvent fumes that eat them up. A price to pay for getting full range at low volumes and power, loose foam surrounds move well at low volume.

But pro speakers are said to last much longer. How much ?

 

[abarson]

Subbed as curious what the experts say.

 

[agedhorse]

40-50 years maybe?

I have some pro audio speakers that are almost 40 years old, but treated well.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

It depends on what they're subjected to, dampness, heat, etc.

 

[meatwad]

My 17 year-old Ampegs are awaiting an answer...

 

[Al Kraft]

I have two early 1980's 12" Scorpion loaded Peavey PA cabs that are favorites for use as monitors with the bands I play with. Every single part and piece is original. They have been treated well and stored in ideal conditions.

 

[BogeyBass]

forever n ever....until
go pretty good if not abused.
then again some got abused and they doing ok to.
some just die

not a one answer question, variables indeed

 

[pie_man_25]

I've got some 8" drivers from old combos that are at least 40 years old that still sound great. I'm no expert, but it seems they can go on for a while, depending on use.

 

[MrLenny1]

I have a 15" cab that is almost 30 years old.
Still gigging with it.
Good question, it was something I have never thought about.

 

[RoadRanger]

I've found that the older the cab is the longer it has lasted .

 

[12BitSlab]

My 43 year old Kustom 215 cab still works/sounds like new.

 

[bobyoung53]

My 17 year-old Ampegs are awaiting an answer...

I have two early 70's flatback SVT cabs with original speakers, still sound good.

 

[lpbfender]

My Acoustic 361 rig I bought second hand in 1974 still shakes the house.

As previously written, temperatures extremes and dampness wreaks havoc.

Just had to replace two prong AC chord.

 

[pbass74]

I just sold my old Peavey 215 cab with the 400 series head. It was 43 years old and had a lifetime warranty on the speakers--however not transferable to the new owner. I expect he will still get a lot of good use out of it. The cabinet itself will probably last another hundred years. Maybe someone will replace the speakers in it by then.

 

[old spice]

I have 2 Sunn 18 cabinets from 1972 that sound great and still don't rattle.
Hats off to the Sundholm brothers.

 

[RadioactiveGuy4]

I have a Gibson scout tube amp from 1964 with the original speaker and it's still going strong. So...53 years?

 

[4dog]

I play every monday night and thursday night and twice on sundays through an old crate 4x10 that is ,,,well i dont have a clue how old it is but it aint new,its at least 14 yrs old and probably older but its still going strong. But i dont push the snot out of it either.

 

[baileyboy]

Not bass cabs, but my friend has a pair of ABS stereo speakers from the mid 70s. He uses them constantly at high volumes, has never had any issues.

 

[TL23NC]

I'm looking at a good deal on a 20 year old Peavy 410. How much longer do you think it might last at 1/2 it's power rating ? From what I read about speakers, cloth roll (what we usually get) surrounds last at least 30 years. But how about the cone, coil, and spider glue ?

Home stereo woofers with foam surrounds are lucky to make it 10 years. I suppose it is cleaning solvent fumes that eat them up. A price to pay for getting full range at low volumes and power, loose foam surrounds move well at low volume.

But pro speakers are said to last much longer. How much ?

I have an Altec Lansing 15 inch driver in a custom cabinet from the early seventies that is still doing fine. It has been often stored in conditions that are less than favorable, such as in the garage.

 

[brianrost]

I've found that the older the cab is the longer it has lasted .

Me, too

Seriously, it's easy to get decades out of the drivers. Now and then you might blow one (I once lost one to a blast of unexpected feedback) and need a recone. Since you mentioned "cabinet" in the title, the cabinet of course can last pretty much forever.

I'm sure more folks will chime in about their old amps. The oldest one I have is a Sears Silvertone combo amp made by Danelectro in the late 1950s. It still has the original speaker, and only one of the original tubes has been replaced in the 37 years I've owned it. The oldest bass cabinet I still own is a 1980s vintage EAW VB125 loaded with a 15" EVM. I bought it used 30 years ago and about 2 years later I had to recone the EVM, it's been rocking continuously since then.