D.I.Y. speaker repair

[fatty]

so i get home from work tonight and find that one of my cats has been in the studio and knocked a bunch of gear off the shelf and onto a 12 inch speaker that was sitting on the floor ready to go into a 2 x 12 cab. a corner of my logic big box packaging has gone straight through the speaker. so i have this 5 cm square "flap" of paper being held to the speaker only on one side. a friend of mine has a 4 x 12 cab with a couple of the speakers repaired using some kind of cloth tape (it was like that when he got it). is it possible just to tape the paper together myself, or do i need to take it somewhere, or just chuck the speaker in the bin. i paid nothing for the cab or 2 speakers, so i'd hate to have to spend a lot of money on it now.

damn cats!!

[barefoot]

Yeah, try the cloth repair. It's a guitar speaker, so you're not looking for fidelity - just tone. Hell, it might even help! thumbsup

Thomas

[fatty]

Originally posted by barefoot
Yeah, try the cloth repair. It's a guitar speaker, so you're not looking for fidelity - just tone. Hell, it might even help! thumbsup

Thomas

yeah the taped up speakers in my mate's quad sound surprisingly good. i've got nothing to lose so i'll just give it a go myself. any idea what sort of tape would be best for this? also, maybe i should use some sort of glue to stick the paper back together first, then tape over the top?

[theom]

I'd try something like gaffer tape on the back, then nail laquer or super glue on the front.

[fatty]

Originally posted by theom
I'd try something like gaffer tape on the back, then nail laquer or super glue on the front.

i thought about gaffer but i only get one shot with that. if i stuff it up i'd hate to try and pull it off again. i'd probably end up doing more damage.

it occured to me that the paper bags in my vacuum cleaner are made out of a pulpy sort of cardboard similar to a speaker cone.
i think i might glue some of that material on the back, then glue the front as well.

[barefoot]

Originally posted by fatty
any idea what sort of tape would be best for this? also, maybe i should use some sort of glue to stick the paper back together first, then tape over the top?

Depends on what tone you're going for.

Yeah, I would use a thin muslin fabric or a fibrous paper. Paper money would work great! (not that new fangled plastic stuff) Glue it on with epoxy for a bright tone... silicon or latex caulk for a warmer tone. ....I'm only half joking.

Thomas

[fatty]

ok, job done!

i've stuck the vacuum cleaner bag on the back using "boyle tacky glue". i bought it from my local hardware store, and it's made 2 suburbs across from here. i also found 2 other tears in the speaker that i repaired in the same fashion. then, i glued the front side after letting the speaker sit for an hour.

i'll report back once i have the speaker hooked up.

[theom]

Too late to try now but I just had a thought:
I bet those cloth butterfly band aids you get at the ER would work well.
not too much mass, very flexible. You'd still have to "set" them with some glue or laquer.

[Marty Shields.]

I repair speakers all the time when im doi'n restore work. What I do is try to fit the torn bit back in, then use some Aquadhere round the edges. When it's all dry, give the whole cone a spray paint, with chicken feed paint, shee,l be as good as new,

[orbanatorfunk]

Originally Posted by fatty

so i get home from work tonight and find that one of my cats has been in the studio and knocked a bunch of gear off the shelf and onto a 12 inch speaker that was sitting on the floor ready to go into a 2 x 12 cab. a corner of my logic big box packaging has gone straight through the speaker. so i have this 5 cm square "flap" of paper being held to the speaker only on one side. a friend of mine has a 4 x 12 cab with a couple of the speakers repaired using some kind of cloth tape (it was like that when he got it). is it possible just to tape the paper together myself, or do i need to take it somewhere, or just chuck the speaker in the bin. i paid nothing for the cab or 2 speakers, so i'd hate to have to spend a lot of money on it now.

damn cats!!

Welcome to Orban Audio

[orbanatorfunk]

Originally Posted by fatty

yeah the taped up speakers in my mate's quad sound surprisingly good. i've got nothing to lose so i'll just give it a go myself. any idea what sort of tape would be best for this? also, maybe i should use some sort of glue to stick the paper back together first, then tape over the top?

Welcome to Orban Audio

[Wavebourn]

I'm going to DIY one now...

http://www.clarisonus.com/Archives/S.../Roll_Spkr.pdf

[JohnRoberts]

I've repaired speakers before with nail polish or something similar.. I'd be careful about adding too much mass to the cone.

JR

PS: Not my nail polish. tutt

[808_SF]

On my bass cab I can see that some of the cloth on one of the speakers has torn from being pushed to hard by my amp. The tare and the sound is progressively getting worse. Do you think the cloth tape/nail polish might work even if the cause of tare is different? dfegad

[orbanatorfunk]

I would definitely get it reconed. Putting that stuff on the cone will off center it at high volumes and also the bass response will not be as good. Orban Audio has been providing speaker repair and reconing since 1981. Best prices and all work is backed by a once year warranty. They can fix almost any speaker and can get original parts for most.

For more information go to Welcome to Orban Audio

[chimansaurus]

When playing loud, one of my 14 inch 240 watt (RMS) Yamaha speaker sounds like cracking. I compared the bad speaker with the good one. The cone on the bad speaker has some hairline cracks where the cone is glued with the coil. I was told that I could use a cloth tape to cover the cracks. I bought some adhesive cloth tape that doctors use to cover wounds. The super-sticky white cloth tape has waterproof coating on it. Have you used those tapes for this purpose? Any advice would be appreciated.

[Wavebourn]

I use poly vinyl acetate glue, from Office Depot.

It looks like a sour cream.

[barefoot]

Originally Posted by chimansaurus

When playing loud, one of my 14 inch 240 watt (RMS) Yamaha speaker sounds like cracking. I compared the bad speaker with the good one. The cone on the bad speaker has some hairline cracks where the cone is glued with the coil. I was told that I could use a cloth tape to cover the cracks. I bought some adhesive cloth tape that doctors use to cover wounds. The super-sticky white cloth tape has waterproof coating on it. Have you used those tapes for this purpose? Any advice would be appreciated.

Some sort gap filling glue would probably be better. I'd recommend a toughened cyanoacrylate (rubbery super glue). However, the symptom you describe is a common with "semi-blown" speakers. My guess is the cracks are only a side effect of the real problem. Quite often speakers crackle because the voice coil windings have become delaminated due to overheating. They're cooked enough to buzz and rattle, but not enough to stop working completely. Give the glue a try, but I wouldn't be overly optimistic.

[turbosoundfan]

If it is doesn't sound right after the tape, but it is a decent speaker; take it to be reconed. Every time a piece of gear goes into the trash, an angel loses its wings!

[aquafuture2010]

I am trying to repair a semi-blown speaker in a Yamaha S300 cabinet. As noobie as this may sound, I can't figure out how to get into the darn thing! I've searched high and low online to find a service manual, and even took off the handles on both sides figuring that would be the only way in. There is a good amount of insulation inside the speaker, and the cardboard tubes set behind each driver. How can I get into this bad boy to make a repair or where could I find a service manual to give it a go myself?

I'd hate to take it in and pay 30-60 bucks and wait a week.

Help??

[brad347]

I wouldn't use tape. Here's what I do.

Push the flap back in place as close as you can. Get some black tissue paper (well the color isn't crucial but it looks better)

Dilute some white (elmer's or similar) glue in water about 1:1. Glue a patch on the front of the cone and the back of the cone. Let dry. You can lightly dust with flat black paint if you're really concerned about appearance.

In a guitar amp speaker, as mentioned, it won't hurt and may even add some 'vibe' to the sound.

[mixedupsteve]

Originally Posted by aquafuture2010

I am trying to repair a semi-blown speaker in a Yamaha S300 cabinet. As noobie as this may sound, I can't figure out how to get into the darn thing! I've searched high and low online to find a service manual, and even took off the handles on both sides figuring that would be the only way in. There is a good amount of insulation inside the speaker, and the cardboard tubes set behind each driver. How can I get into this bad boy to make a repair or where could I find a service manual to give it a go myself?

I'd hate to take it in and pay 30-60 bucks and wait a week.

Help??

http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/pdf/...rs/s300_en.pdf

[londonengineer]

Evo-Stik wood glue and tissue paper has worked well for me!