The Steel Guitar Forum

Does it ever make sense to recone a Black Widow speaker because of old age? Mine seems to sound all right, but it is approching 30 years old.

Hello Kevin,
I've never known anyone to recone a BW speaker. Since a speaker is a "mechanical" device, most think that it sounds best after it is "worn in" and that's when they hear the sweet spot. After that, the speaker can become "worn out" and will start to flap or exceed its excursion limits. This is when I would change it out. Otherwise, I would not be concerned with the speaker. However, if your BW model is the flat magnet Spider/Peavey style, you may want to purchase the newer 1501-4sb BW speaker for steel applications as the exisiting BW baskets will not fit the older '70's Spider magnet.

If it's not broke, don't try to fix it. If you think that you need another, you probably do. Personally, as long as it sounds good, I would use it until it couldn't be used anymore.

If I can be of further assistance, please let me know. I can be reached toll free at 1-877-732-8391.

Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation

If it sounds good don't touch it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a thin piece of foam rubber over the breather hole inside the speaker on the magnet. This foam rubber deteriorates and disintegrates over the years. If someone hasn't already done it, you might want to remove the basket from the magnet and clean out this bad foam. Make sure that it hasn't gotten all into the voice coil gap. If it has, you can get some M.E.K. solvent at Home Depot and with a little paint brush apply it all down in the voice coil gap and wash it out good. You can blow it out with compressed air available at computer shops or any source of clean compressed air such as a tire pump. Glue a piece of felt or something over the hole where the rubber was.
Make sure it's good and dry before you re-assemble it and it might last indefinitely.

Hi Kevin,
Here's a 'tip' you may want to consider. Rotate the speaker 180º, especially if it hasn't ever been moved. Gravity can eventually affect the voice coil and cause uneven wear.

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ree-00-dee-doo

Every Voice coil deteriorates over a period of time due to heat and use etc., this is more noticable in Horn Drivers. I have replaced the Diaphram in one Horn Driver and the other horn would be noticably not as bright as the newly repaired one, so I would have to buy another kit, and replace the diaphram in the older working horn. This is probably what Mike was talking about speakers reaching their "Sweet Spot".


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