The Steel Guitar Forum

I have an Altec 418B. I haven't tried it yet with steel but with the 6 string it buzzes on the low strings. The highs sound great. They guy I got them from tried the speakers with his bass. I'm thinking he damaged them somehow without completely blowing them out. Anyone else ever have this problem? I want to make sure they really are damaged before I ship them off to Great Plains Audio for reconing.

Thanks, Dave<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Dave Zirbel on 15 October 2005 at 12:31 PM.]</p></FONT>

Sounds like the beginning stage of "blown". some say to save your original paper in those altecs and put it back in. It's a very thin paper and is what makes an altec sound like an altec. The recones are thicker(some brands), and your speaker will lose string definition and become "darker" sounding. Your milage may vary.

Try it with another amp! I have heard that same buzzing from bad filter caps in Session 400 and other amps. Caused by what looks like a large "church steeple" spike on the leading edge of the filtered DC.

This is somewhat obvious but...
go the extra yard to ascertain that it isn't cabinet or hardware related. I went nuts trying to figure out a particular buzz/rattle from a new speaker. I finally found a bad joint in the cab. Another time it was the handle. As stupid as that sounds, it took me the longest time to realize it was something so simple.
And finally, make sure the speaker is evenly and firmly tightened down (but not OVER tightened.)

Thanks guys. Any reccommendations for Altec recones? I was thinking of Great Plains Audio since the guy that runs it use to work for Altec. He did admit to using heavier paper and says his recones can handle more power than the originals. I don't have much technical knowledge about Altecs, or any other speakers really. I'm wondering if these speakers have been reconed already. They look brand new. They sound great' except for the flabby buzzing low end.

Dave Z

Graet Plains should be the best! They have the right parts!

I'm with Jon. Make sure all the screws and knobs are on there tight. My bass cab was buzzing real bad one night, and it was because the screw that was holding the front grille in the middle on was loose. Tightened that bad-boy up, and there we go.

-MG

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Uva Uvam Videndo Varia Fit
Carter D-10, Matchbox 7a, Nashville 400,
Dingwall 5 string, SWR SM400 head, SWR Goliath III Jr. 2x10 cab
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I'll give some other cabinets a try before I send it off.

Thanks again-DZ

I have a pair of Bob's (G.P.A.) recones.
They are great sounding speakers! He is
the man for Altec.

Do a test where you turn down the treble to less than half on your guitar and then play the speaker at low vol. If you still hear the buzz, and it stays at the same level as you gradually increase the volume then you have a dragging voice coil. Do not test the speaker with a guitar signal out of a cabinet. Use a frequency generator with an amp. It will not have the transients that could damage the speaker unmounted.

I played a 418B for 10 years in an Ampeg B15 cab driven by a Crown 300A playing electric bass. I doubt if it has been damaged by someone trying them out with a bass.