Breaking In Speakers.....

PhatBoy · December 5th, 2003, 09:50 AM

I've got a couple of speakers that need to be broke in.
Expecting a 20+ hour period to do this can I just plug a stereo into the amp (covering with a quilt) and let it go for a couple of days?

PB

sunkidd · December 5th, 2003, 10:19 AM

I have looped, kind of light weight, bass guitar patterns with my "Line Six DL4"... and throw pillows in front of the speakers to muffle the sound... I'd let them go for a couple of hours and it seemed to help take some of the stiffness out of them, smoothed out and warmed up the sound. but what do I know... I was just experimenting...

eryque · December 5th, 2003, 11:52 AM

Hopefully one of the experts will chime in quick, but i'd be careful that a quilt doesn't trap so much heat that it cooks your amp.

When I got my speakers, I left the stereo plugged in and the amp working just about the entire time i was around the house. If I left for a while I'd shut the amp off just in case something happens. True, that "something" very rarely does happen, but weird things happen and I didn't want to take the risk.

11 Gauge · December 5th, 2003, 04:49 PM

for simply playing them at enough volume to break them in.

other methods can be great, but you are always risking running your amp thru cycles of signals that have nothing in common with what you will actually be playing (and an actual guitar)...

it is also very satisfying to start to hear the speaker hit the sweet spot while you are working it in - kinda like being there to witness watching your kid walk for the first time.

i had a Mojo alnico 10" a few years back that 'broke in' much faster than i thought it would - about 6 hours or so. it was just magic when it happened, and sounded so good that i went on to play about another 4 hours!

whatever you do, make sure you don't expose the speaker to any sort of signals that will cause the voice coil to overextend for even a fraction of a second - these 'pops' or strong DC signals can kill a speaker in no time at all. i blew out that Mojo 10" simply by disconnecting my Nanoverb from the effects loop with the amp on...

i suggest you just play 'em loud and play 'em proud...

rcrecelius · December 5th, 2003, 05:17 PM

A well tuned guitar, a pick(if you use one), and a cord.
Oh and some good earplugs.
Crank it up and toughen up those fingertip calluses!

Big Cookie · December 5th, 2003, 07:24 PM

I use ZZ Top's Greatest hits continuously for 40 hours or conversely I will use an AC filament transformer for an hour. Either does a great job.

Ringo · December 5th, 2003, 08:46 PM

I've read a few posts about how you can use acetone to treat the surrounds on speakers to get a different "tone" what's your opinion?
Just curious.
Thanks

guitarplayer · December 5th, 2003, 08:49 PM

Do all amp speakers need broken in? or just tube amp speakers?

Big Cookie · December 5th, 2003, 09:37 PM

All speakers have a break in.tone improvement curve, in this respect it matters not what is pushing them.

December 5th, 2003, 09:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
PhatBoy Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: OKC, OK Age: 54 Posts: 365 3 Photos	Breaking In Speakers..... I've got a couple of speakers that need to be broke in. Expecting a 20+ hour period to do this can I just plug a stereo into the amp (covering with a quilt) and let it go for a couple of days? PB

December 5th, 2003, 04:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
11 Gauge Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The East Coast Posts: 3,016 10 Photos	no substitute... for simply playing them at enough volume to break them in. other methods can be great, but you are always risking running your amp thru cycles of signals that have nothing in common with what you will actually be playing (and an actual guitar)... it is also very satisfying to start to hear the speaker hit the sweet spot while you are working it in - kinda like being there to witness watching your kid walk for the first time. i had a Mojo alnico 10" a few years back that 'broke in' much faster than i thought it would - about 6 hours or so. it was just magic when it happened, and sounded so good that i went on to play about another 4 hours! whatever you do, make sure you don't expose the speaker to any sort of signals that will cause the voice coil to overextend for even a fraction of a second - these 'pops' or strong DC signals can kill a speaker in no time at all. i blew out that Mojo 10" simply by disconnecting my Nanoverb from the effects loop with the amp on... i suggest you just play 'em loud and play 'em proud... __________________

December 5th, 2003, 05:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
rcrecelius Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Rio Vista,Texas Age: 41 Posts: 644	I would strongly suggest... A well tuned guitar, a pick(if you use one), and a cord. Oh and some good earplugs. Crank it up and toughen up those fingertip calluses!

December 5th, 2003, 07:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Big Cookie Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ennis, Texas Posts: 693	Speaker Break in I use ZZ Top's Greatest hits continuously for 40 hours or conversely I will use an AC filament transformer for an hour. Either does a great job.

December 5th, 2003, 08:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ringo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 1,914	Hey Cookie! what do you think about the acetone treatment? I've read a few posts about how you can use acetone to treat the surrounds on speakers to get a different "tone" what's your opinion? Just curious. Thanks

December 5th, 2003, 10:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
sunkidd Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 409	I have looped, kind of light weight, bass guitar patterns with my "Line Six DL4"... and throw pillows in front of the speakers to muffle the sound... I'd let them go for a couple of hours and it seemed to help take some of the stiffness out of them, smoothed out and warmed up the sound. but what do I know... I was just experimenting...

December 5th, 2003, 11:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,126 44 Photos	Hopefully one of the experts will chime in quick, but i'd be careful that a quilt doesn't trap so much heat that it cooks your amp. When I got my speakers, I left the stereo plugged in and the amp working just about the entire time i was around the house. If I left for a while I'd shut the amp off just in case something happens. True, that "something" very rarely does happen, but weird things happen and I didn't want to take the risk.

December 5th, 2003, 08:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
guitarplayer TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ohio/Florida Posts: 33	Do all amp speakers need broken in? or just tube amp speakers?

December 5th, 2003, 09:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
Big Cookie Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ennis, Texas Posts: 693	All Speakers All speakers have a break in.tone improvement curve, in this respect it matters not what is pushing them.