Who started this stupid idea in bass amps?
I've got a potential new bass amp on loan/approval, and I've just gone and blown the tweeter... sort-of my fault since I was putting fuzz bass through it, but surely the designers should have figured out that someone might do that, and limit the possible power to it enough to stop it blowing that easily. It's not switchable on this amp, but I thought that turning down the top-end so the sound wasn't obviously fizzy would be enough to be safe - wrong.
I admit I do actually sometimes like a bit more high-end than a single 15 or a couple of 10s will give, but there's no need for the extreme HF response of a full-on tweeter - a small-diameter driver or a 'whizzer' cone on the main one would be plenty. It's *bass* amplification, not a PA...
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson
Comments
Blown tweeters are one of the most common problems I come across in bass amps/cabs, but luckily very few people seem to care so it's usually easiest to just ignore it if they've died completely .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson
The only reason I want it is because it's a 500W combo I can carry on my shoulder... and because it's red .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson
Bandcamp
Spotify, Apple et al
Couldn't agree more: totally pointless.
I remember a very painful and circular "discussion" with a customer along the lines:
Me: You've blown the tweeter in your bass amp.
Customer: Why's that then?
Me: Do you use fuzz?
Customer: Yes.
Me: That will be why you've blown the tweeter.
Customer: Oh, but I like the sound of fuzz with bass.
Me: Well it's probably better not to replace the tweeter.
Customer: But it doesn't as good without the tweeter.
(Actually I found this hard to believe, but there you go).
Me: But you'll blow the tweeter again if you use fuzz.
Customer: Oh, but I like the sound of fuzz with bass.
Me: Well it's probably better not to replace the tweeter.
Customer: But it doesn't as good without the tweeter.
and so on......
But if the options are full tweeter or no tweeter, no tweeter wins every time.
And I still think it’s better done with something like a 5” cone speaker anyway.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson
..Oh, hang on, yes.. that's right - we do. Just like we embraced class D amps with open arms (and non-screwed backs) a long while back too...