it is IMPERFECT but it is WORKING so I am CONFLICTED
- February 24th, 2016
- Posted in diy . touring equipment
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So yesterday I mentioned that the first stage monitor had some physical issues, and what the big one turned out to be is that one of the XLR sockets on the new control panel extended too far into the cabinet, and rattled against the tweeter driver.
That’s really annoying and generally not good, but fortunately I have some shallower ones handy, and hey, the hole is about the same size, and hey, the screw mounts are about the same distance apart, this should be perfect!
Not as much.
Now, this has exactly zero functionality impact. It really doesn’t. But wow, it’s annoying. Not quite annoying enough to make an entirely new Delrin panel and unsolder and reconnect every wire, but still. Annoying.
Anyway, it’s totally working now. I have successfully upgraded this antique to modern specs. It’s not quite like taking an old grandfather clock and setting it up to run network time protocol, but… actually it’s a lot like that. Go Team Pointless! Except it’s not, it’s actually useful now.
The link is to video made on a phone of an iPod playing through the speaker by direct cable connection, no other parts. Yes, it’s also now the heaviest portable – luggable – iPod external speaker ever.
Tho’ even with the wonky socket, the panel still looks decent labelled.
Made and Designed in Cascadia with Chinese, Canadian, American, and Cascadian Parts.
I’ll open it back up to tie down some cables, but other than a little more testing, this one’s done. Speaker two is next. Probably won’t post many photos, it’d just be reruns. But if I learn something I’ll post about that.
This post is part of a series on restoring infamous vintage stage monitors. Spoiler: they made good, in the end.
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Two jobs ago, in the era of Reagan, I lined a beat up speaker cabinet with gasket paper glued in place with wood glue. A folded up wad of gasket paper was wedged against the voice coil to stop some fuzziness (this was a portable amp/speaker combo for the theatrical dept..this amplifier looked ’60s to me). You wouldn’t think a little paper and glue would add all that much structual strength, but it can. this amp also had those “ear wax” paper electrolytic capacitors (replaced them-this thing had a lot of hum).
Gasket paper is getting hard to find, but it’s good stuff to keep around. The best kind for structural reenforcement is the tan colored stuff. The black paper ( more heat resistant, and thinner ) is good for patching rips in old paper speaker cones. I’ve used contact cement, lacquer, and model glue for patches..all seem to work fairly well.
The drama/theatrical/music dept. had very little in the way of budget (the whole place wasn’t exactly rolling in money, for that matter), so a great deal of MacGyvering was done there..Gasket Paper Is Your Friend. Older car parts places or hardware stores may have it.