The Stack!

HIWATT amps from the Hylight Electronics era

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Olsvik
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The Stack!

Post by Olsvik »

Well, finally had a chance to bring the Hiwatts home from the reheasrsal space. Sorry about the crummy photo, I will get better ones once I pry the back of the cab off etc.
'74 DR103
''75 cab on top
Mikhailwatt's former Reeves cab on bottom. (Thanks again Mike!)

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Olsvik
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Re: The Stack!

Post by Olsvik »

Hmmm, having had some time to play the rig at low volumes at home, I have noticed that one of the Fanes in the '75 cabinet seems to crackle/distort. What would cause this? Tear in the cone, something less heart-attack inducing?
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mikhailwatt
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Re: The Stack!

Post by mikhailwatt »

Nice looking stack! Needs another head, though. :wink:

Crackling... my guess would be you've got a cooked voice coil. Hope I'm wrong!
You can almost feel the current flowing
You can almost see the circuits blowing
Olsvik
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Re: The Stack!

Post by Olsvik »

Anyway a layman such as myself could confirm or deny that guess?
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OldSchoolDave
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Re: The Stack!

Post by OldSchoolDave »

Olsvik wrote:I have noticed that one of the Fanes in the '75 cabinet seems to crackle/distort. What would cause this?
It could be a tear in the cone, though those are usually frequency sensitive. Does it only happen on certain notes or all the time?

It could be gunk in the gap and/or an off-center voicecoil. I've had that happen with a few older Fanes. Sometimes, it's cureable - as long as you know the right people (eh, Doc ;) ?).

Remove and inspect the speaker. If it's a tear, that should be easily mendable.

If the cone looks fine, CAREFULLY put fingers on opposite sides of the cone's edges (near the surround) and GENTLY push it down evenly and release it. If you hear a grinding/crunching/scratching sound, it might need cleaning / realigning. Reconing should be the very last resort. Do whatever you can to retain the original components.

Good luck...and nice looking stack!

Dave
...Hey! I played that song when it was new...

http://www.OldSchoolDave.com
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Dr.HI-TONE
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Re: The Stack!

Post by Dr.HI-TONE »

detailed instructions here:

http://vintagehiwattconvention.com/foru ... p?f=5&t=22

nice stack!
http://www.HI-TONE-Amps.com

HI-TONE, when only the best will do.

DR-F
Olsvik
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Re: The Stack!

Post by Olsvik »

Thanks gents! I haven't had much time to troubleshoot it yet, but I should have spare time tomorrow. I will report back with my findings!
Olsvik
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Re: The Stack!

Post by Olsvik »

Alright, I took some photos of the speaker in question.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v734/colsvik/Fane/

It looks like there may have been a small repair at one point? On the right edge of the speaker in that front shot of the cone? Or not, I don't know what I'm looking for, :)

Dave, I'm unsure as to where exactly you want me to gently push the cone to test to see if it needs cleaning. And those instructions the good Doc posted look WAY over my head. :)
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ThunderOne
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Re: The Stack!

Post by ThunderOne »

Great looking stack!!There is something that screams "rock" about those, huh? But I'd be happy with just half of the same! :wink:

Franz
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Olsvik
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Re: The Stack!

Post by Olsvik »

Yeah it definitely looks "Rock!" People think I must be a rock god when they see that stack, then they hear me play :)
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ThunderOne
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Re: The Stack!

Post by ThunderOne »

Olsvik wrote:Yeah it definitely looks "Rock!" People think I must be a rock god when they see that stack, then they hear me play :)
Haha Olsvik! I'm sure you're being too modest about your playing. How can someone with enough taste to choose a Hiwatt as a battlehorse not have as much "flair" in his playing? :wink:
Happiness is a glowing tube!
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mikhailwatt
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Re: The Stack!

Post by mikhailwatt »

Olsvik wrote:It looks like there may have been a small repair at one point?
That cone looks perfectly fine to me.
OldSchoolDave wrote:If the cone looks fine, CAREFULLY put fingers on opposite sides of the cone's edges (near the surround) and GENTLY push it down evenly and release it. If you hear a grinding/crunching/scratching sound, it might need cleaning / realigning.
The surround is at the outer edge of the cone. You want to push down just enough to move the voice coil in the gap (between the pole and the magnet) to see if you hear a scratchy sound.

Image
You can almost feel the current flowing
You can almost see the circuits blowing
Olsvik
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Re: The Stack!

Post by Olsvik »

So, just inside the gasket on that photo?
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OldSchoolDave
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Re: The Stack!

Post by OldSchoolDave »

Olsvik wrote:So, just inside the gasket on that photo?
The surround isn't marked on that graphic (cool graphic, though!). It's the accordioned part between the gasket and the cone proper.

On your pic, there's a wide, unribbed area just inside the surround. That's where to place your fingers (180 degrees apart from each other) and gently press down on the cone to listen for crunchy sounds...

Dave
...Hey! I played that song when it was new...

http://www.OldSchoolDave.com
Olsvik
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Re: The Stack!

Post by Olsvik »

Gotcha, I will give that a try tomorrow. If there don't appear to be any issues with the cone, what does cleaning it involve? I'm thinking I'm gonna have to send it to Weber or someone at any rate. I don't think I would feel comfortable doing any sort of delicate work on it.
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