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one of the SE4122 cabs in the Convention speaker comparisons the last few years has a cone that I repaired and it is always one of the crowd favorites. I didn't tell anyone that I repaired the cone!

I just connected one to my little brother's valvestate combo and can really tell the difference. As opposed to the cold V30, The Crescendo has arounder and warmer and BIGGER tone. Unfortunately it farts out on bass at high levels, but if I manage to fix the cones it should sound great.

Now I'm actually looking forward to getting the fourth one.

stajerska wrote:You really think these can be saved? But they're still never going to sound the same, are they?

It will take patience and careful work, but a rescue attempt would definitely be worthwhile. Especially if the others are not as badly ripped as the one in the photo. Here are a few concepts/truisms to keep in mind:

Cone repairs should be as lightweight as possible and the repair should be as flexible (or in-flexible) as the adjacent cone material.

Care should be taken to keep the cone centered and equally weighted.

Repair in layers - do NOT try to accomplish in a single pass (that is, avoid applying big goops of stuff).

Some repairs can be effected by glue alone. I prefer rubber cement (the kind with the applicator brush in the lid) or silicone for the cone. Elmer's glue seems to rigid for cone repairs, to me. The ones in your picture will require physical reinforcement. For that, I prefer a cheesecloth or other open webbed, organic fabric. Tissue paper, as Dr.Hiwatt mentioned, is also a possibility.

Surround repairs (the accordion part around the edge) are perhaps the trickiest part. Patch the surround first, attempting to stay within the doping boundaries. Patch radial rips after the surround is fixed.

Start with the smallest rip and perfect your skills before moving on.

Rips as severe as these can never be completely cosmetically sealed. Seek function over form.

It's a shame you have this task in front of you. But, if done with care, you should have respectably performing speakers in the end. Post pics of the others, if you can.

Best of luck,
Dave

Here are two pictures of another speaker:





This one and another one have similar damage done to them. Btw, does the part of the speaker on the second picture also need to be fixed?

Patching the cones is obviously the right thing to do before a recone, right? Otherwise I'll have to shoot WeberVST a mail.

those can probably be fixed by brushing rubber cement directly on the damaged spots. I would even be tempted to do nothing to those last two.

Who would you recommend to do the work? I'd gladly send them to Dr. HIWATT (of course if he wanted) but sending them over to the US would probably cause too much hassle. That way we can rule out Weber as well. Or are there no duties to pay in this case?

I already contacted Paul Tribe and am waiting for his response.

stajerska wrote: Patching the cones is obviously the right thing to do before a recone, right?

Absolutely! Whenever possible, keep the original cones!

I agree with Dr.Hiwatt that light layers of rubber cement (no added substrate) would be all you'd have to do to the other two. This is definitely a Do-It-Yourself project. After all, no one is going to care more about the repair than you! Plus, I would not wish to tempt fate by shipping those again.

Dave

OldSchoolDave wrote:

stajerska wrote: Patching the cones is obviously the right thing to do before a recone, right?

Absolutely! Whenever possible, keep the original cones!

I agree with Dr.Hiwatt that light layers of rubber cement (no added substrate) would be all you'd have to do to the other two. This is definitely a Do-It-Yourself project. After all, no one is going to care more about the repair than you! Plus, I would not wish to tempt fate by shipping those again.

Dave

Exactly! Those last two are easy fixes!

I was expecting this:



or this:

If I'd do this by myself, I'd need some instructions. Is this process documented anywhere? To be honest I have no idea what rubber cement is. Can you post a picture of a product or something. Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Gosh, don't tell me I'll be learning this on a quad of vintage Crescendos.

I actually have a Celestion I don't care about with a ripped cone. Maybe I should take my first steps on that one.

OMG that really sucks dude. I'm really glad now that I didn't win any of those auctions. Seriously people have no idea how to pack things.

stajerska wrote:If I'd do this by myself, I'd need some instructions. Is this process documented anywhere? To be honest I have no idea what rubber cement is. Can you post a picture of a product or something.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_cement

http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/ ... ber=473595

Re-read my post. I don't know how to document this any more, without taking pictures. By all means, hone your skills on a less-important speaker.

Dave

Arrrgh!! I can't even see the photos here at work, but just hearing about this makes me both angry and sad. I feel sorry for you, stajerka! It's absolutely incredible how some people fail to understand or even care how to package these things. It's not rocket science, dammit!

I had a similar experience with a pair of Cerwin-Vega ER123s (Duane Allman's "secret" speaker) a few years ago. Seller said he knew "everything" about packaging speakers, box inside of box etc... Speakers arrived in way too large boxes with packing peanuts...needless to say, both cones were shred beyond any repair.

I once had a speaker arrive with clingfilm around the entire speaker. That struck me as a very nice way of protecting the cone. You still have to make sure the speaker can't shift around inside the box, but a simple trick like that makes the cone travel relatively safely.

OK for all readers that are thinking of shipping a speaker via UPS or whatever, deal with the added weight, cut a 12.5" x 12.5" piece of plywood (MDF would suffice) and screw the speaker to it cone first. If theres a little protrusion of the cone use some washers as spacers and secure it. Then pack the speaker with NO play whatsoever. This will preserve these already impossible to find (except for Dave and Clayton's shelves) treasures. Peace.

Mine are in cabs except for the trashed Crescendos above. I would like to have some extras !!!

Ales, I will try to make a mini-documentary this weekend. I know you would prefer it sooner, but I have a lot of "stuff" going on.

http://www.clubknowledge.com/Car_Audio_FAQ/?t2

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/arc ... 10972.html

---Doug Roccaforte recommends contact cement and toilet tissue.

I would avoid super glue unless you have done several and become quite proficient.

Thanks guys, it makes it easier for me just to see at least someone cares!

I contacted the guy who had my SC Fanes before (I thought it'll probably better to give them to him that myself trying) and told him about you guys suggesting rubber cement and he said that wasn't necessary. I'm not sure what he'd like to use though. He also said he's booked till the end of the year and will try to find some time in betwwen to quickly fix mine. Hmmm, now I'm really not sure about him, maybe I should really give it a go myself!

Here's his link: http://www.zr-speakerlab.si/home.html

First I'll wait for the mini-documentary Dr. HIWATT mentioned! Thanks!

I also contacted the seller and he said he packed them very well and apparently the package was insured, so I'll contact the delivery service.