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Using Combo As Extension Speaker

Started by dancraig, April 23, 2011, 12:47:16 AM

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dancraig

Hello:
    I have a solid state Fender Princeton 65 that is about 11 years old. It is giving me problems. It will only work at very low volume. I don't want to spend money on it right now. I would like to use it as an extension speaker, as it has a decent 12 inch speaker.
    What cable/adapter could  I use to attach the cable from a working amp's extension speaker connection to the dead Fender's speaker? I guess I need something to attach the two speaker connection wires to, on one end, with a standard female plug on the other.
    Any reply is appreciated.
    Thank-you.

LJN

You could clip the wires and put the on a standard female plug, or if the speaker has those little slide-on connectors, get some more and disconnect the speaker from the amp. After you do that, fasten some wire into the new connectors, and wire them to a female 1/4 inch jack. another way would be to connect a cord straight to the speaker and put a 1/4 inch male plug on the end of that. that can be done by soldering, or if you've never soldered before, get solderless connectors and a solderless plug. you can just leave the amp's speaker wires hanging inside and when you decide to fix the amp,simply reconnect the speaker. it's a very easy thing to do. Hope this helps you out.
If it sounds good, USE IT!

Epiphone Les Paul, Kasino U100- P, Sears 125-XL

dancraig

Thank-you for your reply.
Yes, this will really help me. I thought that my idea to use it as an extension would work, and now you have confirmed that it does make sense and is doable.
The old Fender, it looks brand new, has two little "slide on" connectors on the speaker wires.
I think I can buy a cheap 60 watt amp, with an extension connection, cheaper than I could pay someone to  diagnose and fix my Fender.
I don't even know how to pull the chasis on the Fender, I guess it involves the screws on the top of the cabinet. The problem seems to come and go, making me think it could be a loose connection somewhere and not a component failure.
Anyway, thanks again.

LJN

It should be fairly easy to pull the chassis. sounds like a serious problem that you're having with the amp, but you never know, it could be as simplr as a dirty pot. try working the volume knob back and forth. if you hear a scratchy noise, the pot is dirty. I've had some amps that would suddenly lose volume because of a dirty pot. All I'm saying is check the simple things first before assuming that you need to have it repaired.
If it sounds good, USE IT!

Epiphone Les Paul, Kasino U100- P, Sears 125-XL

dancraig

#4
OK. Thank-you for the help.
I don't have the new amp yet, so I can't try anything for real.
I am considering taking an old guitar cable and removing the metal housing from one end. Then take the two wires inside, I'm assuming there will be two wires inside, and directly connecting them to the the speaker wires on the old  amp.
Any thoughts?

LJN

don't mention it maybe you'll help me later on. I wish you good luck with the speaker, and hope the problem with the amp itself is a simple thing.
If it sounds good, USE IT!

Epiphone Les Paul, Kasino U100- P, Sears 125-XL

dancraig


bry melvin

QuoteI am considering taking an old guitar cable and removing the metal housing from one end
never EVER use a guitar cable for speaker wire  wrong gage and the second wire is the shield

doesn't work well and CAN kill an amp although a low power amp might not get killed by it

fwiw I always paint the cable ends of a 1/4 speaker cable red so roadies don't screw up my rig

I learned by cooking a a JTM one night years ago

dancraig

OK Bry, thanks.
So I would be OK to install a female jack on the speaker wire coming out of the old amp's speaker, and then plug into that?


J M Fahey

#10
You can do that if you previously DISCONNECT the speaker from the original amplifier.
To make it clear: the ONLY wires that go to the speaker should be those which come from the external one.
Pull the original wires (which should have little female pressure type connectors in their ends, mating the male spades in the speaker frame) and tape them, so their metallic parts are fully covered.
In a nutshell: get an (unshielded) *speaker* cable , it should have 2 parallel internal wires like the wire in a TV, Power tool, etc. , cut one end, separate both wires and attach them to the corresponding speaker legs, preferably by soldering.
The other end can be plugged into your brand new head or as an extension speaker in a combo.

LJN

That is correct. And as long as you don't overload the speaker itself, you should have no trouble at all.
If it sounds good, USE IT!

Epiphone Les Paul, Kasino U100- P, Sears 125-XL

dancraig

OK. Thank-you guys.
I've ordered my new amp and it should be here in 5-8 days.
I really appreciate the replies.