Recone question - probably foolish

[Geeze]

I picked up a G12M-70 Celestion that according to the shop was 'bad' i.e. failed the battery bump test. Here is the question -

If indeed bad/blown can I buy a V30 recone kit and put it together? Or is there some internal mojo I don't know about. Celestion seems to standardize on 1.75" voice coil diameter.

Russ

[Cantplay]

You can recone a speaker yourself.

You'll either need to shim the voice coil to center it, or run a test tone through the coil to hold it centered.

To me the interesting thing about doing a recone is the possibility of different materials like hemp cones to get something unique.

John

[Geeze]

Hi John,

Thank you for the reply. I hadn't considered hemp.

I also found this -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxGswEB3O_Q

They harped on cleaning the voice coil slot - which makes sense. I plan to test the speaker today to confirm it is dead.

Russ

[Structo]

http://reconekits.com/reconekits.aspx

http://www.speakerrepair.com/

http://www.soundspeakerrepair.com/speak ... econe+Kits

http://www.amazon.com/Original-Celestio ... B008QZWPBI

[Scumback Speakers]

The G12M-70 is a 1.5" voice coil, not the standard Celestion G12M/G12H/V30 kit with a 1.75" voice coil.

So you'll have to get one made for the 1.5" voice coil form factor.

Good luck.

[Geeze]

Hi Jim,

Thank you for the spec on the VC diameter - there goes my 'get it cheap' plan. Do you offer such a service [kit or reconing]? If not can you recommend a source? I am looking for a assembled kit - which looks to be in my ability.

Otherwise I have a speaker for clearance / mounting issues as I have yet to build the same thing twice.

Russ

[Scumback Speakers]

Russ,
I'm not certain, but I think you have to order the recone kit from an authorized Celestion recone shop. This is due to the G12M-70 not being made for very long, nor was it very popular. Probably why it was discontinued, and therefore parts are hard to find easily.

You can do what you want, but one of the regular Celestion 1.75" frames (G12M, G12H, V30, CL80, G12-65, etc) are what there are lots of parts for.

A pre-assembled kit, however, presents it's own issues for fitment if your frame isn't straight, or has been bent. So you're going to have to pray you can find a kit, and that your frame is good.

I don't recone these due to the fact they aren't popular and require a different cone/voice coil/spider to rebuild. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

Good luck, I think you'll need it. You can try Orange County Speaker Repair, speakerrepair.com or 714-554-8520. Ask for Eric or Bryan, but make sure you tell them it's the 1.5" voice coil, and not a standard Celestion with teh 1.75" voice coil up front.

Jim

[Phil_S]

As long as the speaker is already toast, how about a 1.5" VC from another brand? OK, I admit, I don't know much. I realize this is taking a risk. Just a thought.

[Scumback Speakers]

I guess you can cobble together whatever parts will fit, sure. But there's no telling what it will sound like when you're done. There are lots of reconers and parts places that will do that for you.

Hate to be the naysayer here, but the G12M-70, in any of it's versions, was almost universally panned as the worst speaker Celestion made for guitar. That's not just me talking, there are plenty of others who think so. But I did have three pairs of them, over the course of 2-3 years at the end of the 90's, and sold them since they just didn't have a tone I could get into, with any amp.

You're better off finding a G12M RI frame that's blown, and getting a good kit for it. Then you have options. With the G12M-70, you are very limited.

[Phil_S]

So, then, it sounds like a Franken-recone is probably a good idea! No one wants what is was. How bad could it turn out? Definitely a DIY thing. I wouldn't pay someone for an experiment.

[Scumback Speakers]

Yup, you could go that way for sure...results will vary, of course, but in most cases it will likely be an improvement if built correctly.

[rooster]

Phil_S, I think you need to leave the bargain speakers alone and move into something mo betta!

[Geeze]

There is a saying in my industry - 'No matter how hard you polish it, it's still a turd!'

It cost me $9.20 so I will use it as a test fitter and be happy. Really wish I had a 10" though.

Thanks for all of the replies and guidance.

Russ