How to Recone Your Own Guitar Speakers
Blown guitar speakers can be replaced, or repaired with everyday hand tools and a speaker recone kit. Speaker components can weaken with extended high-power use and exposure to moisture over time, or can fail altogether when the speaker's amplifier malfunctions, the speaker is connected incorrectly, or foreign particles inhibit the speaker's electrical components. The voice coil, a cylinder of copper wire suspended by the speaker cone assembly around the speaker's magnet, is the most delicate component, followed by the cone and foam "speaker surround."
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Things You'll Need
- Recone kit
- Utility knife
- Wire cutters
- Masking tape
- Scraper or putty knife
- Soldering iron and solder
Instructions
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Purchase a recone kit from a speaker part supplier. The recone kit must be the same make, model and size of the original speaker for best results, and should come with all necessary components, including speaker glue and instructions. Some recone kits may not include the surround gasket, which may be ordered separately. Inquire of your kit supplier to be sure.
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Snip the speaker wires with wire cutters where they enter the speaker at the spider -- the cloth-like material assembly under the voice coil, directly above the speaker magnet -- and remove the speaker parts by cutting through the perimeter of the speaker surround and spider with a utility knife. The surround, cone, voice coil and spider will lift out of the speaker frame -- called the "basket."
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Cover the exposed voice coil magnet gap with masking tape to avoid foreign particle contamination and remove the surround gasket by prying and peeling it off with a small scraper or putty knife. The gasket may sometimes be reused if it is in good condition and has not been physically damaged during removal.
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Clean glue and speaker material from the basket by scraping it with the scraper or putty knife, followed by cleaning of the voice coil magnet gap. Remove the masking tape from the magnet, and insert a folded strip of masking tape in the gap. Move the tape around the perimeter of the gap to pick up any dust or foreign particles.
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Remove the recone kit from the box, and insert the included cardboard cylinder into the magnet gap. The cylinder will hold the new voice coil into position during the assembly process. Some manufacturers use shims rather than cylinders, so follow the instructions for proper fitting and installation of shims. A dry-fit of all components is recommended before gluing and final assembly takes place.
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Remove all components after the dry-fit -- leaving the cardboard voice coil tube -- and spread a thin, even layer of glue around the spider and gasket mounting areas on the basket. Follow instructions, as some glues may required setting for several minutes.
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Insert the new cone -- the new spider will be attached -- spider first over the cardboard cylinder. Press down on the perimeter of the spider and speaker surround to ensure moderate pressure contact with the glue. Allow to set for the time specified by the instructions.
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Place a bead of glue around the perimeter of the gasket, allowing it to set if instructed, and install the gasket by pressing into place.
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Install the voice coil cover by centering it over the voice coil magnet gap for positioning. Mark the perimeter with a pencil, remove the cover and place a thin, even bead of glue along the pencil mark. Allow to set if instructed and press the cover in place. An additional bead of glue may be placed on the outer edge of the cover to ensure adhesion and sealing.
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Finish the job by soldering the new wires attached to the spider to the old wires or wire terminal with a soldering iron and solder. Allow the speaker glue to fully dry and cure -- usually 24 hours -- then connect the speaker to the amplifier and test for operation.
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Tips & Warnings
Cleanliness of the basket and spider mounting area are necessary for best glue adhesion. A small amount of lacquer thinner or acetone applied with a rag will remove stubborn dried glue.
Cleanliness of the voice coil magnet gap is necessary for the speaker to operate properly. Endeavor to devote as much time as needed to ensure the gap is free of dust and other debris. Compressed air may be used along with the masking tape-cleaning procedure.
If components do not seem to fit properly, do not proceed with the recone. Double check that the kit model is correct for your speaker and call the supplier for advice. Kits that have been glued and removed cannot be returned.
Speaker glue, lacquer thinner, acetone and other solvents can emit harmful vapors. Perform the recone in a well-ventilated area, and follow all safety instructions on packaging.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit A Grey Loud Speaker. image by daseaford from Fotolia.com
