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1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17777] Fri, 30 November 2012 00:53 Go to next message
kustomhead is currently offline  kustomhead
Messages: 121
Registered: April 2012
Location: Redding, Ca
Senior Member
I want to get less treble from my 1G+1H cab which has the 15" speaker plus horn. There's a wire from the + on the horn to another terminal on the horn that has FR Belden and what looks to be a written Ten on the wire. Is this a 10uf capacitor wire that I would replace with a 4uf cap to bring the speaker up front? I don't know much about this and would appreciate input.
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17778 is a reply to message #17777] Fri, 30 November 2012 06:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4775
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
The only thing that cap does is to control how much low frequency gets into the horn, a level control installed in the feed line to the horn will let you back down the volume of the horn.

[Updated on: Fri, 30 November 2012 06:38]

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Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17780 is a reply to message #17777] Fri, 30 November 2012 11:21 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kustom_Bart is currently offline  Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN
Senior Member
Pleat and me discussed installing level controls in 3 x 15 siren cabs by mounting the control behind the port tube so you can reach through and adjust the level. However, I use mine just the way that they are with my Drive Rack by dbx and you will not find a better sounding PA, clean, clear not overly harsh on the top with just the stock 40 year old cap making the cross for the highs.

Pleat can tell you that it works very well, but you are looking for something different, aren't you?

For a guitar cab the line level control may be a good addition as if it has to much high end for you, you can simply turn it down. Make a bracket that will mount so you can just reach it in the port tube and so it doesn't block the port tube and you will be golden. Buy a couple of different caps a 4k and a 5k and try them and see what you like better.

We have also considered this, taking a 3 x 15 siren cab and making it a 3 way cab by installing a low end Altec 421 in the bottom and sectioning off the cab, but first turning the baffle board upside down to get the ports at the bottom for the low end. Then using an Altec 418 and the siren horn separated for a 2 way main cab. Use a 6 pin speakon connector and a 6 terminal wire and away you go. So flip the baffle board 180 degrees to get the ports on the bottom and section off that part for the sub, and use the top for your 2 way main. I am not sure if it would be enough room, but it would be fun to try.

[Updated on: Fri, 30 November 2012 11:27]

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Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17783 is a reply to message #17780] Fri, 30 November 2012 11:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kustomhead is currently offline  kustomhead
Messages: 121
Registered: April 2012
Location: Redding, Ca
Senior Member
There was no cap that I could locate, just the Belden wire from the + post of the horn to another post on the horn. My question was is that a resistance cable? An audio level control won't change the ohm value of the cab will it? Does an audio control go inline on the + wire coming from the 15" speaker to the horn? I need to know the best way to limit the horn for less treble without disconnecting it. I was offered the suggestion of putting a 4uf cap where the wire was but that didn't seem to change anything.
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17785 is a reply to message #17783] Fri, 30 November 2012 12:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kustom_Bart is currently offline  Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN
Senior Member
What you have is resistor wire, it was a common thing they used it on cars back in the 60's to drop the voltage to the distributor from 12v to 7-8v so it didn't burn the points up. You simply un hook one end of it and install whatever you want for a cap the 4uf or 5 uf like suggested by Pleat (in the same place as the wire)to change the crossover point. It will not change the ohm load. Nothing will change that unless you wire the cab different or change the ohm rating of the speaker of driver on the horn.

Pleat lives about 6-7 miles from me and I have known him for about 35 years or so, we talk Kustom stuff all the time.

[Updated on: Fri, 30 November 2012 12:18]

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Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17799 is a reply to message #17785] Fri, 30 November 2012 17:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kustomhead is currently offline  kustomhead
Messages: 121
Registered: April 2012
Location: Redding, Ca
Senior Member
I tried a 5 then 3.7 but got too much treble and then a 2.2uf non-polar cap and got an even sound still hearing the horn but with no brittleness and the speaker slightly dominant. I took the 10uf wire completely out of the circuit using just the 2.2uf cap. It seems kind of drastic but I like the sound.
icon14.gif  Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17800 is a reply to message #17777] Fri, 30 November 2012 19:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kustom_Bart is currently offline  Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN
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Very good, you have your answer then 2.2uf it is...lol!
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17801 is a reply to message #17800] Fri, 30 November 2012 20:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kustomhead is currently offline  kustomhead
Messages: 121
Registered: April 2012
Location: Redding, Ca
Senior Member
Thanks for your help! It might help another Kustom nut in some other space and time who wants to play guitar through one of these hybrid cabs.
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17802 is a reply to message #17801] Fri, 30 November 2012 20:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pleat is currently offline  pleat
Messages: 1454
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi
Senior Member
If your cabinet didn't have 10uf crossover cap installed in series on the + wire going to the horn, then someone before you got the cab has removed it for some reason. I know Kustom never used any resistance wire as a crossover. I'd be afraid that running the cab at medium ot high volume, I'm surprised the driver still works. In any event, here is link for calculating cross over points with simple non polarized caps.
http://www.carstereo.com/help/Articles.cfm?id=1

pleat
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17803 is a reply to message #17802] Fri, 30 November 2012 21:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kustomhead is currently offline  kustomhead
Messages: 121
Registered: April 2012
Location: Redding, Ca
Senior Member
I'm not getting it. 0.159/C X RH)=F
8 ohm speaker, 2.2 crossover cap but I'm not getting anywhere
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17804 is a reply to message #17777] Fri, 30 November 2012 21:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kustom_Bart is currently offline  Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN
Senior Member
it means you are crossing the horn at around 9khz and that makes sense why your speaker is getting stronger as the other way it was crossing around 2khz. Look at the second chart under the 8ohm section and you are pretty close. No need to do the math as it is already done for you.

[Updated on: Fri, 30 November 2012 22:03]

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Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17805 is a reply to message #17802] Fri, 30 November 2012 21:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kustomhead is currently offline  kustomhead
Messages: 121
Registered: April 2012
Location: Redding, Ca
Senior Member
Was that cap on the horn itself or the + wire leading to the horn originally? That capacitor wire looked like a factory solder job. It had to be original. This cab still had the original seal and the head and cab looks like it just came off the "showroom floor", beyond mint! I don't think is was ever played through.
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17806 is a reply to message #17805] Fri, 30 November 2012 22:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pleat is currently offline  pleat
Messages: 1454
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi
Senior Member
Yes, one side of cap was soldered to the terminal lug, the other end was soldered to a terminal strip. White Mallory 10uf non polarized cap would be standard for your cab. Depending on what year your cab is, it may have the Atlas driver, round back, or the EV finned driver.
pleat
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17807 is a reply to message #17777] Fri, 30 November 2012 22:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kustom_Bart is currently offline  Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN
Senior Member
There is no way to tell if it was a factory seal as it used to be a foam gasket in there that turned to tar after all of these years. You take one apart and put it back together and it sticks like glue again.

If Pleat says it didn't come that way, I would be inclined to trust what he is saying, as he knew the original engineer from Kustom, Bob Brinkman. People do strange things to these Kustoms. I have seen more cobbled up stuff than you can imagine and I mean just overly cobbled, but they still worked, I just make them right again or my tech does. LOL! Smile

I have a bunch of mint stuff and nearly all of it has been apart one time in its life or another. Looks can be deceiving.

[Updated on: Fri, 30 November 2012 22:10]

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Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17808 is a reply to message #17807] Fri, 30 November 2012 23:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kustomhead is currently offline  kustomhead
Messages: 121
Registered: April 2012
Location: Redding, Ca
Senior Member
I would say he's right about the cap and you are also that looks can be deceiving. I guess a 2.2 non polarized cap for 10khz crossover is okay then for any volume since I didn't hear any warnings associated with it? The speaker is a Kei. I that how it's spelled? It sounds good to me now so I hope the technical part is acceptable for the configuration. Thanks again guys!
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17809 is a reply to message #17777] Fri, 30 November 2012 23:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Kustom_Bart is currently offline  Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN
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KEI is a good tough speaker and they sound good too. It stands for Kustom Electronics Incorporated. That is what I have in both of my 1G+H cabs too and they work really nice for PA main cabs. The 15" speakers make nice sounding guitar speakers too. However 2 x 12's is more surface area than a single 15" so you get more moving air, that is why they started going to more and smaller speakers.
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17836 is a reply to message #17802] Mon, 03 December 2012 01:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kustomhead is currently offline  kustomhead
Messages: 121
Registered: April 2012
Location: Redding, Ca
Senior Member
I took the horn out of the cab and lo and behold there was a white 10uf cap like you described underneath where I couldn't see it at first but it was from the negative side to a lug on the horn. The wire I was describing was going from the + side to a lug on the horn. The wire + side was where I put the 2.2uf cap not knowing that the 10uf was on the other side. This all looked like an original factory solder job. Should there be a cap from both + and - leads from the 15" speaker?
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17837 is a reply to message #17836] Mon, 03 December 2012 05:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pleat is currently offline  pleat
Messages: 1454
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi
Senior Member
Depending if your horn driver has fins or smooth housing. Finned horn drivers are Electro Voice and the crossover cap may be on the negative side for proper phasing with the KEI speakers. EV usually marks their terminals T1 and T2.
The original wiring from factory would be a simple red and black wire, and all connections would push on spade type lugs. The only thing Kustom would solder would be the cap to the terminal strip. You only need one cap in series to the driver.
pleat
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17873 is a reply to message #17800] Mon, 10 December 2012 20:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kustomhead is currently offline  kustomhead
Messages: 121
Registered: April 2012
Location: Redding, Ca
Senior Member
I was putting the caps on the plus side and not the - side where the original 10uf cap was. I now have gone to a 1.1uf non-polar cap in place of the 10uf and it now sounds good even with the pull-bright engaged. I really wanted to keep the horn if I could make it work for me. If there is a problem with using that value of crossover cap will those in the know let me know? Also, I read somewhere online that distortion can fry a HF horn. Does that make sense? Distortion sounds good with 1.1 cap set-up though.
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17877 is a reply to message #17777] Tue, 11 December 2012 02:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Anastasia
Messages: 1
Registered: December 2012
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Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17880 is a reply to message #17873] Tue, 11 December 2012 06:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
pleat is currently offline  pleat
Messages: 1454
Registered: June 2004
Location: Belding, Mi
Senior Member
I used the link that I posted a while back on figuring cross over caps, and using a 1.1uf cap, the horn crosses at 9000hz with a 16 ohm driver. At that cross over point you don't run the risk of damaging the horn. Horn drivers don't like low frequencies. Most manufacturers suggest that drivers low cut off point would be 800hz.
pleat
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17881 is a reply to message #17880] Tue, 11 December 2012 08:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
Senior Member
The 1.1uF cap crosses over much higher than a normal crossover and that does make a lot of sense. The ear responds to midrange frequencies better than highs or lows, hence the need for bass and treble controls on audio equipment. Your 15" will roll off approaching the midrange frequencies, 2500 to 6000 Hz and then the horn will pick back up approaching 9000 Hz. That rolls off the offending midrange frequencies quite nicely.
Well done!
Conrad
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17885 is a reply to message #17880] Tue, 11 December 2012 13:51 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kustomhead is currently offline  kustomhead
Messages: 121
Registered: April 2012
Location: Redding, Ca
Senior Member
The horn driver measured 7+ ohms if I measured it right and the 15 is 8 ohm. It's all original so does that make sense? Is using distortion harmful to the horn? I read that it was online somewhere. Thanks for your responses-Jim
Re: 1G+1H cab crossover cap [message #17886 is a reply to message #17777] Tue, 11 December 2012 15:45 Go to previous message
chicagobill
Messages: 2006
Registered: April 2003
Senior Member
Distortion signals are usually made up of square waves which are very rich in high harmonic content. So horns can be stressed with more signal than normal when used to reproduce distorted waveforms.

No speaker like to reproduce square waves as they are very stressful to the mechanics of the moving parts.
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