Reconnecting Speaker Wire in TM18 12

Hello,

I'm not much of a technician, but I just replaced the tubes on my TM18 12 combo.  When I opened the back to get to the tubes, the speaker wire is rather short and came unplugged.  I replaced the tubes, and now need to piece it back together.  My question is  .. which wire goes to each lead?  Does the wire with the red stripe plug into the bottom or top prong?  Also the 3 little black clips that were holding something together came flying out when I pulled the back off, and I wasn't sure where they came from  .. I assume the were holding the black, braided wire in place?  Any help is appreciated, thx!

Kevin

Usually the speaker cables are black for the -ve and a coloured wire, (red, white, etc), for the positive. If you have a black and striped wire then the stripe would generally indicate the +ve. On your speaker is an insulating tag board which holds the connectors. This should have a '+' marked on it or nearby. Usually with Celestions it's stamped into the grey/buff insulating part. Try to get this right but if you get it wrong all it does is inverts the signal. It shouldn't cause any real problems as long as you are only using the single speaker.

Can't help with the clips I'm afraid, I have never used a TM18/12. Is there anyone else who can help?

bordonbert wrote:Usually the speaker cables are black for the -ve and a coloured wire, (red, white, etc), for the positive.  If you have a black and striped wire then the stripe would generally indicate the +ve.  On your speaker is an insulating tag board which holds the connectors.  This should have a '+' marked on it or nearby.  Usually with Celestions it's stamped into the grey/buff insulating part.  Try to get this right but if you get it wrong all it does is inverts the signal.  It shouldn't cause any real problems as long as you are only using the single speaker.

Can't help with the clips I'm afraid, I have never used a TM18/12.  Is there anyone else who can help?

Thx for the help! There is a red stripe on one wire, and there is a red stripe above one of the prongs. Logically, I'll assume the red wire goes to the bottom red striped lead .. unless someone knows otherwise. If you think it won't cause problems I can give it a shot. Trying to post a few pics, but they aren't uploading.

That's right Yerfy.  I'm surprised to find that marking system on a modern Celestion but the red dot and the red stripe will go together.  Wonder if H&K buys their Celestions voiced to order so it is an in house thing? Am I right in thinking that it is a Celestion 10 30?

bordonbert wrote:That's right Yerfy.  I'm surprised to find that marking system on a modern Celestion but the red dot and the red stripe will go together.  Wonder if H&K buys their Celestions voiced to order so it is an in house thing?  Am I right in thinking that it is a Celestion 10 30?

The speaker in mine is a H&K branded "Rock Driver Classic 60". I have a Tubemeister 18 - Twelve. There is probably a Celestion in the 10" version?

Duuurrrhhhh! Yes, that makes perfect sense then. In my hurry I went for the first TM18 combo listed and missed the fact there is a 12" variant too.

bordonbert wrote:Duuurrrhhhh!  Yes, that makes perfect sense then.  In my hurry I went for the first TM18 combo listed and missed the fact there is a 12" variant too.

Ha, no worries. Pieced everything back together, and I think I'm set. Tube lights both red in standby and no lights when on .. I think that means all is well. Thx again for the help!

bordonbert wrote:Usually the speaker cables are black for the -ve and a coloured wire, (red, white, etc), for the positive.  If you have a black and striped wire then the stripe would generally indicate the +ve.  On your speaker is an insulating tag board which holds the connectors.  This should have a '+' marked on it or nearby.  Usually with Celestions it's stamped into the grey/buff insulating part.  Try to get this right but if you get it wrong all it does is inverts the signal.  It shouldn't cause any real problems as long as you are only using the single speaker.

Can't help with the clips I'm afraid, I have never used a TM18/12.  Is there anyone else who can help?

Forgot to ask, if the signal was inverted .. what would that sound like? I assume it would be obvious that something was wrong?

Nope! You wouldn't even be able to tell. It's only important where the speaker is working with others. One pushing the air and the other pulling it because one is wired up the wrong way around tends to have a cancellation effect at some frequencies. Think of it logically. If you start by plucking a string downwards it will create a signal. Plucking the same string upwards will create the same (similar) signal in the opposite direction anyway.

Don't worry, just set it up as best you can to what I've said and see what your final sound is like. I'll bet you don't hear anything wrong. Make sure there are no shorts or loose connections and you'll be fine.