WTF! Could a guitar pedal damage a speaker.

[eddie25]

So, for about a minute I had the output of a distortion pedal plugged into my 2x12 guitar cab thinking it was my speaker cable. The pedal wasn't even on and there wasn't anything plugged into the input. Low and behold the next thing I know both speakers are distorting at low volumes.

Damn, could that really happen? I tested all the intangibles (amp, guitar, cables, jack) and it's both speakers, one more so than the other. I was just playing this cab before this with no problems. Son-of-a-Bitch.

[eddie25]

Can't get my head around this one. It had to be something else, it's only noticeable at low volumes so maybe I just had not detected it until today.

[fillmore nyc]

So, for about a minute I had the output of a distortion pedal plugged into my 2x12 guitar cab thinking it was my speaker cable. The pedal wasn't even on and there wasn't anything plugged into the input. Low and behold the next thing I know both speakers are distorting at low volumes.

Damn, could that really happen?

If you didnt have anything plugged into the input of the distortion box, I dont see how this could have done anything to the speakers... the distortion box wouldnt have even been on!! Did any sound come from the cab? It would have had to be quite a bark to damage the speakers unless they're like 15 watts each or something. One thing I would try is an exact duplication of the scenario (without the cab of course), and see if there is any voltage at the jack that would have been plugged into the cab. Even if there was, I cant imagine it would have damaged the speakers, and again, you would've heard a "WONK" come from the cab with the distortion box plugged in if there was any voltage. I test speakers with a weak 9 volt battery all the time with no problems. I think its something else. Maybe just a bad connection in the cabs wiring that coincidentally showed up at that time??
Weird.

[Scumback Speakers]

I don't see how you could have done that. You've got a 9 volt battery in the pedal (right?). I break speakers in at 9-24 volts for 12-18 hours for a full break in, so unless your pedal had WAY more voltage this couldn't have been the issue.

Now if the amp was on, and you had no load on the speaker output jack (as in a disconnected cab), you might have blown the OT. That would explain it.

Time to use a different amp (known good amp) and test the speakers/cab with that. If it still sounds funny/low volume/distorted then a speaker just decided to go "poof" at that same time. If it doesn't sound funny, then it's time to have your amp looked at.

All in all, you've got a puzzler going on here.

[eddie25]

I am puzzled. It's definitely not the amp. It was two Vintage 30's. One seems more blown out than the other. Must have been something I did. Kinda sucks, but oh well.