Removing speakers in really old cabinets?

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

I have two JCM800 1935 4x12's, one Bass Series with 55 hz G12-65's and one Lead Series with 75hz G12-65's. I love both cabs played separately, but really love playing.with both cabs running right next to each other. The sound is full and thick, but with awesome upper midrange grind and sweet clear chime on the highs. The two different G12-65's compliment each other really well.

My plan is to swap to speakers out of each cab into the other, and wire them up in an X-pattern in both cabs. I am only hesitant because with both cabs being around 40 yrs old with OG speakers do I risk doing any damage to the speaker surround by it becoming stuck to the baffle over the years?

 

[Deus91]

Sometimes guys will use these types of tools to gently try and pry
a stuck speaker loose if it is stuck/frozen in place. You gently go around the speaker very lightly. A paint stripper, spatula.
Very thin blade is the key.

 

[Bygone_Tones]

The danger is very real. Never try to yank speakers out of a cab if the gasket is stuck to the baffle. You'll tear the cone off the chassis and damage it very badly. This is also something you need to be very careful of when buying speakers. It's not the kind of damage you can see in photos. You'll only see it when you check the speaker by hand. Some people desperate to flip their speakers for profit can be very careless:

That was one I bought online a few years ago.

Use a thin metal object to work underneath the gasket, and free it off 100%, and I mean 100%. Even a small amount of gasket left stuck to the baffle can tear the speaker cone off the frame when you pull on it. Make sure it's completely loose before trying to lift the speaker out.

Another tip is to use a small steam cleaner and blast around the edge of the gasket. Someone mentioned this on the Marshall forum recently, and it does seem to help. Although a small amount of water might be just as effective. Make sure not to get the cone wet though.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

Thank you for the awesome replies folks. I have swapped quite a few speakers in the past, but never any as old as this that were still in the original cabs for going on 40 or more years.

The advice is greatly appreciated as I love these speakers and the 55 hz G12's-65's in particular do not come up for sale much and are never inexpensive when they do pop up.