Is anybody good at building speaker cabinets?

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 1:52 pm

I'd love a cabinet built to fit a 15" and a 12" speaker but nobody makes one, obviously. I don't know anything about ohms and shit, though. This is only out of interest right now, I'm considering at some point in the sort-of-distant future an Orange Dark Terror and I'd like something suitably doomy to stick it through. All I'd want is a bare wood cabinet with an appropriate baffle. I'd even consider a single 15" speaker (probably more practical). I just wondered if anyone had any experience building an amp cab before.

James · Post by **James** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 2:00 pm

I built one from a kit. The wood was cut to size and had dovetail joints sawn into the ends, the rest I did myself which was all quite easy. I would say the joints would be the hardest parts, and perhaps cutting the speaker hole but you could likely do one yourself if you took it slow and thought it through before each stage.

A couple of other options to consider - try to find a 2x12 cabinet that you could enlarge one hole of. Considering the speaker measurement is diameter you only need an extra 1.5" on each of the four edges to be able to do that, but obviously you'd have to be careful with the strength of the baffle. Or get a pair of single speaker cabinets, 1x15 and a 1x12. That way you'd hold the resale value, have plenty of options on which to buy, and with a Dark Terror sat on top you'd have a quite neat looking mini-stack. You could also try a 1x15 and 1x10.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 2:03 pm

Aye, I was thinking of grabbing a cheapo 1x12 and just widening the baffle hole but I've read it can sound a bit shit if you do that and that there's a reason there's a fair surplus of space inside most cabs. I'm not sure if this is just fuddy duddy mojospeak. I know there are things to take into consideration, like the angle of the baffle and stuff.

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:06 pm

There is actually some sort of science behind cab building that I don't understand. One of the guitar players in my band has 2 2x12 cabs, both closed back. He put a new set of speakers in his ampeg cab and it sounded ok at best, then he took the speakers out and put them in this fender cab and it sounded amazing. Same speakers, both closed back cabs, and both were roughly about the same size, but the fender just sounded amazing compared to the ampeg.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 8:22 pm

The sides/corner joints/baffle thickness and speaker mounting all play a huge part. Speakers vibrate, and when this happens the cabinet will want to vibrate too, especially the baffle. For this reason, the "closed back = tighter sound" rule is misleading when you get into two radically differing styles/manufactures of cabinet, even with the same speakers. Certain speakers sound better in one orientation or the other too, closed or open.

You can treat the interiors and baffles of cheap/flimsy cabs with heavy foam to deaden these vibrations.

Guitarists who remove casters to get their cab right on the floor for "more bottom end" are, despite popular belief, idiots. I'm pretty sure this is a holdover sentiment from the '70s, when recording/live sound people didn't know how to deal with technological advances such as close mic-ing drums (bye-bye reso heads, hello Eastenders theme intro).

lorez · Post by **lorez** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:04 pm

Didn't someone post a thread recently about building their own? Johnnytheboy I think, worth a search

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:47 pm

James wrote:The wood was cut to size and had dovetail joints sawn into the ends, the rest I did myself which was all quite easy. I would say the joints would be the hardest parts

Definitely.

With the fixings available these days though Eric you would not need the dovetail joints. Butt joints with internal struts using PVA glue wherever possible would be adequate.
Building a box from wood is simple, just make sure everything is cut square. You will need a Jigsaw or Router for the speaker holes but you can pick cheap ones up for Â£20. The Ohms wiring is really easy too as long as you buy the right speakers.
Closed back helps to project and 'move more air' on the low end, recommended.

Having said all that, check Harley Benton cabs. They may not be made from Beech Ply loaded with Celestions but are great quality for the monies.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 12:49 pm

Fran wrote:
James wrote:The wood was cut to size and had dovetail joints sawn into the ends, the rest I did myself which was all quite easy. I would say the joints would be the hardest parts
Definitely.

With the fixings available these days though Eric you would not need the dovetail joints. Butt joints with internal struts using PVA glue wherever possible would be adequate.
Building a box from wood is simple, just make sure everything is cut square. You will need a Jigsaw or Router for the speaker holes but you can pick cheap ones up for Â£20. The Ohms wiring is really easy too as long as you buy the right speakers.
Closed back helps to project and 'move more air' on the low end, recommended.

Having said all that, check Harley Benton cabs. They may not be made from Beech Ply loaded with Celestions but are great quality for the monies.

Yeah, I was thinking of getting a Â£50 12" Harley Benton cab and just widening the hole for a 15" speaker but something I read on the internet a while back specifically warned against doing that, arguing that the internal dimensions of the cab need to be a particular size for a particular speaker or something. Another idea was a 2x12 cab with one of the holes widened for a 15" and then stood on end with the 12" on the "bottom".

George · Post by **George** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 12:54 pm

Interesting thread and relevant to my interests.

I'm considering selling my little 1x12 open back combo and getting a Mustang V head and cheaper brand cab. Really interested in a 2x10 closed back but hard to get hold of. The Harley Benton 2x12 looks sweet for the money and I guess you could just DIY a new baffle?

ek, that 1x12 on Thomann is made of MDF by the way.

EDIT: In fact, for live use, is there any sense in having two separate 1x10 or 1x12 cabs to spread the sound about? Part of my problem is I have little presence with the 1x12 combo.

JohnnyTheBoy · Post by **JohnnyTheBoy** » Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:08 am

lorez wrote:Didn't someone post a thread recently about building their own? Johnnytheboy I think, worth a search

Yeh I did...
http://www.shortscale.org/forum/viewtop ... highlight=

If you're interested watts, I'm selling my first cab I built...its without speakers, and in the first pic of my build post..

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 2:30 am

i shudder at the thought of woodwork, but really need to get that shit TIGHT.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:42 pm

I like woodwork. I'm not great at it but I enjoy it nonetheless.

Where would I get some decent wood supplies to be able to attempt to build a cab for myself?

Post by **Doog** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:03 pm

Lumber yard and a hardware store?

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:54 pm

I have literally no time off just now to go to places like a real person. INTERNETS!

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:09 pm

these pop up used pretty often here in the states.....may be worth a peek over there.... they usually run around $250-300ish

Randall 2x12/1x15