2 x 12 Cab Build

Delta-Male · 2012-10-08T11:03:59+00:00

Morning guys So I've mentioned that I was planning a cab build, and now it will start. I have recieved the wood, already cut to size ? I took 12mm Pine Ply...

2 x 12 Cab Build

lapdawg

henrebotha wrote: I'd like to build a cab too at some point, if only because I like to build my own gear. I read online somewhere that MDF is the best material, and Timber City stocks it (under some brand name or other, I forget).

I have what I think is a very unique idea for the grill cloth, so you guys will forgive me for not sharing it. ?

MDF / supawood is apparently OK, but doesn't have the same tonal qualities as pine / baltic birch. I've never compared the 2 so its heresay to me. If you are going to make your own cab, a few bucks more for wood is surely worth it?
With speaker grill you can easilly ruin your sound, so be careful, but I'm always looking for new ideas - so keep us posted. I have afew for tolex alternatives. I'll post them when done.

Nicholas-L

The thing with MDF is its a dead tonal wood... where as pine will add some character. Plywood is suppose to be very tone dead as well, but I think it would have more character than MDF.

henrebotha

lapdawg wrote:With speaker grill you can easilly ruin your sound, so be careful, but I'm always looking for new ideas - so keep us posted. I have afew for tolex alternatives. I'll post them when done.

I meant design-wise. I'm not a fan of the steel mesh, etc.

RJN

How is the build comming along ? Would love to see some visual updates ?

Delta-Male

Hey guys, sorry for taking so long to reply. My weeks are FULL at this stage and Saturday didnt offer much time for work either...

Ok, so here's what we got done today... (My dad's our go-to guy with woodwork, so hence the "we"..)

First we cut the speaker holes so here's the baffle:

We put the cab together with wood glue and 4.5 x 30 screws..

I decided to close slightly more than half of the back:

Then I finally got the stainless steel mesh from the friend and it's guna look awesome once it's cleant to shine:

Thought I'd lay it over the front to get an idea..

And here's the vinyl just laid over the wood for an idea on how that's guna look:

Over all I have to admit that I'm very happy that we chose the 12mm thickness. The unit is very sturdy already and the baffle and back plate still needs to be screwd on (Which should make it even stronger).

As things are, the weight should be ideal once it's completed. I'm very excited for the end result but doubt I'll have any chance this week again.

The focus now is on getting the vinyl on, and making it look good. I'm also planning on a frame for the mesh but will explain that in detail once I get there.

And oya, just wanted to know if I should do a detailed costing at the end to give you guys an idea of that aspect?

Gearhead

Better take those screws out before rounding over the edges?

Delta-Male

Not going to be rounding the edges too much, there will be enough space

Gearhead

The rounder the edges, the easier the tolexing should be :-\

Norman86

for extra strength, you could consider a vertical baffle between the speakers...

but sawn off broomstick works too ?

Delta-Male

Norman86 wrote: for extra strength, you could consider a vertical baffle between the speakers...

but sawn off broomstick works too ?

I quite like the idea Norman, thanx.. Maybe I could work it into the frame for the mesh?

Norman86

delta, i dont thnk it would work in your mesh baffle..

but on vertically in the middle of your cab would incease the stability of the cab...
a trick from building car audio subwoofer boxes ?

Psean

Delta Male wrote:
Norman86 wrote: for extra strength, you could consider a vertical baffle between the speakers...

but sawn off broomstick works too ?
I quite like the idea Norman, thanx.. Maybe I could work it into the frame for the mesh?

Would a vertical baffle affect the cab's tone in any way (like how open- and closed-backed cab's differ)?

Norman86

i dont believe it would... you only need small width piece to help with the reinforcement, otherwise you are essentially creating seperate enclosures...

Psean

Norman86 wrote: i dont believe it would... you only need small width piece to help with the reinforcement, otherwise you are essentially creating seperate enclosures...

Ah, right. Makes sense

lapdawg

I'm intersted to see how you mount the mesh. Whatever you do consider this:
- baffle strips to float the mesh so it rides above the baffle.
- a good method of tensioning the mesh when you add it. It must be tight. I can think of a few, none are that easy.
- it would be worth it to put that automotive rubber foam tape on the baffle strips to cushion and prevent mesh-wood buzzing.

You may have thought of this, but just in case, those are my tips.

Also, if you do minimal rounding on the edges, the cab will be much more damage prone & corner covers will not fit.

Good luck! Keep us updated.

RJN

Hey quick one , What speakers are you going with ? And how much did you pay for them ?

Delta-Male

Hey guys, sorry again for taking so long..

First of all, I am going to use a pair of Bulldog speakers with it. It was an extremely generous donation from kayDUB.. (thanx again man! ?)

I have no idea what speakers these are exactly, but I'm really digging the sound!! I could find no info on the net, anywhere.. I'll post a pic, and it would be great if anyone could shed some light on them?

Anyway, on with what I hope you guys want to see....

I decided afterwards to cover my Marshall head as well, and I could not have made a better decision.. I think it came out amazing! (I'm not honking my own horn here btw, I was merely helping..)
All credit for this post goes to my grandfather lol.

We had some issues here and there, but after 500ml of gemkem, some vinyl, a paint brush, one cut, blood and some sweat.. This was the procedings of the day:

I started off by taking the amp apart..

Then we glued the vinyl all around..

Then started cutting and glueing the edges.. (This part could be tricky, you just have to work it out nicely.)

Then I replaced the black Marshall mesh with the stainless steel mesh, which lead to a quick mock-up because I simply could not wait!! (Btw, the mesh still has to be pulled tighter.)

Do you guys think the silver and gold is too conflicting? (Come to think of it... Our band's name is The Conflict.. ? lol)

So yeah, that's what I have so far..

I think now I learnt that you apply the gemkem on both surfaces, then give itabout 10 mins to get really taai, then apply.. Make sure to get out any airbubbles which may have slipped in. The rolling pin
came in very handy here.. ?

Sean

Delta Male wrote:
Do you guys think the silver and gold is too conflicting? (Come to think of it... Our band's name is The Conflict.. ? lol)

Great job! Looks different, and pretty unique 8)

AlanRatcliffe

Looking good! Silver and gold work together IMO and really compliment the red vinyl.

Delta Male wrote: First of all, I am going to use a pair of Bulldog speakers with it. I have no idea what speakers these are exactly, but I'm really digging the sound!! I could find no info on the net, anywhere.. I'll post a pic, and it would be great if anyone could shed some light on them?

Bulldog were a Bothner's house brand PA speaker. Taiwanese made and branded locally and used in a variety of inexpensive cabs. The 12" was a 60W 8 Ohm speaker which worked pretty well as an inexpensive guitar driver thanks to the paper surrounds.

Norman86

super look! ?

i like it a lot!