1/2" plywood for bass bins?

[OzzyGreg]

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Guys,

I need your opinions.
Now, I know this is a bit out of the ordinary, but I like trying new (to me) stuff...

To fit my current quad box into my Ford Fairlane (Oz) sedan I need to pull the rear seat out all the time. I'm over it.
(It won't fit in the boot because I have an LPG gas tank in there.)

I want to build a pair of 2x10" cabs to use instead of the single quad box. They will fit in the car easily.

I've used the right software to calculate the box volumes and vent sizes for my particular Etone speakers, no problem there. I've built a number of bass bins in the past, so there's no problem there either.

My question is: Can I use additionally braced (ie. I'll install cross braces on the larger faces of the cab) 1/2" plywood for the boxes to reduce weight, instead of the industry standard 3/4" ply?

What do you think?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Greg

[steve_rolfeca]

Read some of the fEARful threads. There's more to it than just adding a few braces, but a lot of people are building with 1/2" now. Some are also using Arauco instead of Birch, which can make their cabs even lighter.

[rpsands]

Yes, 1/2" is fine.

[melarson]

All Bill Fitzmaurice cabs are built from 1/2". However it needs to be the good stuff, not the standard 3 ply stuff from the home center.

[4Mal]

12mm Balic Birch is my preferred bass binwood. Review the fEarful Wiki to get an idea of how to brace

[darkstorm]

Sure, well braced 1/2 should be fine. Id also add high loft batting for acoustic insulation inside the cabs. Typically improves low bass and gives sweeter/nicer balanced mids thru highs. Can also benefit stereo imaging if running a stereo rig to.

[cableguy]

+1000 on the fEarful cabs. they are light and thump.

[OzzyGreg]

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Read some of the fEARful threads.

Thanks guys, I looked at fEARful stuff.

I like his idea of playing loud, bassy sounds through the boxes and putting your hand on each face to feel for resonance .... to work out where bracing is required.

Cheers,
Greg

[Downunderwonder]

If you wanted to do the big leap of faith you might be happy with a pair of high output BFM jack12 cabs financed off the quadbox.