110/6 DIY cabs

[Sundogue]

I posted these in another thread that was more about my new modular setup, but I thought I'd post them here specifically about the 110/6 cabs themselves to get more reaction/questions about the cabs themselves.

These are 20" wide X 14" deep X 13" high and weigh in at 22 lbs. They are loaded with BP102 - 4 ohm speakers and a 6" mid range driver (taken out of my Bose 201's). These used to be loaded in my 210/6 cab, but I wanted a smaller, lighter modular setup for easier load ins/outs.

I drive them with my Carvin BX1200 amp which is fully bi-ampable with it's own active crossover and individual output to the lows and mids. My amp goes down to 2 ohms and puts out 600 watts into 2 ohms safely. The BP102's are rated at 200 watts each (thermal rating) and have an xmax of 6.2mm and an xlim of 10.0.

While the BP102's are one of the few publicly available 10" speakers (that are reasonably priced) cabable of actually going down to a low B, I decided to do the typical and have them produce a strong second harmonic of the fundamentals. They are flat down to 60Hz and the cabs are tuned to 49Hz with an internal volume of 1.5 cu. ft. Both the BP102's and the mid drivers are vertically aligned either as pictured or when the cabs are placed vertically (though I won't need to put them on end).

They are just standard boxes with a mid chamber so there are no build photos. Very solid low end (although obviously not true deep low fundamentals) with very smooth mids and highs. I have it crossed over currently at about 500Hz. I have a 6" mid in each cab in case I want to only use one of them for rehearsals, so with both I cut back on the output.

The cabs only have one handle on the side and are very light and easy to carry. The finish is just three layers of paint, sponge painted with a final coat of satin poly. I decided to leave off corner protectors as usually the corner protectors break in the winter, yet my corners never get damaged. This finish has proven very durable for me over the years and allows me to go with any color I want.

These are basically my 210/6 cab split into two 110/6 cabs and my 210/6 cab has been just about all I've needed even in my rock band for all gigs except outdoor gigs. Being in a new blues band without the volume requirements of my previous rock band, using both of these together is even a bit overkill, although they do put out quite a bit of volume for what essentially amounts to a 210 cab.

Did I mention this setup was really cheap? I already had the BP102's but they only run about $75 per speaker, and I already had them, the mids, handles, plywood and paint. I just had to buy some latches to latch the whole system together (that's in the other thread) and some small rubber feet, so this whole project cost me less than $20 more than what I already had. Even if I had to buy all new these are not high priced cabs to build and they really put out a lot for two 110's. A helluva lot more than one might think 110's can do.

Here's a pic with my bass to show scale.

[washburn_it]

I would be nice to listen to how they sound together and a single one.
Anyway...I think it's a very good job.

Regards,

Roberto

[Standalone]

I have a BP-102 that I bought as a replacement for a Yamaha 110 BBT. Didn't work out, so I pulled it and got rid of the cab. Your cab design looks good. I'd like to know more and trhow one together.

[babebambi]

nice!
what is the purpose of the bottom part with no speaker?

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by Standalone

I have a BP-102 that I bought as a replacement for a Yamaha 110 BBT. Didn't work out, so I pulled it and got rid of the cab. Your cab design looks good. I'd like to know more and trhow one together.

The BP102's really need a dedicated mid with them as they have very little mids.

You could look for an Eminence 6" mid driver to pair with a BP102.

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by babebambi

nice!
what is the purpose of the bottom part with no speaker?

The bottom part is my storage case/amp stand/dolly/bottom of hand cart.

The whole system (head, cabs and bottom case) all latches together to become an all-in-one rig/dolly/handcart so I can easily haul it under any conditions or circumstance. Stairs, curbs, vehicles, parking lots, etc. are no longer an obstacle to overcome. I can roll it straight up, tilt it back or take it apart for easy to carry lightweight components.

Thread about that part of it, here...
It's a 210 combo AND modular 110 separates all in one......

[Sundogue]

Just used my rig this weekend with my old rock band in a pretty loud venue.

It was killer. The tone was great and I could hear myself even with two loud guitarists and a pretty loud drummer. We had PA support but the stage volume was still pretty insane and these cabs held up well and sounded great!

The load in and out was a piece of cake, even going through a snow covered parking lot and up and down some steps.

[Standalone]

Originally Posted by Sundogue

The BP102's really need a dedicated mid with them as they have very little mids.

You could look for an Eminence 6" mid driver to pair with a BP102.

After more surfing around last night, I might try and put together a BFM Titan 39 since it can use the driver. Then I'd make a brite box of some kind for the top section of my 800RB and I'd be good to go.

The 800RB is an ideal amp for the fEarful designs and cabs like yours, though.

Since I love the 800RB so much, I'm glad to see biamping applications for it coming back into use.

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by Standalone

After more surfing around last night, I might try and put together a BFM Titan 39 since it can use the driver. Then I'd make a brite box of some kind for the top section of my 800RB and I'd be good to go.

The 800RB is an ideal amp for the fEarful designs and cabs like yours, though.

Since I love the 800RB so much, I'm glad to see biamping applications for it coming back into use.

Yeah, there you go. Look at the fEarful headcase. It's just a small mid/tweeter box to put on a dedicated woofer/subwoofer.

[Sundogue]

After a few gigs out with my new 110/6 cabs, I'm really digging them more than I even thought I would.

I've still been playing some with my old classic rock band and we aren't very quiet on stage. On a particularly loud gig I had to put my cabs up on a higher case we had, but the rig handled the gig volume-wise perfectly.

And I've had nothing but compliments on my tone and everyone hears me (and I hear myself) just fine.

The tone is very punchy, deep enough lows to feel it and clarity on every note. Best of all is this rig is BY FAR the easiest rig to take to any gig, in any venue, no matter how difficult the load-in/out was before.

Two little 110 cabs are rockin' for me. No I'm not playing death metal at ear splitting volume (well it might be for the audience, through the PA ), but I ain't exactly playing jazz lounge gigs either.

[GrowlerBox]

Hard to criticise them, man. They look great, they're clearly very portable, and you get the sound you need from them. Plus, you clearly get a good deal of satisfaction from having put them together yourself. What's not to like?

Big ups from the flip side

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

Hard to criticise them, man. They look great, they're clearly very portable, and you get the sound you need from them. Plus, you clearly get a good deal of satisfaction from having put them together yourself. What's not to like?

Big ups from the flip side

Thanks. Of all the cabs I've designed/built for myself, these are my favorites for a lot of reasons.

[gaffster787]

Very well thought out and executed project....
Wondering if you sealed the mid drivers in their own chamber?
I once used a butter container so I didn't steal too much bass volume.

[77PBass]

sound clips?

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by gaffster787

Very well thought out and executed project....
Wondering if you sealed the mid drivers in their own chamber?
I once used a butter container so I didn't steal too much bass volume.

Thanks. I give a lot of the credit to many experts on here, especially greenboy for opening my mind about dedicated mids. I look at these little cabs as the 10" version of a fEarful since the BP102's go pretty deep (actually they are designed to go deeper than even the venerable 3015LF), although they aren't neos nor do they handle the power of one.

Yes, mids have their own chamber. Not large enough to take too much away from the woofers' cab volume, but of good size for the mids to do their job well. They have to have their own chamber or they'd blow on the first note.

Despite the BP102's being the older, heavier designed speakers, these cabs are so light and manageable that I only put one handle on them and almost laugh every time I pick them up for a gig.

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by 77PBass

sound clips?

Nope, no sound clips. Don't have any way of recording them decently. And my feelings are sound clips are kind of pointless being that no matter the playback method you'd never hear what they'd sound like in person.

Just have to come to a gig to find out for yourself.

[jlepre]

I remember reading that you had a slight rattling problem with the lower storage area. How did you fix it?

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by jlepre

I remember reading that you had a slight rattling problem with the lower storage area. How did you fix it?

I just needed to separate the bottom cab from the storage box with thicker rubber feet. I also braced the storage box better. The vibration went away.

With the bottom cab right on the storage box it almost made the storage box like a part of the cab itself. Problem is gone now.

However on some higher volume gigs I need the cabs up even a little higher than what the storage box does for me. No biggee, we have some taller cases to put my rig on in those instances. The whole rig still gets latched together as it's own dolly/hand cart for load-in/out.

[JSK5String]

Can't believe I missed this thread. Great job once again Sundogue. We need to get together for a beverage. You heading to Colorado any time in the near future?