Is building a cab myself worth it?

bigbadbuck · #1 08-28-2011, 02:51 PM

Ive been contemplating building my own 410 using speakers in a cab that doesn't sound great at the moment, I play a 5 string tuned down to A or lower and it just has an overall muddy sound. the head is an ampeg svt4 and no matter what i try i cant get a good sound out of the crate cab. I just want to try and get a better sound by trying to use better construction methods than the crate 410 im using.

What else im wondering about is if it would be worth it to go ahead and build an 8x10 at some point and modeling it after a quality cabinet like ampeg or mesa

and buying quality speakers.

tell me what you guys think.

jgroh · #2 08-28-2011, 02:57 PM

Its really up to you...do you have the time, space, tools, and at least some know-how with those tools to take on a project like this? I contemplated building one as well just as a project with some Bill Fitzmaurice plans, but right now I dont have enough time to see it through.

billfitzmaurice · #3 08-28-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbadbuck

tell me what you guys think.

If all you want is a copy of a commercial cab don't build one, buy one. You can't build one for the price you can buy one for.

**B-string** · #4 08-28-2011, 03:34 PM

To build a cab around the Crate speakers with no data to properly design it would be a waste of time, money and effort.
Either buy a cab or choose some drivers (speakers) and design it properly around them.

BassmanPaul · #5 08-28-2011, 03:40 PM

I don't know haw many times this has been posted but the answer stays the same. A cabinet is designed with specific drivers in mind. Cloning an existing design without using the exact same drivers will be a crapshoot.

If you have low grade drivers the result will be low grade. The 4x10 concept is poor at best and you would be much better off with a pair of 2x10s in a vertical alignment.

Sell your Crate cabinet and buy something that suits you better.

dhsierra1 · #6 08-28-2011, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

To build a cab around the Crate speakers with no data to properly design it would be a waste of time, money and effort.
Either buy a cab or choose some drivers (speakers) and design it properly around them.

+1

I build a fair amount of speaker cabs but that's because I'm looking for features that (most) commercial cabinets don't have that I'm looking for.

DIY is not a cost saving measure by any means, esp when you factor in your time, the cost of tools, etc. But it's very rewarding, I've been doing it for about 35 years so obviously for me it works. YMMV, IMHO, etc.

Phendyr_Loon · #7 08-28-2011, 03:58 PM

The reason that you're getting a muddy sound from your cabinet with your bass tuned that low is the cabinets drivers and construction.
You could easily build your own cabinet, with decent drivers and box construction.
Bills cabinets are not your typical design, but they are quite popular around here. Greenboy's fEarful cabinets are also solid, though a 4x10 design is not offered. I was going to build a fEarful a while back but the price of the drivers sort of drove me away, but then again you get what you pay for.
Since you're tuning your bass that low, enclosure tuning and driver selection will make or break your cabinet design.
The problem is that it's all expensive guess work without using a cabinet building program like WinISD. Or if that's all even over your head, find a 4x10 design that uses specific drivers so all of the technical work is done for you.
Maybe try this,

http://www.eminence.com/pdf/Basslite_S2010_cab.pdf

bigbadbuck · #8 08-28-2011, 04:29 PM

thanks for the input guys. i was gonna use the crate speakers and see if putting them in a better surround would help. ive looked inside and its just not built like an ampeg cab, the speakers arent divided by a shelf or anything and it has 4 round ports on the back. because from what ive read online they seem to be using eminence speakers which i know are good. is the issue that i dont know at what dimensions to built the box? if thats the case i could use the program that was mentioned above.

im just wondering if its possible to have a better sounding cabinet for probably under 100 bucks(wood, glue, screws ect)

thanks again this forum has helped me more times than i can count

and lol about my tuning i only use the low A to go under the guitars when they are playing on the A string it sounds massive lol(as it can with this douche of a cab

) my tuning is ADADG OR GCGCF its a fun option when using the same kind of technique i stole from Ryan Martanie. Its like slap except playing octives with the tips of your middle and index fingers.

**B-string** · #9 08-28-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbadbuck

thanks for the input guys. i was gonna use the crate speakers and see if putting them in a better surround would help. ive looked inside and its just not built like an ampeg cab, the speakers arent divided by a shelf or anything and it has 4 round ports on the back. because from what ive read online they seem to be using eminence speakers which i know are good. is the issue that i dont know at what dimensions to built the box? if thats the case i could use the program that was mentioned above.

im just wondering if its possible to have a better sounding cabinet for probably under 100 bucks(wood, glue, screws ect)

thanks again this forum has helped me more times than i can count

and lol about my tuning i only use the low A to go under the guitars when they are playing on the A string it sounds massive lol(as it can with this douche of a cab

) my tuning is ADADG OR GCGCF its a fun option when using the same kind of technique i stole from Ryan Martanie. Its like slap except playing octives with the tips of your middle and index fingers.

It all depends on the specs from the OEM how good they are! If you want to do something with what you have, add brace dowls inside the cab, add some batting and maybe try sealing off the probably cosmetic "ports" one at a time. That should keep you under $100.00. May help a bit?

bigbadbuck · #10 08-28-2011, 05:04 PM

yea ill try that what does the dowel bracing do?

**B-string** · #11 08-28-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbadbuck

yea ill try that what does the dowel bracing do?

Stiffens the cab so the panels stop vibrating and wasting the output from the drivers (speakers) and adding counter productive (canceling) waves inside the cab. That cab is probably shaking apart with de-tune?

Epidrake · #12 08-28-2011, 05:12 PM

I'm with B-string! Brace the existing cabinet with dowels to stiffen it up and try some batting. Not sure about the ports because the cab was designed that way.

Rockmusician · #13 08-28-2011, 05:12 PM

I think the real reason you are getting a muddy sound is because (as you put it), you tune down to A or lower. I honestly don't think changing cabs is going to make a difference.

knuckle_head · #14 08-28-2011, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

I think the real reason you are getting a muddy sound is because (as you put it), you tune down to A or lower. I honestly don't think changing cabs is going to make a difference.

. . . all depends on how you get to the A.

I got an A that'll churn your insides - better defined than the majority of Bs out there.

JimmyM · #15 08-28-2011, 06:22 PM

Dude, you have a great amp you're killing with budget speakers. If you have a great bass and great amp, throwing it into a cab that isn't so hot is going to ruin everything. You don't have to spend a fortune, but you need to step up a level or two with the cab if you want the best out of the rest of your stuff.

bigbadbuck · #16 08-28-2011, 07:25 PM

Ok guys well I'm gonna try bracing and I've played with my head and bass on good cabs and it sounds defined and fantastic lol its a 35 inch scale so the down tuning shouldn't effect it that much. but I just don't have 1000 bucks to throw at Ampeg right now or any other higher dollar cab.

I'm just looking to make do for a little while til the wallet fills up again lol

bigbadbuck · #17 08-28-2011, 07:27 PM

and im playing on as i said a 35 in scale 5 string it shouldnt matter that much i see people tune alot lower its my cab lol

JimmyM · #18 08-28-2011, 07:52 PM

You can get amazing sounding 410's used for a lot less. 410HE's are usually a good price in the used market.

Phendyr_Loon · #19 08-28-2011, 08:05 PM

I owned one of these Crate 4x10 rear ported cabs before, it was my first 4x10. Lining the inside with foam and adding bracing should help a bit.
However, sealing ports is a BAD idea. The ports are definitely NOT cosmetic, otherwise there would be not point to having 4 large holes in the back of the cab. Unless you want to severely damage the speakers, keep the ports there.
The stock speakers are only good for use with another enclosure if you can dig up the t/s parameters of the drivers, because you'd be designing a new box around the speakers. Without the proper info on the 10's you pulled from the Crate, you might as well just buy 4 new drivers or a complete cabinet.
I'd recommend spending a few bucks on bracing and foam, and see where that gets you.

bigbadbuck · #20 08-28-2011, 09:00 PM

well the bracing option is looking pretty darn good at the moment i cant wait to see if there is a big difference or if my trusty old cab just isnt gonna cut it anymore. Either way ill have more money freed up soon to fix this situation. hell ive had the cab since i was like a sophomore in high school so i guess its time to upgrade.