considering cutting my 8x10 in half

charliefreak · #1 08-08-2011, 07:09 PM

what up tb?

I'm tired of trying to haul around my old swr workingman's tower 8x10 and I've been trying to get it traded for a better quality 410. unfortunately, nobody else wants an 810. So now I'm thinking about simply sawing it in half so i'd have a 410 for small gigs and an extension for larger gigs and outdoor gigs. Does anyone know what I'd have to watch out for in this process? I'm really going to be winging this and attempting to wire the spare four to speakon input jacks, as they are now. Any tips, comments, or concerns would be swell!

peace
wes

scottfeldstein · #2 08-08-2011, 07:31 PM

I wouldn't do it. I'd rather buy a 4x10, used if budget requires it, or repurpose the speakers in an empty 4x10, rather than attempt to saw the original cab in half. You might succeed in rewiring it, but can you seal it as tight as the original? And how many cubic inches of air is in there? Is it the appropriate amount? I'd worry about all these things, plus the things I didn't even know to ask.

If you do it, good luck! I'd be interested in hearing how it goes.

craig.p · #3 08-08-2011, 07:59 PM

Is this a ported cab or a sealed cab? Sealed will be easier because you won't have to recalculate/re-engineer the proper porting.

Also, better be really good with wood joinery, regardless of what type of cab it is. The cab's integrity will hinge on how good you are with those skills and with the tools that go along.

And you must be able to saw straight across the cab. I mean straight. This is much more difficult than it sounds. Not a job for hand tools.

For resale down the road, take lots of pics during the process, because once it's covered in whatever you're going to cover it in, there'll be no way to prove to the buyer you make a good job of it.

nashvillebill · #4 08-08-2011, 08:11 PM

IMHO it's easier to make a cabinet from scratch than to cut an existing one in half.

scottfeldstein · #5 08-08-2011, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashvillebill

IMHO it's easier to make a cabinet from scratch than to cut an existing one in half.

Word. I did that once, 20 years ago with the help of a knowledgeable friend. Made me an 18+2x10 cab--totally sealed off from each other. The 18 was ported (I called up an engineer from the speaker manufacturer and figured out how to do this to make it "tuned" to a certain frequency. The 10s I left sealed and airtight. As I recall, it worked really well.

I'd sooner do that again than undertake sawing up an existing cab that was in perfect working order.

4-string · #6 08-09-2011, 02:17 AM

Cutting an 8x10 in half is sacrilige!

Surely, someone wants an 8x10? It might take some time, but still.

charliefreak · #7 08-09-2011, 08:46 AM

much thanks for the warnings everyone. I'm going to be conservative and say I am under educated and under prepared to undergo such an operation. I'll consider halving it into separate cabs and even yet hold out for a better 410 cab. My local shop guys also warned me of breaking the impedence and wattage and totally blowing it out with my amplifier due to improper mathematics. I wouldn't have guessed that either!

onosson · #8 08-09-2011, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

Word. I did that once, 20 years ago with the help of a knowledgeable friend. Made me an 18+2x10 cab--totally sealed off from each other. The 18 was ported (I called up an engineer from the speaker manufacturer and figured out how to do this to make it "tuned" to a certain frequency. The 10s I left sealed and airtight. As I recall, it worked really well.

I'd sooner do that again than undertake sawing up an existing cab that was in perfect working order.

I did the same thing! Was it a Peavey cab? I doubt I got the 18 right as I didn't have that info, though...

scottfeldstein · #9 08-09-2011, 08:55 AM

It wasn't a Peavey cab. I drew it on graph paper and built it out of plywood. The guy I called about the speaker (can't remember if it was JBL or Peavey or EV or who it was) told me how to port it. Basically I just sawed off like the bottom 4 inches of the front baffle.

onosson · #10 08-09-2011, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

It wasn't a Peavey cab. I drew it on graph paper and built it out of plywood. The guy I called about the speaker (can't remember if it was JBL or Peavey or EV or who it was) told me how to port it. Basically I just sawed off like the bottom 4 inches of the front baffle.

Ah, I misunderstood. I made mine from an existing 18+210.

lug · #11 08-09-2011, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

I wouldn't do it. I'd rather buy a 4x10, used if budget requires it, or repurpose the speakers in an empty 4x10, rather than attempt to saw the original cab in half. You might succeed in rewiring it, but can you seal it as tight as the original? And how many cubic inches of air is in there? Is it the appropriate amount? I'd worry about all these things, plus the things I didn't even know to ask.

If you do it, good luck! I'd be interested in hearing how it goes.

yep...

Empty 410 Bass Guitar Cabinet | No Speakers 4x10 Bass Guitar Cab

Dethrats · #12 08-09-2011, 09:11 AM

DUDE ill take your 810 for a 410HLF!

charliefreak · #13 08-09-2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dethrats

DUDE ill take your 810 for a 410HLF!

You know, I'll think about it. But I'm not a big ampeg dude. I'll do some research. But I'm going to be running it with a gbe 750. I just really don't see that sounding any good.

Electricblue · #14 08-09-2011, 10:19 AM

If it has seperate "compartments" like an Ampeg fridge (4 separate 210's in one box) then it would be a good idea.

Otherwise, this is not a good thing to attempt unless you're Bill Fitzmaurice.

Philonius · #15 08-09-2011, 12:45 PM

Mr. Fitzmaurice might be smarter than that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electricblue

If it has seperate "compartments" like an Ampeg fridge (4 separate 210's in one box) then it would be a good idea.

Otherwise, this is not a good thing to attempt unless you're Bill Fitzmaurice.

gnjpowell · #16 08-09-2011, 12:49 PM

Be PATIENT! Wait.... Sell or trade that 8x10

Electricblue · #17 08-09-2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philonius

Mr. Fitzmaurice might be smarter than that.

That man can tune cabs with his mindpower alone.

Dethrats · #18 08-09-2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliefreak

You know, I'll think about it. But I'm not a big ampeg dude. I'll do some research. But I'm going to be running it with a gbe 750. I just really don't see that sounding any good.

Give it some thought. Ill be more than willing to work something out!