DIY 2x12 Cabinet (Guitar speakers?)

BoomHeadshot · #1 03-12-2011, 12:48 PM

I can get some good guitar speakers for fairly cheap.
Celestion | Guitar Loudspeakers
It's my understanding that the box you put the speakers in is far more important than the speakers themselves. Could someone give me some kind of guidance on this issue? Should I buy the speakers and if so, how would I begin designing my cabinet? Or should I scrap the idea and use real bass speakers?

Waterpilot · #2 03-12-2011, 01:00 PM

I'm not a professional but speakers seem to be designed with specific enclosures and frequencies in mind. From what I've read on here... Using a guitar head is fine but not the cab as it doesn't handle the lower frequencies as well. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong though...

I'd just use bass speakers and build a bass cab.

billfitzmaurice · #3 03-12-2011, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoomHeadshot

Or should I scrap the idea and use real bass speakers?

That. As for designing your own cab, think again. Successfully doing so takes literally years of experience.

KramerBassFan · #4 03-12-2011, 01:26 PM

It's one of those things, where, if you have to ask, then you shouldn't be doing it.

billfitzmaurice · #5 03-12-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KramerBassFan

It's one of those things, where, if you have to ask, then you shouldn't be doing it.

+1, like in 'How do I pack this parachute?' and 'Which pedal is the brake?'.

BoomHeadshot · #6 03-12-2011, 01:34 PM

Thanks for the quick response guys. I'll stick with bass guitar oriented speakers.

GrowlerBox · #7 03-12-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoomHeadshot

Thanks for the quick response guys. I'll stick with bass guitar oriented speakers.

An excellent idea. And it would also pay you to use a tried and tested cabinet design for a first build (which I assume this will be) -- e.g. BFM or fEARful, in no particular order of preference. Get hold of those plans and use the speakers the designers recommend.

KramerBassFan · #8 03-12-2011, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

+1, like in 'How do I pack this parachute?' and 'Which pedal is the brake?'.

Or, how do i dis-assemble, clean the rust off, and then re-assemble this v8 engine.

ulynch · #9 03-13-2011, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

That. As for designing your own cab, think again. Successfully doing so takes literally years of experience.

With all due respect for your generous and informed contributions here Bill, I'd suggest your definition of "successfully" is maybe a bit more rigorous than many. Personally, I wouldn't compare it to sky diving, for example.

Designing your own cab adequately for most purposes takes absolutely no experience. Especially if you just copy an existing production design. That gets you 90% of the way there, and that's good enough for 90% of the people out there.

KramerBassFan · #10 03-13-2011, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulynch

With all due respect for your generous and informed contributions here Bill, I'd suggest your definition of "successfully" is maybe a bit more rigorous than many. Personally, I wouldn't compare it to sky diving, for example.

Designing your own cab adequately for most purposes takes absolutely no experience. Especially if you just copy an existing production design. That gets you 90% of the way there, and that's good enough for 90% of the people out there.

Um, if you are copying an existing design, then all of the hard work has already been done, and you aren't designing anything at all.....

That would be like me copying an SVT right down the the name and then claiming that i "designed the newest and most revolutionary amp".

Hopkins · #11 03-13-2011, 11:03 AM

Quote:

That. As for designing your own cab, think again. Successfully doing so takes literally years of experience.

Quote:

It's one of those things, where, if you have to ask, then you shouldn't be doing it.

I'm glad the Write brothers, didn't have your attitude. If everyone thought this way we would still be living in trees and using tools made from rocks.

If you haven't done something before you better not try it because you may mess up.

BoomHeadshot · #12 03-13-2011, 11:08 AM

I'm planning on making a fEarful 15/6 cab or 2 to add to my Mesa 410 when I've got the appropriate funds to do it.

billfitzmaurice · #13 03-13-2011, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopkins

I'm glad the Write brothers, didn't have your attitude. If everyone thought this way we would still be living in trees and using tools made from rocks.

First, it's Wright, and second, I guarantee the designers of the F-35 didn't start their careers by reinventing the Wright Flyer or DC-3. First you learn everything you can about that which was done by those who came before you, then you build upon that knowledge.

Or were you referring to the ballpoint pen?

billoetjen · #14 03-13-2011, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulynch

if you just copy an existing production design. That gets you 90% of the way there, and that's good enough for 90% of the people out there.

Copying doesn't get 90% or even 1% of the way to designing anything.

Hopkins · #15 03-13-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

First, it's Wright, and second, I guarantee the designers of the F-35 didn't start their careers by reinventing the Wright Flyer or DC-3. First you learn everything you can about that which was done by those who came before you, then you build upon that knowledge.

Or were you referring to the ballpoint pen?

Sorry, spelling was never my strong suite. Still, everytime someone asks a question about anything cab related, they get 100 replies, saying they dont know what they are doing and they shouldnt even bother.

I'm glad nobody had that attitude when I started playing music, or golf, or when I got my first helper job as an instrument fitter.

Negativity doesnt really inspire learning

billfitzmaurice · #16 03-13-2011, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopkins

Sorry, spelling was never my strong suite. Still, everytime someone asks a question about anything cab related, they get 100 replies, saying they dont know what they are doing and they shouldnt even bother.

I'm glad nobody had that attitude when I started playing music, or golf, or when I got my first helper job as an instrument fitter.

Negativity doesnt really inspire learning

No one is discouraging anyone from learning. Quite the contrary. We're encouraging would be speaker builders to learn first, then build. Unfortunately most posters asking questions about cabinet building seem inclined to do it the other way around, and that is what's being discouraged. I don't think it coincidence that most of those who encourage newbies to build first and learn later also seem to lack any knowledge of the subject.

Hopkins · #17 03-13-2011, 04:56 PM

If I misunderstood what you I apologize, but speaking from personal experience I learn by doing. I may use a book or instruction but I will use it as I go, during the process. Just reading, the information will not make any sense to me unless I use it in a real world application. But thats just me.

Just for the record, I have very little interest in building speaker cabs, the whole process kind of confuses me to be honest and it isn't much less cost effective just to go buy a cab.

KramerBassFan · #18 03-13-2011, 04:58 PM

So, Hopkins, you would encourage me to try random tire sizes that are not meant for my car, and drop a engine on it that is a total mismatch it? It would sure help me learn right?
How about i put a porsche engine on a couple 2x8's, some go kart wheels on it, and then a big deerskin bladder for the gas tank. I think it'd be quite the learning experience.

No harm intended....

Hopkins · #19 03-13-2011, 05:11 PM

I'm not saying to not do your research. But people saying things like "If you have to ask these questions you shouldn't be doing it" sounds a bit to me like If you don't know already you shouldn't even try.

And "dropping" (i would say shoe horning) an engine in a car that is a total mismatch is what created the Shelby Cobra, the Hemi Dart, Oh and that 351w that I had crammed into a little Ford Ranger. If someone were to ask on an internet forum on how to do this, I would tell them what transmission and rear end will fit and can handle the power of the new engine. I would explain how the stock 4 or 6 cyl. motor mounts will work with the 351 or 302 by simply drilling a few holes in a piece of 3/8 plate steel. I would explain to them how to get the headers and exhaust to fit. Then if they decide its beyond their skill level, or not worth their time they will be better prepared to make that decision.

I wouldn't say "if you have to ask, you shouldn't even try"

will33 · #20 03-13-2011, 05:43 PM

Learning a bit, then doing saves a great deal of time, money and frustration. I can totally understand the hands-on aspect as well so learning, then doing, then learning more, then doing more is how it seems to go. I'm about to the point where I think i would be a good idea for the novice to scratch build a testbox first that's a bit bigger than it needs to be for most any variation of speakers you might build and cut up a stick of pvc into various lengths. You could then throw chunks of styrofoam or similair in the box to make different volumes and replace pipe to make different tunings. Of course it'd be easier to calculate it all first and build once but the hands on type it'd be a good learning tool or testbed before you build the good, real box. It would also illustrate the differences between what your eyes are seeing on paper vs. what you think you need to hear vs. what you're actually hearing. Getting that much figured out goes a long way.