DIY cab builders: What have you used to "face" your cabs?

[OzzyGreg]

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Traditionally, I have always fitted individual, round grills over each speaker.

With my most recent build I have gone with (what is called here in Australia) "Cat Mesh", which is a fine, high strength extruded aluminium mesh used in security screen doors that cats supposedly can't climb. I've fitted this right over the face of the cab.
It looks fantastic IMHO.



The trouble is that it the mesh vibrates (buzzes) at high volumes.
I've fitted soft dampers in the middle, but it still vibrates.

I'm thinking fabric now.
What fabrics work for bass cabs?

Greg

[Sartori]

I dunno, I like the individual round speaker grills.

[JonnyAngle]

It is my belief that you need to under-size the mesh around the perimeter of the face. Then, use rubber cab feet to mount the grille so it absorbs the vibrations.

[will33]

Yeah, rubber feet or weatherstripping plus some more anchoring points out in the middle will help with vibration. May just need some thicker guage, more sturdy metal.

Search "grillcloth" for a fabric front. It's acoustically transparent so it won't mess with your tone. Just any old fabric can sound like it really does have a blanket over it because.....well....it kinda does.

[Phendyr_Loon]

Cutout a frame out of plywood, 1/2" or 3/4", that will be 1/8" smaller than the height and width of your baffle.
Make the frame 1" to 1 1/2" wide and spray paint it black. Then stretch your choice of grill cloth over the frame, wrap it around to the back of the frame and staple it on all 4 sides of the frame.
Fasten the frame to the baffle with sticky back velcro strips in as many places to hold it secure but still be able to remove the grill easily.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by OzzyGreg

The trouble is that it the mesh vibrates (buzzes) at high volumes.

The mesh won't vibrate, the joints between it and the aluminum strips you have holding down will. Foam rubber weatherstrip between the strips and the grille, and closer screw placement, should fix it.

[Phendyr_Loon]

Here's a photo of what I was trying to explain, I copied the idea from a SVT410 I used to own.