Empty 4x12 cabinet project...

Almohada · #1 03-31-2011, 04:40 PM

Hey guys, I recently acquired an empty 4x12 Legion Sound speaker cabinet. I attached a photo of it.

I need some advice or any other help I can get. I've never set up a cabinet before but I tried to research online as much as I could and I didn't really find what I was looking for.

Ok, so here's what I want to do:

I want to install two bass guitar speakers, and eventually two guitar speakers. Bass speakers on the bottom, guitar speakers on the top. It's kind of like having two cabinets in one (I want the pairs separate, not connected together!!! If possible each pair going to a separate jack input)

I already picked out the bass speakers: 250 watt 8 ohm custom speakers for Fender made by Eminence. I contacted Eminence and they suggested that I wire the two speakers in parallel so I can achieve 4 ohms.

Here are the specs of the amp I want to use with this cab:
100w @ 8 ohms, 160w @ 4 ohms & 300w @ 2 ohms

Since I will be using this cab primarily for bass, my question is, will it be better to use FOUR bass speakers instead of two? If I use four 8 ohm bass speakers will it be 2 ohms total? If I do decide to use four, how should I wire it. Personally I think the two bass speakers will be enough for my needs. I just need this cab for jamming in a garage and not really for gigging at the moment, so I think these two speakers are plenty.

Another thing I'm not sure about are the jacks on this cab. I attached a picture of the jacks below. Are they supposed to be connected together like this? Is that in and out? If I want to do two bass speakers and two guitar speakers, can I connect a jack to each pair or do I need more jacks? If I want 4 bass speakers how is the jack supposed to be connected?

Please let me know your feedback on installing two bass speakers (that's probably the route I'm going to go. I assume installing the two guitar speakers will have the same wiring) and how the jacks should be set up or any other tips you may have. If you know of any diagrams out there with this kind of set up please let me know. I really appreciate your help!!!!

Thank you so much!!!!!

RickenBoogie · #2 03-31-2011, 05:20 PM

It's not as easy as that, as the cab is a guitar cab, not designed for bass speakers. I don't think this project will end well for you. Just make a guitar cab of it, as that's what it is. There's alot of science to understand, maybe read the cab building threads here on TB.

Almohada · #3 03-31-2011, 05:39 PM

Yeah, I know it's not going to sound as good as an authentic bass cab, but wouldn't it still work? I rarely play guitar but I thought it would be cool to have guitar speakers in there just in case I need them.

Like I said before, I'm not looking to rumble a venue with my bass rig, it's just for practice at home and in a garage type setting. So you're saying that this setup isn't going to be heard over a drum set and a guitar during a jam or rehearsal? That's all I need it for...

Thanks again

xXColaXx · #4 03-31-2011, 05:42 PM

The cab design itself has a lot to do with the overall sounds. I think yes it would technically work, but if you care about tone I don't think you would end up very happy.

Bass_Pounder · #5 03-31-2011, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Almohada

Yeah, I know it's not going to sound as good as an authentic bass cab, but wouldn't it still work? I rarely play guitar but I thought it would be cool to have guitar speakers in there just in case I need them.

Like I said before, I'm not looking to rumble a venue with my bass rig, it's just for practice at home and in a garage type setting. So you're saying that this setup isn't going to be heard over a drum set and a guitar during a jam or rehearsal? That's all I need it for...

Thanks again

Will it make sound..................sure

Will it sound good....................hardly

Putting the wrong speakers in the wrong box often leads to dissappointment, wasted money, and sometimes - damaged speakers and amps

xXColaXx · #6 03-31-2011, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass_Pounder

Will it make sound..................sure

Will it sound good....................hardly

Putting the wrong speakers in the wrong box often leads to dissappointment, wasted money, and sometimes - damaged speakers and amps

I believe this is the Pete Wentz method.

Bass_Pounder · #7 03-31-2011, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xXColaXx

I believe this is the Pete Wentz method.

Is Ashlee Simpson the wrong size box ?

xXColaXx · #8 03-31-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass_Pounder

Is Ashlee Simpson the wrong size box ?

I'm not sure, but there are horrible phasing issues.

Almohada · #9 03-31-2011, 06:02 PM

Ok, I guess I'll throw the cab away. I do not have room for it to sit around collecting dust.

Thanks for your help

xXColaXx · #10 03-31-2011, 06:04 PM

Craigslist it. You can try it if you like but I just don't think you will be happy with the outcome. I would suggest either sell it on craigslist or make it a guitar cab.

Sartori · #11 03-31-2011, 06:17 PM

Why would you throw away a perfectly good guitar cab?

Also, it might work, with four bass speakers, depending on what kind of sound you want. Steve Harris of Iron Maiden uses Marshall 1960B cabs for bass, though I don't know off the top of my head what kind of speakers he uses in them.

You could make a great guitar rig with that cab. You could also perhaps use it for bass if you split your signal and sent the lows to a sub (an actual subwoofer, not just a big speaker).

Or just craigslist it and sell it to someone who wants an empty guitar cab. In fact.... where are you located? I've got some spare guitar speakers I'd like to use, and could use an empty cab.

greenboy · #12 03-31-2011, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Almohada

Ok, I guess I'll throw the cab away. I do not have room for it to sit around collecting dust.

You could blow it up first then. Might as well.

Quote:

Thanks for your help

I'm gonna cut in paste that into all the threads where I spent a thousand words on someone, really making an effort to increase their understanding... and then the guy never even bothered to say anything again, for all that effort ; }

I really like the sound of that.... Thanks for your help. Thanks for your help. Jeez. Such sweet music.

cableguy · #13 03-31-2011, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sartori

Why would you throw away a perfectly good guitar cab?

If you play guitar at all then just make a guitar cab out of it. Then trade it for a bass cab. Or at least start it on fire while playing through it and post it on youtube.

xXColaXx · #14 03-31-2011, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cableguy

If you play guitar at all then just make a guitar cab out of it. Then trade it for a bass cab. Or at least start it on fire while playing through it and post it on youtube.

+100

Really anything is better than just tossing it out.

billfitzmaurice · #15 03-31-2011, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xXColaXx

+100

Really anything is better than just tossing it out.

Not necessarily, if it's made of particle board or MDF, as Legions usually were.

greenboy · #16 03-31-2011, 06:29 PM

MDF doesn't burn very nicely either. Stinky glue.

Govier966 · #17 03-31-2011, 06:29 PM

i feel this could work. what if you put in two bass speakers in and cover the other two speaker holes. then there would be enough room in the box and it could be ported.

xXColaXx · #18 03-31-2011, 06:30 PM

I think setting it on fire or doing something else fun with it is better than just taking it to the roadside.

greenboy · #19 03-31-2011, 06:33 PM

Reminds me of the day when me and my friends would labor to make crappy combinations somehow work decently, rather than trading into something that was already halfways close. Some of those pathetic jury rigged setups, even stuff like, "slap it to make the speaker jack touch just right" hi-jinks.

I think we were in junior high.

stiles72 · #20 03-31-2011, 06:42 PM

Just my two cents...

I would load it with whatever 12's Fender puts in the GE-412 Guitar cab. I got one as part of a package deal trade, and sometimes use it with my V4BH. To my ears it- sounds more like a bass amp than a lot of 410's I've played. Very vintage sounding- nice and warm with more bottom than you would expect.