First Homemade Cab!

[jewbageled]

Hello good folks! First time poster, long time browser of the forum here!

This summer, I'm planning on building a small bass cab (100-200 watts) which I'm planning on using with my old 120 watt blue voodoo crate guitar head. Obviously, since I'm not buying a real bass head, money is limited right now. Basically I want to spend as little money as possible on this project. After a day of much research and reading, I have come up with a strategy of sorts.

I would like to request the opinion of the wise DIYourselvers of this fine forum.

The plan:

Speakers: $35

Orange County Speaker Repair - GLS Audio Wholesale: Piezo KSN1056, KSN-1056 4" Round Tweeter

Orange County Speaker Repair - GLS Audio Wholesale: BUYOUT - Cerwin Vega 7" LPT175 Woofer - UNBELIEVABLE LOW PRICE!

Wiring: $7

Orange County Speaker Repair - GLS Audio Wholesale: Speaker Wire 18 Gauge 25 feet

Input Jack: (4) $10

Orange County Speaker Repair - GLS Audio Wholesale: 1/4" Female Jack TS Mono Connector - GLS Audio - 4 Pack

As far as the actual enclosure of the cab goes, I have lots and lots of wood lying around that I can use. I'm decently familiar with woodworking so I'm not too worried about anything besides my speaker combination efficiency (woofer and tweeter) and wiring the speakers correctly. I have a few weeks to finish this project.

I'd very much appreciate any comments, suggestions, criticism. Is this a fool hearty combination? Are these speakers decent for their price? What color should I paint the cab? Etc. Thanks everyone in advance!

[OzzyGreg]

.
Just make sure you use all the correct specifications for the speakers and reputable speaker box design software to design the cab.
Hit and miss doesn't work. (I've proven this myself!)

Good luck!
Greg

[Downunderwonder]

Foolhardy is the word. There's no free lunch in making bass noise.

Better to spend some money on a recognised bass driver. Or find a used combo and get what you can for the guitar amp.

[staindbass]

^ i wish you had told thomas edison and that experimenting was foolhardy lol. i have been putting together speakers since i was 10 years old. its fun even if it doesnt come out perfect. johnny a. staind

[subdude67]

i think you also need a cross over to go between the 2 different speakers.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by jewbageled

I'd very much appreciate any comments, suggestions, criticism.

Before considering designing your own cab you should be very familiar with, if not everything, almost everything listed here:
The Speaker Building Bible - Techtalk Speaker Building, Audio, Video, and Electronics Customer Discussion Forum From Parts-Express.com

Building a good speaker is far more involved than just tossing some drivers into a box.

^ i wish you had told thomas edison and that experimenting was foolhardy lol. i have been putting together speakers since i was 10 years old. its fun even if it doesnt come out perfect. johnny a. staind

There's a big difference between experimenting with something that's never been done before, as opposed to doing what countless others have already done while being completely ignorant of their accomplishments. Take note that Edison didn't spend a lot of time figuring out how to invent the candle.

[will33]

Not enough specs to tell but that looks like a home stereo type driver. 35 watts and bass response from a 7" tells me it is in which case your bass amp could shred it.

[jewbageled]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

Foolhardy is the word. There's no free lunch in making bass noise.

Better to spend some money on a recognised bass driver. Or find a used combo and get what you can for the guitar amp.

Thanks for the encouragement, haha!

I'll check out that link.

[fishtx]

Originally Posted by staindbass

^ i wish you had told thomas edison and that experimenting was foolhardy lol. i have been putting together speakers since i was 10 years old. its fun even if it doesnt come out perfect. johnny a. staind

+1...I built a speaker cab when I was about 14 and when I tried to use it, the internal wiring burst into flames!...maybe I should have done a bit more research before wiring it together...LOL...but it was fun!!

[bassgod0dmw]

I would look hard into designing an enclosure, there is a lot involved.

I would also go with a different speaker, something designed to handle bass frequencies and more wattage. Your Blue Voodoo will destroy that thing in no time flat as soon as you turn it up a little too much.

[rad bassman]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Before considering designing your own cab you should be very familiar with, if not everything, almost everything listed here:
The Speaker Building Bible - Techtalk Speaker Building, Audio, Video, and Electronics Customer Discussion Forum From Parts-Express.com

Building a good speaker is far more involved than just tossing some drivers into a box.
There's a big difference between experimenting with something that's never been done before, as opposed to doing what countless others have already done while being completely ignorant of their accomplishments. Take note that Edison didn't spend a lot of time figuring out how to invent the candle.

great link, highly informative, if not a lil confusing too,, the factors involved are very complex, and definately not something to delve into without research and understanding.

the explanations in the link are more relevant to home hifi from what i can see, do you have any links aimed more at building a bass guitar cab? factors to take into consideration etc.....

i still feel very lacking in knowledge, and tbh a long way off going into making a cab of my own, but it still interests me greatly, any advice/info would be greatly appreciated, thanks

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by rad bassman

do you have any links aimed more at building a bass guitar cab?

You don't have to go far, look at the fEarful threads.

[rad bassman]

thanks bill,. well you just sent me on an epic journey, spent all evening looking at fearfull and a load of other stuff that has me even more confused, lol, seriously tho... as well as being aware that building a cab isnt as easy as shoving a speaker in a box i now feel slightly more aware of why you cant just shove a speaker in a box, possibilities/outcomes are literally endless, just so many (maybe too many) variables to consider... i will keep reading for now

lol, i somehow found my way to your forum too, omg am i opening a big can of worms or what!!

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by rad bassman

thanks bill,. well you just sent me on an epic journey, spent all evening looking at fearfull and a load of other stuff that has me even more confused, lol, seriously tho... as well as being aware that building a cab isnt as easy as shoving a speaker in a box i now feel slightly more aware of why you cant just shove a speaker in a box, possibilities/outcomes are literally endless, just so many (maybe too many) variables to consider... i will keep reading for now

lol, i somehow found my way to your forum too, omg am i opening a big can of worms or what!!

It's a big ol' can of fun if you really dig the DIY aspect, or want to know what bass cabs are really all about.

While it is not a necessity, knowledge of the gear used in our trade is a worthwhile pursuit. The more you know, the better able you are to make intelligent purchasing decisions beyond the "if it sounds good, it is good" school of thought. And if you pursue it further, you can build a cab that is better than 95% of what is offered commercially, and free yourself from industry hype forever.

[will33]

Originally Posted by Sundogue

It's a big ol' can of fun if you really dig the DIY aspect, or want to know what bass cabs are really all about.

While it is not a necessity, knowledge of the gear used in our trade is a worthwhile pursuit. The more you know, the better able you are to make intelligent purchasing decisions beyond the "if it sounds good, it is good" school of thought. And if you pursue it further, you can build a cab that is better than 95% of what is offered commercially, and free yourself from industry hype forever.

+1

So what if you don't end up diy'ing every cab you play the rest of your life or even if you do end up re-inventing a wheel or two you'll end up learning a whole lot about how this stuff works (or more often doesn't work how you want it to).

That's knowledge you now posses for life and can use to make yourself better forever.

[rad bassman]

ok, some great comments.. are you saying that DIYers (the 1s who know their stuff) make far better cabs than the bass cabs available in music shops? to what degree are you talking? i know the answer depends largely on the builders themselves but for example.. is a well built fEarfull cab better than an AMPEG 6x10 (or any commercially available cab).

im already hooked on the idea of self building a CAB, i am not gonna go down the route of designing a box myself tho, from what i have learned so far its much better to use a proven design, (especially if its your 1st build), and use the drivers recommended for that cab.

if/when i build a cab i want to be able to use it and enjoy the result and not be thinking "what if i did x instead" . i also realise that its not always (or often) a cheaper option but if the quality of the end product is that much better then im definitely gonna go for it at some point,


the most confusing part that im having difficulty understanding at the moment is the thiele/small parameters, any "idiots guide" available? i understand that the physics involved is possibly a lil too deep for idiots but from what ive read so far its a lil overwhelming to take in 1 evenings reading

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by rad bassman

ok, some great comments.. are you saying that DIYers (the 1s who know their stuff) make far better cabs than the bass cabs available in music shops?

Yes.

i understand that the physics involved is possibly a lil too deep for idiots but from what ive read so far its a lil overwhelming to take in 1 evenings reading

Truly understanding acoustical engineering is like any of the engineering doctrines, be it chemical, mechanical, civil, aeronautical etc. It takes years of study and practical experience.

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by rad bassman

ok, some great comments.. are you saying that DIYers (the 1s who know their stuff) make far better cabs than the bass cabs available in music shops? to what degree are you talking? i know the answer depends largely on the builders themselves but for example.. is a well built fEarfull cab better than an AMPEG 6x10 (or any commercially available cab).

im already hooked on the idea of self building a CAB, i am not gonna go down the route of designing a box myself tho, from what i have learned so far its much better to use a proven design, (especially if its your 1st build), and use the drivers recommended for that cab.

if/when i build a cab i want to be able to use it and enjoy the result and not be thinking "what if i did x instead" . i also realise that its not always (or often) a cheaper option but if the quality of the end product is that much better then im definitely gonna go for it at some point,


the most confusing part that im having difficulty understanding at the moment is the thiele/small parameters, any "idiots guide" available? i understand that the physics involved is possibly a lil too deep for idiots but from what ive read so far its a lil overwhelming to take in 1 evenings reading

You have to understand that well engineered cabs that come from the DIY community are doing so with the purpose of making something better. The commercial cab industry is engineering with a purpose too...profit. They build what sells, as cheaply as possible to maximize profits. It doesn't mean they don't make good cabs, but they cut corners where they can to satisfy the bean counters.

Which means, they aren't necessarily using the best drivers and they aren't building with anything other than 3/4" heavy plywood (for the most part), and they are still building 410, 610 and 810 cabs, not because they are ideal configurations but because they are popular and eagerly purchased. That's what the bass playing community at large accepts. If you are building your own, you don't have to accept anything less than the ideal.

Yes, it takes years to understand it, but the more you get into it, the more appealing it becomes. Think of it as another interesting hobby, but one that has a more practical purpose for a bass player.

[rad bassman]

Originally Posted by Sundogue

You have to understand that well engineered cabs that come from the DIY community are doing so with the purpose of making something better. The commercial cab industry is engineering with a purpose too...profit. They build what sells, as cheaply as possible to maximize profits. It doesn't mean they don't make good cabs, but they cut corners where they can to satisfy the bean counters.

Which means, they aren't necessarily using the best drivers and they aren't building with anything other than 3/4" heavy plywood (for the most part), and they are still building 410, 610 and 810 cabs, not because they are ideal configurations but because they are popular and eagerly purchased. That's what the bass playing community at large accepts. If you are building your own, you don't have to accept anything less than the ideal.

Yes, it takes years to understand it, but the more you get into it, the more appealing it becomes. Think of it as another interesting hobby, but one that has a more practical purpose for a bass player.

i think i hear what you are saying, i think i have fallen into a consumer trap, but now climbed out of, ...

i originally wanted to build a 4x10 cab, (ive read that this is a bad idea, still not sure why tho) ive read many posts saying that if using 2 cabs they should match, ideally 2 of the same cab, so thought of building a 2x10 cab identical as i can get to my Warwick 2x10, then theres the issue of matching drivers :S

now im wondering would a fEARful 12/6 or 15/6 (or 2) be a much better option, and sell my existing cabs/store at rehearsal venue just for practice sessions,

its all too easy to conform to what every1 else uses on the circuits i'm on and thus think its the best thing to use, most use a 4x10 or a 1 x15, or both,

i'm just glad that i havent taken the plunge yet and gone for any specific cab as that could be an expensive mistake, i am still undecided what to build tho, lol

[Sundogue]

I'm a bit biased being a fan of two and three way systems, as well as regularly gigging a fEARful 15/6.

There will always be issues with any cab where the same drivers using the same frequency range are loaded side by side. It doesn't matter whether they are high end drivers, or popular cabs. There are issues with the sound depending on where you stand relative to the cab.

How big an issue it is, is a matter of personal choice. Some still love 410's, 610's and 810's and they are fine with it. I'm one who is not happy with that. It does make a difference to me, so I went the DIY route to get what I couldn't from basscabdom.

The easiest path to take is the one that is well worn by others. Blazing new trails or going your own way takes more work, patience and perseverance. I can understand why most want the well worn path.

At the time when neo prices were lower (and IMO, they still aren't all that bad for a 3012LF or 3015LF given how great those speakers are), I built my own fEARful 15/6 for $436 and it weighs 47 lbs. A cab that can take cobs of power, dish out real low end (as in sub 100Hz), maximum clarity all through the frequency range, no matter where you or others are onstage, and allows for just about any tone I want. No way could I find that in basscabdom.