Funny conversation with a co-worker

Phendyr_Loon · #1 11-22-2011, 05:35 PM

So today I was telling a co-worker, who plays guitar and knows everything, about my plans to built a new cab using 1/2" ply and bracing methods which I borrowed from stalking the fearful threads.

Me- I'm building a new bass cabinet, it's gonna be built of plywood to save on weight.

Him- why aren't you using MDF?

Me- because I don't want anything that weights a ton.

Him- that's kind of the point, right?

Me- it will be constructed of mega braced plywood.

Him- but the bass will make the wood flex and over time and delaminate the box.

Me- the area between the braces is 7"x7", I doubt highly anything will be flexing.

Him- but you're going to make the inside corners of the box round right? 45 degree corners inside will make the sound waves bounce wrong.

Me- yeah, I don't know about that.

Him- well the inside corners of Orange amps are all curved inside so the sound waves are never trapped in a corner.

At this point I turned the conversation to Oranges isobaric cabs and he, having no clue what isobaric even means, trailed off into other ways to dispute the building methods which I've been researching for about a year now.

All this was quite funny and the first thing I thought after it all ended was, I gotta get to TB!

BassmanPaul · #2 11-22-2011, 05:50 PM

Where ignorance is bliss it's folly to be wise!

pie_man_25 · #3 11-22-2011, 06:20 PM

wouldn't MDF in terms of pure function be better than plywood due to it's higher density and greater level internal damping though? I'm not trying to side with him on the issue - plywood is stronger (to my knowledge) and lighter and therefore a more popular choice for our purposes - like you said, nobody really wants to carry a cabinet that weichs a half tonne if you can achieve basically the same thing in half the weight just by bracing it properly.

this is all IMO, if I'm wrong on something, please correct me.

makohund · #4 11-22-2011, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phendyr_Loon

45 degree corners inside will make the sound waves bounce wrong.

I don't know, he might be right. In whichever universe a cab with all 45 degree interior corners can be built, who knows how the sound waves might behave.

MuzikMan · #5 11-22-2011, 06:27 PM

It's true that MDF is better than plywood at damping, but it's additional weight and lack of durability make it a poor choice for portable enclosures.

sickest beast · #6 11-22-2011, 06:28 PM

never.... EVER.... go against the science of cabinet building. you will be annihilated by bassists. hahaha

P. Aaron · #7 11-22-2011, 07:23 PM

I'd prefer wood to the MDF stuff 'cause I don't like working with stuff that screws strip out of easily.

dog1 · #8 11-22-2011, 07:37 PM

MDF? Rounded inside corners? Maybe rather than change the subject, you should talk to someone else. Anyway. What do skinny string players know about bass?

steveksux · #9 11-22-2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P. Aaron

I'd prefer wood to the MDF stuff 'cause I don't like working with stuff that screws strip out of easily.

+1000

The entire reason I joined a band so all the stripping and screwing wouldn't revolve around just my cabinets.

Randy

Baron Von Vik · #10 11-22-2011, 07:58 PM

That's when you thank him for his obvious wisdom, sincerity and musical acumen, and tell him you will be counting on him for advice on all future endeavors such as when to take a dump or what flavor of slurpee to get.

Seriously, that was pretty funny. "Delaminate the box." Classic.

billfitzmaurice · #11 11-22-2011, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pie_man_25

wouldn't MDF in terms of pure function be better than plywood due to it's higher density and greater level internal damping though?

No. The only advantages to MDF are it's cheap and it makes a good substrate with a veneered finish. Otherwise plywood is better in every way.

TravTrav · #12 11-22-2011, 11:29 PM

Whenever I hear good music I chase the soundwaves into a corner, so I can listen to them over and over.

Sartori · #13 11-23-2011, 12:26 AM

Lots of great cabs are made with plywood... in fact, for musical instrument speaker cabs, it seems to be the preferred material...

Your friend sounds rather... well, he's got some funny ideas.

Oobly · #14 11-23-2011, 01:36 AM

MDF is preferred by many for home HiFi cabinets, since it is cheap, dense, damps well, is easy to shape and can be covered easily. It isn't very durable, however, and combined with the density it's not as good as plywood for a large portable cabinet. Well braced ply along with some polyester / glass wool damping material is a better choice.

The whole rounded off internal corners thing is an interesting concept. I can see how it would reduce complex interference due to the sharp corners, but not sure it is of any benefit. I would speculate it has minimal effect, if any.

I suspect he will change his tune once he hears the cabinet and picks it up a few times.

BigDaddyMick · #15 11-23-2011, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveksux

+1000

The entire reason I joined a band so all the stripping and screwing wouldn't revolve around just my cabinets.

Randy

Outstanding.

Sneakypete · #16 11-23-2011, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveksux

+1000

The entire reason I joined a band so all the stripping and screwing wouldn't revolve around just my cabinets.

Randy

I really have to know how it worked out for you! All that free love in the 60's (yeah, I'm really that old) I missed out on all that. Well most of it anyway.