Putting a strap handle on my Avatar neo 210

[dminer]

So, I just got my brand new Avatar neo 210 bass cab last week and I'm loving it! Except, I really would like to have a heavy duty old fashioned strap handle on the top of it to help me navigate it through my house (through 5 doorways and a narrow hall) when I'm loading up for a gig or rehearsal. It's pretty unwieldy trying to use the side handles to navigate through my house maze.
It looks like I could carefully remove the jack/horn plate from the rear and get access to the underside of the top to insert the t-nuts for the bolts to thread into from the top...but, before I try this or even order the strap and hardware I'd like some opinions or maybe even a how to from someone who has already done this mod... If I'd thought of it when I ordered the cab I would have asked Avatar to install a strap for me...DOH!!! Thanks, dm

[snyderz]

Can't answer your question directly, but you could run a strap though both side handles over the top, and it would serve the same purpose.

[Petebass]

I've done this mod to other speaker cabs in the past. I found it best to remove the grill and both speakers. Not only does it give better access, but drilling holes inevitably drops sawdust inside the cab. If it ends up inside your speakers, it could cause problems.

You'll have to pay attention that you wire it up exactly the same as you found it.

[will33]

Originally Posted by dminer

It looks like I could carefully remove the jack/horn plate from the rear and get access to the underside of the top to insert the t-nuts for the bolts to thread into from the top

Looks like you've answered your own question.

Couple tips, it may be easier and have more room to manuever by removing the side handles, or even the grill and a speaker. Also find the center of balance of the cabinet to figure out where to put the handle. You can do this by taking anything round like a piece of pipe, rolling pin, broom handle, whatever and setting the cab on top of it. Find the left to right balance point and make a mark, then turn it to find the front to back balance point and make a mark. That's where the center of the handle goes. On a cab like that, the left/right balance is probably right in the middle but the front/back could be a little off, you'll have 2 speakers and a shelf port in the front and just the wood panel in the back.

Or you could just pick it up by one of the side handles and let it hang down by your leg.

[dminer]

Thanks for the replies...It sounds like petebass' way is the best and safest....Yea, if I'm gonna drill, I better remove the speakers...and thanks will33 for the center of balance tip. I have tried grabbing it by one handle but going through 5 narrow doorways I think it'd be a lot easier with a strap handle...meanwhile....I believe that snyderz's tip is the temporary solution.... it's so simple and logical that I would have never thought of it...I'll give it a test and see how it handles....thanks to all for your suggestions and tips...dm

[Petebass]

One more tip about locating the "centre of balance". Do it with the cab completely in tact. I've seen people do it when the cab's grill was removed, only to find the centre of balance changed when the weight of the grill was added back, and the handle ended up in the wrong position as a result.

I tend to do it right at the beginning before I remove anything, using a black marker to discretely indicate where the handle will go and where the holes will be drilled.