17 lbs.
I probably could have hit my target of 15lbs if I hadn't gone all crazy with the bracing. I won't be pushing this thing hard at all, so it really wasn't necessary.
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1x8 DIY practice cab build
- Thread starter JdoubleH
- Start date
17 lbs.
I probably could have hit my target of 15lbs if I hadn't gone all crazy with the bracing. I won't be pushing this thing hard at all, so it really wasn't necessary.
Before or after, along the next months/years, very probably you'll "feel" the need for a thougher speaker, even if it is not really necessary for the actual usage of the cab. Just to do things "right"... you know...
(you ALREADY know it now, uh?)
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Very nice!! A few questions...
And apologies for my ignorance - but on the interior pic, I can't tell which way is up, where the driver goes etc.
Also, what is the purpose of the 1" holes? To lighten weight? Does this not affect sound?
What was the total cost?
This is a great looking cab, and an interesting project that is very useful for those of us who run across similar situations. (I have a family Christmas get-together with acoustic instruments). I'd be interested in more of a how-to, if you have the time.
And apologies for my ignorance - but on the interior pic, I can't tell which way is up, where the driver goes etc.
Also, what is the purpose of the 1" holes? To lighten weight? Does this not affect sound?
What was the total cost?
This is a great looking cab, and an interesting project that is very useful for those of us who run across similar situations. (I have a family Christmas get-together with acoustic instruments). I'd be interested in more of a how-to, if you have the time.
Short answer, yes and not much. Long answer:
If one's good, two's better, right? In theory, yes double the box + a little more for the internal displacement of the second driver, however I don't know if it would buy you anything really useful for electric bass. Where this shines is at low volume.
Remember this is a cheap non-pro-audio speaker. Rated power with two would only give you 140w handling at 4 or 16 ohms. Also the weight and size penalty would negate the main point of the cab for me. If it is high output in a small form factor you seek, it will require a different driver.
It looks like about 25 watts will drive this to xmax at 60hz.
The PTC I used should limit it to around 20w continuous.
Good points. The thing serves it's purpose nicely as it is. An ultra compact, inexpensive practice/acoustic level jam cab that sounds like a bass. Well done.
The bracing with the holes were total overkill, and an unnecessary complication. Basically, none of the bracing is crucial, given the small panel sizes and the very low power capability of the thing. I could have just glued it up without any bracing and it would sound fine for its intended application.
As I stated earlier, the shelf brace was actually the template I used to route the handle recess opening. It got nicked slightly during the routing due to a little carelessness, so I knew I wouldn't be using it again on another cabinet. I didn't want it to go to waste, so I had the idea to use it to help align the panels when gluing them up.
The holes were to reduce how much volume it displaced in the box as well as limit the weight penalty.
It does add an incredible amount of stiffness, but again, it is overkill and totally unnecessary. And it didn't help that much in gluing up the panels- in fact it just gave me one more thing to try to keep aligned while I clamped it!
I don't have a figure on the total cost handy. Here are some of the parts used:
Sheet of Arauco ply was about $33 (used less about a third)
Driver MCM 55-2971 $7.90 currently
Handle MCM 555-13533 $6.69, PE has them too (Penn Leather Look Strap Handle)
Corners: Parts Express 262-835 $.63 ea x8 ($5.04)
Feet: Parts Express 248-8784 set of 4 $4.58
Grill: PE 260-424 $6.90
Neutrik plug: - had on hand, but PE #092-058 $2.39
PTC - Raychem Polyswitch RXE110 PE# 071-262 $1.50
The speaker cable is also from Parts Express, but anything suitable will work. You'll also need some thick gasket tape for the bottom of the driver and the bottom of the mounting ring for the grill if you use the same one.
Before or after, along the next months/years, very probably you'll "feel" the need for a thougher speaker, even if it is not really necessary for the actual usage of the cab. Just to do things "right"... you know...(you ALREADY know it now, uh?)
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I don't know how that would model in a sealed box, haven't tried it, but several things come to mind- weight (about double), output - way more than I need in this application, and cost ($180 USD ?).
Actually, the one short coming I have found is the upper limit. Not for bass, but for music. With my 12t, I often plug my ipod into the aux-in and practice that way. With an upper limit of maybe 6k (if I'm lucky), this doesn't work all that well. I would be happy with a good 8" wizzy in this application- Pioneer made one a while back, but it's been discontinued (and would have required a ported box).
So If I were to do another one like this, I think I would forgo the ridiculous shelf brace, mount the driver lower, and add something for HF above it.
+1
With that 8's response and spl, you could just graft a piezo on it with a simple filter, keeping the cheap/easy thing happening. Not needed for bass but would help with music playback, playing along with songs, etc.
I did a quick comparison of Avezzano's suggestion of the Faital Pro 8PR200 in this box as a drop in replacement. Orange is the current MCM driver, yellow is the 8PR200:
The F3 is around 150hz. I could port it and get an f3 closer to what I have now, but the cutoff would be much steeper. I also couldn't fit an adequately sized port for that driver in this box.
I think if I wanted power handling and a ported design, I might just have considered TB110 . It's even smaller and weighs 11 lbs. I think I asked Jeff Genzler about using that little cab with the Shuttle 6 at one point - intending it for just this purpose. Actually, I think my question was about ordering it with a saddle to fit the 6. The answer? No, they couldn't officially provide or support that config.
I think if anyone wants something with a little more power handling and output, perhaps the TB110 might be a better place to start.
The F3 is around 150hz. I could port it and get an f3 closer to what I have now, but the cutoff would be much steeper. I also couldn't fit an adequately sized port for that driver in this box.
I think if I wanted power handling and a ported design, I might just have considered TB110 . It's even smaller and weighs 11 lbs. I think I asked Jeff Genzler about using that little cab with the Shuttle 6 at one point - intending it for just this purpose. Actually, I think my question was about ordering it with a saddle to fit the 6. The answer? No, they couldn't officially provide or support that config.
I think if anyone wants something with a little more power handling and output, perhaps the TB110 might be a better place to start.
- Nov 24, 2008
- 4,343
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- Disclosures
- Owner & designer, AudioKinesis; Auth. mfg, Big E (Home Audio only)
a possibility would be to cut it on the bottom panel and put wheels at the corners, so it would be a nice additional... "stool", too, when it is around the office doing nothing!!!
More seriously, about the 8" in general not really suited for bass, I dare to remind (but you know this!) that there are some (not so many, just some) cabs using 8" (Baby Blue, Markbass 804, Accugroove Minigroove), 6" (Markbass 604, Minimark) and even 5" (Phil Jones: various models) with remarkable overall results. Surely not suited for... heavy metal!!!
Accugroove Minigroove
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Phil Jones 4B
About the cost: since your beautiful, robust cabinet... just deserves it (mvho opinion of a bassaholic, uncapable to actually... "rest" on anything!!!), you have plenty of much cheaper options around. Look below (just trying to tempt you hard!):
FANE SOVEREIGN 8-225 - Thomann UK Cyberstore
Thomann various loudspeakers 8_inch
For sure in USA you can find something not so expensive but apt anyway to improve the cab and make it a real little monster, if you wish so, naturally!!! Just talkin'; also because I am currently into building myself a small home practice/pub cab; but I must admit that I followed a... much wilder approach, wrt yours!!!
More seriously, about the 8" in general not really suited for bass, I dare to remind (but you know this!) that there are some (not so many, just some) cabs using 8" (Baby Blue, Markbass 804, Accugroove Minigroove), 6" (Markbass 604, Minimark) and even 5" (Phil Jones: various models) with remarkable overall results. Surely not suited for... heavy metal!!!
I agree that the single 8 is not really suited to bass (except maybe as a mid with a larger driver handling the low end). In this form factor, a single 10" might go much louder and handle a great deal more more power. Obviously this 8" driver is not up to the task of covering a small coffee house, unless perhaps mic'd and run through a PA. Even then, it is very limited in it's output.
But again, I was aiming for what equates to a near field monitor for bass at low volume. In that role, this works well.
If the price of Neo hadn't gone up so much, you would have had better choices, but you can't complain much about an $8 woofer. It fits your intended goals. I like your cab, and I like the integrated speaker cable, and recessed handle. It's obvious you like to build your own cabs, and are good at it. Awesome job!
The TB110, or at least a box of its size and tuning, is about the same size as this, but it's obviously a lot more expensive to get the speaker. It has a pretty decent upper freq response. I gig with a version of it and it works well.
Wes
The TB110, or at least a box of its size and tuning, is about the same size as this, but it's obviously a lot more expensive to get the speaker. It has a pretty decent upper freq response. I gig with a version of it and it works well.
Wes
Thanks Duke! I certainly wasn't going for intimidation with this, and you certainly wouldn't feel any if you had seen how much bondo this required...
