210 MBE as DIY project - bad idea?

[DJS]

I'm not sure where to post this, but hopefully this is the right place.

Two problems:

1. My GK MB210 needs an extension cabinet.

2. I happen to have a full sheet and a half of leftover 3/4" birch plywood with 3 coats of hand sanded polyurethane.

My thought was to build a stackable, sonic equivalent of a 210MBE, using my MB210 as the template. Except it will be a woodgrain finish, rather than tolex. Heck, I might even put a GK grille, handle and corners on it just for fun.

So - is this a good idea? Or would the sum of the parts cost more than a lightly used factory cabinet?

Any thoughts?

 

[DJS]

83 reads - no replies. Either this is the lamest idea ever, or so brilliant everyone is scrambling to build one and has had no time to reply.

OK - more simple question. What woofers are in the GK MBE210?

 

[Disco Batman]

GK's own Paragon speakers.

 

[tdub0199]

sounds like a good idea and yes GK makes their own speakers.....

 

[CL400Peavey]

3/4" ply is thicker than you need. You can cut weight by using 1/2" and proper bracing if weight is a concern.

 

[DJS]

GK's own Paragon speakers.

Thanks. Looks like this is the one?

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Wow. So for $280 I can get a pair of these woofers only and still be on the hook for grilles, connector, corners, handle, tweeter, and labor. Or for $250 and some patience, I could get the real one used, fully assembled, and shipped.

It's becoming clear now.

 

[billfitzmaurice]

Thanks. Looks like this is the one?

Link Removed

Wow. So for $280 I can get a pair of these woofers only and still be on the hook for grilles, connector, corners, handle, tweeter, and labor. Or for $250 and some patience, I could get the real one used, fully assembled, and shipped.

It's becoming clear now.

You're learning. Where a simple box with a driver or two or even eight thrown in is concerned you can't build one for the price you can buy one for, so it makes no sense. DIY does make sense when you're building a cab with a very high level of engineering that commercial outfits tend not to produce because of the labor costs involved with building them.

 

[PSYCHOTIC]

I plan on building my own cab after I purchase a head.
Sınce cabinets are 4 times the US price where I live and I cant buy them in the states and ship them here since it will cost a fortune and still get stuck at customs.
even a behringer 410 cab around 300 in the states is 1200 here. Everything is overpriced due to tax and music stores ripping people off.
I found dealers for celestion and eminence speakers, and prices are not so different than overseas.
so building a cabinet is cheaper, depending on how much new and used cabinets cost where you live.

 

[DJS]

Thanks for the response, Bill. I’ve read a lot of your posts. In a past life I sold home audio, built some sub enclosures for cars, and was a real speaker junkie. Reading your responses connect a lot of what I knew then about speaker design with what’s relevant in the bass cabinet world.

So bottom line – if I want to use up that nice plywood, I need to build a real cabinet to make it worthwhile. Any suggestions other than the obvious fEARful?

Of course, then I’d need a real amp, too.

 

[DJS]

I plan on building my own cab after I purchase a head.
Sınce cabinets are 4 times the US price where I live and I cant buy them in the states and ship them here since it will cost a fortune and still get stuck at customs.
even a behringer 410 cab around 300 in the states is 1200 here. Everything is overpriced due to tax and music stores ripping people off.
I found dealers for celestion and eminence speakers, and prices are not so different than overseas.
so building a cabinet is cheaper, depending on how much new and used cabinets cost where you live.

Well, do whatever it takes to keep rock and roll in Turkey! Need any plywood? I just read your profile - Precision, Mopar, Auto racing, Dusty Hill, engines etc. Those are some of my favorite things too. My first car was a 340 Duster.

 

[billfitzmaurice]

So bottom line – if I want to use up that nice plywood, I need to build a real cabinet to make it worthwhile. Any suggestions other than the obvious fEARful?

I wouldn't use 3/4 inch on anything that's supposed to be portable. It's used in commercial cabs because it's cheaper to build unbraced or barely braced 3/4" than it is well braced 1/2" cabs, again due to the labor, and once out of the factory they don't have to lug them again.

 

[DJS]

Thanks. I'm sure glad I asked.