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Build your own cabinet - bad idea or really bad idea?

placedesjardins

placedesjardins

May 7, 2012
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#1
So I'm still researching getting a bass amp in either micro head plus speaker or combo form. I have a limited budget.
So then I was thinking, people make their own sub-woofer cabinets for their cars. These people aren't rocket scientists or genius PhD people, just everyday people who can assemble things with hand tools.
What if I buy a big bass amp head and make my own speakers?
I'm talking from scratch with lumber to cut and stuff, separate input thingy and speakers, not pre-fabbed kits. I'm not a master carpenter or electrician, but have done some do-it-yourself stuff like fixing my car, install wood flooring in my house, and electric appliance repair. I don't expect to be making something that will run GK out of business. Just something that is functional and made by me.
 
#2
Building a quality bass cab is maybe %10 of the work, designing it is the other %90. As a person that built their own cabinet, there is no way I could design a bass cab. There is some serious science that goes into it. A guitar cab is a different story.

Car subs are generally not tuned, at least to my knowledge. The guys I know that make them, even professionally, just use a standard cubic volume for every driver, they base it off driver size. I wouldn't design my bass cab that way, I would design a cabinet around a driver(s) based on what I wanted to achieve tonally.
 
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#7
If you follow the plans of a successful design all the scientific work has been done for you. The tearful cabinets get a lot of love here as do the designs of Bill fitzmaurice. You'll need to follow the plans exactly. You'll have to buy the correct drivers as specified. Cheapening out here is a way to disappointment. Don't expect to save a lot of money over bought. Quality has quality costs. What you WILL get is an enclosure that could well last you a lifetime.
 
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#8
it's not that difficult.
I've done it, and it was not bad.
first try actually turned out pretty good, not pretty, but functional.
paid about $80 in materials, including jack plate, lumber, wire.
I already had the speaker, so that was free.
Sold it for $150.
made another one, a little bit nicer, with better specs for the 15" speaker I was using. an older JBL I had sitting around.
covered it with vinyl, put shiny corners on it.
improved on the baffle install. (used a heavier piece of wood)
I learned that I had to drill pilot holes first, then glue together, let set, THEN assemble with screws.
came out pretty nice, I used for a while at the practice space, for some small gigs, etc.
Sold for $250 with the old JBL.

Is it worth the time and effort vs. buying a used cab on craigslist ?
I dunno, maybe.
Did I have fun doing it ? YES!

Best part ? playing it out, getting compliments on my tone, then telling the dude that I MADE the cabinet MYSELF.
That is why there is no logo on it.

Try it, have fun, sell it when you are done to someone who cares.
 
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#9
DIY has advantages when there isn't a commercially available product to fill the needs one has. Counterintuitively, DIY isn't the lowest cost approach to a decent bass rig for most people. Informed and patient craigslist hunting trumps DIY.

Another insight - if you are strong - there are some amazingly good sounding but heavy rigs on the used market.
 
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#10
With a "limited budget" you may come out ahead by holding out for a good deal on a used cab. Of course, you should test drive it and make sure it works properly. By the time you purchase all of the parts, including a decent driver, you could probably find something already put together for about the same price.
 
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#13
There are lots of DIY cabinet designs on this site.
You can find allot of them here..
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/amp...overunderpowercabs-diy-techtalk-links.166225/

I recommend building at least a 1x12 or 1x15. Better bang for your buck than a 2x10 or 2x12 etc. More drivers per cabinet=larger investment and less advantage over buying used.
8x10s can be found used for $400-$600 all day in some places where as a full featured DIY fearful 12/6/1(like mine) can cost almost as much and still be less than half as loud.

Cheap and DIY don't often go hand in hand.
That being said, I'm real proud of the cabinet I built. Hard to buy that DIY pride.
 
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#14
Hi.

placedesjardins said:
I have a limited budget.
Click to expand...

Limited like: "not enough for a commercial used cab"

Or

Limited like: "I want something better than I can buy new for the same price".

If the former, a bad idea. You won't be able to buy the driver(s) for the price of a cab.
If the latter, a reasonably good idea. If You don't count the hours...


placedesjardins said:
Just something that is functional and made by me.
Click to expand...

Good idea.


BassmanPaul said:
If you follow the plans of a successful design all the scientific work has been done for you. The tearful cabinets get a lot of love here as do the designs of Bill fitzmaurice. You'll need to follow the plans exactly. You'll have to buy the correct drivers as specified. Cheapening out here is a way to disappointment. Don't expect to save a lot of money over bought. Quality has quality costs.
Click to expand...

+1

Unless You go for honeycomb/composite route or use other advanced building techniques for weight savings (if even then), there's not much point in duplicating existing designs. Not moneywise anyway.

The fEarfuls and BFM's Paul there mentions are a different thing, You won't be able buy a commercial one for the same price.

Out of those two, I'd personally choose BFM.

Nothing wrong with fEarful's, quite the contrary, but horn loaded cab designs IMO offer better price/benefit ratio in DIY than probably anything.


BassmanPaul said:
What you WILL get is an enclosure that could well last you a lifetime.
Click to expand...

I have couple of those stashed away as well...

One that is too good to part with, some that are too ugly to anyone wanting to buy 'em ;).

Regards
Sam
 
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#15
I've built several cabinets from the old EV TL designs,a single 12" and a single 15", with good results.If you have decent skills and the needed tools it's not difficult.Like others said,there are many designs available on the web.I used Baltic birch plywood for mine but regular old plywood will work,I'd advise against particle board just because it's so much heavier.I can't say about any cost savings because I already had the speakers.
 
#16
I prefer to have the cab built for me, than trying to do it myself. I've managed to build some nice birdhouses, but, when it comes to more complicated stuff, like a bass cab, I'd rather let the pro guys do it.
 
#17
I have mixed feelings on this subject. I've built several speaker cabinets, including hi-fi and also bass cabinet speakers. I find it very satisfying to do it myself, and the things I've learned by building them apply to purchase decisions, maintenance and diagnostics, etc.

If you discount your own labor enough, then putting a speaker in a (well designed) box can sound quite good and probably be done for about the same or less than you could buy a comparable cabinet new. If you're building crossovers and using multiple drivers then it gets much more difficult to break even. Add in the cost of the little things like handles, corner guards, surface treatments (tolex/rat fur/bedliner), grilles, jack plates, etc. and you've lost any financial edge. Cutting corners in this area can lead to savings, but then it's no longer a direct comparison. I think the large manufacturers just have too much financial advantage due to bulk purchasing, economies of scale, etc.

Some reasons for DIY include:
* You just want the experience. Nothing wrong with this, I would encourage anyone that is interested to at least try it once.
* You have a design constraint that isn't met in the mass market. This could mean a specific size, shape, or aesthetic design, or something like lightweight, etc. Could also include wanting higher end components than are available in mass-produced speakers (e.g. fEARful)
* You have a (good) driver that needs a box. Odds of getting a good sound are better if you match the box to the driver.

My most recent creation was building a box for a 10" driver that I had sitting around. I wanted lightweight and didn't care so much about it getting banged up so I skipped corner protectors and just used auraco ply with a clear surface treatment. I mounted it to a rolling cart to make it extra portable. It fits a need that I couldn't easily (or cheaply) find in a factory-made cabinet.

As an aside, I see a lot of builders trying to make their cabinets look like something that was factory produced. I have moved away from this, and would rather make mine look like original or novel in some way. If you're going to do a one-off creation, why not let it look like the unique creation that it is?

Enjoy
 
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#18
Interceptor said:
DIY has advantages when there isn't a commercially available product to fill the needs one has. Counterintuitively, DIY isn't the lowest cost approach to a decent bass rig for most people. Informed and patient craigslist hunting trumps DIY.

Another insight - if you are strong - there are some amazingly good sounding but heavy rigs on the used market.
Click to expand...
All very good advice
 
#19
I've got a few good speakers inexpensively the DIY way, with a couple caveats.

A. I already own tools.

B. I don't put a price on my time.

I'd say anybody should do it once, just for the learning experience if nothing else.

Maybe twice, to apply things learned the first time to the second (hopefully better) creation.

There are several various build plans out there as well as several from-scratch builds here on TB if you want to go that way. Doing your own design is the most work, and most risk, but also most rewarding (if it turns out good. :) ).
 
#20
oh, and another thing I learned in my cabinet building adventures...
USE GOOD CASTERS!
no sense in saving a few dollars / euros for cheap casters.
I did that when I built my first guitar cabinet, and I regretted it.
Found a great place near my studio that has a great selection.
I put super heavy duty casters on every cab after that, because if a girl gets on top of it and wants to dance on it, you gotta make sure it can handle the stuff inside the cab, whatever amp is on top, and a girly on top of that.
 

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