Custom DIY 2x15 cab build

[OldogNewTrick]

i get mine from orange county speaker.
they carry both OEM and aftermarket JBL aluminum ones.
the JBL one's are pricey and the aftermarket ones are reasonable but they're a little larger and have a larger vertical lip on them.

Q: I presume, the weight of the original paper dust cap and a replacement aluminum one are different, resulting in a lighter (or heavier) cone assembly.
That should shift the TSP's of the speaker. Do you recon that to be an issue ?
Is that an issue ?

 

[will33]

Q: I presume, the weight of the original paper dust cap and a replacement aluminum one are different, resulting in a lighter (or heavier) cone assembly.
That should shift the TSP's of the speaker. Do you recon that to be an issue ?
Is that an issue ?

Dustcap material, mass, thickness, porousness, etc. affects mid/high reponse. You're right that it would change the moving mass to some degree. It doesn't seem like it'd be enough to cause an issue but I'm curious as well. Maybe one of the guru's could clarify.

 

[dhsierra1]

Dustcap material, mass, thickness, porousness, etc. affects mid/high reponse. You're right that it would change the moving mass to some degree. It doesn't seem like it'd be enough to cause an issue but I'm curious as well. Maybe one of the guru's could clarify.

I'm hoping the transplant will put the 3015 pretty close to a D/K140 in terms of tone, but w/all that power handling capability and deep lows the JBLs don't quite have in comparison.

 

[will33]

I'm hoping the transplant will put the 3015 pretty close to a D/K140 in terms of tone, but w/all that power handling capability and deep lows the JBLs don't quite have in comparison.

That'd be nice. I would assume the highs would still sound different under high power because the cone/assembly is moving a lot farther, no? Some of this is getting out of my knowledge range, but, it is said whizzer cones don't work as well on high excursion drivers for this reason. If they did, we wouldn't need all the LF specific woofer crossed to mid type stuff.

 

[Joe Louvar]

thanks Duke! coming from you, that means alot to me.

yeah, it's still a toss up for me whether i'll end up running it sealed or ported. when i'm running it ported i can dial most of the wooliness out of it with the bass control on my amps.

i'm also still trying to make my STM900 duplicate my SVT's tone but it's super difficult to capture the 'magic' of the SVT's midrange tone, bloom and punch (i.e it's overall 'voice). even though i really like the streamliner, i just feel alot more 'connected' to the SVT's response. it just feels more natural to me. when i use a VT pedal on the STM900 and it gets it closer, and i've also tried a few compressors to try and duplicate the SVT's attack, but i'm not quite there yet. and i'm going to try a parametric next, just to see what that does for it.

one of my favorite cabs is my 4x12 2512 II V4 cab, but now that i'm getting used to it, i'm starting to like this 2x15 just as much, maybe even more.

the whole idea of making this cab was to have something that is fairly lightweight and will compliment the STM900 so i don't have to haul my heavy rig to every gig, without giving up anything (or at least very little) and i feel like i'm almost there.

Only an SVT sounds like an SVT. So it looks like opening up the ports and rollout whatever you don’t want with the amp is the way to go. From what you’ve written here I have a feeling that you might like the Shuttle 9.2 more than the STM900 - just a thought. And love your 215 - open up those ports and let them big girls breath - yea baby and rule the bottom.

Awesome work John ~

The Starliner 215
http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/2X15/2x15cab-16.jpg

EDIT: hmm, I though it would open the pic here?

 

[dhsierra1]

That'd be nice. I would assume the highs would still sound different under high power because the cone/assembly is moving a lot farther, no? Some of this is getting out of my knowledge range, but, it is said whizzer cones don't work as well on high excursion drivers for this reason. If they did, we wouldn't need all the LF specific woofer crossed to mid type stuff.

hadn't thought of that, thanks. Well, if this at least gets closer to a JBL 15" tone profile than it currently is I'd still be quite happy.

Edit: that said, the D/K140 xmax is 5mm and the 3015 is 5.9. I know a mm added to xmax increases diplacement quite a bit, but compared to the 3015LF's 9.6 mm, I'd say it's not too far off. Again, any of the speaker guru's chiming in here would be appreciated

 

[johnk_10]

Only an SVT sounds like an SVT. So it looks like opening up the ports and rollout whatever you don’t want with the amp is the way to go. From what you’ve written here I have a feeling that you might like the Shuttle 9.2 more than the STM900 - just a thought. And love your 215 - open up those ports and let them big girls breath - yea baby and rule the bottom.

Awesome work John ~

the shuttles are way too thin sounding for me, and don't have the girth or bloom of an SVT. and i actually got the STM900 to sound ALOT more like my SVT by using a presonus EQ3B parametric in the effects loop. it works perfectly in the 900's loop and adds zero noise and retains all of it punch. here's how i have it set right now (and it's very close):

as far as the cab goes, although it sounds great both ways, right now i'm running it sealed to tighten up the low end and accentuate the mids. it also makes it sound a bit more 'focused' and a bit less 'omni'.

 

[will33]

Only an SVT sounds like an SVT. So it looks like opening up the ports and rollout whatever you don’t want with the amp is the way to go. From what you’ve written here I have a feeling that you might like the Shuttle 9.2 more than the STM900 - just a thought. And love your 215 - open up those ports and let them big girls breath - yea baby and rule the bottom.

Awesome work John ~

The Starliner 215
http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/2X15/2x15cab-16.jpg

EDIT: hmm, I though it would open the pic here?

Here you go.....

"

" after it, makes it appear in the post.

 

[johnk_10]

regarding the aluminum caps, the original thick paper ones are a little heavier than the super thin aluminum ones, but once you add the weight of the new glue, they end up about the same. the difference that i hear in the top end (around 3.5-4.5K) is subtle but it does add a little of the JBL 'flavor' and sparkle to it.

 

[Joe Louvar]

Thank you Will.

 

[will33]

regarding the aluminum caps, the original thick paper ones are a little heavier than the super thin aluminum ones, but once you add the weight of the new glue, they end up about the same. the difference that i hear in the top end (around 3.5-4.5K) is subtle but it does add a little of the JBL 'flavor' and sparkle to it.

Sounds like a winner.

 

[johnk_10]

here's a new 'glam shot' of the grill and logo :

 

[Joe Louvar]

the shuttles are way too thin sounding for me, and don't have the girth or bloom of an SVT. and i actually got the STM900 to sound ALOT more like my SVT by using a presonus EQ3B parametric in the effects loop. it works perfectly in the 900's loop and adds zero noise and retains all of it punch. here's how i have it set right now (and it's very close):

as far as the cab goes, although it sounds great both ways, right now i'm running it sealed to tighten up the low end and accentuate the mids. it also makes it sound a bit more 'focused' and a bit less 'omni'.

Maybe I misunderstood, I thought you were rolling back on the STM900 so my first thought was maybe because the STL9.2 isn’t as thick as the STM900 it might get you where you want to go easier - but, never mind now that you’re nailing the sound you want with the parametric (way cool).

 

[Joe Louvar]

here's a new 'glam shot' of the grill and logo :

Awesome

 

[will33]

What a pro job, man. Doesn't look "homemade" in any way.

 

[Joe Louvar]

Bass Candy

 

[koobie]

The cab is a bit on the small side--around 2.4cf net right? That'd probably explain most of the boom.

RP, what internal cab size and tuning would you recommend for two 3015 drivers? As someone who uses 200 and 300 watt amps, my main objective wouldn't be for obtaining the max spl the drivers are capable of, it'd be more about getting the best tone.

 

[nutdog]

Your craftsmanship is very impressive.

 

[Jim C]

RP, what internal cab size and tuning would you recommend for two 3015 drivers? As someone who uses 200 and 300 watt amps, my main objective wouldn't be for obtaining the max spl the drivers are capable of, it'd be more about getting the best tone.

Interested in this answer as well as the changes in cabinet volume if the top speaker was angled slightly toward the player with a 2-piece front baffle board.

 

[johnk_10]

funny, i thought about angling the whole plane of the front baffle just a bit to slightly angle them upward, but i just figured that i can put something under the front of the cab if i really want/need to, since i didn't want to decrease the cab's internal volume.

as far as tone and output with my SVT or STM900, i really couldn't be happier with this cab. i'm sure that greenboy's design would be a more accurate version to get the most out of them, but IMO, two 3015's in a sealed or ported are capable of putting out a ton of sound.

now that mine are breaking in, they're starting to sound less 'peaky'/stiff and i can actually crank them louder before it hurts.