Do small round speaker grills look cheap to you?

[gjbassist]

I recently picked up a used 210 cabinet that I'm in the process of redoing. It came with the small round grills over both speakers. I have never been a fan of these grills because IMO they look cheap and make the cabinet look like a DIY project instead of a professionally made cabinet. I would like to do a cloth covered grill but part of me feels like I should just repaint the original grills, reuse them and get over my snobbery for the round grills. Just curious what others think of them?

 

[Winfred]

I like them, and I like the other style, too. But I also think this is one of those things no one outside of bassists/guitarists would ever care about.

Do what you think looks the best. And rock that mutha!

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

I suffer from the same snobbery, I think they tend to make a cabinet look DIY. Having said that, there are cases where they "really tie the room together." There's no way I'd replace the round grill on my TNT, I think it's pretty classy:

 

[Zooberwerx]

"Wear it out, use 'em up, make 'em do." - pretty much the philosophy from the Great Depression.

Riis

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I've had them on several previously owned cabs. I feel they look cheap and homemade. But one of their benefits is weight savings as they're lighter than a full metal grill covering the entire front of the cab. Comes down to whether you care more about what other people think or what meets your own requirements - including the aesthetic satisfaction of appearance.

 

[gjbassist]

I suffer from the same snobbery, I think they tend to make a cabinet look DIY. Having said that, there are cases where they "really tie the room together." There's no way I'd replace the round grill on my TNT, I think it's pretty classy:

It looks cool on that amp because it adds to the character.
If I were to keep them I would probably paint them some color other than black and paint the metal cab corners to match. I could also paint the front baffle a different color as well.

 

[Flatbass]

I recently picked up a used 210 cabinet that I'm in the process of redoing. It came with the small round grills over both speakers. I have never been a fan of these grills because IMO they look cheap and make the cabinet look like a DIY project instead of a professionally made cabinet. I would like to do a cloth covered grill but part of me feels like I should just repaint the original grills, reuse them and get over my snobbery for the round grills. Just curious what others think of them?

I really like them because they look cheap and make the cabinet look like a DIY project instead of a professionally made cabinet

 

[DaveDeVille]

I feel they look cheap and homemade.
Comes down to whether you care more about what other people think
or what meets your own requirements - including the aesthetic satisfaction of appearance.

agreed .
i personally don't like the look , but whatever floats your boat ...

 

[edencab]

for Bass cabs, as long as they are METAAAAALLLLL they look fine.....I like either a full square face grille or the round. I like to see my woofers !
I dislike cloth, unless it is see through like on an Aguilar Monster Green
however, IMHO, the light blue sparkly on Ampeg cabs, or the gray Rumble line now: nope nope nope....those are for guitar amps

 

[mbelue]

If it's plastic it looks cheap.
Could be any shape at all, plastic is the killer.

 

[Passinwind]

I love them because they ARE cheap, pretty simple. They were a standard in pro audio for a zillion years because field replacements were quick, easy, and wait for it...cheap. Link Removed

 

[drpepper]

I feel they look cheap and homemade

I share that feeling. The "homemade" part being "a substandard, best-he-could-do (bless his heart)" kind of "homemade."

They also strike me as looking like cheap car audio gear.

Different strokes though...it only matters what you think. I saw where someone put them on a Schroeder and it just has me shaking my head, but he thinks it looks awesome!

 

[mbelue]

They also strike me as looking like cheap car audio gear.

Yeah covered in rat fur and loaded with Kicker, with garish signs talking about. "1000000watts."

The look of wet fart car subs.

 

[mbelue]

I love them because they ARE cheap, pretty simple. They were a standard in pro audio for a zillion years because field replacements were quick, easy, and wait for it...cheap. Link Removed

I wish I had spent more time around pro audio than gangster lowriders.
Might have a different prospective.

 

[Passinwind]

I wish I had spent more time around pro audio than gangster lowriders.
Might have a different prospective.

Yep, I was just about to post something like that. I'm firmly in the form follows function camp in any case, and broadcasting my many aesthetic dislikes here wouldn't go down too well at all, for sure.

 

[Doug Parent]

In the end I think the sound is more important.

 

[Sollie7]

Its just a 210, couldn't cost to much to make a cloth grill for it so you might as well if you're re-doing it anyway.

 

[fdeck]

I think they look cheap because we know they are cheap. But nobody outside of a small circle of people knows that.

 

[Don Kasper]

I had no idea this looks "cheap".
BTW - it sounds "expensive".

 

[B-string]

They are like restoring a classic car and putting $10 Pep Boys "Chrome" plastic hubcaps on the wheels. Just screams "I gave up" to me.