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fEARful™ Part Ten (10)

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#1,004
Sundogue said:
Handle placement has been a pet peeve of mine for...ever!

Handles on top of 100+ lb. combos like they were light briefcases. Handles placed so when you pick the cab up it falls over twisting your wrists. Handles mounted so fricking high, you need to do a clean and jerk just to get the cab high enough to even think about walking with it.

Ugh! Man if anyone ever came up with the RIGHT placement of handles on a bass cab, it's greenboy. That is exactly where I would have put them even without his plans. Ergonomics. Finally a handle placement designed by an engineer that actually uses what he designed!!!

But hey, if you need a handle placed somewhere else so your bass can tie to the cab...that is the purpose of a handle, is it not? :smug: One could always get a spring loaded instrument hook to mount on top somewhere. Or even just throw some velcro on top with a velcro strap around the neck attaching your bass neck to the cab (which I think would be simpler and cheaper).

Anyway. Everyone has their reasons for handle placement. I like greenboy's reasons. You do need them to carry it. Might as well make it easier to do so.

My rant done. :D
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You make some great points. However, how does weight factor into it? Being that my cab will be between 31-35LBS I wonder if that might effect handle placement somehow?

I do know that my Compact is 27.4LBS and is extremely easy to move with just one strap type handle on the side. On my nidacore 15/6 I am having one of those steel(?) spring-loaded handles placed on top. The other thing is that I will most likely have to put this cab in the back seat of my car with one of the side handles facing up to grab. Having the handles a bit closer to the top of the cab will make it easier to reach when I am trying to get it out of the back seat. I dont often encounter stairs where I'd have to carry the cab close to my chest, but I will have to deal with the backseat twice a day.
Anyway, I guess I do have reasons for the handle placement choice... but I am still second guessing..... heck I'm no expert at this kind of stuff.
 
#1,005
::::BASSIST:::: said:
You make some great points. However, how does weight factor into it? Being that my cab will be between 31-35LBS I wonder if that might effect handle placement somehow?

I do know that my Compact is 27.4LBS and is extremely easy to move with just one strap type handle on the side. On my nidacore 15/6 I am having one of those steel(?) spring-loaded handles placed on top. The other thing is that I will most likely have to put this cab in the back seat of my car with one of the side handles facing up to grab. Having the handles a bit closer to the top of the cab will make it easier to reach when I am trying to get it out of the back seat. I dont often encounter stairs where I'd have to carry the cab close to my chest, but I will have to deal with the backseat twice a day.
Anyway, I guess I do have reasons for the handle placement choice... but I am still second guessing..... heck I'm no expert at this kind of stuff.
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Well, you gotta go with what works for you. And yeah, a lighter weight makes handle placement less of an issue.

Let us know how you like the cab and where the handles are. It will be helpful to those who might go with nidacore. All I know is the handle placement on the wood fEARful is perfect.
 
#1,006
Put the handles on the side. With how big it is it will be awkward to carry by a single handle on the top.

IF you need to one hand, one hand it from the side handle, it'll be more convenient anyway (shallowest dimension of a fEarful is front to back, so you can make it through doorways this way if need be). And it'll let you extend your arm all the way rather than having to curl it the entire time. :)
 
#1,007
The handle on my 12/6 is on the top. I think it works great for smaller cabs so you can use a one handed carry. I'll do the same for my 12/sub. My 12/sub will also have wheels ala MX21 12/12/6 and will attach to the 12/6 with latches similar to Sundogues dual 10/6 cabs. My driveway is gravel so being able to split up the cabs will help with the load in verses a 12/12/6. Then when I get to the gig I can attach and wheel in. Should be done with the 12/sub in the next few weeks.
 
#1,010
I was still experiencing some vibrations I could not account for.

I knew the ball bearings in my wheels were rattling at high volume although I never really heard it playing live, only in my living room.

However, I was getting some weird vibration going on when I played some deep notes or if I did a faster run on the E or A strings...at high volume. If I put my hand on the back I could feel the back resonating pretty severely. If I pressed on the back hard or put my foot against it, it went away. The massive vibration is only on the back panel and I did all the bracing according to plan...even the additional bracing!

So anyway...I was going to put some skids on the back because I always slide my fEARful into my truck on it's back and the back was getting scraped up a bit. Well, I put the skids on today (made from 1X2 oak strips...actual .75" X 1.5") and I am finding that ALL the vibrations are completely gone. Even the bearings in my wheels don't rattle anymore. When I crank it and play hard through it, there are absolutely NO vibrations to deal with at all.

If I were to build another 15/6, I would definitely add vertical bracing similar in placement to my skids, only on the inside (see pic below). I feel it makes a HUGE difference. I could have taken the speakers and foam out and added bracing but since I was going to add skids anyway this is just perfect.

I'm not sure if anyone else is experiencing back panel vibration at high volume, but if you are...add vertical bracing inside on the back panel between the edges and the brace in the middle. I think you'll notice a big difference.

Haven't painted the skids yet...just got them on and tested. I caulked the underside of them, pushed them on tight and used 7 screws per skid so that it was rock solid tight to the back (wanted to eliminate any vibration of the skids themselves). I love it! I can literally crank my amp through this beast and it is SOLID.

Invalid Link Removed
 
#1,011
cableguy said:
The handle on my 12/6 is on the top. I think it works great for smaller cabs so you can use a one handed carry. I'll do the same for my 12/sub. My 12/sub will also have wheels ala MX21 12/12/6 and will attach to the 12/6 with latches similar to Sundogues dual 10/6 cabs. My driveway is gravel so being able to split up the cabs will help with the load in verses a 12/12/6. Then when I get to the gig I can attach and wheel in. Should be done with the 12/sub in the next few weeks.
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:cool:

I have my 15/6 fEARful on wheels now and I latch my amphead to it (amphead has a handle on the back so I can wheel the whole thing upright or tilted back.

The only time I need to carry it is to lift it down my front steps and to put it in the back of my truck, or up onto (and down from) a stage.
 
#1,013
Sundogue said:
Well, I put the skids on today (made from 1X2 oak strips...actual .75" X 1.5") and I am finding that ALL the vibrations are completely gone. Even the bearings in my wheels don't rattle anymore. When I crank it and play hard through it, there are absolutely NO vibrations to deal with at all.

If I were to build another 15/6, I would definitely add vertical bracing similar in placement to my skids, only on the inside (see pic below). I feel it makes a HUGE difference.
Click to expand...

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
 
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