fEarful 12/6 build by blakelock

[blakelock]

first test

hrmmm... i'd say, positively bad ass.


next session....sounding great.

the warbling is gone. the bottom is fatt. i'm in love. when i decide to move on to the finial finish, i'll post some more pics.

NOTE: i found the balanced position for installing the side handle. i did this by setting the cab on it's side and rolling the titebond glue bottle under the cab. i moved the bottle around until the cab felt perfectly balanced then marked the bottle position with a pencil. i did this in both directions to find the balanced position (which is slightly different than the mid point of the side panel). this technique is basically the same as used here, but i used a larger rolling implement.

 

[Swift713]

nice

 

[timbledum]

Gah!!! Want!!! Nice basses btw as well. Good combo.

 

[jazzblade]

blakelock:

Nice build.What did that bad boy come out weighing and, did you cut the ply of purchase a kit from someone else?
It looks like it can be built with one sheet of ply. (figuring out my budget ATM)

Thanks!

 

[Swift713]

That was a cut kit from yours truly. It was made from one sheet of 5'x5' Baltic Birch. The wood weighs about 25 lbs.

 

[JimmyM]

that's a little hottie!

 

[behndy]

very nice.

i'm really interested in the fEarful builds.

 

[blakelock]

that's a little hottie!

why thank you devoJB. i'm loving the sound...although, it's really a touch too big for my jazz and church groups. ironically, i'm using the 12/6 as a practice cab! but, of course, if any bigger gigs come along, i'll be ready (or at least my cab will be )

some stats:
- cab now weighs 41 lbs
still needs speaker grills and cabinet finish. i would've liked it lighter but not sure what simple steps i could've taken.

- total cost for me was ~$550 + my labor
the speakers, cut kit, and x-over components alone totaled $460 (i went with alphalite which is $50 more than regular alpha). also, i splurged on spray adhesive ($20) and polyfill ($18) and other odds/ends that i probably could've scrounged if i thought ahead. i haven't payed for grills or cab finish yet (i'll stain it).

good luck and feel free to PM or post me with ???'s.

 

[praisegig]

Great looking cabinet and system. I just finished mine. Yeah, I really like the sounds out of my 12/6. Gotta a gig tomorrow night to test it out, don't think it will be disappointing at all.

 

[Aram]

Very nice ^^ What's the weight on that thing?

 

[toobalicious]

Assembling the box


assembling sides to baffle (back panel is wedged in place but not glued yet)

haha... you brew too? i like your weight!

 

[blakelock]

haha... you brew too?

oh yeah! i worked through quite a few homebrews finishing this project. hhhrrrmm. homebrew beer, homebrew speaker cab, ... must say something about me??!!

 

[praisegig]

Very nice ^^ What's the weight on that thing?

Mine weighs out at 44 lbs even.

 

[kuys]

Any builders in the crowd? Also where can I find the plans? I've looked thru the threads and I can't seem to fine them.

 

[praisegig]

Any builders in the crowd? Also where can I find the plans? I've looked thru the threads and I can't seem to fine them.

http://www.talkbass.com/wiki/index.php/Fearful™_12/6_&_15/6

For the plans
Link Removed

 

[blakelock]

getting near the final steps for my cab.

here's my attempt at a grill. using a metal grill screwed to the grill stand-offs is far easier but i really like the look of a smooth cloth grill. so i used the grill stand-offs as my cloth grill frame.

here, i trimmed the frame around the mid driver.

this image shows how i trimmed the frame corners to connect securely.

after trimming the frame up, i glued it together. when the glue was barely set, i placed it on the cab and wedged some cardboard along the edge . this was to keep the frame square while it dried.

i didn't really know the proper technique for screening but just started stapling away while keeping it tight yo!

final product. the cloth seems like peavey style heavy duty cloth.

in the end, it turned out ok but is very tight going into the cabinet. i should've made the frame with ~1/8" clearance space on all sides to more easily go on and off.

next post: final finish! (aka, unintentional distressed look...)

 

[blakelock]

alright. here's my ~final step. i've decided to go with a dark stain + black hardware and grill. was originally planning black tolex with ~gray grill cloth but figured i could stain first and if i didn't like it, tolex over it.

as you'll soon see, i'm not exactly a pro woodsman. although i can route the hell out of some edges...just don't count on me to know when to stop!!

you'll also see that the baltic birch plywood chipped up a bit when i routed it. not sure why. when finished, it gave the cabinet a bit of a "distressed look". not what i was after but acceptable.

exhibit A (aka, "oh, so that's how a router works")
p.s. fortunately, my black metal corner piece covered meesa accidente.

i mounted the cab face down on a box and did all my pre-stain wood conditioner treatment, 2 coats stain, and 3 coats polyuerathane in this configuration.

first coat of stain...think it's called cherry mahogany...

awww, helll yeahh

tip of the hat

with grill jammed in place. it's really tight so i didn't even have to use velcro or anything. also forgot to install pull tabs on grill so will have to pry it off if needed.

pic of the whole family to give scale....

 

[Ol'Bass'ead]

Looks real good!

 

[Swift713]

nice!

 

[jlepre]

So what was the final cost for materials. Also how many hours did it take to finish?

Oh and how does it sound with the Shuttle 9?

Was this an 8 or 4 ohm?

I wonder how well it will handle a low B?

Beautiful!