has anyone built their own cab?

[singlemalt]

Very true.

I think most guys start out with an idea that it would be cheap and easy to build a cab. Got a driver for free or cheap, got some scraps of plywood, how hard can it be?

I be seen some nice cab rescue projects on TB. A guy will pick up a hammered used cab, do a thorough clean up and Duratex, and he's got a nice cab for cheap.

The TL 606 is a nice starter project that can work with many 15" drivers.

My fEarful 12/6's are coming in around $300, with careful parts shopping and by building the cab from scratch.

But the throwing a box together and guessing at a driver plan almost never yields a winner.

Thankfully, my first few wild stabs are long gone, landfill mulch.

I had to hear a FEarful before I believed.

 

[Foz]

Wow - $300 for a 12/6!

You are one of the few DIY practitioners I can think of who actually got paid for [saved enough to provided a significant return on] his labor. Most of the my projects booty fab'ing something up are at best a big savings on parts versus cost of factory made finished assembly with my time/labor written off as "fun time for Bonzo".

 

[dheafey]

I think building from a set of plans, like Bill Fitzmaurice or fEARfuls, is a great way to get your feet wet. If you then decide to design your own, you'll have a better idea what you're getting into. It requires a huge time commitment, mostly for prototyping. Much of this prototyping will end up as firewood. ;-) Don't forget to throw in crossover design or if your're lucky enough to have an audio electronics savvy friend, all the better.

 

[bassmeknik]

I have dabbled in cab building for 40 years. Today with the internet what took days or weeks to engineer a few decades ago can be accomplished in an hour or two. You will have a rather steep learning curve if you are serious about building a useful bass cab. As you have indicated a limited budget I highly recommend buying used. You will get the most for your money this way hands down.

I have a lot of fun building cabs today but it was a looooong road to get to the point where I can complete a design in an evening using freeware like WINISD. If you are still interested expect to pay more and it to take much longer than anticipated. Also figure on retuning the box (changing the ports-ported box design only) after the first try turns out less than stellar. Just be aware of the science involved. Cab building is 5% wood working and 95% design ime.

Perhaps the easiest way to get started is to use someone elses design so the math/science is done for you. fEarful designs are well respected although I have no personal experience with them.

 

[wcriley]

My fEarful 12/6's are coming in around $300, with careful parts shopping and by building the cab from scratch.

Wow! And I thought I did good building my 12/6s for $300-350...5 years ago!

 

[paparoof]

Pardon me, I'm just gonna set this here.

Sorry - what was the question?

 

[paulears]

I built a pretty impressive looking cabinet - with two channels, and a set of 2 x 10" on one channel and 1 x 15" on the other, so with a twin channel amp, I could have two different tones, and it worked. Too damn huge, of course, but at low volumes it was (and still is) brilliant. However, I learned that all the tips and tricks about bracing were really important, and I'd paid less than good attention. Odd resonances, rattles and buzzes soon emerge when the wellie is increased. I can't use it live, which is a shame as it's truck friendly size wise, with big castors. I even built into the design a 4U rack slot so I could have a line 6 preamp and a big amp in it. The cabinet is exceptionally strong, but a low B at decent volume can make panels that I can stand on (16 stone) flap. I keep meaning to glue in loads of bracing, but never got around to it! I have the tools, and watched Norm's shows on TV, and take shop safety seriously - but bass cabs need serious woodwork!

 

[singlemalt]

I've snagged some good deals on parts from stalled out builders.

Recently picked up the drivers and an assembled CBG crossover for the 12/6 cube: $250.

I decided to go with one handle. I'm still working my way through a gallon of Duratex. Six cabs later.

I love the 12/6's.

I've still got a 15/6/1 for sale: $650.