How does a well built DIY 112 cab compare?

[byacey]

Thanks guys. I appreciate all the input. Yeah it would be nice if someone had A/B'd an Aguilar or Bergantino cab against there 2512 or 3012 build but that might be asking too much. I did demo a new Berg HDN210 for $1200 and it was fine but nothing I had to take home with me so it got me thinking. I'll have to price the build out and think about how much work it will be sans finishing cosmetics.

• I've got a Fearful 15/6 which I bought used. Its a little too much for what I need and a little too tall but a great cab. Something smaller thats what I call modern vintage sounding would be ideal (extended lows and highs not required).
  
• Buying used is tough up here and by the time I pay exchange and shipping from the US or even down east it doesn't make sense.
  
• No Hartke up here
  
• I have checked out the Basschat build and Winisp and such. Following an existing design should take most of the experimentation out of it. One of the reasons I like the AK Hathor 1203 design is because you can easily change its tune. Some of that could be incorporated into a DIY build.
• I did look at the 3012HO. I think it costs the same as the 2512. For some reason I thought it had a narrower range but maybe not.
  
• Yeah resale won't be good but then again the used market isn't hot for much these days

I've become partial to the eminence BP122, they aren't that heavy, have a substantial magnet / coil, and have decent power handling specs, most of all, they sound good and are priced well.

If you have the tools and woodworking skills, you can easily put together a good cabinet. Here's my latest build, (a few years back)

 

[carlos 1955]

It’s alot of work and $$ if you want to build a cab, you needs the tools the material and the knowledge. To have really good results it’s more than checking out a youtube video and get up and go. I would simply just buy one of a good brand that already suits your needs. Plus you won’t have resell value with something done at home. The compagnies have the tool and the knowledge and buy tons of material a year so they have a cheaper price. just figure out the cost and the time your going to spend ont it !
my 0,02$

 

[byacey]

It’s alot of work and $$ if you want to build a cab, you needs the tools the material and the knowledge. To have really good results it’s more than checking out a youtube video and get up and go. I would simply just buy one of a good brand that already suits your needs. Plus you won’t have resell value with something done at home. The compagnies have the tool and the knowledge and buy tons of material a year so they have a cheaper price. just figure out the cost and the time your going to spend ont it !
my 0,02$

Manufacturers may buy the materials cheaper in quantity, but they also need to mark up the end product to make a profit. If one already has the tools and ability, the end result can far surpass a commercial offering in quality, even after paying the additional percentage on materials. Besides, you might also learn a thing or two, which never hurts. (unless it winds up in being a lesson of what not to do )

Additionally, if you don't have the tools and ability, having a friend who does can certainly be of great benefit.

From my perspective, resell value means nothing. If the cabinet is good and suits your needs / likes, why would you want to sell it?

 

[bassliner50]

I like the stop and backup lights you mounted on top. Unique!

 

[Redbrangus]

Only thing we didn’t ask is if he’s an experienced cab builder..... Besides that the advice was sound.

I never said the advice wasn't sound...much of it was. But my interpretation of the OP was this: "I want to build a cab for fun, possibly using Eminence's guidelines, using this Eminence driver. Do you guys think the sound would be at least somewhat comparable to that of a boutique cab?" He asked nothing about building cabs, about the potential resale value, whether it would save him any money, etc. Once again, someone asked for the time and we started discussing how to build a watch.

 

[chadds]

My friend is a moderator on the Telecaster discussion forum. Over there we aren’t to tell people how to behave on a forum.

You used the words your interpretation. None of us can decide the motivation of every poster. Sorry but hearing the OP’s response seems he took it all with joy. I used the example you didn’t quote to show how distinctly answering an OP’s question isn’t helpful. Some of the advice here is purely trying to save others from reinventing the wheel or buying a Monster powerstrip.
If anyone missed that, search that.
Thanks for reading.

 

[Redbrangus]

I used the word interpretation because I was attempting to clarify what the OP had said. What he actually said is this:

In the meantime, just for fun, I was thinking about building a single driver tweeterless Deltalite 2512 II cab based on the Eminence design. How will this compare with the higher end 'off the shelf' cabs such as....

So I'm not sure how I was deciding the motivation of the OP.

I used the example you didn’t quote to show how distinctly answering an OP’s question isn’t helpful.

I don't know what "the example you (I) didn't quote" means, but I get that you think "distinctly answering an OP's question isn't helpful."

Over there we aren’t to tell people how to behave on a forum.

And I don't see how my observation that many of the responses were not what one would call 'responsive' is telling people how to behave, but I'll leave you to your own 'interpretation'.

Cheers

 

[Llewellen]

I've been mulling over a new 1 x 12 cab purchase. I'll probably order a Hathor 1203 but delivery time is long. In the meantime, just for fun, I was thinking about building a single driver tweeterless Deltalite 2512 II cab based on the Eminence design. How will this compare with the higher end 'off the shelf' cabs such as an Aguilar DB112 or Bergantino Reference 112 or such? Will it be in the same ballpark or are cabs like this with custom drivers (I assume) better engineered?

I think it might be like a lot of other DIY things in life - after you have done one or two projects you finally figure out how to do it well

Someone knowledgeable in such matters told me that speaker design and building comprises physics and art. You can get a theoretical, modeled alignment using T/S parameters and software but then such things as cab shape, internal deflectors, sound absorbers, port size and positioning etc. may end up being a matter of trial and error tuning by ear. I think it could be bigtime fun but don't expect nirvana with the first iteration.

 

[matti777]

Port length and dampening are pretty easy to change if you plan for it. I suspect that if I get the cabinet design in the ballpark volume wise and brace and seal properly I'll do alright. I was just curious as to its potential. Like everything else, its the imperfections and compromises that give the cab character.

 

[matti777]

I've become partial to the eminence BP122, they aren't that heavy, have a substantial magnet / coil, and have decent power handling specs, most of all, they sound good and are priced well.

If you have the tools and woodworking skills, you can easily put together a good cabinet. Here's my latest build, (a few years back)

Is this the BFM Simplexx design?

 

[dBChad]

I have built quite a few cabs. It's not cheap to do (although I have a wholesale account on account of having a tax ID for a "side hustle" speaker manufacturing line I dabble with), although the results can be better than anything off the shelf in the same price range.

My bass cab is a modification of a Bill Fitzmaurice design. It's a 3 way close in size to an Ampeg 410HLF but much lighter. I loaded it with a B&C 12CL64 and a 90x90 tweeter. I re-tightened the grill cloth after I took that picture and covered it in truck bed liner. It's a nice cab and serves me very well, although I'm glad I made my own adaptations of the original plans. Strongest Low B I've ever heard from a single cab.

The second I built for the guitarist I play with. It's a 2x12 with Celestion Vintage 30s. Vintage 30's love oversized sealed back cabs, and guitar cabinets are pretty forgiving, so we built it wide enough for his combo vertically and tall enough to be laid on it's side and fit a head. Covered in the same Tolex Mesa uses with Marshall black grill cloth. The big physical size and staggered driver arrangement make this cab sound bigger than it is.

The turquoise cab is a 1x12 that tilts back like a wedge monitor or sits upright for backline use. It was built to match the guitar (although I couldn't find a Tolex exactly the same shade). It's loaded with a B&C 12PE32 which handles 250W. In that small sealed cab, it makes 101dB 1W/1M, so it can take every bit of a Marshall/Mesa/et al head and output the equivalent of a typical 2x12. Even at wholesale pricing, the B&C driver that makes that welter weight of a cab punch above it's weight class is expensive.

For the price of building these cabs, I could have bought a used cab; but I really enjoy woodworking, I understand impedance matching and pressure dynamics, and I am willing to see to details that get left out of the mass manufacturing process. Building your own cabs can be very rewarding, but it's not cheap or easy. Taking your time can pay off though.

 

[matti777]

I think it might be like a lot of other DIY things in life - after you have done one or two projects you finally figure out how to do it well

I think the purpose of using the speaker mfg's design info, cab software and reviewing other people's builds will minimize the 'reinvent the wheel' approach (hopefully)

 

[Redbrangus]

It's not rocket science, and it's certainly not the voodoo that some folks seem to think. There are really only a few variables to play with once you've chosen the driver. Starting from the manufacturer's recommendation would be an excellent place to start. From there, you can play around all you want, within reason, whether it's in a software program or on the actual box. As you have correctly observed, it's not too difficult to allow for adjustments to port dimensions in the original construction, especially if you use round ports. Good luck if you proceed with this project...consider keeping us posted as to how it's going. Eh?

 

[micguy]

If you use the proper simulation tools and do a few designs, you’ll inevitably come to the realization that most commercially available cabinets are smaller than what’s ideal for performance - the desire for portability drives this.

What this means is you can build a better performing (though larger) cabinet from a DIY project. You do have to know the theory and have good woodworking skills to pull it off.

 

[byacey]

Is this the BFM Simplexx design?

It is.

For the $15.00 or so that he charges for the plans, it's money well spent for concise, accurate plans for a tested and proven design.

 

[ofajen]

I built up a 1x12 using an Eminence design (the ever-popular medium vented cab) for the Delta 12 LFA. A key benefit was that I had some nice old plywood pieces in the shed that I wanted to find a use for and they worked to just build up that cabinet with very little waste. And the cabinet sounds great!

Otto

 

[byacey]

I built up a 1x12 using an Eminence design (the ever-popular medium vented cab) for the Delta 12 LFA. A key benefit was that I had some nice old plywood pieces in the shed that I wanted to find a use for and they worked to just build up that cabinet with very little waste. And the cabinet sounds great!

Otto

When the wood is essentially free, it makes building your own a more attractive option.

 

[Blues Bass 2]

One thing to think about with the Deltalite 12 is that the power handling using the Eminence cab specs is about 175 watts . The Deltalite 2512 II is pretty efficient so it doesn't take much power to make it loud but it probably won't take as much power as some of the boutique Kappalite based speaker cabs . It does get pretty loud so it would make a great stand alone cab .

 

[chadds]

I used the word interpretation because I was attempting to clarify what the OP had said. What he actually said is this:
So I'm not sure how I was deciding the motivation of the OP.


I don't know what "the example you (I) didn't quote" means, but I get that you think "distinctly answering an OP's question isn't helpful."

And I don't see how my observation that many of the responses were not what one would call 'responsive' is telling people how to behave, but I'll leave you to your own 'interpretation'.

Cheers

I’m sorry if we are missing each other. I think we are both trying to clarify. I do think distinctly answering the OP’s question is immediately helpful. This is a discussion forum and other viewpoints on ones plans are also helpful.

My example was showing that often a person here hates their tone and wants to buy a different bass. Someone with a similar experience with possibly the same bass says keep the bass but lower the pickups or change strings. The efficacy of the advice? That that little change will get you there.

Yes he did say for fun. So we are in error. Meanwhile what anyone says here isn’t limited to the OPs question because numerous of us may be contemplating the same and heeded the advice of those who have tried it. I’m sure in person hearing each other’s voices this would have been a quick smile filled exchange at a bass gtg. So go the vagaries of the interweb.

My apologies right here right now.

 

[Redbrangus]

It's all good. My point was that the OP's question was specific...did we think the driver he was considering, in the Eminence recommended box, perform 'in the ballpark' with those boutique cabs. There was very good advice contained in a lot of those posts, but as I said, they were not really responsive in that they didn't address the question the OP asked, and most seemed to presume a lot of facts not in evidence. I get it that we want to help prevent people from re-inventing the wheel--I've seen that happen plenty on this board--but maybe it would be better to first ascertain that is what the OP is doing. For all we could tell, the OP might be a seasoned builder, for instance...it's not as if he asked for advice about building a cab, whether we thought it would look good, be cost-effective, or whatever. My favorite response was the one in which it was suggested that it wouldn't have much resale value; in what world is that relevant to building a DIY box...has anyone ever built a box thinking they might sell it at a later date?

An OP question: I need a new head and cab because it’s farting out.
TB answer A: Get the new Zneg 1000w and Gepma cab 8x10.
TB answer B: How high is your bass eq.? Oh at 80%? Dial that back, boost some mids and you should be fine.

I thoroughly agree with this part of your earlier post. And I could add a few other knee-jerk responses that also pop up with amazing predictability, but it's late and my bedtime is nigh.