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Monitor mod: bad idea? Speaker rec?

avvie

avvie

Oct 12, 2010
2,371
1,073
Maui, HI
#1
So, I am notorious for playing an oversized rig in local small stages: a 4/10, 1/15 stack. I do this because I need the sound up near my ears and to feel it and because I get a great tone at low volume. Dancers can get a little bottom out of it also as I'm never going through the PA.
It is a PITA to move and load, though....I'm thinking I might want to downsize now.
I'm not gonna buy a combo- that idea will not be entertained in any way- but I do have a floor monitor that's pretty good for practices but the cone is a bit buzzy for live use. I'm thinking that with a proper bass guitar speaker (12") that I can manage the stage a bit better, hear my playing well enough and start running direct for the audience.
Is this a bad idea? If not, do you have any speaker recommendations? I like a thick but punchy 80's bottom rather than the muddy 70's rock tone. Aluminum cone would be great but I don't know if they can be had.
Mahalo
 
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#11
moody said:
I presume you aren't talking about my comment directly above yours?
Click to expand...

Actually yes I was. I have since re-read your post and see where you are going with this. Yes that could work If you can obtain a suitable driver as used in the unit you are trying to repurpose. Again it's a lot of work for an uncertain result. Changing the shape of the enclosure yields differing results to those you are expecting.
 
#12
BassmanPaul said:
Actually yes I was. I have since re-read your post and see where you are going with this. Yes that could work If you can obtain a suitable driver as used in the unit you are trying to repurpose. Again it's a lot of work for an uncertain result. Changing the shape of the enclosure yields differing results to those you are expecting.
Click to expand...

I am not talking about re-purposing anything. Making a new monitor shaped cabinet to match a driver. match the porting and volume and it should work the same way.
 
#13
Before this becomes a battle, I should reiterate the fact that I don't want to be investing a bunch of time or money beyond dropping a speaker in an existing box....I'm done with buying equipment but I won't mind making the most of what I already have. This monitor sounds fine beyong the buzzing, which is coming from the magnet/driver...it stops when I push on the back of the driver. I applied gelled crazy glue where it might be useful but the difference was minimal. With two ports at 11:00 and 1:00 next to the speaker, my minimal understanding of cabinets makes me think the difference is negligible, but I have no idea about that...I build storage cabinets; not acoustic ones.
 
#14
avvie said:
Before this becomes a battle, I should reiterate the fact that I don't want to be investing a bunch of time or money beyond dropping a speaker in an existing box....I'm done with buying equipment but I won't mind making the most of what I already have. This monitor sounds fine beyong the buzzing, which is coming from the magnet/driver...it stops when I push on the back of the driver. I applied gelled crazy glue where it might be useful but the difference was minimal. With two ports at 11:00 and 1:00 next to the speaker, my minimal understanding of cabinets makes me think the difference is negligible, but I have no idea about that...I build storage cabinets; not acoustic ones.
Click to expand...

People who experiment randomly with speakers in boxes without knowing the science are doomed to either bad sound, broken speakers or (rarely) happy accidents.

Would a big high pass filter on the monitor remove the buzz? Could you live with a personal monitor sound that isn't very bassy?

Would a brace of some kind behind the speaker (simulating your hand pushing on the basket) help?
 
#18
avvie said:
So, I am notorious for playing an oversized rig in local small stages: a 4/10, 1/15 stack. I do this because I need the sound up near my ears and to feel it and because I get a great tone at low volume. Dancers can get a little bottom out of it also as I'm never going through the PA.
It is a PITA to move and load, though....I'm thinking I might want to downsize now.
I'm not gonna buy a combo- that idea will not be entertained in any way- but I do have a floor monitor that's pretty good for practices but the cone is a bit buzzy for live use. I'm thinking that with a proper bass guitar speaker (12") that I can manage the stage a bit better, hear my playing well enough and start running direct for the audience.
Is this a bad idea? If not, do you have any speaker recommendations? I like a thick but punchy 80's bottom rather than the muddy 70's rock tone. Aluminum cone would be great but I don't know if they can be had.
Mahalo
Click to expand...
Contact Don Oatman at LDS Low Down Sound - Custom Speaker Cabinets for Bass Guitar
he can build you a wedge that will work well for your application.
 

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