THE NEW PROJECT: .. .. IT STARTED WHEN I REALIZED THAT I NEEDED A NEW BASS RIG. FOR YEARS I GIGGED WITH A CARVIN 1000 WATT SOLID STATE HEAD AN RL1000. I LOVED IT, BUT IT EVENTUALLY FRIED ON ME FROM TOO MANY OUTDOOR SHOWS, AND NOT ENOUGH TLC. I CARRIED TWO 410 CABS. I GOT ANOTHER CARVIN HEAD, AND CONTINUED TO PLAY OUT ON THE RIG. THE THING WAS HUGE, HEAVY, CUMBERSOME, AND HARD TO “TAME”. .. .. I SOLD OFF ALL OF THAT, AND VOWED TO “DOWNSIZE”. I AM JUST TOO OLD AND WEARY TO BE LUGGING AROUND ALL OF THAT STUFF, MUCH LESS A P BASS AND A JAZZ BASS, AND ALL OF THE THINGS A GIGGING MUSICIAN NEEDS. .. .. I WAS GETTING READY TO BUY AN “OFF THE RACK” COMBO AMP, WHEN A FRIEND OF MINE SUGGESTED THAT HE AND I BUILD MY OWN RIG FROM SCRATCH. SO, I BEGAN BY HAVING A CABINET BUILT. OSB WOOD, 2112 VENTED, CHAMBERED AND LIGHTWEIGHT. I DECIDED ON TWO EMINENCE NEODYIUM 250W 12’’ SUBWOOFERS (8 OHMS A PIECE), A PEAVY TRIFLEX HORN DRIVER, AND A GENZ BENZ SHUTTLE 6.0 600 WATT POWER AMP WITH TUBE PREAMP. THE POWER AMP WEIGHS 3 LBS, AND PUTS OUT 600 WATTS AT 4 OHMS, WHICH IS HOW THE CABINET IS WIRED. I CARRY THE POWER AMP SEPERATELY. .. .. I ORDERED ALL OF MY HARDWARE, ZINC COATED STEEL LARGE BALL CORNERS, REMOVABLE CASTERS, RECESSED SPRING LOADED ROAD CASE HANDLES, AND A CUSTOM MADE GRILL. THE DIMENSIONS ON THE CAB IS 15’’X16’’X 38’’. IT IS ABOUT 80 LBS. I AM HAD THE CABINET SPRAYED WITH “LINE-X TRUCK BED LINER” AT AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. IT IS BE INDESTRUCTABLE, AND ATTRACTIVE. EASY TO KEEP LOOKING GOOD. SPEAKON CONNECTORS ARE INSTALLED . .. .. I EVEN BOUGHT AN AMP STAND IN CASE I WANTED TO “CRADLE” IT LONG WAYS TO BE USED AS A MONITOR. .. .. THIS UNITIS IS A SOLID, LIGHTWIEGHT, POWERFUL LITTLE WORK HORSE THAT I CAN RETIRE WITH LONG YEARS FROM NOW. .. .. IT IS A PROJECT DESIGNED, AND BUILT BY MYSELF AND MY BUDDY ANDREW FOX WITH SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR BUDDY OF “C.O.D. BAND” FAME, ROY CHASTEEN. THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE, AND SOUNDS AWESOME!
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My new project.
- Thread starter bluesbass1972
- Start date
THE NEW PROJECT: .. .. IT STARTED WHEN I REALIZED THAT I NEEDED A NEW BASS RIG. FOR YEARS I GIGGED WITH A CARVIN 1000 WATT SOLID STATE HEAD AN RL1000. I LOVED IT, BUT IT EVENTUALLY FRIED ON ME FROM TOO MANY OUTDOOR SHOWS, AND NOT ENOUGH TLC. I CARRIED TWO 410 CABS. I GOT ANOTHER CARVIN HEAD, AND CONTINUED TO PLAY OUT ON THE RIG. THE THING WAS HUGE, HEAVY, CUMBERSOME, AND HARD TO “TAME”. .. .. I SOLD OFF ALL OF THAT, AND VOWED TO “DOWNSIZE”. I AM JUST TOO OLD AND WEARY TO BE LUGGING AROUND ALL OF THAT STUFF, MUCH LESS A P BASS AND A JAZZ BASS, AND ALL OF THE THINGS A GIGGING MUSICIAN NEEDS. .. .. I WAS GETTING READY TO BUY AN “OFF THE RACK” COMBO AMP, WHEN A FRIEND OF MINE SUGGESTED THAT HE AND I BUILD MY OWN RIG FROM SCRATCH. SO, I BEGAN BY HAVING A CABINET BUILT. OSB WOOD, 2112 VENTED, CHAMBERED AND LIGHTWEIGHT. I DECIDED ON TWO EMINENCE NEODYIUM 250W 12’’ SUBWOOFERS (8 OHMS A PIECE), A PEAVY TRIFLEX HORN DRIVER, AND A GENZ BENZ SHUTTLE 6.0 600 WATT POWER AMP WITH TUBE PREAMP. THE POWER AMP WEIGHS 3 LBS, AND PUTS OUT 600 WATTS AT 4 OHMS, WHICH IS HOW THE CABINET IS WIRED. I CARRY THE POWER AMP SEPERATELY. .. .. I ORDERED ALL OF MY HARDWARE, ZINC COATED STEEL LARGE BALL CORNERS, REMOVABLE CASTERS, RECESSED SPRING LOADED ROAD CASE HANDLES, AND A CUSTOM MADE GRILL. THE DIMENSIONS ON THE CAB IS 15’’X16’’X 38’’. IT IS ABOUT 80 LBS. I AM HAD THE CABINET SPRAYED WITH “LINE-X TRUCK BED LINER” AT AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. IT IS BE INDESTRUCTABLE, AND ATTRACTIVE. EASY TO KEEP LOOKING GOOD. SPEAKON CONNECTORS ARE INSTALLED . .. .. I EVEN BOUGHT AN AMP STAND IN CASE I WANTED TO “CRADLE” IT LONG WAYS TO BE USED AS A MONITOR. .. .. THIS UNITIS IS A SOLID, LIGHTWIEGHT, POWERFUL LITTLE WORK HORSE THAT I CAN RETIRE WITH LONG YEARS FROM NOW. .. .. IT IS A PROJECT DESIGNED, AND BUILT BY MYSELF AND MY BUDDY ANDREW FOX WITH SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR BUDDY OF “C.O.D. BAND” FAME, ROY CHASTEEN. THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE, AND SOUNDS AWESOME!
Thanks Vamp!! I do love the sound, as does the bands I jam with. So easy on the back, and as much punch as anyone could want.
To me it looks some what old fashioned with the strapping. That being said it should be a very tough build. The bottom line is that it doesn't have to satisfy me but you. If you are so happy with the result good for you! Now get the hell outa here and play it! 
Paul
Paul
one of the coolest looking DIY rigs I've seen around here. by that I mean it doesn't look like every DIY rig. good job, bet it sounds great.
Thanks guys. Forgive me for having to crow a little. I am so proud of the end result. It sounds awesome. Played an outdoor show recently with a hard rock band, and didn't mic it. It cut through the mix. Wife was sitting 50yrds away from it, and she said it was loud and clear! I know it looks kinda like an old ANVIL road case. That was the intention. When I rolled it onto the stage at the first gig, the drummer said "nice road case, where's your rig?" I told him it was the rig, and then he said "where's the rest of it?" After the first set, he was totally amazed at the power and clarity of this little jewel. The whole project (minus head) came in at less that $500.00, and should never fail. I posted this to inspire bassists on a budget to create thier own perfect rig, whatever that may be, and forget the retail hype and overpricing. It was quite liberating to do something like this. I'll never go back to "name brands"! God Bless!
It was totally dreamed up by me and my buddy. We studied how the over priced ones were made, and made ours better. We literally built the cabinet for the head to work perfectly with it. I can get the absolute most out of that head unit and never blow a speaker or horn. I used an "old school" cosmetic theme to add to the intrest. Thanks for the kind words!
Looks awesome! And it looks like a LOT of thought went into it. Enjoy the fruits of your labors!
To me it looks some what old fashioned with the strapping. That being said it should be a very tough build. The bottom line is that it doesn't have to satisfy me but you. If you are so happy with the result good for you! Now get the hell outa here and play it!
Paul
I get that. It is a cosmetic choice, but it is for function, as well. The front excrusions hold the grill in place, so I just pimped it all out to have an "old school" road case vibe.
Thanks for the kind words...and believe me, I be playin' it!
God Bless
Thanks, yes, about a year of careful planning, and about 3 months to complete.
I think it is perfectly sized for whats there. The little shuttle without any size reference makes the cab look like it is stuffed full of 18" speakers...
Nice proportions.
The only thing I would have done different is I would have made a front cover for the cab like a road case so I could actually close it up for shipping, transport, weather survival etc...
Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?
BOB
Nice proportions.
The only thing I would have done different is I would have made a front cover for the cab like a road case so I could actually close it up for shipping, transport, weather survival etc...
Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?
BOB
The secret is the OSB, and The Neodiyum speakers. Along with the aluminum trim, and the Linex is lightweight.
yes, it's awesome. first time out, too! we thought of exactly that idea, believe it or not, but couldn't find latches that would fit the design that wouldn't rattle. it is still a possiblity in the future, though, just a little tweaking! thanks buddy!
I noticed that you plugged both speakon connectors : does that mean that your speakers aren't connected to each other ?
What's the reason ?
BTW, very nice looking !
You must be real proud
What's the reason ?
BTW, very nice looking !
You must be real proud
That stuff should be super tuff! Did you, by chance, determine how much the coating weighed? I've been curious about using that same finish.
This is exactly what I love seeing! I'm with you 100% on DIY instead of buying a super high dollar cab.
Your build looks stellar by the way, I really dig the old school road case look. I thought about something too, since you were having rattling issues with the latches for the "cover" piece why not just have the catches on the cabinet and keep the latches on the lid? No vibration issues then.
Cheers,
Zach
