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New Acoustic Neo Cabs

#61
Buster Brown said:
:D

Trust me....the new USA stuff uses NO MDF.....thank god! I still recall the great deal at GC that I saw a while back...a 8X10 cab for only 299!!! Problem was that the MDF had collapsed around the casters making HUGE "ports" if you will, where the casters were.....:rollno:

In the above pic, you can see the new 360/361 and the "mini" which is actually the same configuration but loaded with a fifteen...
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Wow, thanks for that! :hyper:
 
#66
JimmyM said:
they're still made of mdf, so a great buy they're not.
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rpsands said:
MDF as cost savings is foolish. Saves like 20 bucks a cab for a wholesale purchaser. Drives me bonkers.

Charge 329.99 instead of 299.99, shave 5-10lbs off the weight, improve stiffness.
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I don't know much about MDF, but I looked it up on Wikipedia and found this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard

From the article, it looks as though MDF is more rigid than plywood and doesn't seem to have any drawbacks other than the fact that it weighs a little more because of the resin used.

Why is it that MDF is a poor choice for cabinet material? Just curious.
 
#67
phillipkregg said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard


Why is it that MDF is a poor choice for cabinet material? Just curious.
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from your article:
-More dense than plywood or chipboard (the resins are heavy)
-Swells and breaks when saturated with water
-May warp or expand if not sealed
-Contains urea-formaldehyde which is a probable carcinogen and may cause allergy, eye and lung irritation when cutting and sanding
-Dulls blades more quickly than many woods
-Though it does not have a grain in the plane of the board, it does have one into the board. Screwing into the edge of a board will generally cause it to split in a fashion similar to delaminating.
-Subject to significant shrinkage in low humidity environments.
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#68
phillipkregg said:
I don't know much about MDF, but I looked it up on Wikipedia and found this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard

From the article, it looks as though MDF is more rigid than plywood and doesn't seem to have any drawbacks other than the fact that it weighs a little more because of the resin used.

Why is it that MDF is a poor choice for cabinet material? Just curious.
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????

You did not read very closely. I am quoting here from the article you cite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard#Drawbacks_of_MDF

"Drawbacks of MDF

More dense than plywood or chipboard (the resins are heavy)

Swells and breaks when saturated with water

May warp or expand if not sealed

Contains urea-formaldehyde which is a probable carcinogen and may cause allergy, eye and lung irritation when cutting and sanding

Dulls blades more quickly than many woods

Though it does not have a grain in the plane of the board, it does have one into the board. Screwing into the edge of a board will generally cause it to split in a fashion similar to de-laminating.

Subject to significant shrinkage in low humidity environments.

Trim (i.e. baseboards) comes pre-primed but this is insufficient for fine finish painting.

Painting with latex paints is difficult due to rapid water absorption. Most finishes appear uneven and nail holes tend to pucker somewhat."

I have seen cabs lose their covering, melt, and get crushed due to dampness. Earth may not be called Water World, but it is not exactly Tatooine, either. Even on tour in New Mexico, we had to deal with a load out in the rain!
 
#69
Jim Carr said:
????

You did not read very closely. I am quoting here from the article you cite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard#Drawbacks_of_MDF

"Drawbacks of MDF

More dense than plywood or chipboard (the resins are heavy)

Swells and breaks when saturated with water

May warp or expand if not sealed

Contains urea-formaldehyde which is a probable carcinogen and may cause allergy, eye and lung irritation when cutting and sanding

Dulls blades more quickly than many woods

Though it does not have a grain in the plane of the board, it does have one into the board. Screwing into the edge of a board will generally cause it to split in a fashion similar to de-laminating.

Subject to significant shrinkage in low humidity environments.

Trim (i.e. baseboards) comes pre-primed but this is insufficient for fine finish painting.

Painting with latex paints is difficult due to rapid water absorption. Most finishes appear uneven and nail holes tend to pucker somewhat."

I have seen cabs lose their covering, melt, and get crushed due to dampness. Earth may not be called Water World, but it is not exactly Tatooine, either. Even on tour in New Mexico, we had to deal with a load out in the rain!
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I did read all of the drawbacks. What I meant was "practical drawbacks". Everything has its good-points and bad points.

I wasn't planning on submerging the cabinet in water. But it's interesting to know that this seems to happen on a regular basis. (And from what I've read plywood doesn't handle the H20 all that well either)

Also wasn't planning on cutting into the cabinet with all of my sharp knives (or putting screws into it).

Low humidity is not an issue in this part of the country, I assure you.

Although, I could possibly be allergic to the cabinet. But I also think I'm allergic to my workplace. :)
 
#70
IME, Cabs get wet/damp from rain, leaky vans/trailers, garage floors, basement floods, beer, high humidity, etc.

The moisture damage I have seen to MDF cabs did not require total immersion. Just sitting on a concrete surface wet enough to dampen the rat fur caused two corners to crumble on a couple of bass cabs I was using. They were not my cabs, though I was unfortuate enough to have to use them for a number of rehearsals.

The damage took some time to occur, but was cumulative, and looked like a sort of rot. Once the MDF started to crumble, it just got worse and worse. I have never seen anything remotely like it, even with cheap plywood.

I wish I had a photo for you, but if you wish to use this material, godspeed. :cool:
 
#71
you'd be surprised how often water damage happens to cabs. might get stuck in a deluge with nowhere to go. plus dampness from just sitting around when you're not using them. some climates get pretty damp and it'll take a toll.
 
#72
Jim Carr said:
IME, Cabs get wet/damp from rain, leaky vans/trailers, garage floors, basement floods, beer, high humidity, etc.

The moisture damage I have seen to MDF cabs did not require total immersion. Just sitting on a concrete surface wet enough to dampen the rat fur caused two corners to crumble on a couple of bass cabs I was using. They were not my cabs, though I was unfortuate enough to have to use them for a number of rehearsals.

The damage took some time to occur, but was cumulative, and looked like a sort of rot. Once the MDF started to crumble, it just got worse and worse. I have never seen anything remotely like it, even with cheap plywood.

I wish I had a photo for you, but if you wish to use this material, godspeed. :cool:
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Interesting.

When I read "saturated with water", I thought it meant saturated with water.

Good to know.
 
#74
Robbie Shakespeare is in trouble if MarkBass uses MDF (they don't do they?), IMHO:
l_eb1cfe6858c3907ae6cfa842cd7eddca.png
 
#78
Well Brian....I am a fan. Recently had my MarkBass LMKII go down (after several years God rest it's soul) and I purchased one of your B450 Combos and a Neo 115 Cab. I play with one of the busiest bands in the Dallas / Ft. Worth area and not only do I LOVE what I am getting, so does my soundman and band mates. This thing is pure Motown and I wouldn't trade it.
 
#79
450Watt said:
Hi Acoustic fans,

Brian from Acoustic here.

Nice catch! This info is incorrect.
The B210 Neo cab is 51.85 lbs.
The B115 Neo cab is 50.4 lbs

Both are MDF to keep the cost down. Smaller footprint than the B410 (73 lbs.) and B115 (63bs) and also lighter. You also get the tighter, snappier response of the Neo speaker with enhanced mids and highs as you would expect.

Both are $300.00 less than a similar cab from the leading competitor. A great value!

Thanks for catching this. I know we can always count on the forums to keep us straight!

Brian
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Brian sorry for ya and Acoustic MDF isn't kosher. If GC is trying to compete w "other" music stores feel free.
 

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