• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Repairing a Beat-Up 4x10 Rickenbacker Cab.

B

Bobby Lemain

Aug 4, 2009
46
0
California
#1
After spotting this cab on craigslist for sale, I lost interest due to the distance from my house and my parents saying to to a Marshall 4x12 in Oakland for $25 less. Last Saturday I was on craigslist again and spotted the same cab, except this time, it was listed FOR FREE! So, I asked my parents if we could go after church and to my surprise, they said yes (they previously declined a 2x15 Peavy cab due to its size). It had two stickers on the side which I pealed off, and after emailing, calling, and leaving a written thank-you to the seller, I got an email response saying that the cab was toured in Europe by a band whose name "he forgot". Regardless, after looking up the serial number of the SG410 cab, it dates to July 1983. As for pictures, I was weird and didn't take any "before" pictures, however I have a bunch of WIP and "after" pictures:
wvrj93.jpg

^the only "before" picture I have, note the duct tape on some of the speakers
ohqzi9.jpg

21aa1i9.jpg

Anyone happen to know what brand of speakers these are?
10ynk0z.jpg

(Model Master's Gloss Black and Model Master's Flat Clear)
2crnc52.jpg

11toi1e.jpg

o9iij9.jpg

(Aleen's Tacky Glue spread by hand)
14kz0og.jpg

(one ply of a two ply bounty towel soaked in glue and pushed in place with Q-tips)
taq6vk.jpg

(speakers bolted back in place after a few hours of being face down on a flat surface to let the towel strips set)
2s13taa.jpg

(speakers tested with a multimeter then rewired in parallel-series to get a 16ohm cab instead of a 4ohm cab in parallel, mock logo also taped on the front, it is 19" from R to r, I might go 20")
2dkwnmb.jpg

Yeah I know I need to get myself a bass head... one day (I don't even play guitar haha)

To Do List:
-26"x26" grill cloth frame
-buy black grill cloth
-get quotes from metal working companies for a logo
-contemplate making a Plexi logo with the backing printed at Kinko's
Click to expand...
 
#3
Pretty interesting...and very good resourcefulness! Hope it works out for you...if not, not like you're out anything but a car ride and a few ounces of glue.
 
#4
Those are old Eminence speakers, judging by the square magnets. If one of the visible numbers on them starts with "67" that pretty much seals the deal.

That would have been a guitar cabinet, not a bass cabinet. If you try to run loud, low bass through it, you will probably end up shredding those old speakers, notwithstanding the glue-and-tissue reinforcement. Even if they don't shred, you're not going to get a lot of good solid bass tone out of a box shaped like that. It would probably be great crossed over with a sub, if that's an option. I don't want to rain on your parade---that's a really cool old cabinet, and full kudos to you for rescuing it---I just don't want to see (a) you disappointed, or (b) the speakers ruined through trying to make it be something it's not.

By the way, I have some of those old square-magnet Eminence speakers in an amp (12s instead of 10s, but anyway) and they are great-sounding guitar speakers. Definitely worthy of re-coning for guitar use. (The glue-and-tissue fix may hold if they're not abused; I've done that in the past.)

Good luck!
 
#7
I see you use a Marshall TSL. I love the sound of my basses through my TSL for home practice (low volume) -- Fretless sounds sweet with the reverb & the distortions are great too -- Wish I could find a peddle that would do the same.

Must admit I have never seen a Rickenbacker cab before -- But I am in the UK & they probably didn't export them.

B
 
#11
Chuck King said:
Those are old Eminence speakers, judging by the square magnets. If one of the visible numbers on them starts with "67" that pretty much seals the deal.

It would probably be great crossed over with a sub, if that's an option.
Good luck!
Click to expand...

Modeling my tone off of motown style bass lines, these speakers give the clean treble that I'm looking for (and yes they all start with "67" on the second line), however I am in search of a Marshall 1x15 Bass cab to give it the low end that it is (to my ears) unable to put out. It's a long shot, and I'm debating weather or not to just build one because due to its rarity I would probably save money matching a custom cab's internal volume with a new sub AND using all the Marshall style externals compared to buying the real thing. By this point you can probably tell that I am into gear that is "uncommon" yet under a brand that is well known.

Din Of Win said:
:eek: Is that blood on your pick guard?
Click to expand...
I was trying to make it yellow with varnish, but I was lazy and wanted to see what would happen if I used "Minwax Polyshades" (horrible btw, just stick with regular varnish and polyurethane) and I ended up with a marbleized effect

JimmyM said:
Might make a nice recording cab.
Click to expand...
Hehe, if it gives great tone but can't reach screaming volumes, eq the recording to match the rest of the band :smug:
 
#12
Dude, I don't think I'd go trying to find a cab to go with this one. This cab's a specialty item. Good for recording (provided those speakers end up sounding good mic'ed), good for maybe running a guitar head along with your bass amp to give it some grind, but it's not made for grunt work.
 
#13
JimmyM said:
Dude, I don't think I'd go trying to find a cab to go with this one. This cab's a specialty item. Good for recording (provided those speakers end up sounding good mic'ed), good for maybe running a guitar head along with your bass amp to give it some grind, but it's not made for grunt work.
Click to expand...

Hmm, so you're saying its something just to have around when I want its tone, but I should look for a "normal" (easily replaced) rig to gig with/move around?
 
#18
2qjyed3.jpg

I figured it out. (I think).

Todo:
-let glue dry
-put one more coat of glue
-let glue dry
-cut out fully
-spray a thin coat of silver
-let dry
-repeat 5(?) times
-spray adhesive on back
-drill holes in proper places on backing
-attach to black plastic backing
-spray entire logo with satin clear coat three times
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back