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Using speakers outside of a cab?

WEll air wasnt coming through the port, but the volume wasnt loud at all so that's probably why. its 10o clock here and i dont want to disturb anyone.

right now this is how the driver is situated. not screwed down like i said and kind of un even...its hard to build a baffle out of cardboard :p

_________\........./_________

should it be like so and screwed down?
______ _________
\......../

It doesn't matter whether the driver is front-mounted or rear-mounted. That's a matter of convenience. Mine is mounted from the outside, just so I didn't have to add a detachable lid to my box, and I think this arrangement is fairly common. The most important thing is a good seal between the speaker and the box, so there are no air leaks. You will hear air leaks as a sort of hissy buzzing.
 
ok, and thanks a lot for your design fdeck! :D

Hmm sealing the driver may prove to be difficult due to the un-evenness caused by the "Bracing".

I wonder, if built correctly, properly sealed and braced, would a cardboard cab yield the results as a ply wood cab? anyway i think this is turning out great for me. My box isn't completely squared, but hey, i did it in a couple of hours, and i used a knife rather than an X-acto knife.

I have work in about 15 minutes, but ill take some pics when i get back
:hyper::bassist:
 
ok, and thanks a lot for your design fdeck! :D

Hmm sealing the driver may prove to be difficult due to the un-evenness caused by the "Bracing".

I wonder, if built correctly, properly sealed and braced, would a cardboard cab yield the results as a ply wood cab? anyway i think this is turning out great for me. My box isn't completely squared, but hey, i did it in a couple of hours, and i used a knife rather than an X-acto knife.

I have work in about 15 minutes, but ill take some pics when i get back
:hyper::bassist:

Would it sound like a plywood cabinet? Never in a million years!!! This has to be one of the most ridiculous threads I have ever read.

Paul
 
When I was a kid, my parents were less than thrilled with me learning bass. Dad wasn't so bad about it, but Mom just knew it was the first step on the road to ruin (Turns out she was right!). Anyway, once I suggested that I'd like to play bass in church, she got a lot more cooperative. And hey, playing in church was a GREAT music education in itself.
 
here's what i got so far. Yeah i used tape, yes i do have a glue gun, but no i cant find the glue sticks, ill get some of that Tuesday ( its a civic holiday tomorrow here). So that, and the fact i miss-measured one side, is why it came out a bit lopsided.

DSC02077.jpg

DSC02078.jpg

DSC02080.jpg


Innovative bracing:
DSC02081.jpg


hey if it protects my speaker, and allows me to play aloud without building a cab, i'll take it.

But sealing the driver to the box will be tough.

BTW, if you're disappointed to see it all taped up and crap, relax its a prototype, cardboard is free, i can just get some more and start all over. :bassist:
 
here's what i got so far. Yeah i used tape, yes i do have a glue gun, but no i cant find the glue sticks, ill get some of that Tuesday ( its a civic holiday tomorrow here). So that, and the fact i miss-measured one side, is why it came out a bit lopsided.

DSC02077.jpg

DSC02078.jpg

DSC02080.jpg


Innovative bracing:
DSC02081.jpg


hey if it protects my speaker, and allows me to play aloud without building a cab, i'll take it.

But sealing the driver to the box will be tough.

BTW, if you're disappointed to see it all taped up and crap, relax its a prototype, cardboard is free, i can just get some more and start all over. :bassist:

You know, I have a spare 12" speaker.

The next time we use a tote of syrup at work I may try to snag the cardboard and come up with something too.

I wonder if a tube of silicone caulking from a hardware store would work to secure and seal the speaker to the cab?

It would sure seal it anyway!

:D

Joe.
 
Lovely!!!

Go glue gun!!!

Maybe if you could find some rubber kind-of material and glue around the hole both sides of the cardboard, then attach the speaker really tight with screws and bolts (make sure you haven't glued the box together so you can still secure the bolts with a wrench or whatever while attaching the speaker).

;)

D.Don
 
Sorry to be the devil's advocate here among the orgy of people getting this young guy to do a lot of work to get little return. His speaker will still be in danger mounted in this box. Subwoofer boxes are available on line for a few tens of dollars and will give him better results than a cardboard box.

Scrap wood is easily available if you look for it. Building sites, renovations, anywhere there is a dumpster. Often box stores like Home Despot or Lansing will clear out scraps and will give such stuff to someone who asks for it. Even drywall would be better than cardboard!

To LowToneJoe, there is absolutely no input to this project that WOULD be valuable.

Understand that I bear the OP no ill will. I have been in his shoes as have most of us. I applaud his efforts! However let's steer him in a direction that will produce something useable. The cardboard box idea came from the answers in this thread!

To TT, if you can get a ride to Morningside and Ellesmere (Morningside and 401) I have several pieces of 3/4" MDF that you can have. I think that there is enough to make a proper version of Fdeck's cabinet. You will have to cut it to size and buy the proper glue but it's yours if you want it.

Failing that, may I suggest a Bognor Box Bass to go with it!! :)

Paul
 
Sorry to be the devil's advocate here among the orgy of people getting this young guy to do a lot of work to get little return. His speaker will still be in danger mounted in this box. Subwoofer boxes are available on line for a few tens of dollars and will give him better results than a cardboard box.

Good Suggestion.


Scrap wood is easily available if you look for it. Building sites, renovations, anywhere there is a dumpster. Often box stores like Home Despot or Lansing will clear out scraps and will give such stuff to someone who asks for it. Even drywall would be better than cardboard!
Another good suggestion.

To LowToneJoe, there is absolutely no input to this project that WOULD be valuable.
You've already proved yourself wrong.

Understand that I bear the OP no ill will. I have been in his shoes as have most of us. I applaud his efforts! However let's steer him in a direction that will produce something useable. The cardboard box idea came from the answers in this thread!
You gotta start somewhere.

To TT, if you can get a ride to Morningside and Ellesmere (Morningside and 401) I have several pieces of 3/4" MDF that you can have. I think that there is enough to make a proper version of Fdeck's cabinet. You will have to cut it to size and buy the proper glue but it's yours if you want it.
Very cool!

Failing that, may I suggest a Bognor Box Bass to go with it!! :)

Paul
Very funny!

Heh heh.

:D

Joe.
 
Card-o-cab. I somewhat sealed the driver to the box, well theres no way light can get through around the speaker. and if light cant get through neither can sound.

so i turned her on, and had the volume at about 50. This was just through my HT amplifier. it was at 51 db. and i guess it sounded decent. to tell you the truth i've never had an actual cab so i have nothing to base my results on except for what i think sounds deep and good. and that's what i got.

When i put my hand over feel something, but when i put my face over it, i dont really feel air. Guess she needs to be sealed properly.

But please say it aint so. if I seal it properly, will the driver still be harmed?

And Thanks Paul, i appreciate the help and your concern. though the 3/4" MFD would be great, i have no car sadly.

EDIT: remember this is only temporarily till my pops decides to get some real wood and that my goal is a BFM OT12 and a T39 :hyper:
 
Don't bother checking the port, because the cab is not sealed and it will expand with air pressure, unlike wood.

Keep the volume low.

Be extra careful not to damage the cone, because you have it facing up. There's a high chance something will fall into it, and then you can throw away the driver.

Don't bother using any sealer now. The cab is too flexible to make a difference. Avoid silicone; the acetic acid can be corrosive.
 
Maybe not a bad idea at all to try to find a way to get a wooden case done instead.

Couldn't you just do an exploration tour in some containers somewhere, sure there's some parking lot where people throw away crap stuff etc. ? Maybe you could even find some old furniture that could be cut up and you could use the wood for a small cab? You checked with the neightbours? Maybe someone has something in the attic/basement?


Good luck m8, I truly admire your energy and hunger to play!!

D.Don