Another cab build!

[pulsonicsound]

I made a bluesbreaker extension cab for someone last week and we were discussing doing one but as a vertical cab instead of a horizontal one, I thought I’d document it here as the world needs more build posts!

So yes this will be slightly different than a normal extension cab, the dimensions are 30” high 26” wide and 12” deep as if I just did a vertical cab a small box would overhang the cab(which I hate)

Cosmetically I’m going for a 1964 look, ie no piping, black vynide and silver string.



I’ve glued and pinned the cabinet and done the front batons, I’ll crack out the router tomorrow!

 

[BlueX]

Build pic's always welcome, and stonehenging should always be avoided

 

[pulsonicsound]

Yea I dont get why heads overhanging cabs bothers me so much!

 

[pulsonicsound]

Funnily enough without knowing it I have just cloned the dimensions of a #1988 / #1972 cab!

 

[pulsonicsound]

So routed the piping channels(always a pain) and the front frame radius.

as I’m covering this in Vynide I went a little crazy on the filler, as vynide(and rexine for that matter) is not as thick as levant tolex and will show any dings or marks to the wood. (I learnt that the hard way)



Once last sand and then it’s time to cover it

 

[Geeze]

Yea I dont get why heads overhanging cabs bothers me so much!

That's why you build two!

Besides cabs get lonely and like company. But too many and they start plotting nefarious deeds...

Russ

 

[pulsonicsound]

That's why you build two!

Besides cabs get lonely and like company. But too many and they start plotting nefarious deeds...

Russ

I'd second that, cabs like the company of other cabs! I feel like they outnumber me at the moment!!

 

[neikeel]

Looks good.
Your piping routs are more lateral than modern cabs.
Can’t recall ever seeing a 64 to know where they would be, are you going ‘in the style of’?
I’ve seen pinstripe 1988 single speaker cabs before.
Looking forward to completed cab

 

[pulsonicsound]

Looks good.
Your piping routs are more lateral than modern cabs.
Can’t recall ever seeing a 64 to know where they would be, are you going ‘in the style of’?
I’ve seen pinstripe 1988 single speaker cabs before.
Looking forward to completed cab

Yes!( well spotted)

It’s going to be a bit of a mongrel design as it’s a mishmash of different eras, but with ‘64 esq cosmetics. not to mention I haven’t angled the baffle(like a 1982 Tall cab)

Basically I’m building it to match a headshell I made!

I have some free time tomorrow so should be able to cover the cab then!

 

[AndyD]

I have some free time tomorrow so should be able to cover the cab then!

Always interested to know what people use to glue the covering!

 

[pulsonicsound]

Always interested to know what people use to glue the covering!

I use a latex water based glue, I've used contact adhesive in the past and much prefer using water based stuff - the drying time is longer but you can do it inside without killing your brain cells(always a plus)!

 

[pulsonicsound]

just checked the speaker mounting holes/t nuts fit(they do), always good to do that before the grill goes on in case you have damaged a T nut when installing them.

 

[pulsonicsound]

Half way through the covering, should be able to get this finished tonight.

I prefer vynide to tolex as it’s easier to get a neater corner, it is however a little more fragile than tolex so you can’t be as rough!

 

[pulsonicsound]

So it’s covered and the gold string / feet are installed.

I had some vintage 1960’s gold string that I used as I’m really not a fan of how modern piping looks on cabs.

I’ve used some 1960’s upholstery fabric for the grill, I will probably install some vintage grill cloth that a friend has, but I’m keen to hear the cab first!

I’ve decided to load in a pair of large rib 1974 creambacks, I’m still unsure wether or not to do the cab open or closed back, so I thought I’d load in some speakers and see how it sounds with an open back first!

I’ll upload some audio examples in the week as it’s always fun to see how a cab actually sounds!!

 

[BlueX]

Looks nice!

I've cut the back in three pieces on the cabs I've built, so I can choose between closed or open (removing the middle piece). I understand that size and position of the opening influence the sound, but I have not investigated that further (yet).

 

[pulsonicsound]

Looks nice!

I've cut the back in three pieces on the cabs I've built, so I can choose between closed or open (removing the middle piece). I understand that size and position of the opening influence the sound, but I have not investigated that further (yet).

Thanks!

Yes I saw that on your build post, do you have any preference between the options with yours??

 

[pulsonicsound]

And the speakers are going in!

 

[BlueX]

Yes I saw that on your build post, do you have any preference between the options with yours??

If you mean between closed and open: I prefer closed back for gain/distorsion. More focused sound. Clean tones, or mild gain, can sound very nice with open back. Fills the room in a different way.

 

[pulsonicsound]

If you mean between closed and open: I prefer closed back for gain/distorsion. More focused sound. Clean tones, or mild gain, can sound very nice with open back. Fills the room in a different way.

Cool! I’ve been playing around with that and I’ve found that some speakers suit closed back cabs and some don’t, I basically put a bass coned g12-80 from 1979 into a open backed 1x12 I have and it sounded awful, I was really surprised as the same speaker sounded great in a closed back 2x12(a 1936 JCM800 cab)

 

[BlueX]

Cool! I’ve been playing around with that and I’ve found that some speakers suit closed back cabs and some don’t, I basically put a bass coned g12-80 from 1979 into a open backed 1x12 I have and it sounded awful, I was really surprised as they same speaker sounded great in a closed back 2x12(a 1936 JCM800 cab)

My experience is with GB's and CB's, but you're probably right that some speakers sounds better in closed or open back cabs.

I built two small 1x10 cabs where both have 3-piece back. Interesting that some music sounds good with one closed and one open, but other music sounds terrible that way. Many parameters in this topic.