What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

[Immortal]

Hi everyone!

I was thinkig of building my cabinet too, since I saw so many of you, who know, how to build it.

What kind of wood is the best for a cabinet? What tickness?
I was thinking of classic 4x12 cabinet. What are the measures of an angled type?
Can you post the dimension in centimetres, please?

I was planning to put in Celestion Vintage 30. After googling a bit, I saw that they come in 16 and 8 Ohm version. My amp is currently 4 Ohm, but I want to make my cab work so, that I could switch between the resistance (just in case, if I buy 8 or 16 Ohm amp). Would playing with 4 Ohm amp on 8 Ohm speakers harm anything?

Does anyone have the wiring scheme?

This is my first step (the decision making), so come with as many informations as possible.

Thanks for your participation.

[zeegler]

Re: What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

I just about finished building mine. See here: http://www.jcfonline.com/ubb/noncgi/...;f=12;t=001946

Here are the dimensions:

width - 30" (762mm)
height - 29.5" (749mm)
depth at bottom - 14" (356mm)
depth at top - 11" (279mm)

The cab is straight up to half way, and then angles backwards at approx 12.5 degrees.

I used 3/4" void free 11 ply birch.

If your amp has a 4 ohm output, then the best way to match that would be 4 - 16 ohm speakers wired in parallel.

Let's take some possible scenarios.

4 - 16 ohm speakers
-wired in series = 64 ohms
-wired in parallel = 4 ohms
-wired in series/parallel = 16 ohms
(series/parallel mean 2 pairs of series wired speakers, wired in parallel)

4 - 8 ohm speakers
-wired in series = 32 ohms
-wired in parallel = 2 ohms
-wired in series/parallel = 8 ohms

4 - 4 ohm speakers
-wired in series = 16 ohms
-wired in parallel = 1 ohm
-wired in series/parallel = 4 ohms

So, technically you could use 4 - 4 ohm speakers, but I imagine they are much less common than 16 ohm speakers. 8 ohm are out of the question for your application.

Some cabinets are wired to a switch that offers a choice of settings.

[zeegler]

Re: What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

If you need a wiring diagram, I can draw something up for you. Let me know.

[zeegler]

Re: What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

My Peavey Butcher cab has the cloth speaker grille, and it is about 1/2" away from the speaker baffles. it is supported at the angle in the baffles by 1/2" thick strips of wood attached to the baffles.

I wouldn't go much further than 1/2" because the further back you mount the baffles, the more you reduce the internal volume of the cabinet, ultimately affecting the sound of the cab.

The one I built has a perforated steel grille, and it is mounted right to the front of the baffles, and is screwed on using washer head screws.

[zeegler]

Re: What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

PM me with your e-mail address, and I'll send you the wiring diagram.

[zeegler]

Re: What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

Oh, and as far as what you will need for wiring, other than the speakers, you will need the following:

approx. 2m of 14 or 16ga wire
16 - #16 female crimp-on spade connectors
crimping tool
1/4" input jack

You could solder the wires on to the speakers, but I prefer the spade connectors. that way it's easier to re-wire it in the future, or change speakers.

[Immortal]

Re: What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

The cab that comes with TF700 (head), which is exactly the same as TF300 (combo), is 8 Ohm. How come? There says only 4 Ohm on amp.

[zeegler]

Re: What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

What head is that? Is it solid state?

I believe that solid state amps can safely run a higher impedance cabinet, just not one of lower impedance. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[Immortal]

Re: What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

Originally posted by zeegler:
If you need a wiring diagram, I can draw something up for you. Let me know.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I would be very thankful! What do I need for wiring, except wires, speakers and input jacks?

Do you have any ideas how to make front panel with netlike tilt over the speakers? I was thinking of placing the speakers and inch or two deeper to the cab.

[vwall]

Re: What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

I recommend using 3/5" baltic birch plywood for the cabinet.

Speakers and ohms were covered pretty well by Zeegler.

I personally would put in 90 watt Celestians (may have to get them from Mesa)
and run it 8/16ohm.

Have fun and post pics when its complete.

[VitaminG]

Re: What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

Originally posted by zeegler:
What head is that? Is it solid state?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">The TF700 is a Laney Tube Fusion hybrid. So solid state power, a single 12ax7 in the preamp.

[Newc]

Re: What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

Try Oak for the cabinet, or maybe mahogany? [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
I had a set of Acoustic Research AR-2a speakers made with solid Oak, and those things kicked ass. They were made in the 50's.

Newc

[Immortal]

Re: What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

Originally posted by zeegler:
What head is that? Is it solid state?

I believe that solid state amps can safely run a higher impedance cabinet, just not one of lower impedance. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I am afraid to ask, but what actually is a solid state? I'm not very sure if my data is correct.

[Immortal]

Re: What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

Originally posted by vwall guitars:
I recommend using 3/5" baltic birch plywood for the cabinet.

Speakers and ohms were covered pretty well by Zeegler.

I personally would put in 90 watt Celestians (may have to get them from Mesa)
and run it 8/16ohm.

Have fun and post pics when its complete.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Interesting. Maybe I will be putting 90w Celestions. I've found out that Celestion Vintage 30 is very cheap here (89 USD). How's with the price in USA?

[Newc]

Re: What I have to know before building a guitar cab?

Solid State = Transistor (no tubes for the power amp or preamp - Hybrids have a tube preamp and Transistor power amp)

Newc