Express Cabinet Comments - Front Piece Mounting Methods

[John C]

I'm looking for comments as to how people have mounted the front pieces in their Express cabinets (not the faceplate on the chassis, but the larger beveled piece on the front). Are you using nails? Has anyone used cleats to avoid driving (finishing) nails into the cabinet from exterior surfaces? Rear view pictures of the original Express cabinets don't reveal any cleats that I've seen, but I'm considering using cleats. I welcome all ideas and comments.

Thanks!

[UR12]

I'm looking for comments as to how people have mounted the front pieces in their Express cabinets (not the faceplate on the chassis, but the larger beveled piece on the front). Are you using nails? Has anyone used cleats to avoid driving (finishing) nails into the cabinet from exterior surfaces? Rear view pictures of the original Express cabinets don't reveal any cleats that I've seen, but I'm considering using cleats. I welcome all ideas and comments.

Thanks!

Cleats on the front will cause clearance problems between the power tranny and the front panel and the chassis won't be able to be slid to the front where it should be. Some people cut /router a grove for it to slide down in, nail it from the outside with brads and some use pocket screws from the inside. I'm sure there other ways. (maybe biscuits or something)

[Fredaxis]

Hello John and Dana,

Look at this picture from the amp builder's guild.

[img768]http://www.ampbuildersguild.com/img/cab5.jpg[/img]

Dana should know this cab pretty well
We can realy see the cleat inside the cabinet.

This is how I do it on my cabinet, adding a big chamfer on the cleat to avoid interference with the transformer.

[geetarpicker]

Probably the best way to do this is to not use a cleat at all. As far as I can tell on an original Express the side boards and top are routed out for the front panel. The face has a tongue on 3 sides which is about 1/4" thick and flush with the front side of the face which is about 1/2" thick total. The tongue apparently doesn't extend down into the beveled area which at that point just floats. Jim Weyandt in Ohio built my two personal cabs to this exact spec. It's not easy and Jim had to build one mock up just to tweak the specs but on the final cabs it came out perfectly. No cleats period, it looks great, and no problems clearing the transformers.

[img:800:684]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/ ... aBell4.jpg[/img]

[img:800:767]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-10/ ... aBell1.jpg[/img]

[Fredaxis]

Whaooo, they are nice Glen!!!

[Structo]

So like tongue in groove or mortise and tenon type construction.
Very interesting.
Were all of Ken's cabs made from cherry?

[geetarpicker]

So like tongue in groove or mortise and tenon type construction.
Very interesting.
Were all of Ken's cabs made from cherry?

I've seen some curly maple ones, and maybe one that looks like mahogany. My two clones are curly cherry.

[Richie]

Glen, you have those amps on with no speaker attached?

[UR12]

Glen, you have those amps on with no speaker attached?

Looks like he has them on standby.

[dartanion]

There is really no right or wrong way to build a cab as long as chassis fits with transformers and tubes installed.

Cleats are nice and convenient. Slots or a sliding dovetail work well too. I like doing cleats since I can swap front panels easily if a client wants something different that what I have in stock or changes their mind down the road.

[Tubetwang]

There is really no right or wrong way to build a cab as long as chassis fits with transformers and tubes installed.

Cleats are nice and convenient. Slots or a sliding dovetail work well too. I like doing cleats since I can swap front panels easily if a client wants something different that what I have in stock or changes their mind down the road.

True...

But my vote goes for the dovetails...

Less is more...and i'm a clean guy...

[RJ Guitars]

My two clones are curly cherry.

Glen have we heard clips from these two clones? I'd love to hear something and also to get your opinion oh how these clones match up to the real deal...

The cabinets look awesome and I am curious if you have any close up shots inside the cabinet to show how the faceplate attaches. Sounds like you have a great cabinet maker.

rj

[geetarpicker]

My two clones are curly cherry.

Glen have we heard clips from these two clones? I'd love to hear something and also to get your opinion oh how these clones match up to the real deal...

The cabinets look awesome and I am curious if you have any close up shots inside the cabinet to show how the faceplate attaches. Sounds like you have a great cabinet maker.

rj

Here are some clips as requested! (new thread)
https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=4652