Speaker Cab for the Express

[Ron Worley]

I've gotten the amp nearly done, and now it's time to consider the speaker cab.

Glenn K highly recommends the Marshall-style 4-12 cab with either Celestion G-12M or Scumbacks...

The real question is: anybody here on the forum have a decent set of plans for a 4-12 Slant cab??? The amp was pretty expensive to build, and the thought of another 750+ for an appropriate cab is putting this into prohibitive territory.. so I'll make a cab and put the savings into the right speakers...

Ron

[Lonely Raven]

I've gotten the amp nearly done, and now it's time to consider the speaker cab.

Glenn K highly recommends the Marshall 4-12 cab with either Celestion G-12M or Scumbacks...

The real question is: anybody here on the forum have a decent set of plans for a 4-12 Slant cab??? The amp was pretty expensive to build, and the thought of another 750+ for an appropriate cab is putting this into prohibitive territory.. so I'll make a cab and put the savings into the right speakers...

Ron

Warehouse Guitar Speakers are an inexpensive alternative. I'm happy with my Veteren 30 speakers (Well broken in 2X12 openback). I mentioned on TGP that I miss the bass and WGS mentioned they are coming out with a V30 with more bass! They also make a decent Greenback styled speaker that I'm breaking in as I have time. Not nearly as good as my Scumback greenback clones, but sounding better every hour of break in.

On the cheap, I'd consider WGS speakers in a closed back 2X12 avatar cab unless you already have everything you need to build a 4X12 yourself.

For my Express build, I'm using an Aiken 4X12 cab loaded with Scumback M75 and SA55. I typically use it with my Peters amp for the more heavy, high gain music I also enjoy...but it sounds good on the TW. Scumback makes some fantastic clones of Pre-Rola Celestions. he worked extensively with Ted Weber to get the details just right. And it *really* shows. Though the price kinda hurts.

After building such a fantastic amp, it really only makes sense to me to make sure you have an equally fantastic cab and speakers for it to talk through.

Lots of options, trust your ears!

[Ron Worley]

Eric-

Thanks for the tips... I've actually always wanted to build a 4x12...so I may anyway. But I agree, the Avatar cabs are a great deal.

I'll check out the Warehouse speakers... I agree on the Scumbacks... the price is way spendy... but so are G-12Ms and alnico blues / golds....

As soon as I come up with something creative, I will be ordering a faceplate!!!

Ron

[declan]

Ron,

this is one area where i will be departing from the formula, so not sure if this will be helpful

have you considered other cab options??? If funds are tight after the amp build and you want decent cab consider building a 2X12 detuned Cab.

This is one of Kevin O'Connors ideas for cab building. His argument is that the amp/cab manufacturers made their cabs to suit the fact that shipping would be a considerable cost, so major compromises were made on sonic design.

following his design theory you can build a 2X12 cab which has similar output to a "standard" 4X12 design with few critical dimensions or need to seal things up.

I built 1X12's last year for myself and the other guitarist in the band and they add some serious thump and improved bass response for one speaker. I am planning to build a 2X12 for the wreck. Saves some serious money on speakers, and can be built for very little $$$$. The 1X12 and 2X12 are similar dimensions with a few variants, from memory both about 30-35" high and 18" deep, so not a small box.

i think vintone do some very nice looking commercial offerings with exotic woods but you can save a fortune of their prices by building one from ply and covering it yourself

declan

[drhulsey]

... anybody here on the forum have a decent set of plans for a 4-12 Slant cab???

Here's what I have

[leaveitalone84]

Ron,

this is one area where i will be departing from the formula, so not sure if this will be helpful

have you considered other cab options??? If funds are tight after the amp build and you want decent cab consider building a 2X12 detuned Cab.

This is one of Kevin O'Connors ideas for cab building. His argument is that the amp/cab manufacturers made their cabs to suit the fact that shipping would be a considerable cost, so major compromises were made on sonic design.

following his design theory you can build a 2X12 cab which has similar output to a "standard" 4X12 design with few critical dimensions or need to seal things up.

I built 1X12's last year for myself and the other guitarist in the band and they add some serious thump and improved bass response for one speaker. I am planning to build a 2X12 for the wreck. Saves some serious money on speakers, and can be built for very little $$$$. The 1X12 and 2X12 are similar dimensions with a few variants, from memory both about 30-35" high and 18" deep, so not a small box.

i think vintone do some very nice looking commercial offerings with exotic woods but you can save a fortune of their prices by building one from ply and covering it yourself

declan

Off topic slightly...

I have a vintage ampeg 8x10 and then this Technomad 1x12 1x15 that was tuned to react and sound like the 8x10. Gotta tell you, sounds very similar but it has even more punch cause of the 15. Both sound great especially together! The 8x10 has more cool factor though, but the technomad fits in my trunk.......

It's all in the cabinet design...

[RockinLocken]

Got dims on that 12-15? Or a website for the technomad

[skyboltone]

Crate makes some nice cabs for a lot less than $750. I must say though that I haven't played one. I've heard good things. They will stuff them with a variety of different speakers. I wonder if they'll sell one empty? I'd love to have a 4/12" but it would have to come with a roadie.

[declan]

I'd love to have a 4/12" but it would have to come with a roadie.

One of the reasons the detuned cabs appealed to me, they are light enough to carry.

just checked measurements, got it wrong, a 1X12 is w22" X d16" X h30"

[leaveitalone84]

RockinLocken,

Unfortunately the cabinet is a Milspec water proof container. It's molded plastic.

http://www.technomad.com/

There is a small guy out in Western MA who works with these guys and does the installs and custom work. Art Steele. http://www.artsteele.com/. Unfortunately Art has not updated in quite a while.

My cabinet is the Cairo/Chicago/Berlin type cabinet with special loaded speakers. Theres an EV 15" that they don't make anymore. I forgot what the 12 is.

Its a ported cabinet, but what's great is its not tuned to a note. So when you're at the back of the club the bass doesn't sound the same on every note you hit.

[Bob-I]

+1 on the warehouse speakers. I picked up a Steel Sound cab on ebay, put in a Wareouse vintage and lead and it sounds great. The plus, then entire thing cost less than $200

[Ron Worley]

Thanks for the input, particularly the plans from Tim!!

My local GC manager is a friend, and he may be able to hook me up on a beater trade in. But I must say that I am still liking the idea of making one... I guess I just need to have a project going at all times....

Ron

[CaseyJones]

Crate makes some nice cabs for a lot less than $750. I must say though that I haven't played one. I've heard good things. They will stuff them with a variety of different speakers. I wonder if they'll sell one empty? I'd love to have a 4/12" but it would have to come with a roadie.

C'mon Dan, you get the prize for Thinking Outside the Box. Then another prize for forgetting all about it.

For those who haven't been following Dan built a 4 x 10" that's a killer piece. Didn't your nephew end up with a 2 x 10"? It's simple, less speakers take up less space and cost less money. Eminence only makes about a hundred different 10" speakers, there's gotta be a couple that sound killer. For comparison Celestion only makes one (well, maybe two ) "Greenbacks" and only one "Blue".

[Ron Worley]

Hey Dan, ya got any plans for said cabinets????

I actually want to make a slant 2-12 for my Matamp C7 too....

Ron

[Lonely Raven]

That detuned is another good idea. I bought the book and built a 2X12 detuned a few years ago...I really enjoyed it. I think I gave it to a friend in need as a gift...I've not thought about building one for the TW, but if I get into this house in the next month or two I just might!

Those plans for the Marshall are fantastic!

Rebuilding a beat down 4X12 is a fun idea. I've done a couple of those myself. Just remember, the plywood ones are what you want. If you can, peek inside and make sure they ARE NOT particle board. The back panel can be Particle Board like the 80's Marshall cabs, that's easy to replace.

Lots of good options in this thread.