My Rocket has a new hangar!

[CapnCrunch]

Here are a couple of pics of the new head cab I built for my Rocket. I bought this chassis along with the faceplate, trannies and other parts from Rich on this forum. I am pretty happy with how it has come out so far. I still have to cut and finish the back panel, hence no back shots. I have a 4x12 Marshall with greenbacks waiting for this and I am anxious to get it finished and try it out!

[Bruciep07]

Very nice cabinet! I always liked the look of contrasting woods like that. Did you do the inserts in the corners in a table saw or some other way?

[CapnCrunch]

I have a couple more photos that I took outside which show the grain much better, but I can't seem to get them to upload. I'm not a photographer and it's hard to get the figured maple to photograph well. It looks a lot different in person. I cut the splines into the miters with the table saw. I have a jig that holds the box at a 45 deg. angle to the saw top and I used a 1/8 inch blade with no bevel on the teeth....i.e. a 1/8 inch rip blade, to cut the flat bottom kerf into which the maple splines fit.

I finished it with several coats of oil to make the grain pop, and then about 7 coats of lacquer. I much prefer lacquer to poly, which gives you a plastic look and feel. This came out with a satin sheen and looking hand rubbed .

[CapnCrunch]

One more.

[M Fowler]

Very nice cabinet and I like the look of contrasting splints like that. Are you building a back valance as well? You said no back shots because it isn't finished there yet. Are you going to put mesh?

Mark

[CapnCrunch]

I think I'm going to leave the back partially open kind of like the Komets. The back will have to sit on top of the chassis like the front panel does but I think it will look O.K. I am a little concerned about heat build up so I am going to shy away from mesh or screen material.

[nickt]

Hey CapnCrunch - what woods are you using? - I can see the maple but what's the other?

[CapnCrunch]

The two pictures I could upload don't show it off very well, but it is Claro Walnut. American Walnut is hands down my favorite wood to work with. Claro Walnut, as I understand it, is American Walnut that has had a part of a fruit tree grafted onto it. The result is amazing. It is sometimes called gun stock walnut, and it can be amazingly figured. It still has that great walnut smell when you work it though! The vast majority of the Claro Walnut comes out of Oregon. That is where I got mine.

[nickt]

The two pictures I could upload don't show it off very well, but it is Claro Walnut. American Walnut is hands down my favorite wood to work with. Claro Walnut, as I understand it, is American Walnut that has had a part of a fruit tree grafted onto it. The result is amazing. It is sometimes called gun stock walnut, and it can be amazingly figured. It still has that great walnut smell when you work it though! The vast majority of the Claro Walnut comes out of Oregon. That is where I got mine.

Cool - I guess I'll just have to car-jack old Jaguars here in Oz. Or maybe time to google Claro Walnut (will get back to you)...

[Colossal]

Capn,

Great job on that cabinet. It looks fantastic. Very Inspiring; well done!

[rooster]

CC - Agreed nice cab. Er, BTW, is this Rocket chassis/faceplate the one from Rich? I wondered who picked that up and finished it - well, if this is the case? If it is, I have its sister over here as I used Rich's layout from the lazer etch company but changed my name to Rocket XXX. Hm. I will post some pics here soon as I get the cab done.

How does she sound, BTW?

[CapnCrunch]

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, I did buy the chassis and various parts from Rich. Rooster, I saw a picture of your amp a while back. Your amp and Rawnster's look cool also. If I recall correctly, they look like a Trainwreck mated with a Dumble and you guys have the offspring.

As far as my amp goes, I haven't fired her up yet. I built the cab first, because that's the easy part for me. I'm still waiting on a few parts before I dive into the innards. Also, I'm still having a bit of a hard time finding a few of the caps from the BOM. I am itching to get going on it though.

[rooster]

CC- Hm, that walnut looks just like Koa in the pics. Beautiful! That pic I posted was just the raw pine case with a grill cloth insert. I am covering it in that cowboy tolex someday soon. Much as I love the look of wood I can't bring myself to have a case like that. Eh, too furniture-esque for my gigging spirit I think.

Oh, check out this board, BTW. I think most wood sellers touch it up with mineral oil for photos but you might get an idea. Its 4/4 thick and 6' long and something I bought a few years back. Its kinda rare, quilted Koa.

...Er, so I do see your amp and the thought does cross my mind, CC.

[CapnCrunch]

Quilted Koa would make a really cool box. You're in Oregon aren't you? You could pair the Koa with some Myrtle wood. That has some fantastic figure as well, and would be a nice complement to the Koa.

That's a nice board. If you think that it would be too "purdy" for one of your guitar amps, I'll take it off your hands. I'm sure a liverpool would look frickin awesome in a Koa home!

[rawnster]

Hey CapnCrunch, sweeeeet looking cab! I trust the amp sounds as good as it looks!