Cherry Cabinets to Trainwreck Specifications

[RJ Guitars]

Hey guys,

I have found a guy who who is master cabinet builder, as in the amplifier type of cabinets. He does small quantities of special order cabs and has made me some fantastic custom order units.

I sent him all the specifications available in the Trainwreck Files and the notes that Ron Worley added to his Lil' Devil cabinet build info. I also provided him numerous original Wreck pictures. Here is what he sent me...

I can build the TW cabs per descriptions and pictures, to the specifications on the "headcab.pdf" in cherry... It's a pretty wacky construction design. Let me know if you want me to procede

Does anyone have any interest in a Wreck specification cabinet? I think they will cost me about $250 delivered and I'll pass them on for that price to anybody in the AGF. That is for an unfinished cherry cabinet. I have several photos of his work if you are interested.

Just curious what the interest level is.

thanks,

rj

[mclmk8d]

I'd be interested, though most likely for my Carol-Ann, which is somewhat larger. I just started doing the padauk thing for Diana.
I'd have to measure her and get back to you tomorrow.

[camden_guitarist]

Sounds promising, but with shipping and all to France that might still be outside of my current budget. I'm trying over here in Paris for now and see what I can dig up. There are some carpenters/furniture builders and I'm currently awaiting results to my query.

Cheers,

Paul.

[Zippy]

RJ,

Would he do the same dimensions with different construction/joining?

Is he using biscuits to reinforce these? Might he use other standard cabinet joints?

I'd be interested to hear his recommendations.

[RJ Guitars]

RJ,

Would he do the same dimensions with different construction/joining?

Is he using biscuits to reinforce these? Might he use other standard cabinet joints?

I'd be interested to hear his recommendations.

He would do this to the best known standard of the Trainwreck cabinets... also referred by him as "Wacky Construction". I suspect the original cabinet builder did not have access to the modern machinery that lets you make tongue and groove and box joints.

The original are really funky with two major components. They have the main body of the cabinet with one type of joint then the face frame which uses something kinda like a picture frame that is attached to the front of the main body.

Anyway, curious if original Trainwreck spec is worth the effort to have him tool up make us a few?

In the meantime, here is a sample of his work in a cherry cabinet he did for me last year.

rj

[Richie]

Look at other TW cabs in the TW pics.

[M Fowler]

Not to start a war but I would not call the new TW cab plans that Ron W posted as wacky construction but rather normal for fine cabinetry.

The more surface area for glue, the stronger the joint and one does not have to use dovetails or finger joints to have a strong corner joint.

I'm no expert but one doesn't need to be an expert to appreciate fine cabinetry or how they are constructed.

Mark

[RJ Guitars]

Look at other TW cabs in the TW pics.

Richie,

Are you saying that there is more than one design? I know that some of the nicer looking cabinets are a different construction, I just don't know which is authentic.

Attached is what I would call one an excellent cabinet with a Trainwreck logo a womans name, but my assumption was that it was a clone and not an original Wreck?

thanks,

rj

[dano-rator]

When I first started browsing this forum, I saw all the cabs people were making for there heads and it seemed they were all mitered along the full width, which is pretty difficult to pull off - you have to spend alot of time prepping the wood right (perfectly flat) and setting up your saw. But when I saw Ron Worley's plans with the tongue and dado joint and the mitred frame attached I thought, man now that looks alot easier to get right.

But, looking back at the trainwreck.com site - it's clear that there are both styles of cabs. perhaps two different makers over the years?

Dan

[RJ Guitars]

Not to start a war but I would not call the new TW cab plans that Ron W posted as wacky construction but rather normal for fine cabinetry.

The more surface area for glue, the stronger the joint and one does not have to use dovetails or finger joints to have a strong corner joint.

I'm no expert but one doesn't need to be an expert to appreciate fine cabinetry or how they are constructed.

Mark

Start a war... that could never happen in an open forum where people just say whatever they want.

I agree, some good cabinetry in the Wreck design although I like the total surface area with the Dovetail joint in addition to the coolness factor.

I think for GB (my cabinet maker) it is the addition of the picture frame on the front that makes it wacky... seems to me like something you might do to hide veneer plywood or something like that.

It also seems that Most of what I am convinced are the authentic wrecks use clear straight grain cherry. For me this is avoids one of my favorite parts about using wood grain for cabinets. I like figured wood. One look at the work of Distortion and I am thinking he has found his true gift in life... picking out wood and coaxing the beauty out of it.

Now I am much more of a scientist or engineer than an artist so I could be missing something???

rj

[paulster]

Attached is what I would call one an excellent cabinet with a Trainwreck logo a womans name, but my assumption was that it was a clone and not an original Wreck?

Genevieve is a genuine Liverpool and that's her original cabinet. It's flamed maple and doesn't have any woodburned image on the front panel because it would have been overkill.

It's one of two specially voiced high gain (:shock:) Liverpools and the best sounding Liverpool he built, according to Ken.

It's also one of 5 real Wrecks that its owner has!

[Richie]

Thats what i was talking about,and those are 2 different ways of building the cab. One useing the picture frame front with mitre ,and lap joints or other names you may call them on the inner part of the cab.

The other,and i think are a few more real wrecks that have the 45 mitre cut. I know some like using biscuts,some may not, and use dowels or whatever. Or you could build one to whatever you wanted.
But if you want to stick to being a perfect "type" cab for a Wreck amp, there at least 2 different ways to build them. Not saying one is wrong or right, just different. And their may be moremor some we havn't seen.
I'm sure as Ken had the cabs made, his builder may have offered a few different things of how to build the cabs,or offered suggestions. Glen or others may have more legit info on the cabs.

And it isn't the building of the cabs that is the hard part, its putting on the finish.. I leave that for someone that has the experience and tools.
I just build the amps..

[Distortion]

And it isn't the building of the cabs that is the hard part, its putting on the finish.. I leave that for someone that has the experience and tools.
I just build the amps..

Richie nailed it...

I have built more Wreck style cabs that I can remember.. and the time and effort it takes to build the cab is not near as much as the time it takes to do a proper finish.
But I guess the real question is what do you consider a proper finish..
My goal is to have the finish as close as possible to the finish on my nicest guitar.
If you are happy rubbing some stain and polish on your cab that is totally your call. But remember there is a drastic difference between the look of these two applications.
Decisions.. Decisions...

[RJ Guitars]

Thanks for the words of wisdom. I guess that helps explain Tolex as the primary finish of choice on so many amplifiers.

At one point I thought I wanted to be a guitar builder but I soon found that the finish work was far too time consuming for the dollar return. I struggled to work at it for the love and eventually recognized that I just wasn't called to the craft. Still hoping to build an archtop someday...

In my early cabinet building efforts I also found that the tools and technique was critical. It doesn't matter how long you polish a turd... it's still a turd. I did manage to put some extremely hard effort into some really mediocre woodwork. Some of it would be helped with better tools, the rest just required a lot of time in the woodshed, which I never did.

So for this effort, the fit is good and the finish is up to the builder. thank God for power sanders and Ibuprofen.

rj

[Richie]

And it isn't the building of the cabs that is the hard part, its putting on the finish.. I leave that for someone that has the experience and tools.
I just build the amps..

Richie nailed it...

I have built more Wreck style cabs that I can remember.. and the time and effort it takes to build the cab is not near as much as the time it takes to do a proper finish.
But I guess the real question is what do you consider a proper finish..
My goal is to have the finish as close as possible to the finish on my nicest guitar.
If you are happy rubbing some stain and polish on your cab that is totally your call. But remember there is a drastic difference between the look of these two applications.
Decisions.. Decisions...

I've learned a very little bit about the finish, talking to a guy i know that builds cabs and guitars. I feel for anyone doing this, its a LOT of work!
Like distortion said, just depends on what or how you want it to turn out.
You have to be set up to do this kind of work,the tools needed, planers,joiners,sanders,the list is long.
And to do the finish..all kinds of sandpapers,cloths,and a place you can do all this.
Some things can only be used when its the right temp,and humidity. Then, not to mention all the trick things they use. And for the good stuff, it sure ain't cheap. Just seeing and knowing the little bit,makes me feel for the guys that do this kind of work.