4x8" speaker cab - anyone tried/built one?

[Mark]

What are your thoughts on the sound of the cab?
How would you say it differs from 10" & 12" speakers?

Sorry no idea about mics.

[Geeze]

The guitar/pickup/amp set up I have which delivers so much low end I turn off all bass on the amp and overdrive pedal.

I was surprised by the sound and tone from 2 of the WGS 8's. I half expected to get a transistor radio type thin / tinny sound and I did not. I like warm over driven jazz [Wes Montgomery with some fur] and I liked the tone - punchy. Words fail me so posting a audio bit would be better.

It did not have the same low end fullness as they were not moving as much air as the 2x10 I A/B'd with. They are not the best solo rig for chugga chugga metal but with paired with 10's they owned the middle. I have only jammed with a drummer and I believe the 8's may solve some of the 'cut through the mix' issues I have read about.

I like full and warm tone and I got enough to satisfy and press on with 2 more 8's. The lure of a 20lb slant cab is irresistible.

[Mark]

I suspect every size speaker has some sort of appeal. 10" speaker have a chimeyness that you can't get from 12" speakers. I'm sure 8" speakers have their charm too.

[Geeze]

Grill cloth and handle installed. I guess the weight at about 16 pounds.

Waiting on two more speakers from Weber. On the hunt for a decent speaker mic. Contemplating a bottom cab for a 12" - a full stack - yes I am nuts.

[Danny_J_Glover]

I'm considering building a small 2 x 8" single-ended combo amp using these speakers.

http://www.parts-express.com/fender-8-f ... m--299-079

It will actually be two separate amplifiers in one combo, each powering one speaker with a separate input for guitar or keyboard on each channel with separate preamps, bridgeable mono/stereo via the left input, and switchable NFB.

Anyone have any experience with these speakers or the acoustosonic amps?[/url]

[Geeze]

Hi Danny,

I've not heard good reviews on this speaker - most of them the price gets the nod more than the sound. Unfortunately unless you can find an 8" speaker shoot out guitar wise between this one, Weber, WGS & Jensen it will be a leap of faith/experiment.

My experience with 8's is limited to Weber Chicago series and the WGS. I prefer the Webers - they make about 12 models of 8".

Most of this stuff boils down to what YOU like in an inverse ratio of what you are willing to spend. There are good deals but I believe bargains are bargains for a reason.

[Cantplay]

I'm considering building a small 2 x 8" single-ended combo amp using these speakers.

http://www.parts-express.com/fender-8-f ... m--299-079

It will actually be two separate amplifiers in one combo, each powering one speaker with a separate input for guitar or keyboard on each channel with separate preamps, bridgeable mono/stereo via the left input, and switchable NFB.

Anyone have any experience with these speakers or the acoustosonic amps?[/url]

All you'll save vs 2 amps is maybe sharing the power supply, and then you have 2 players forced to use the same combo as monitor.

John

[Danny_J_Glover]

I'm definitely sharing the power supply.

I had originally intended to build two separate combos, essentially as stereo tube monitors, but two power transformers, two chokes, two chassis and now two heavy speakers to lug around became less appealing as I got into the logistics of the design.

I'm only using two separate amps due to the fact that most keyboards and synths output a stereo signal that I intend to preserve. It's a studio amp for only one "player."

Also four EL84s in parallel to get the 20W I was looking for would have exponentially increased the size of the output transformer and done away with the existing stereo aspect.

It also seems like it could be fun to play with separate drive settings on each independent channel: set the left channel to slight power tube overdrive with NFB disengaged, and the right channel to bright and clean with NFB, etc...

The person I'm building it for is less guitar heavy and more into synthesizers. He already has flat response monitors. This is just for some unique icing on the tone cake.

"Build something you can't buy."

I'm already going full steam ahead with the experiment.[/quote]

[Cantplay]

Yeah, you can put different NFL values on a switch, and also a cap across it to change tone.

John

[h2mster]

I use an Weber 8A100 with H Dustcap for an bedroom amp. First tests sound great. Not finished yet but the sound is surprisingly full.

They got some other 8" there by the way and not too expensive.

[Danny_J_Glover]

That's a good idea John.

I wonder how a potentiometer in the feedback path would fair.
(definitely with a limiting resistor in series to avoid shorting the output to the cathode!)

I have some 3 position switches sitting around, I'll definitely add a few feedback settings.

Something about the mid punch of 8" speakers has me on a new kick here.

I tried a Fender Rumble 2x8" bass cab and was stunned at it's clarity and low end punch. I like a little gritty overdrive with my bass, too.
Wish I could get my hands on the custom neodymium Eminence speakers they use. Can't find them anywhere.

I'll try give those Webers a try, difficult to find but they seem to have rave reviews and a high SPL, always a useful trait in small single ended amps!

:lol:

[pops]

I have had a 4-8 cab before and liked it a lot. It started out as a harp, but was a great guitar cab too. I use the modern Jensen mod 8" speakers. 8's are warmer than most other speakers especially 10's and 12's. The Webers are great, just more expensive. I have a double champ with one of each. I wouldn't make the baffle board any more than 3/8" as it tends to get very bright especially at 5/8". The baffle vibrating is part of the sound and you are trying to color it. For a stereo speaker maybe heavier, but not guitar. I may have 4 eight inch speakers new in box if you are interested. Bought several a few years ago for some projects and didn't use them all. have fun

[Geeze]

Thank you for the offer - if you had some of the mid range Weber alnicos I could be tempted. I have circled back to 10" speakers currently building a 4x10. I use 1/2" ply [a proud 7/16" really] for baffles on smaller cabs.

An earlier thread veered onto thin wall cabs with acoustic guitar bracing - that will probably be the next project. The 3/8 baffle would work well there I suspect.

[pops]

I like to stick with the 3/8" baffle, tho i am not using high powered amps. A 5-f6a i built used the 3/8's with no problem. I have tried 1/2 and 3/4, but they were way to bright and harsh. I was trying them for a blues slide player and like harp it is too bright and harsh very easy. Like here is an icepick stick in your ear, i am going to play now bright. At least to my and some friends ears.

[Danny_J_Glover]

The front baffle is built out of 3/4" pine board (not ply) that has been planed down to about 11/16". Is that too rigid of a baffle?

I have heard that pure pine has a warm sound, almost too soft and muddled for extended bass range. I've personally never built a cab out of anything but ply, so I'm going off of heuristics here.

I was hoping the softer wood would complement and dampen the brightness of the 8" speakers, and I'm building it sealed to cut down on the bass excursion.

Am I overlooking something important here?