Thanks for the reply.I designed a 1x12" cab and a friend built it for me.
The three choices of wood that we considered were:
MDF board
Baltic Birch plywood
Pine
We chose pine in the end. It is light weight, easy to work with, easy to find at suppliers and we were not going to tolex it so...easy to finish also. Pine is also thought to produce a more "warm" sound but has a "loose" low end.
The baffle is floating and is made from 1/2" (or metric equivalent) baltic birch. With 4x10" you would probably want to go thicker.
Hope this helps a bit.
Dave
If you're going to Tolex it, 3/4" or 1" furniture grade ply would be OK. Unlike construction grade, it'll be free of pits and rattles.Thanks for the reply.
Maybe I should go with baltic birch plywood since I'm doing a 4/10? We're going to tolex it too...
Hi,
If you're going to Tolex it, 3/4" or 1" furniture grade ply would be OK. Unlike construction grade, it'll be free of pits and rattles.
Baltic Birch is a better tonewood and stronger (and unless it's on sale, 5 to 8 times the price!), but to tolex that would be a shame.
Box joints are a good idea, but if you don't have a router table or jig, use hardwood dowel pegs and cleats.
Cheers!
Ask away! We were all new at one time. This month's Guitar Player with Alex Lifeson on the cover actually has a nice article that talks about speaker cabinets and the effect they have on your sound. Quick way to get up to speed.What's a floating baffle? I'm new to this so need to find out all these technical terms.
Bonus!My girlfriend's dad is building it and he's a machinist at a moulding company so hopefully they'll have router tables or jigs to box the joints.
I deal almost exclusively with 3/4" and while I haven't weighed the difference, it's about two to three times heavier than solid pine by feel (I don't have a significant enough birch in stock right now to weigh).How much heavier will baltic birch be than pine?
Poplar is an awesome wood and finishes beautifullypopular is a great wood for making guitar cabs,and is used by a few manufactures
Wild Bill...Where do you get all the great info/stories from?There's been many, many articles in the trade mags about the mojo of the Fender 4-10 cab!
One story goes that Clapton was given a modern clone to try. He of course had been using an original for years.
They used pine like the original and also the same speakers, which I believe were Oxfords but I could be wrong.
Anyhow, he knew right away which was the modern clone. There was a sonic difference that his ears detected.
They finally figured it out. Modern pine like that sold in Home Depot has a moisture content far higher than that of pine board in the 50's. They just don't want to spend the time on drying kilns today!
Someone dug up some old barn board, ran it through a planer and made another cabinet. Clapton swore it sounded identical to the original!
Might be just another myth but it's obvious moisture content will affect the wood density, changing how it reacts with the tone.
Just FYI.
:food-smiley-004:
I've been dreaming of a 1x12 extension cab made out of some reclaimed barn board. My inlaws have a falling-down-barn I was going to pilfer for some wood. All planed and polished. Man that'd look sweet!Someone dug up some old barn board, ran it through a planer and made another cabinet. Clapton swore it sounded identical to the original!
I think I'm leaning towards pine with tweed covering to match the head I'm making for it. Seeing that it's been suggested several times and it's lighter than the birch, that helps. My dr z 2-12 is so heavy, I don't want anything heavier, hopefully with pine it shouldn't be heavier than 60lbs.Wild Bill...Where do you get all the great info/stories from?
You must have a fantastic memory. Keep 'em coming. Always enjoy reading your posts/threads :wave:
Music 43: Any closer to a decision re: cab design and wood?
There is a local fellow who just tore down a large barn and is selling all the wood ...interested?
Enjoy building the cab.
Dave
I looked up a comparison of weights between MDF and pine on the internet (back when we were designing the cab). The weight of the pine depends on the specie(s) of pine and the moisture content. I gave up at that point.I think I'm leaning towards pine with tweed covering to match the head I'm making for it. Seeing that it's been suggested several times and it's lighter than the birch, that helps. My dr z 2-12 is so heavy, I don't want anything heavier, hopefully with pine it shouldn't be heavier than 60lbs.
What do you think about celestion 10" speakers?
I see a new business adventure here...there has to be a niche market out there.I've been dreaming of a 1x12 extension cab made out of some reclaimed barn board. My inlaws have a falling-down-barn I was going to pilfer for some wood. All planed and polished. Man that'd look sweet!
Thanks ...I looked up a comparison of weights between MDF and pine on the internet (back when we were designing the cab). The weight of the pine depends on the specie(s) of pine and the moisture content. I gave up at that point.
Pine might not be as light weight as you think it will be...but I still like it. I think my 1x12" cab. weighed about 14 to 18 lbs (without speakers, obviously). I'll get the dimensions for you after (I'm at work) so you can estimate, if you want.
My friend was able to get 3/4" (metric thickness is a shade less) pine in about 20" x 48" pieces at Home Depot. Not many knots and saves a lot of work not having to glue edges to get the 10" width.
I can't help you with speakers. I have heard a lot about Webers, but they are expensive and only available from the USA (IIRC)
Dave
Expensive?I can't help you with speakers. I have heard a lot about Webers, but they are expensive and only available from the USA (IIRC)
Awesome!Hi,
Expensive?
Maybe compared to Warehouse Guitar Speakers, but they are on the low side compared to most others.
Yellow Cab on Vancouver Island is an official dealer:
http://www.yellowcabamplification.com/speakers.htm
And I have OEM/resale status, so I can sell them too out of Chilliwack :smile:
Ted ships anywhere from his website and accepts PayPal. That's usually the cheapest way to go....
As for pine sources, Home Despot is total rubbish.... at least the one's I've been to. They are far more expensive and have crappier stuff compared to the pine found local Windsor Plywood, that carries furniture grade stuff. It's all kiln dried too! If you luck out, the odd Rona carries special order stuff for furniture makers, if there's no specific dealer for them in your town.