DIY guitar amplifier cabinet

Gabster · 10th December 2002, 05:40 PM

Hi,

I was looking at some 4x12" marshall cabinets recently and I realized how simply they are built. Furthermore, I consider that bolting 4 speakers into a square box shouldn't give the best audio performances.

Considering Celestion's speaker frequency range (about 75Hz-5kHz), the air column should be more than a meter long.

Therefore, my goal is to build a 1x12" (maybe 2x12") cabinet for my 100W combo marshall. I'm new to loudspeaker building and I would need someone to set my on track. What should I read? What software should I use? etc.

best regards,
Gabriel

pinkmouse · 10th December 2002, 06:40 PM

Hi Gabriel

Guitar speakers are not designed to give a flat even response, and if they do so it's purely accidental!

Guitar is all about tone, and this is achieved by drastic EQing, peaky speakers, amp overdrive and cone breakup, all anathema to Hi-Fi.

Thus there is no real software that can be used to calculate this, it is all a matter of doing things by ear.

Yes, Marshall cabs are simple, but they have been the sound of rock for over 30 years, and if that is the sound you are after, then just clone one, and this will work well with your idea of a 2x12" cab. Other than that, most smaller combo amps use open backed cabs, so if you prefer the sound of a Fender Twin, for instance, thats the way you should be going!

You will find that most good music stores will supply replacement speakers for any of the reputable makes of amp, as guitarists have a habit of blowing them up, so any copy you make could use origional speakers as well, ( although this may be more expensive than rolling your own)

So, go out and listen to guitar amps and boxes you like, take some seruptitious measurements of your favorite, and make a clone

Gabster · 11th December 2002, 12:34 AM

Excellent reply, thanks.

pinkmouse · 11th December 2002, 01:50 AM

No problem

tmc · 9th January 2003, 12:15 AM

hi,,,,,,,,,
I'm also a guitarist that uses combo amps ( two in my stage rig)
And also was caught in the quandry over adding a 4x12 into the mix, mainly to cut down the feedback from the microphones due to the open back combos......( but then i remembered lugging those monsters around !!!!!!!!!!) (UGH!)

I finally decided to measure the cabinet space of the combo and build a non ported copy....it also can be used to elevate your existing combo,,,,(well there are several ways to use them )
Any way, hope you figure things out....as usual in the music arena there are a vast array of choices..........
Good luck!

JBL · 9th January 2003, 01:34 AM

Just one point you will generaly want to make open backed cabinet. Thsi is to prevented peaky bass respons wich make guitar sound weird.

Althought that some sealed configuration could sound good but...

And thus the best configuration is actually bolting 4 speaker in a box.

pinkmouse · 9th January 2003, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Althought that some sealed configuration could sound good but...

Not a fan of the Marshall Rawwwk sound then JBL?

JBL · 9th January 2003, 02:27 AM

I'm not a guitar player but being with them all the time you get to know stuff(especially when your in diy audio).

So no i'm not really a fan of marshall sound. But some marshall stuff sound good.

10th December 2002, 05:40 PM	#1
Gabster diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: MTL < QC < CAN	DIY guitar amplifier cabinet Hi, I was looking at some 4x12" marshall cabinets recently and I realized how simply they are built. Furthermore, I consider that bolting 4 speakers into a square box shouldn't give the best audio performances. Considering Celestion's speaker frequency range (about 75Hz-5kHz), the air column should be more than a meter long. Therefore, my goal is to build a 1x12" (maybe 2x12") cabinet for my 100W combo marshall. I'm new to loudspeaker building and I would need someone to set my on track. What should I read? What software should I use? etc. best regards, Gabriel

10th December 2002, 06:40 PM	#2
pinkmouse diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chatham, England	Hi Gabriel Guitar speakers are not designed to give a flat even response, and if they do so it's purely accidental! Guitar is all about tone, and this is achieved by drastic EQing, peaky speakers, amp overdrive and cone breakup, all anathema to Hi-Fi. Thus there is no real software that can be used to calculate this, it is all a matter of doing things by ear. Yes, Marshall cabs are simple, but they have been the sound of rock for over 30 years, and if that is the sound you are after, then just clone one, and this will work well with your idea of a 2x12" cab. Other than that, most smaller combo amps use open backed cabs, so if you prefer the sound of a Fender Twin, for instance, thats the way you should be going! You will find that most good music stores will supply replacement speakers for any of the reputable makes of amp, as guitarists have a habit of blowing them up, so any copy you make could use origional speakers as well, ( although this may be more expensive than rolling your own) So, go out and listen to guitar amps and boxes you like, take some seruptitious measurements of your favorite, and make a clone __________________ Al I conceive of nothing, in religion, science or philosophy, that is more than the proper thing to wear, for a while. Charles Fort

11th December 2002, 01:50 AM	#4
pinkmouse diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chatham, England	No problem __________________ Al I conceive of nothing, in religion, science or philosophy, that is more than the proper thing to wear, for a while. Charles Fort

9th January 2003, 12:15 AM	#5
tmc diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: palm bay, Fl	hi,,,,,,,,, I'm also a guitarist that uses combo amps ( two in my stage rig) And also was caught in the quandry over adding a 4x12 into the mix, mainly to cut down the feedback from the microphones due to the open back combos......( but then i remembered lugging those monsters around !!!!!!!!!!) (UGH!) I finally decided to measure the cabinet space of the combo and build a non ported copy....it also can be used to elevate your existing combo,,,,(well there are several ways to use them ) Any way, hope you figure things out....as usual in the music arena there are a vast array of choices.......... Good luck! __________________ taxes are for corporations

9th January 2003, 01:34 AM	#6
JBL diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Canada, N.-B.	Just one point you will generaly want to make open backed cabinet. Thsi is to prevented peaky bass respons wich make guitar sound weird. Althought that some sealed configuration could sound good but... And thus the best configuration is actually bolting 4 speaker in a box. __________________ Jonathan Blanchard (J.Bl.) ---Nothing is impossible---


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11th December 2002, 12:34 AM	#3
Gabster diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: MTL < QC < CAN	Excellent reply, thanks.

9th January 2003, 02:27 AM	#8
JBL diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Canada, N.-B.	I'm not a guitar player but being with them all the time you get to know stuff(especially when your in diy audio). So no i'm not really a fan of marshall sound. But some marshall stuff sound good. __________________ Jonathan Blanchard (J.Bl.) ---Nothing is impossible---

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