Does anyone know of any web pages about making your own combo enclosure.I have searched and come up with almost nothing.
I know there are new enclosures for sale but they are too expensive and anyway I think it would be fun to make my own combo cabinet myself.I have a Hammond organ tube amp which I am restoring/modding and need a combo style cabinet to put it in along with the spring reverb unit and a Jensen P12S speaker.
There is nothing about this on the other forums so I thought I would ask you tube people.
I know there are new enclosures for sale but they are too expensive and anyway I think it would be fun to make my own combo cabinet myself.I have a Hammond organ tube amp which I am restoring/modding and need a combo style cabinet to put it in along with the spring reverb unit and a Jensen P12S speaker.
There is nothing about this on the other forums so I thought I would ask you tube people.
You should find your sound by trying different thicknesses of plywood to find which resonances sound the best for you. It is not for a violin made by Stradivari. It is for a guitar that has no resonating surfaces so sounds dull and unarticulated, so the real live acoustical sound has to be made by the speaker cabinet. I doubt that somebody would reveal results of hard expensive way of searching for the sound.
Good luck!
Good luck!
OK, so for a start the material must be plywood?
I was thinking that really all I have to make is a box with an open back which is simply big enough to mount an amp chassis in and a 12" speaker,nothing too elaborate,it's not like I am making a HiFi speaker enclosure.
I have a book on HiFi loudspeaker design and it seems a complicated subject.Do I have to apply the same rules for a relativley "crude" guitar amp(compared to HiFi amps/speakers) or will a plain old wooden box do?
Maybe I should ask the loudspeaker forum too.
Edit: Would a badly designed cabinet ruin the sound by microphony and vibrations affecting the tubes and reverb unit or am I being too fussy?
I was thinking that really all I have to make is a box with an open back which is simply big enough to mount an amp chassis in and a 12" speaker,nothing too elaborate,it's not like I am making a HiFi speaker enclosure.
I have a book on HiFi loudspeaker design and it seems a complicated subject.Do I have to apply the same rules for a relativley "crude" guitar amp(compared to HiFi amps/speakers) or will a plain old wooden box do?
Maybe I should ask the loudspeaker forum too.
Edit: Would a badly designed cabinet ruin the sound by microphony and vibrations affecting the tubes and reverb unit or am I being too fussy?
Specifically if you can get it, baltic birch ply, and to start perhaps 3/8" thick for the sides, partially open back and 1/2" or 3/4" baltic birch baffle board. Mount the driver from the back.
Cabinet can be 10" - 14" deep typically.
Build it sturdy so that it does not buzz or rattle. Reinforce the inside corners with blocks, and glue and screw everything! Do not stiffen the panels!
Install the reverb inside a bag designed for the purpose - this will prevent/reduce acoustical feedback.
Try to place the speaker somewhat asymmetrically in the baffle board to reduce modes in the baffle board.
Your sound will be determined most by the driver choice followed by the cabinet.
Look here for some ideas:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=122845
Cabinet can be 10" - 14" deep typically.
Build it sturdy so that it does not buzz or rattle. Reinforce the inside corners with blocks, and glue and screw everything! Do not stiffen the panels!
Install the reverb inside a bag designed for the purpose - this will prevent/reduce acoustical feedback.
Try to place the speaker somewhat asymmetrically in the baffle board to reduce modes in the baffle board.
Your sound will be determined most by the driver choice followed by the cabinet.
Look here for some ideas:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=122845
Is the baffle board the board that the speaker mounts on?
I see from the pic how he offset the speaker to one side.
So as far as construction goes, what you are saying is just personal taste,good workmanship and common sense and not all these calculations and stuff like with HiFi speaker boxes?
I see from the pic how he offset the speaker to one side.
So as far as construction goes, what you are saying is just personal taste,good workmanship and common sense and not all these calculations and stuff like with HiFi speaker boxes?
Aidan135711 said:
Pretty much right on all counts...
Build one, worst case you learn what doesn't work and you then try something a little bit different, but in most cases as long as you built it sturdy to avoid buzz and rattle you should end up with a reasonably good to great result.Yes the driver is mounted on the baffle board, and this should be a bit thicker and stiffer than the rest of the cabinet.
Use cleats in the corners and it is not overkill to do it everywhere. 1" x 1" stock is large enough to screw and glue. Miter joints are nice, but not necessary, you can use butt joints just make sure the ends are very square and fill the joint with plenty of glue so that it does not buzz.
Void free marine grade baltic birch plywood is rather expensive, I have had some good luck with cabinet grade BB ply, however this is not guaranteed to be void free. Voids can buzz..
I am a retired Elecrical Engineer and I build musical instrument amplifiers as a small money making hobby.
For a single 12" speaker a good starting point would be the Fender Deluxe Reverb cabinet which is an open back combo amplifier.
The dimensions are 24.5 inches wide, 17 inches high and 9.5 inches deep. Fender uses Southern Yellow Pine for there cabinets, but I have used Poplar, Aspen or plywood as it is readily available at my lumber yards. The cabinet should be made with 3/4 inch thick sides and top. The speaker mounting board should be 1/2 inch plywood preferably 7 layer ply, 5 will work. The back pieces can also be 1/2 inch thick.
New Sensor Electronics in New York or Antique Electronic Supply in Arizona has lots of component parts for building amps and both carry padded bags designed for holding the reverb spring.
Hopefully this will give you a good starting point.
For a single 12" speaker a good starting point would be the Fender Deluxe Reverb cabinet which is an open back combo amplifier.
The dimensions are 24.5 inches wide, 17 inches high and 9.5 inches deep. Fender uses Southern Yellow Pine for there cabinets, but I have used Poplar, Aspen or plywood as it is readily available at my lumber yards. The cabinet should be made with 3/4 inch thick sides and top. The speaker mounting board should be 1/2 inch plywood preferably 7 layer ply, 5 will work. The back pieces can also be 1/2 inch thick.
New Sensor Electronics in New York or Antique Electronic Supply in Arizona has lots of component parts for building amps and both carry padded bags designed for holding the reverb spring.
Hopefully this will give you a good starting point.
I build guitaramps, http://www.revintage.se .
Build your cabinet in 16mm fingerjoint pine for the sides, 10mm pineply for the baffle and 7mm for the back. This helps a guitaramp to get a nice tone. I love the size of the Princeton Reverb adjusted to take a 12" or 15" speakar.
Build your cabinet in 16mm fingerjoint pine for the sides, 10mm pineply for the baffle and 7mm for the back. This helps a guitaramp to get a nice tone. I love the size of the Princeton Reverb adjusted to take a 12" or 15" speakar.
I agree with Lars, pine can also be used and it does give a real nice tone.
One important point. Mount the reverb spring on the bottom and try to mount the amplifier unit on the top of the cabinet. Keep the power transformer on the opposite side of the cabinet from the output transducer in the reverb spring. This keeps the hum to a minimum in the reverb circuit.
Also, try to mount the speaker off center towards the opposite side from where the amplifer transformers are. THis helps to balance the amp from a weight distribution point of view.
P.S.
To all, I am finishing up the construction of a two channel combo amp with a single 12" alnico based speaker using a pair of 6V6GTs with tremolo and reverb. Channel one will be be set for Aux or Line level input using a Baxandall tone control. This will have a stero mixing input so I can plug in a mp3 player and jam along. Channel 2 will be a Deluxe reverb circuit with an added bright switch. The cabinet will be in natural wood stained in dark oak rather than covered in the usual Tolex vinyl.
I will post pictures in a few weeks of the completed project.
One important point. Mount the reverb spring on the bottom and try to mount the amplifier unit on the top of the cabinet. Keep the power transformer on the opposite side of the cabinet from the output transducer in the reverb spring. This keeps the hum to a minimum in the reverb circuit.
Also, try to mount the speaker off center towards the opposite side from where the amplifer transformers are. THis helps to balance the amp from a weight distribution point of view.
P.S.
To all, I am finishing up the construction of a two channel combo amp with a single 12" alnico based speaker using a pair of 6V6GTs with tremolo and reverb. Channel one will be be set for Aux or Line level input using a Baxandall tone control. This will have a stero mixing input so I can plug in a mp3 player and jam along. Channel 2 will be a Deluxe reverb circuit with an added bright switch. The cabinet will be in natural wood stained in dark oak rather than covered in the usual Tolex vinyl.
I will post pictures in a few weeks of the completed project.
I've done a couple of these, and being cheap, I found some interesting ways to do this. The first amp housing I used was an older Fisher HiFi speaker (the speakers were trashed). I cut out part of the back (you could leave the panel for a closed cab, maybe with a hinge). I put a 12" speaker in, and left the two smaller speaker holes empty. I covered those with a panel, on which I mounted the knobs. The speaker now sits sideways, and I put two big utility handles on the sides from the hardware store. Great resonance, and I didn't have to design it! Really cool industrial & vintage look.
The other one I did was in an old solid state combo that blew its power transformer (it sounded pretty craptastic anyway). I hacksawed off the front panel from the SS amp chassis, and mounted the tube amp upside down where most of the SS amp was, with the hacksawed off panel in front of it above the speaker. I put all the knobs and switches onto the panel, and it looks like it was commercial!
On both amps, I just hung the reverb tank off the back, but on the second one I had to acoustically seal the tank better to prevent squealing.
The other one I did was in an old solid state combo that blew its power transformer (it sounded pretty craptastic anyway). I hacksawed off the front panel from the SS amp chassis, and mounted the tube amp upside down where most of the SS amp was, with the hacksawed off panel in front of it above the speaker. I put all the knobs and switches onto the panel, and it looks like it was commercial!
On both amps, I just hung the reverb tank off the back, but on the second one I had to acoustically seal the tank better to prevent squealing.
Yo aidann, going well, sent you an email with updates...I'd say it's pretty much done, I had someone who plays guitar better than me play it for a while, he was impressed. A little aesthetic work on the front panel & a little more preamp attenuation and I think I'm done (I'm hesistant to attenuate the preamp too much though because I want it to work well with both mic and guitar). Lots of little things I'm thinking about adding, anyway.
Going to start building a 2x12 combo soon for a monster 10 octal, 5 noval chassis I picked up...I need to start scrounging old furniture at garage sales for hardwood. The chassis originally powered 72 tubes and has both a 5y3 and a 5u4 for rectifiers. The power transformer is extremely large and heavy, the filament leads are a couple millimeters in diameter. Going to be a loud one, I imagine, good dynamics & possibly two entirely different power amps driving the speakers independently. It'll probably take a while
Going to start building a 2x12 combo soon for a monster 10 octal, 5 noval chassis I picked up...I need to start scrounging old furniture at garage sales for hardwood. The chassis originally powered 72 tubes and has both a 5y3 and a 5u4 for rectifiers. The power transformer is extremely large and heavy, the filament leads are a couple millimeters in diameter. Going to be a loud one, I imagine, good dynamics & possibly two entirely different power amps driving the speakers independently. It'll probably take a while
Hey Zibi
Those are great links.The Amp Cab Co. is going to be really great when he finishes all the how to guides.
As for the other link,it is excellent,I have information overload at the moment.
I think I will price a dovetailing jig and a few tools tomorrow then try to decide what shape this thing is going to be.
Those are great links.The Amp Cab Co. is going to be really great when he finishes all the how to guides.
As for the other link,it is excellent,I have information overload at the moment.
I think I will price a dovetailing jig and a few tools tomorrow then try to decide what shape this thing is going to be.
http://www.silvatone.bravepages.com/
http://home.att.net/~scole90/index.html
http://devtoe.blogspot.com/
http://shockyourself.blogspot.com/s...-max=2008-01-01T00:00:00-05:00&max-results=14
http://yeomansinstruments.blogspot.com/
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/amp-central-station/97277-5e3-cab-progress.html
http://home.att.net/~scole90/index.html
http://devtoe.blogspot.com/
http://shockyourself.blogspot.com/s...-max=2008-01-01T00:00:00-05:00&max-results=14
http://yeomansinstruments.blogspot.com/
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/amp-central-station/97277-5e3-cab-progress.html
Hey Matt
Thats great, will read it now.
Pity you did'nt keep that old Everett/Hammond organ you got the amp chassis from,there was maybe loads of good timber in it.
What have you found now? 72 tubes! Was it an RF power amp or 1000W PA amp or what?
What do you think of my magic eye idea as a power meter?
Thats great, will read it now.
Pity you did'nt keep that old Everett/Hammond organ you got the amp chassis from,there was maybe loads of good timber in it.
What have you found now? 72 tubes! Was it an RF power amp or 1000W PA amp or what?
What do you think of my magic eye idea as a power meter?
Hey Zibi
Once again,great links,in fact, awesome links.
Totally step by step guides,every detail and quality build and circuit details.Thanks very much for your reply.I think there is enough info here to keep me going for months if not years.
When I get this Hammond thing finished I think I will have a go at one of those Silvatone amps.
I searched for hours for this type of info and got almost nothing.How you found it is beyond me.
Once again,great links,in fact, awesome links.
Totally step by step guides,every detail and quality build and circuit details.Thanks very much for your reply.I think there is enough info here to keep me going for months if not years.
When I get this Hammond thing finished I think I will have a go at one of those Silvatone amps.
I searched for hours for this type of info and got almost nothing.How you found it is beyond me.
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