Building my own cab. What wood?

[StratAttackJack]

I posted this in the amp forum but haven't gotten any help. Basically I want to build a 4x12 cab. I am curious what wood to use, and how much the quality (expensiveness?) is a factor in overall tone and durability and what not.
Thanks

[Dan888]

I have heard many pros recommend Northern White Pine. It is strong, lightweight, and very resonant. Buy 1st grade, no knots, etc, and try to get straight clear grain.

[RupertB]

+1 for white pine. It doesn't have to be expensive wood to make a good cabinet. Yellow pine will do if white isn't available. IMO, its not as pretty but if you're covering it, it doesn't matter. :)

For hardwoods, I like poplar.

[Sir H C]

Depends if you want the wood to affect the tone or not. In the audio world they love particle board because it doesn't have resonances that straight lumber has. For live sound Baltic Birch plywood is common. Using other than plywood or particle board, I don't know, hard to get wood that big and it will want to resonate. People claim to hear a difference between the particle board and plywood backs on Marshall cabinets, so there could well be something there.

[basseuphoria]

i second the motion for baltic birch. as a bass player, i have built many cabs w/ this stuff. maybe a little pricey @ times but in the long run, well worth it. also, if well built, a baltic birch plywood cab is stronger and often 2-3 times lighter than a softwood ply cad or paticle board, mdf, etc.
hope that helps,
jim

[Prehistoricpain]

11ply baltic birch.

[StratAttackJack]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll let you know how it all turned out when its all said and done.

[62sg]

Another vote for the 11 ply voidless baltic birch...especially great for rock / blues rock.
John
www.stoneagecustomcabinets.com

[PolyFmorf]

Where do you guys get Baltic birch? Only dealers left in my area are Home Depot and Lowes. Everyone else is out of business.

[62sg]

Originally posted by PolyFmorf
Where do you guys get Baltic birch? Only dealers left in my area are Home Depot and Lowes. Everyone else is out of business.

That's happening all over.
Neither one of them in my area have the voidless BB...just the stuff where only the 2 outer layers are birch. I have to special order mine in through a supplier / mill. They come in 5x5 sheets as opposed to 4x8.

Email me and I will try to help ya find some!

John
www.stoneagecustomcabinets.com

[Danocoustic]

Originally posted by 62sg


That's happening all over.
Neither one of them in my area have the voidless BB...just the stuff where only the 2 outer layers are birch. I have to special order mine in through a supplier / mill. They come in 5x5 sheets as opposed to 4x8.

Email me and I will try to help ya find some!

John
www.stoneagecustomcabinets.com Hey man!

I'm an old time Bay Cityan!

Where you at?

[62sg]

Originally posted by Danocoustic
Hey man!

I'm an old time Bay Cityan!

Where you at?


No kiddin'.... sending you a PM

John
www.stoneagecustomcabinets.com

[Danocoustic]

Originally posted by 62sg



No kiddin'.... sending you a PM

John
www.stoneagecustomcabinets.com Sent you one back :cool:

[TimmyP]

Home Depot has (or had, anyway) some Chinese made birch that isn't bad.

The 4x12 may be the favorite cabinet configuration for tone, but it's the worst for stage use, cause the highs don't disperse - they kill the poor guy at whom the cabinet is pointed, and no one else hears them. Plus, the speakers each get so little power from the amp that you have to play way too loud to get the speakers distortion to add to the tone. Build a 1x12 and put a Weber Beam Blocker on it ( http://www.webervst.com/blocker.html )

[jeffrey ray]

any thoughts on oak....lowes down here sells the oak plywood as well as birch...oak is a bit more expensive...so is it better?

[Tippet]

I agree with the baltic birch plywood, pine is OK for smaller cabs but when you get into 4-12 territory you could have issues with pine cupping and twisting. You won't have those issues with baltic birch plywood.

[basseuphoria]

Originally posted by jeffrey ray
any thoughts on oak....lowes down here sells the oak plywood as well as birch...oak is a bit more expensive...so is it better?


should be a tough cab but it will also be heavier. birch will do just as well.

[Alanfc]

^^^

[BlackHatMike]

The Chinese birch ply at Home Despot has an inferior glue. The plies split easily and the overall strength is far less. Damn good price though.

[mattburnside]

Originally posted by PolyFmorf
Where do you guys get Baltic birch? Only dealers left in my area are Home Depot and Lowes. Everyone else is out of business.

Do you have any local stores that specialize in woodworking? There are a few here in DFW that cater to hobbyists and people looking for high-quality stuff that HD/Lowes don't carry. My favorite local store carries everything from super-nice baltic birch all the way to blocks of mahogany and exotics like wenge and bubinga.

[CJC]

I bulit 2 subwoofer cabs for 18" drivers. Mine are mid-sized, actually pretty big. I used 3/4" maple/birtch ply from Home Depot. Use the best grade they sell. Attach with screws and industrail glue.

I had these "painted" with truck bed liner. They turned out fantastic! I used expanded metal for the grills. Built like tanks.

I used Peavey LowRider 18" drivers (at 8 ohms, 3200 W Peak, 1600 W Program, 800 W Continuous). They kick major ass!!!

If you need any pointers or help, PM me.

[ottobahn]

I'm no expert in PA cabinet making but I know that particle board is more likely to warp than plywood. Plywood is made with layers of wood glued together with their grains at right angles to each other, preventing warpage.

Particle board is just dense and heavy and does not do well when wet or if left in humid conditions.

[Carati]

http://www.webervst.com/blocker.html
Neat trick that!
Those single speaker (full range) cabinets much loved by audiophiles could use something like that to disperse the sound from the small 4" speaker...they tend to beam in one direction.