Building Amp Boxes/Amp isolation

[Seafroggys]

So I'm thinking of building a small isolation box to put ontop of an amp, both to block out uneeded noise but also to cut back on the volume. You need to turn that sucker up for an SM57 to get a good level.

Any ideas on how to do this. Material used, dimensions to be able to fit most amps (nothing like a half-stack though). Would like a plywood + mineral wool combo work well? Hell, even plywood + carpet if I decided to be cheap?

 

[c7sus]

Attenuators are a much better solution IMHO.

http://www.tedweber.com/atten.htm

 

[punkin]

Have you considered a power soak, power attenuator or a THD Hotplate? These things let you run the amp up at full tilt but reduce the power to the speakers. This way you get all the tube saturation without all the power going to the speakers.

You bet SM57's take a little more signal to drive and to get a good strong signal to the DAW but you don't need to bring the house down. The power attenuator might be cleaner to assemble, less complicated to set up and price wise ... well maybe a little more, maybe not depending upon how much isolation you need.

I tried to build a box a few years ago. What I got was a box that rattled and made horrible recordings. After I built a light duty box, which didn't work, I built a double wall box (which rattled), I then threw foam in it and then finally discovered the THD Hotplate. A pile of lumber and some cool cash out in the dumpster. Maybe some bad plans and maybe a little less than handy with wood ...not that wood!

I like the hotplate because if you're playing a monster JSX or XXX rectumfrier in a small venue (or have kids that like to jam in the evenings) and still desire that classic over-drive sound, you don't have to melt faces and drain ear drums to do it and, best of all, you can still be friends with the neighbors.