DIY cab : which wood

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Peace_of_mind

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Hi, I'm planning to craft my own guitar cab and I'm coming across to major issues :
-> Which would shoul I use ? I think MDF should be fine since it is said to be isotropic
-> I'm looking for a 25 W or 50W speaker but the Celestion product range is huge so I don't know which one I shoul choose (I play hard rock)
 
MDF is a great wood for cabinets, but the drawback it that it dings and dents a bit easier than some other woods. (especially on the corners, using corner protectors helps) - see if Baltic Birch is available where you are, the real stuff comes in a 5' x 5' sheet and is available at larger lumber yards (not lowes) or from a cabinet shop. The next best thing which is easier to find is Auraco - similar to the Baltic, a little less expensive and will be great as well for a cabinet (and lowes usually carries it). Personal preference on the speaker for what you want would be a Celestion Vintage 30, very nice tone whether clean, or seriously overdriven. Great all around speaker.
 
MDF isn't wood, it's a particle board. :p

You don't say what amp you want to use with it. The G12T 75's always a good bet unless you want an old classic tone.
 
The amp, it's power output, and what kind of tones you want is all gonna matter. Can't give any ideas without that info.
 
Maybe I'm lazy but I would would just buy a Marshall Cab. They're cheap...
 
Thank you for your swift answers. I have a Marshall 30th anniversary 100 W (aka Marshall 6100) and I want to have a hard rock sound (from Iron Maiden to Def leppard basically) but I do not plan to play my amp full power (I haven't bought this amp in order to play loud but because it has a great sound).
 
Bubba po said:
MDF isn't wood, it's a particle board. :p

Actually, no is isnt... Particle board and MDF are two entirely different materials..

I also have to agree with another post, you can pick a Marshall reasonable, and there are other brands out there that are even less. I have seen many people buy a lesser brand cabinet with missing or blown drivers and go from there..
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You also didn't actually say what size cab you're making, or whether it's going to sit in a bedroom, or tour. Personally, I'd try to find a used empty cab locally and avoid the frustration. But if you're dtermined that you want to build it yourself, then have at it. I do know that, unless it's just going to sit in a bedroom, I'd go with a good quality plywood, generally the thicker the better. Don't know what particular wood, though, so I will defer to the more knowledgable here.

I just remembered that a friend of mine is a carpenter and woodworker, and builds quality cabs all the time. I'll ask him.
 
This advice comes from a long time wood worker and musician. Your two best options are 3/4" Birch plywood or if you want to use MDF use 1". You need to decide if you want an open back or closed (sealed) back cabinet. The open back is by far the easiest of the two cabinet types to construct. With a closed back, also known as "acoustic suspension" you have to do some calculation, and consider baffling, frequency response, you have to consider the damping and load of the air in the cabinet. You also have to use different types of speakers in the two cabinets. Longer voice coils, stiffer cones and larger magnets for a sealed cabinet. And for the open back cabinet shorter voice coils, lighter cones and smaller magnets. But I again rambled, I seem to do that, you just asked about material for the cabinet construction. So look again at the beginning of this post. Oh, there is also the reflex cabinet which is normally used for bass guitars.

There is plenty of information on the net on how to build guitar cabinets so just seek and you will find.
 
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Illsidgus said:
This advice comes from a long time wood worker and musician. Your two best options are 3/4" Birch plywood or if you want to use MDF use 1". You need to decide if you want an open back or closed (sealed) back cabinet. The open back is by far the easiest of the two cabinet types to construct. With a closed back, also known as "acoustic suspension" you have to do some calculation, and consider baffling, frequency response, you have to consider the damping and load of the air in the cabinet. You also have to use different types of speakers in the two cabinets. Longer voice coils, stiffer cones and larger magnets for a sealed cabinet. And for the open back cabinet shorter voice coils, lighter cones and smaller magnets. But I again rambled, I seem to do that, you just asked about material for the cabinet construction. So look again at the beginning of this post. Oh, there are also the reflex cabinet which is normally used for bass guitars.

There is plenty of information on the net on how to build guitar cabinets so just seek and you will find.
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Cabinet maker, fretless player, and Fogelberg appreciater. You are rapidly becoming one of my favorite people around here. Even if you are from Kentucky.
 
notCardio said:
Cabinet maker, fretless player, and Fogelberg appreciater. You are rapidly becoming one of my favorite people around here. Even if you are from Kentucky.
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Thanks, and if it is any help, I was born and raised in Illinois, I just moved to Kentucky after I retired from the military.
 
Illsidgus said:
Thanks, and if it is any help, I was born and raised in Illinois, I just moved to Kentucky after I retired from the military.
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Now I get the connection- "Illinois, I'm you're boy, Illinois."
 
notCardio said:
Now I get the connection- "Illinois, I'm you're boy, Illinois."
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"Illinois" a great song off of DF's album "Souvenirs" which I might ad was produced by Joe Walsh. I have been a Dan Fogelberg fan since about 1974 but the first Fogelberg song that I heard and learned to play was "The Last Nail" off of "Captured Angel", produced by Dan Fogelberg and cover art by Dan Fogelberg. And as you may imagine I am also a big John Denver and Arlo Guthrie fan as well as Arlo's father Woody Guthrie. And to make this fit into the Guitars and Basses thread, they all played guitars.
 
Peace_of_mind said:
Thank you for your swift answers. I have a Marshall 30th anniversary 100 W (aka Marshall 6100) and I want to have a hard rock sound (from Iron Maiden to Def leppard basically) but I do not plan to play my amp full power (I haven't bought this amp in order to play loud but because it has a great sound).
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Marshall 1960 a or b. Done.
 
JHudson said:
Bubba po said:
MDF isn't wood, it's a particle board. :p

Actually, no is isnt... Particle board and MDF are two entirely different materials..

I also have to agree with another post, you can pick a Marshall reasonable, and there are other brands out there that are even less. I have seen many people buy a lesser brand cabinet with missing or blown drivers and go from there..
Click to expand...


Yeah, MDF is more dense/heavier than particleboard. A 1" thick MDF cabinet, with (finger joint/box joint) construction, should be all that's needed. Be sure to get heavy casters.;)
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