I'm building the ultimate 4X12 cabinet isolation enclosure

  • Thread starter Thread starter B.C.Johnson
  • Start date Start date
B

B.C.Johnson

New member
But first, a few thoughts & questions...

Due to not being able to play at high volumes, people trying to sleep, go about their daily lives, blah blah blah, I want to build an iso cab. I'd like to build a big ole' box to put a 4x12 in to keep the hugeness that is characteristic of a 4x12. But therein lies the problem. I've heard more than a few stories about the negative sides of iso cabs, but also plenty of good ones. So obviously, I'd like to eliminate the problems.

First and foremost:

-It will probably be a cube with interior dimensions of 3'x3'x3'

-Well, not a cube, a....uh.....prism I guess - so as to avoid standing waves......so one of the sides might be an inch or two longer or shorter.

-I've heard about iso cabs needing to breathe to sound good. Like the door needs to be open behind the mic so sound can travel past it.....which would defeat the purpose of trying to attenuate the sound. This thing draws my attention. What's the deal with that hose? Is that just for cooling for combo amps?

-Is there a more ideal foam than just your standard egg crate stuff? Would pyramids be better? Blades? Or that expensive random cubes stuff that looks like a little city? Would it be advantageous to throw a bass trap in there?

-I would assume that with close micing of a LOUD amp, the most ideal thing would be to deaden the sound ASAP, and add room sound with plugins.
 
Friend, you need to do some more reading before you waste your efforts trying to put a muzzle on a 4x12 cab. I mean that in the kindest way possible.

In my opinion, you'd be much better off building an isolation "room" if you want the huge sound of a 4x12 cab. If you tried the build the "ultimate" iso box for a cab that size, you'd take up so much floor space you might as well have built a whole room.

As for your questions regarding "foam", the type of material you need to use can NOT be found at your local Wal-Mart or other store which sells stuff that's used to sleep on. You need foam that has been manufactured specifically for acoustical use such as aurelex. Otherwise your only option is mineral wool or rigid fiberglass insulation.

Bottom line, read a whole lot more before you go to work on this little project of yours. if you don't then you might as well figure on using todays iso box for tomorrows firewood. Find a link to Ethan's site and acoustic faqs. I don't know it off the top of my head.

peace
 
many people say good things about old freezers.
(treated, of course)
 
what about one of those isolation shields (i think thats what there called). they make big ones for drums, you know, the plastic/plexiglass foldup doors. i know they make one specifically for guitar amps. OR why dont you just aim your amp into a concrete wall in your basement, covered with a piece of carpeting? that shouldnt be too bad.

have fun,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top