Guitar amp cab idea with 2 leftover RS-180

[oneplustwo]

Nice stuff folks! I would highly recommend building a cabinet. They're so easy to do compared to speakers that we typically work on and you can play with different drivers and configurations. Plus, as most of us aren't gigging (at least regularly) you can build something that looks a bit more furniture grade vs. touring band grade. Just my 2 cents based on the couple I built. Here's the 2x12:



Nothing fancy. Some dovetail joints and Home Depot red oak. The "baffle" is standard birch ply. Got the grill cloth from parts express and it's just wrapped around a wooden frame made from scraps and pressed into the cabinet against the baffle. Some more pics here.

Nice Danish. My Trad Pro 2 is quite similar to your guitar. But I have to have a slim taper neck, I can't work with a wide fat neck. Just can't. This is why I couldn't bond with my PRS Starla.

The amp head looks great. You may want to consider a cabinet like I got. Marshall 2 12" vertically oriented speakers in cab, about $323 from GC. Tough to beat that price probably even building yourself for the quality.

My cab is like this:

[JonMarsh]

Glad you're enjoying the DT25- I almost got one of them instead of the 50, but wanted the slightly higher power in VOX AC mode (equivalent to a 30 instead of a 15). The thing is, though it's hugely flexible as is, with the POD Pro X preamp and a pedal board it will do huge amounts of things, and besides handling two complete signal paths, can interface direction with the DT amps digitally, and can save settings on a PC or MAC or develop and upload them with their software. A lot of guys aren't interested in that complexity, but IMO it's pretty cool to have it on tap.

[dyazdani]

I saw too where they updated the firmware so you can dial in some modeling via MIDI. I don't have a cable, but may run back to the store this week.

[Lex]

I like your cabinet you built. If I had more time and space, maybe I would have went that route. But I am not setup to build cablinets, so the cost outlay to get in that position would have been more than just buying a cabinet. The vertical footprint of my Marshall cab works well for me, and I like the man size handles on sides of it. Weight is reasonable, and can be moved pretty easily. So, for me, it was a win. For others, DIY makes sense. Sure.

[dyazdani]

I'm not sure that DIY really makes "sense," at least from a cost standpoint - more something I'd be interested to try and have a piece I can customize. A dovetail jig is around $100 alone (not that it is essential, but I do like that construction). I figure $100 for tools, $100 for a driver, and $100 in wood, parts, and finishing materials. The Line 6 1x12 is $299, so it's probably a wash.

[JonMarsh]

Got some time to get some pictures together... Picked up a Les Paul Traditional in Tobaccoburst and a Line 6 DT25 head...

I'm very happy so far, this one has the GForce tuning which I wasn't so excited about at first, but it seems to work well. I was close to going with a Custom Shop '58, but couldn't justify the extra money, maybe one day. I liked the 2014 model slightly better as it had a thinner neck, no GForce, and the normal LP logo. The issue was it was in cherry and was way too red for me. I like to be able to play the guitars before I buy them and the 2015 played great, just had to adjust to the neck profile for a minute or two. I also like the color and figuring of the maple top on this particular one - the darker parts seem darker in the pictures than in person. We have a great (and very large) local music store and am glad to support their business.

The amp is great as well, I first looked at them after reading JonMarsh's posts about his Line 6 setup. I am really impressed with the amp and it works perfect for me in terms of portability and being able to drive it in a home setting. My Twin Reverb is a little too big and clean to do much for me. The store didn't have the matching cabinet in stock so I'm running it through the Twin's cabinet. I may end up building my own.

Very nice looking LP, BTW! :T

[dyazdani]

Very nice looking LP, BTW! :T

Thanks - I really like it and have adjusted to the neck profile. I also ordered all the MIDI stuff required for the firmware update and the ability to control the amp's modeling. I'm just going to use the iPad MIDI app. I'll probably pick up a Pod HD ProX at some point, but I have more than enough options at the moment. I need to put some time into playing now...

If you have any design tips or suggestions on a 1x12 cab, let me know.

[Lex]

The other thing too is, I get the black matching cabinet material, the chunky lift handles on the side, and a solid input connector, along with 4 and 8 ohm switching. I'm sure there are better drivers around, but it's doing a good job for me when I want power. It's honestly too much power with the 50 watt tube head. I could reduce the wattage removing a tube I think from my PRS head. I'd have to consult the experts on that, but I think that can be done. For now, I am leaving it stock. I hope someday to talk the guy out of the matching 2 12 cabinet for my PRS amp. I know who has it, but whether he will ever give it up, I don't know.

[oneplustwo]

The other thing too is, I get the black matching cabinet material, the chunky lift handles on the side, and a solid input connector, along with 4 and 8 ohm switching.

If you want matching material, build your own amp too!



Next to the 2x12 on it's end:

[JonMarsh]

Thanks - I really like it and have adjusted to the neck profile. I also ordered all the MIDI stuff required for the firmware update and the ability to control the amp's modeling. I'm just going to use the iPad MIDI app. I'll probably pick up a Pod HD ProX at some point, but I have more than enough options at the moment. I need to put some time into playing now...

If you have any design tips or suggestions on a 1x12 cab, let me know.

If you build something, think long and hard about what driver will complement the playing style you like and repertoire. Same if you buy...

For me, well, my new setup has a lot of my old setup in it- (old being mid 70's). but updated.

So, my old rig was a JTM45 Marshall (Plexi) and a 100W Traynor (very clean unless you REALLY cranked it- as I did on one memorable occasion, due to bad behavior on the part of some other members of the band, and as our bass player put it (RIP) the rest of the band just disappeared, because it was so loud going though the full stack. (this was in a large bar, not an outdoor venue).

This is why I have a VM2266 Marshall- its like an updated Plexi, same output tubes and basic design, but it has a master volume function in two parts, Body and Detail, a digital plate reverb, and an FX loop. And the really clean Line6 HD100 was a replacement for the Traynor. The Line6 DT50 came along later- I just fell in love with the flexibility, and modeling output stage.

Now, on to the cabs. I do not like the standard Marshall speakers- the Celestion G12T-75 have a resonant breakup that adds fizz and grit to the top end that I really don't like. My favorite Celestions are the Greenbacks, for the classic blues and late 60's Beck/Clapton kind of sound, and the Celestial Vintage 30 for a cleaner louder sound with a bit more top end and a more controlled bottom end that doesn't get woofy. The bottom cab gets floor boundary reinforcement, so I got a straight slope 1960BV cab with Vintage 30's (same cabs/setup as in the Jimi Hendrix Superlead setup), and the fatter Greenbacks are in the top beveled cabinet, actually a Marshall Vintage Modern cab with Greenbacks. The idea here is that normally there's a different amp on each cab, and I can switch between them by the signal chain controls on the HD POD Pro X. (example is switching between the clean sound Eric Johnson uses with small Fender amps, and the violin like sound he gets running his fuzz into a Marshall). (I'm not a fan of Fuzz boxes, but if you'd like to try one that's more interesting and natural sounding, try the Boss DA2)

The Perfect Distortion Every Time
The BOSS DA-2 Adaptive Distortion pedal delivers a perfected and ideal distortion tone to your rig. The custom-made DSP analyzes your signal and creates multiple signal-processing flows that apply multiple distortion processors to the frequencies in your signal. Some distortions deliver hot highs and muddy lows, or fat lows and fizzy highs, but the DA-2 delivers perfect distortion across all strings. No more thin high end or flabby lows, the DA-2 Adaptive Distortion optimizes your sound to be ideal in every register.

No worrying about whether you have a silicon or germanium transistor making the distortion- it's all DPS! And it works!


There are a number of US made boutique drivers which emulate Celstions at various price points. Plus, you can buy the raw Celetion drivers- Sweetwater sells them, and I think Parts Express does, too. The ideal thing might be to find a cab who's sound you like, and pick those drivers- or that cab! You can find tone samples online of a variety of cabinets, and listening to those with a good set of headphones might help.

Good luck in your search...

[dyazdani]

Thanks for the tips - I'm a classic rock and blues guy and I get your point on the way you split up the Greenback and Vintage 30. My Twin Reverb's cabinet sounds pretty good for now so I'll take my time and research some drivers.

I do have a Boss OS-2 pedal, but I don't use it much.

[JonMarsh]

The DA2 is a very different critter. It's the only one I've found that I like.

[Lex]

You guys don't post much here, I barey could dig it up, finally I searched on Bigsby. :-)

Here's my newly put together pedals board, a simple 100.00 SKB with 8 on board power hookups. My amp channel remotes of course, are not using power, and could be moved to free up for 2 mroe pedals...



I finally slowed down buying guitars for the most part Jon. But that didn't stop drum upgrades. LOL. accessories, amps, yada yada, if I was married, she'd kill me.

I now have 3 Les Pauls, all different. Slash, Trad Pro II, and a Standard. Love them all.

3 Fenders plus a bass. Two EPI (one viola bass the other a Casino), and one PRS 408.

[JonMarsh]

Glad you're making progress, Lex. I've been so busy with work and the little bit of time I've had for audio, I haven't even finished a couple of guitar upgrade projects I have in progress, and I've only picked up my Les Paul Professional maybe twice this year... hasn't been a good year for spare time.

Had to cancel my participation in Burning Amp, too. I hope to get a little spare time going by mid October, but then there's another project, which if approved, will mean a string of 7 day weeks until April. This making a buck stuff sure is getting old!

[Lex]

oh, that sounds aweful Jon. But I guess you make it while you can. Me, it's status queue, not much changes. But now it's just time to practice practice practice.

I'll shoot a pic of my big drum set tonight. I think I finally just about have it setup where I want it. I shot some photos yesterday, then immediately started changing things, lol. Using DW drums, made in CA. Great drums.

[JonMarsh]

Ok, folks, it's a new Year, and I never even bought a guitar last year- and as much I was working, hardly played one, either. time to do something about both.

I've been curious about the Dean Zelinsky private label guitars, and some of the design innovations- particularly their LP style models. What really caught my eye was the La Voce, which is designed to be a "working musician's guitar" - that is capable of a very wide range of tonality including classic hum bucking tone, single pole tone, and acoustic pickup emulation.

This demo online kind of sealed the deal for me, when Dan Peters demo's single pole mode about 2 minutes in with a Hendrix song intro that nails the front pickup Strat sound.

A further nice touch is a stere TRS output jack; so the Piezo and "electric" signals can be run through separate amplification chains. This is similar to the Epiphone Ultra III LP, which has a special pickup and a stereo output for including an acoustic guitar like sound. However, the Epi doesn't have a single pole mode, using Epi Pro Buckers for pickups.

The La Voce also has the special neck scribing which is claimed to reduce friction and "stickiness" when moving up and down the neck, especially when you might be sweating a bit. It also features a set glued maple neck; I do tend to prefer maple over Mahogany. A rosewood fretboard and rosewood veneer over the headstock are used, along with 20:1 locking tuners.





This is an active guitar, probably because of the piezo acoustic pickup - note the battery compartment in the rear view.

I'm hoping this will be a nice general purpose practice guitar for a variety of styles; it was on a special sale at the tail end of the holidays and I finally just couldn't resist and orders one yesterday. I usually wouldn't want to order a guitar sight unseen that I hadn't seen at least one or two examples of, but I read very good things online about the setup and neck quality, and the tone demo convinced me. In a week or so, I should know...

[oneplustwo]

That looks nice! Looking forward to your impressions once you have a chance to play with it. Wonder how they get an acoustic resonant kind of sound... is there any DSP going on?

[JonMarsh]

Don't know- the recommended setup is using the stereo setup and going into a board direct or into AC acoustic preamp like a Fishman. I'm going to just try it into my Line6 preamp with some cans first.

I've got several videos downloaded for learning Little Wing, (which is what I heard it demo' don in single pole mode in that video), so I'll just start there...

[Srixon]

New guy here. Zero speaker building experience (but I'm learning), but I have built a pile of tube guitar amps. I like to use hardwoods for my guitar cabs - something I'm sure I cannot do with stereo speakers. I do all my own circuit work so soldering crossovers shouldn't be an issue. Here's a 35 watt (through a pair of 5881s) tube amp speaker cab (V-front) and head combo. The cabinets are made from black walnut and the knobs are turned from cocobolo and maple.

[JonMarsh]

Nice looking build- what kind of tone stack do you have in that, and what transformers did you use? Electronics kit from somewhere or are you doing something like an amp you already like? High feedback like a Fender or low or no feedback like some Brit designs?

[Srixon]

Built the circuit from a kit sold by Kendrick Amplifiers. It's my understanding that he has the transformers hand wound for his company. The kit was called the Lion VII. Built it approximately ten years ago. Sounds like a Tweed Deluxe, only louder and smoother. Many of the other amplifiers that I have built are old Fender Tweed circuits that I buy from Weber.

[Srixon]

Here's a Weber kit that I built. 1957 Fender Twin (5E8-A). Very loud at roughly 50 watts. Cabinet is bloodwood. I enjoy soldering the circuits up as much as I enjoy building the cabinets. One of the reasons I wish to try to build speakers.

[oneplustwo]

Looks great! Very clean and tidy. Are those dovetails handout? I haven't been brave enough to try that yet.

Here's a Weber kit that I built. 1957 Fender Twin (5E8-A). Very loud at roughly 50 watts. Cabinet is bloodwood. I enjoy soldering the circuits up as much as I enjoy building the cabinets. One of the reasons I wish to try to build speakers.

[Lex]

Very beautiful work man! Love em'. Welcome to the forum too. Are those Guild guitars? Hard to tell for sure, but that's what the logo looks like.

Srixon, I am more the traditionalist in guitars, amps, and cabinetry. Gibsons, Fenders, a PRS, Marshall, yada yada... oh and Drums too, DW.

So Jon, how did the new guitar work out? Time to play it any?




Doug

[Srixon]

Looks great! Very clean and tidy. Are those dovetails handout? I haven't been brave enough to try that yet.

Thank you. I use the Leigh D4 dovetail jig. I like the D4 because it allows for variable spaced dovetails for a custom appearance. It will do half-blind dovetails (as shown above) or full dovetails. It will even do custom joints with the right accessories (as shown with this bubinga amp cabinet).

[Steve Manning]

Very nice on the dovetails ...... I've had my eye on those Leigh Jigs for awhile, looks like that's the way to go.

[dyazdani]

Haven't checked in on this thread in a while - some nice stuff posted!

Jon - I looked at those guitars once a while back, curious to hear how you like it.

I finished up an amp this weekend - got the plans from The Guitar Amp Handbook by Dave Hunter. I sourced all of the parts on my own, including a vintage, but very heavy transformer from Motorola. Sorry for the cell phone pictures.





I also built a cabinet, selected pine this time as it was a first go at building. I've got an interest in doing hardwoods like Srixon showed above. It is not 100% finished yet - I don't like the way the stain looks so I'm going to try another kind.

[Srixon]

Love it! What's the circuit? Looks a bit like a Fender Princeton. I actually like the stain on that cabinet. Gives it an antique appearance.

[JonMarsh]

Pretty sharp looking, there! How does it sound? What type of sound does the head design target? What kind of drivers for the cabinet? Greenbacks? WGS or Jensens?

That's a lot of work to put a head together like that from scratch with just some plans- kudo's to you! :T


Well, I've been pretty impressed with the overall design and execution of the LaVoce- the name may be strange, but it plays very well, the sidekick hum bucker made from true dual coils works as advertised- and the Peizo pickup acoustic sound is pretty decent, too. In fact, I liked it so much, I've ordered two more guitars from them. A 5 string Mule bass, and a Tagliare, which is basically their Stratocaster clone, which can be heavily customized. This picture online is close to the configuration I ordered, with sidekick hum buckers front and rear.



But the one I ordered is Transwine red, with a black pick guard, and satin nickel hardware.

What seems to give their side kick hum buckers a really nice tone compared to normal hum buckers is they really are built using single coil technology, including magnetic pole pieces. Really works on the LaVoce, but just made me want to have it in a Strat format with 25-1/2" neck.

I've wanted a solid body 5 string bass to complement my Jack Cassidy hollow body 4 string, been looking for something that represents good value, playability, and tone, and vaguely similar to the Jazz bass I had in high school- I ordered a black one, they were out of stock on the gray color I liked.



Pickups are active hum buckers- nice tonal variety in the online demo's I've heard. Reasonable price, too.

I used to do pickup jobs on bass in highschool and college, aside from my main band; I really love a good syncopated bass/drum groove- think stuff like "Two Princes" by the Spin Doctors.

[dyazdani]

The amp has a pretty simple preamp section - I think it is similar to a Princeton - has only a tone and volume control. One difference is the 3-postion boost switch which alters the bias circuit on the first preamp section. The output section has a pair of 6V6s for which you can use several tube configurations for anywhere from 3 to 10 watts. I have it set up stock with 2 6V6s which comes in around 8 watts. It is surprisingly loud and smooth, but I haven't played with it much yet.

The build wasn't too hard although I would've gotten a bigger chassis in hindsight. There was enough room to fit everything, but with the huge PT, it would've been nice to have it sit on the chassis completely. I had to alter a few things from the build instructions. First, the PT has 3 6.3V heater secondaries and no 5V so I had to drop a 6.3V down for the rectifier. I have the 6V6s and 12AX7 on the other two secondaries. Finally, the heater supplies were not center tapped so I had to create artificial center taps for each heater circuit - I didn't have this implemented on the first power-up and the hum was pretty wicked.

It has one issue in that there is an annoying squeal on one position of the boost switch and the same squeal if either pot is turned up, say past 10. I'm not sure what is causing that - going to try and make sure the brass plate has a good ground connection. Also, the B+ voltage is something like 450VDC which is way too high. I've read a number of complaints about high voltages resulting from use of the Sovtek 5Y3, which is what I bought, coincidentally.

[JonMarsh]

That's because as a rectifier, it has a low forward voltage drop- which is a good thing, unless your build design expects something else!

[dyazdani]

They say to keep it around 380VDC - I'm going to try another 5Y3 and see what happens. If that doesn't get it, I'll have to change the array of dropping resistors in the PS section.

I was able to get rid of the squeal with the boost circuit. There is still something going on at the max of the pots, but I'll never get there anyway. It is very loud even at 3 on the knob. It sounds great - exactly what I would've picked in the way of tone if I had a chance to listen to something up front.

I forgot to answer the question about the speakers - I decided to try some lower priced options - I have a Jensen C8R and a 10" Falcon (Jet Series). I had originally intended on having where you could switch between the individual speakers and the pair. There is an impedance switch on the amp to complement this idea.

[JonMarsh]

Ok, in the spirit of "it's not real unless there are pictures", here's a picture- my apologies, that corner of the living room is dark even in the middle of the afternoon on a sunny day, and this is a hand held shot at over a second exposure time, but I thought I should do something to celebrate the Tagliare arriving today.

The neck feels great, the action is low and feels quite good to me, and the locking tuners are quite good- probably the match of my custom shop JB Strat. We'll see how it sounds this evening, but based on what I've heard in the online demo's, I'm expecting good things. My take is that it's a lot of Strat clone for the money; I played a lot of different Stratocaster models at my local Guitar center and the cheaper ones don't really cut it for me- that's why I got mine on eBay, poor guy was going through some life changes and needed the money. (hope I'm never there, but you never know...)



These are the "sidekick" hum buckers made with single coil technology, like the LaVoce, and I ordered the matte nickel hardware finish, because I like it so much on my "real" Strat. I think I'm going to set this one up for E-flat tuning... :W

[JonMarsh]

Oops, I did it again...

BTW, the more I play these DZ guitars, the more impressed I am.

But I had a slip today, on my GA (Guitars Anonymous) plan. I'd made the mistake some time ago to have a standing search for Epiphany 1959 Ltd model, which these days is the 2015 Joe Bonamassa LP in green, with a Bigsby vibrato. A lot of them come up and get mailed to me every day- typically at $850, for a so called $1399 list guitar. I hit delete every day...




They're pretty decently equipped, with Gibson hardware and Gibson Burstbucker pickups, a Bigsby B70 (though not Custom Shop Seymour Duncans like I bought for my other Joe Bonamassa Epi, and which come on the $5,999 Gibson version of this guitar) (no longer available, but then there are a lot of other nice Seymour Duncan's that are available...)



But not today. Poor guy needed to sell an essentially new, unplayed one, purchased not that long ago from Sweetwater, one of my favorite places. Provided the original invoice, and discounted that substantially. Well, me being an upstanding civic minded citizen, and wanting to be sure this guy could pay his taxes on time, I jumped on it right away early this AM. Sheesh, what a sucker I am...




Technically, I think the Grover tuners that come on these are better than the original style tuners on the Gibson. (have owned/own several examples of both)





Clearly I'm in need of another, more effective intervention.... :W

[oneplustwo]

Nice, that's pretty! I wouldn't think green would be a good color for a guitar but that shade works. Our house remodel finally started with demo this week so all my guitar stuff is now in some sort of storage or on loan to friends. So my GA plan is pretty effective given I literally have no where to keep any more guitars.

[JonMarsh]

That's kind of been my situation, too, except that GF just greenlighted the hang 'em on the wall scenario, so that may start later this month...

[dyazdani]

Looks nice - I came close, several times, to ordering the new JB Epi. Especially with a deal to get it hand signed at one point. I wasn't sure I'd like the green color, so I've passed on it thus far. I have business near Sweetwater and was in the area last week, unfortunately didn't get time to stop by. I'm hoping to see one in person.

[Srixon]

I'd made the mistake some time ago to have a standing search for Epiphany 1959 Ltd model, which these days is the 2015 Joe Bonamassa LP in green, with a Bigsby vibrato.

Nice job. Love the green.

[JonMarsh]

I'm thinking I will, too... it's a bit different, but the main reason behind this is love these ltd edition Epi necks, and the Bigsby has possibilities for some kinds of playing...

[JonMarsh]

Well, strange story- guess you win some, guess you lose some...

The guitar arrived Thursday, early in the AM according to GF, so it was nice and temperature alicmated by the time I got home around 7:30 PM. Double boxed, using the original Sweetwater boxes. Outside of boxes looked fine. Inner box looked fine. Guitar case looked fine. But headstock was broken off...

Took pics of everything, uploaded to eBay, and started the claim process. Put it all back together today, UPS agent will pickup tomorrow morning. On the upside, money can go towards more drivers or electronics parts. Still, not the outcome I'd expected.

Guess I'll go play my new Tagliare instead!