4x12 scratchy stack

So I decided not long ago that I would build my very own Marshall amp. Now my main reasons behind this was because it would be cheaper, well I was wrong. But, the plus side to building it is the satisfaction and the fact that I can spend a little bit of money on it over time instead thousands of dollars all in one go. So my father and I went on down to the green shed of which must not be named, and bought some 3 sheets of 8 mil mdf. Got it home and started building. Now I can't exactly offer the plans that I used to anyone. Because I didn't exactly follow them, but they would work to anybody that would like them. First cab (straight) went together fine, nice and strong but extremely heavy, no surprises there. I havnt quite had the time to get around to building the second can (angled) just yet, but all in good time. As for speakers I plan on putting in a set of celestions, I originally wanted the G12s but they can go up to 200 bucks a pop, so some changes to that might happen, might not, who knows. As for a head for this amp, I'm still undecided. If I could, I would build my own to fit, the problem that lies in that is, I wouldn't have a clue what goes into an amp head, so if anybody can help me with that, I would be truly grateful. Pics to come soon! 😝😁

Lawry builds amplifiers, he would be a good person to hassle for info. First things first, ambitious. If you think the cab is heavy now, just wait until you put speakers in to it. I used to have a full bass stack, and although it looked cool, it was totally impractical and never got used to anywhere near it's full potential. Stick with one cab for now, consider baffling it and using 2 speakers to begin with and concentrate on getting an amp to power it. A fully decked out 4x12 with nothing to run it will be in the way more than anything. :)

Yep, Lawry would be great to ask about anything amp related!

Check out this site for amp building info http://ampgarage.com/forum/

The 'in the shed' sub forum here http://www.guitargear.net.au/discuss....php?board=8.0 is very good for aussie home built amps.

You can build your own amp on a budget, but you must be willing to scrounge.

PS, can I suggest turning those 4x12's into oversized 2x12's with the speakers vertical for better horizontal dispersion.

I've put a 4x10 together from 20mm marine ply for my 100w H||H IC 100S head that I've had since new in 1976.

I used to run this amp through a Marshall quad box in my gigging days, would never go back to the double Lenard stack I had earlier despite the incredible tone it had, it was just far too big (great wank factor though)

The new box is wired for 8 ohms and is good for 700W RMS, my little 20W Fender Mustang sounds quite large through the box but obviously doesn't shake the foundations like the big head does.

BTW the H||H IC100S was the amp of choice for Marc Bolan amongst many others.

Thanks everyone for your help so far.

Moody's don't mind spending the extra dollars to build the amp, i just need to find out exactly what I need etc etc. you could try and convince me to turn it into a 2x12 but I doubt it would work considering I've already built one of the 2 4x12s 😝😝

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Originally Posted by dave.king1

I've put a 4x10 together from 20mm marine ply for my 100w H||H IC 100S head that I've had since new in 1976.

I used to run this amp through a Marshall quad box in my gigging days, would never go back to the double Lenard stack I had earlier despite the incredible tone it had, it was just far too big (great wank factor though)

The new box is wired for 8 ohms and is good for 700W RMS, my little 20W Fender Mustang sounds quite large through the box but obviously doesn't shake the foundations like the big head does.

BTW the H||H IC100S was the amp of choice for Marc Bolan amongst many others.

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Didn't Marc Bolan use a Vampower Tube amp head and Quad Box at one point in his career?, I'm sure I've seen a pic of him using one somewhere, there's a pic of him on the front cover of the Electric Warrior album, and in the pic just behind him is the Vampower Tube amp head and Quad Box, he also used an H&H pre-amp with the Vampower amp.


You've gotta love T Rex, very 70's.


http://www.vampower.com/dave.html

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Originally Posted by DrNomis_44

Didn't Marc Bolan use a Vampower Tube amp head and Quad Box at one point in his career?, I'm sure I've seen a pic of him using one somewhere, there's a pic of him on the front cover of the Electric Warrior album, and in the pic just behind him is the Vampower Tube amp head and Quad Box, he also used an H&H pre-amp with the Vampower amp.


You've gotta love T Rex, very 70's.


http://www.vampower.com/dave.html

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Could well be right most of the big guys seem to drift from one manufacturer to the next as their sonic desires change.

Over his career Rory Gallagher played through Fender, VOX & Marshall and a lot of guys today A/B or parallel amps so they can have a mix wet & dry sounds ( not to mention having a wall of cabinets in the back line with only one live and run through front of house )

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KurtSlash123

Thanks everyone for your help so far.

Moody's don't mind spending the extra dollars to build the amp, i just need to find out exactly what I need etc etc. you could try and convince me to turn it into a 2x12 but I doubt it would work considering I've already built one of the 2 4x12s 😝😝

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There is a fair bit of reasoning as to why a vertical 2x12 is better than a 4x12. As a bassist I would prefer to be on stage with a guitarist using a 2x12. Quad boxes beam horribly, 5 meters in front of them they will be the only thing you hear, slightly off to the side and you don't hear the guitar. Single or vertical speakers have much better dispersion in both the crowd and on stage.

Heres some pictures of the frame all together next will be the speakers when i can scrape the pennies together for them, then after i cut the holes itll be time to start covering it in tolex and put all the fiddly bits on :)

Attachment 3506
Attachment 3507

Just wait until you try to pop a Superlead ( 200W ) head on top of the stack, they look great but oh my it's hard work.

cabinets look awesome Kurt, great project

is that an XC 2 door coupe in the background ?

nice post and just in time.

I have 2 12" celestion vintage 30s I need to make a box for

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Originally Posted by stan

nice post and just in time.

I have 2 12" celestion vintage 30s I need to make a box for

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Can I suggest two boxes? Take one for small rehearsals, two for bigger gigs etc.

Nah just DI for the bigger gigs...... The bassist inside me has just come to life!

No self respecting bassist will just straight DI, Pest. You still got some learnings to do. :)

Kurt, let me know if you want some custom logos for your grills.

Don't worry Pabs I have done my homework :D

We'll make a bass player out of you, eventually. :)

One does not simply go DI...

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18p4...g/original.jpg

Two cabs does sound like a good idea moody, as I have a Fender twin reverb that makes enormous noise....

No Stan this is how ya do it!

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Originally Posted by stan

One does not simply go DI...

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18p4...g/original.jpg

Two cabs does sound like a good idea moody, as I have a Fender twin reverb that makes enormous noise....

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I would be quite happy using a twin reverb through the right cab as a bass amp. They are really too much power for your average guitar.

Agreed. The Twin Reverb will make your eyeballs melt!

thanks fellas,

@ pablo, hell yer ill have some custom logos for sure! dont really know what sort of logo i want on it but personal message me and well sort something out! :)

@ Woks, its my Dads XB John Goss Special, close though :) good picking up on that though xD

nice beast Kurt the John Goss special, must be worth a bit if its original and in good nick. Tell your Dad to leave that to you in his will haha
I was going to guess XB or XC

Woks ie already tried for that in his will, he recons its going to be buried with him haha. dont know what its worth to be honest, but it is done up orginal with a bit of upgrade to his 302 engine, thats about all i could tell you, oh and its a rebuild so its in perfect condition :P

a good one in original nick is worth about a bazillion dollars even with only a 302

nice one Kurt, as Stan says original and rebuilt it could be worth 6 figures plus

Wow, never expected that much haha might have to try harder to be in the will now :P

Okay, so I've been thinking about it a bit and I need some input from you wonderful and creative geniuses. Obviously my amp all together will have 8 speakers. Now what I was thinking was having the top can filled with guitar speakers, and the bottom cab was going to have 2 guitar speakers and 2 bass speakers. the 2 bass speakers would give a little extra low end to the guitar sound, and a little more tonal variety. Now oets say I wanted to play bass through my amp. Connect a bass head and just use a single cab. Now my idea is, can I have 2 input jacks to the cab, where when one Of them is plugged in it runs all 4 speakers, and when the other is plugged in, it runs just the bass speakers?

Okay, so I've been thinking about it a bit and I need some input from you wonderful and creative geniuses. Obviously my amp all together will have 8 speakers. Now what I was thinking was having the top can filled with guitar speakers, and the bottom cab was going to have 2 guitar speakers and 2 bass speakers. the 2 bass speakers would give a little extra low end to the guitar sound, and a little more tonal variety. Now oets say I wanted to play bass through my amp. Connect a bass head and just use a single cab. Now my idea is, can I have 2 input jacks to the cab, where when one Of them is plugged in it runs all 4 speakers, and when the other is plugged in, it runs just the bass speakers? Is this a a doable idea, is there. A better way to execute this idea, should I bother with this idea at all, all feedback is greatly appreciated!

Cheers,
Kurt

Hi Kurt, sure that would be possible for the bass/guitar options. Have a word with Lawry (Lozza) is the amp guru

I need to reread this, I'm a little confused, possibility for any diagrams Kurt?

Ant diagrams? Now I'm confused. Ha.

Corrected my typo :P
Thanks for pointing it out Pabs!

Just install a switch to cut two of the speakers......

After rereading what Kurt wants, yeah the switch would be a good option...

So you want to be running less surface area for bass than for guitar??

If you want to put bass speakers in one cab, make all the speakers in that cab bass speakers. Make sure that they are suitable for the internal size and porting of that cab.

If you absolutely must mix them within the cab then internally partition the box. Give the two bass speakers as much room as they actually need and leave less room for the guitar speakers. (angled baffle).

Another possibility if you really want to play bass with the bottom cab is to turn it into a 2x12. Keep the size the same and get appropriate good speakers for that size. (half as many speakers means you can pay more to get good ones).

The big advantage of this is that eventually you could do a duel amped bass rig running a clean signal to the bass cab and a dirty signal to the top cab. (have a listen to Chris Squire).