DIY 2x12 Cab Build

[mnemonic]

For a while I had been using a Zilla oversized 2x12 and a little 1x12 in stereo. I figured I should upgrade that 1x12 to a 2x12, and (for fun mostly) I decided to build it myself.

I bought the wood, then I found a Marshall M280 cab locally for cheap and bought that. I thought about abandoning the cab build, but I already had the wood ao I figured I’d make it anyway.

Wood cut


Frame built and sides attached to bottom


Top attached, mostly lined up which is good


Framing for the front and back


Back on. It ended up being about 1mm too tall so I had to take out the saw again and cut it down. I guess panels can only be so square when all I’ve got is a circular saw and a straight edge.


Front panel speaker holes marked up, I just traced a speaker, then drew a smaller circle inside that with a diameter of 11 inches.


It turned out okay. By the way it’s gonna be front-loaded, so you won’t see anyway.


Not screwed or glued the baffle yet, which I’ll do tomorrow since I’m tired.



All my cabs are oversized so I went with non-oversized dimentions for this.

People keep raving about the Fane F70’s in the Fryette cabs, so I copied the dimentions of the Fatbottom 2x12 off the Fryette website. I was planning on some F70’s for this cab but on reading reviews lots of people are saying it’s a dark speaker and not great for metal. I mostly play metal and I like a bright and clear high end, so I’m thinking maybe I’ll skip the Fanes.

I’m thinking I’ll get a pair of Celestion Creamback H75’s but not set on it yet, I haven’t yet ordered them.

I’ll probably attach the baffle tomorrow and add covering. I’m gonna cover it in carpet, 80’s style. I know you guys will hate that but I don’t care. I’ve used it on some small rack cases and it looks neat.



Will update with more pics when I get more done.

 

[Soya]

I think building your own cabs is the way to go, they're so damn expensive and you can experiment with sizes and setups.

 

[mnemonic]

Not much progress today, I attached the baffle, painted it black, and sanded all the edges and corners so they’re even.





I’m just waiting on the jack plate for the back now, so I can cut that hole, cover it, and wire it up.

I have some leftover stock speakers from cheap things that I can wire in temporarily.

 

[LiveOVErdrive]

Doing a grille cloth?

 

[mnemonic]

Doing a grille cloth?

I ordered some of those individual round speaker grilles, I figured it might look cool.

If not I can just do a removable normal grille cloth.

 

[Soya]

Round covers would probably work better with the carpet, give it that kinda vintage PA look.

 

[Adieu]

Pretty damn clean for a low-on-tools DIY build

 

[JimF]

Love it! You're relatively local too, good man!
I have a 4x12 which is ridiculous in the house setting I use it in now, and have been toying with the idea of a 2x12 for a while now.
My only issue is the fact that my head is full width and weighs an absolute ton, so due to width requirements, and wanting it the same height as it is now, it would end up either being on stilts, or the same size as the 4x12! I might do a 2x12 in a 4x12 cabinet, and have the front mesh frame on hinges so it can swing out and have the spare room as storage.

 

[mnemonic]

Love it! You're relatively local too, good man!
I have a 4x12 which is ridiculous in the house setting I use it in now, and have been toying with the idea of a 2x12 for a while now.
My only issue is the fact that my head is full width and weighs an absolute ton, so due to width requirements, and wanting it the same height as it is now, it would end up either being on stilts, or the same size as the 4x12! I might do a 2x12 in a 4x12 cabinet, and have the front mesh frame on hinges so it can swing out and have the spare room as storage.

That would be pretty good, 2x12 on top, and shelving on the bottom, but all custom made so it’s the same width/depth.

 

[JimF]

Yeah man that's my plan! So it looks like a 4x12, but when you open the magic grille cover (use a push to open magnetic cabinet latch) then you have space for beer, crisps, pedals and tab books!

 

[DudeManBrother]

Yeah man that's my plan! So it looks like a 4x12, but when you open the magic grille cover (use a push to open magnetic cabinet latch) then you have space for beer, crisps, pedals and tab books!

I have thought about doing the same thing so many times! I kinda wanted to install rack rails on the lower half. I’d make that removable so it could function as a place to store my head if I wanted to.

 

[dxjxrose]

Thats how i started out now i sell them..... Its really fun to be honest.... Get your self a nice dovetail jig and you will have better build cabs then most companies out there today

 

[JimF]

That looks sexual! Is that just done with a router and a dovetail template?

 

[dxjxrose]

That looks sexual! Is that just done with a router and a dovetail template?

yes its a heart design 1/2in half blind jig.... i use a leigh full dove tail jig now but thats pricey a good half blind jig isnt to expensive....
can also make a finger joint jig out of scrap wood and a dado blade

 

[Adieu]

yes its a heart design 1/2in half blind jig.... i use a leigh full dove tail jig now but thats pricey a good half blind jig isnt to expensive....
can also make a finger joint jig out of scrap wood and a dado blade

Is there a real point if you're (usually) tolexing over it anyway?

Braced screw-and-glue seems pretty functional to me

 

[dxjxrose]

braces reduce air space and mess with resonant frequencies. braces can come loose and rattle... also i like my stuff to out live me so fingers or dovetales will always be what i use... also i dont do tolex cabs

 

[mnemonic]

That cab looks great

Yeah as long as the joint is solid I don’t think it matters.

Less pretty and less internal volume are potential issues.

I made my cab about 1 inch taller than the fatbottom measurements to account for the volume taken up by the corner braces.

 

[LiveOVErdrive]

Also if you're doing custom work, dovetails are a nice way to set yourself apart, even if nobody sees them. Show off a picture like that to demonstrate the general quality and care of your build.

 

[youngthrasher9]

Huge agree on all defenses of dovetail.

At the end of the day, my brother and I settled on rabbet and dado for our cabs, but dovetailing is super clean and durable AF.

And @OP, glad to welcome you to the OS 2x12 club!

 

[Alex79]

I think building your own cabs is the way to go, they're so damn expensive and you can experiment with sizes and setups.

I think totally the opposite, because wood, parts & speaker costs will almost always cost you more than a new cab. Even the budget cabs are not bad nowadays.

On the other hand, restoring an old cab is something I am fond of.