Mr. Foxen

Right, now two experty sorts are having some discussion on the matter, this is ideal for me learning stuff. Can fairly safely suppose this cab is a clone of the Acoustic Corporation 361, so here are its dimensions: Anyone have any advice on fitting side handles?

[quote name='Thunderhead' post='310433' date='Oct 20 2008, 02:09 PM']I would take a small bet that the cabinet was not designed properly around the driver parameters anyway, but was more likely just copied loosely from something similar and fitted with a fairly cheap driver they could easily get - it's not exactly a pro-audio bass bin, it's a "bass guitar cabinet". Consequently there's no particular reason why a different modern driver will necessarily work any less well, regardless that it may not be perfectly matched to the cab either. I would simply fit the most sensitive 18" driver you can find with at least 300W power handling and a frequency range broadly suitable for bass guitar (ie up to at least 2KHz, rather than cut off below 1K) and see what it sounds like. The goal is thunderous low-end roar, not accurate clean deep bass reproduction... am I right? .[/quote] You are indeed right. The hot-rod volkswagen is an ideal example. More to look at and go 'woohoo, not only is it totally awesome but it works, makes loads of noise and smoke and stuff' except for the smoke part. Its a copy of an acoutic cab, did side by side photo comparison. As it is sounds more punchy and defined than I expected. Will likely be unning a paralell second rig involving smaller speakers for hearing myself and droning feedback close by.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='310402' date='Oct 20 2008, 01:25 PM']No, I am saying you should stick a piece of ply over the existing hole with a new hole cut in it to fit a 3015LF and then leave it be. I am also saying you shouldn't put a modern 18" into the cab unless you have checked it will work well. Alternatively I would try to find out what the rough specs were on the original driver and then find something similar. Putting an expensive pro-audio driver into an esoteric old cab design is like putting a modern racing engine into an old VW bus - not a good match! Are you sure it's the driver farting out first and not the amp running out of power? Alex[/quote] Consulted with rather more experienced ear of a sound engineer for that, he says its the speaker, amp seemed happy enough, will be trying it with my more modern cab once I lug it to the practice space. Putting a modern racing engine in a VW bus is totally my bag:

[quote name='Musky' post='310375' date='Oct 20 2008, 12:56 PM']Yeah, I thought it was very odd he posted that to the auction page. Worst thing about it is that it'll probably have everyone else messaging him as well. [/quote] Suppose there is a vague chance someone looking for a pricing of their's will be in touch with me.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='310318' date='Oct 20 2008, 11:53 AM']You need to calculate back enclosure volume, horn length, throat area, mouth area and flare rate. It's nothing like modelling a direct radiator cab where all you need is net volume and tuning frequency (if ported). The reason I suggested the 3015LF is I know it's proven in other horn cabs and it has just as much Vd as the linked 18" and higher Fs and Qts which should equal louder and bigger bottom where it matters. So ignoring price it's still better. I haven't paid much attention to 18" woofers suitable for old horn cabs because they aren't terribly relevant to 99.99% of bass players - if you're going to use a horn you're better off with a smaller high excursion driver pushing a smaller throat and a longer path, hence the obsolence of the Acoustic 360 et al. Alex[/quote] So you are saying I should take my vintage cab, and then design and build and entirely new, different shaped cab, with a different sized driver? This is more an excercise in making the most of what I have already, and making sure the alterations I do have to make (new driver, possibly valves) are the most suitable.

27 viewings of hairy balls before anyone commented.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='310276' date='Oct 20 2008, 10:51 AM']Qts is rather low. I suspect you'd get much better results from a 3015LF and as the mounting holes are unlikely to be compatible you're going to have some woodwork to do with most 18"s so why not fit a better and cheaper 15"? If I was replacing the woofer in a horn I'd model the cab in horn resp. to see what fits best. Alex[/quote] The volume already goes to 1 more than 11, I'm not gonna go round scrimping on having 3 more inches than everyone elses bass cabs. What variables would you have to measure to model the cab? Its all folded horn shaped inside, so don't even know how you'd go about calculating volume. Oh, and just been offered a folded horn 15 also, which is totally unecessary, but its tempting.

[quote name='Thunderhead' post='310077' date='Oct 19 2008, 09:54 PM']Maybe... someone did change the two blue filter caps at some time. However, they should have changed all four! And the bias cap (the single blue one on the top board). The two resistors on the blue caps and the large red one going to the next cap look newer than the rest of the amp too. It's still possible this work is fairly old - what brand are the blue caps? But if the guy didn't open it up, it means he probably didn't check the bias much less adjust it, so who knows whether the valves are running even remotely right... modern valves often run at quite a different current from the old-production ones it was designed for. There's no real reason to go for super-heavy speaker cable (it doesn't make that much difference), but really thin crappy wire is not a good idea. Stripped-down mains cable is as good as anything, really. It's at least as important to check that all the connections are good (properly soldered, not push-connects) and the jacks are decent, since a poor speaker connection can fry expensive things like the output transformer if you're unlucky.[/quote] How's bias adjusting work? Was curiously looking for something adjustable inside like trim pots or equivalent and saw nothing. What does it do if its wrong? Cook valves or be too quiet? Reckon if my head or guitar cab sells, will be a new fancy speaker and a trip to a reccomended amp tech, amybe a set of JJ Teslas (although totally clueless on valves). Aso, how the hell do you mic these dudes up? Quiet inside even if you put your head in it Edit how's this look for a driver? [url="https://www.carvinguitars.com/products/single.php?product=NE18-8"]Carvin neodium[/url] Weigh saving probably ain't worth it with a single driver, cab is the weight.

[quote name='Musky' post='309956' date='Oct 19 2008, 06:14 PM']Judging by the question on the listing you might have had something to do with that. [/quote] [Facepalm] You can't teach some people subtle can you.

Contact cleaner and some screwdriver wok totally osrted the master volume, some service the guy's amp tech gave, think he just put new valves and new speaker wire in the cab (seems thin and crap, dunno if that needs embiggening), then charged an arm and a leg from the clueless kid. Didn't even take amp out of case as screws were still clogged with crud.] Found secret manufacturers plate inside, google tells me nothing: MCB Electronics, Wareham, Dorset Heres the rest of its insides:

[quote name='nick' post='309881' date='Oct 19 2008, 04:12 PM']Gorgeous - nice looking sunburst version of mine. A great bass. Very tempted.....[/quote] All the Rickenbacker references have gone.

[quote name='nick' post='309874' date='Oct 19 2008, 03:50 PM']Hi Oli, glad it's all worked out. Why do you reckon speaker needs upgrading mate?[/quote] Not designed for people trying to make a low A at volume. Granted the floor upstairs is shaking when it starts protesting, but theres a lot more can be got out the amp at that point. Caricatures doesn't do subtle sound, everyone needs to keep pace with Chappell of Rest's stupid stack. Tech has moved on a bit, this speaker has clearly not been changed for a very long time. Just had the amp apart, anyone want gubbins pictures?

[quote name='Hamster' post='309810' date='Oct 19 2008, 01:40 PM']He's selling a few things, including a bass that was posted on another thread where he states, "This is a new ebay account and i have over 400 positive feedback on my other Ebay business account." Then why make a new one?[/quote] Tax innit. Sales on business account will get taxed as business income.

I recon its the light strings, source of your tone past your fingers. Its gotta start there, most people get heavier strings as they go on, lights are for all that slap and tickle nonsense.

I found my confidence jumped hugely when I started runniong around naked and drunk, then naked and sober. That thing where if you are nervous 'imagine everyone is in their underwear' thing doesn't work, I realised everyone else is much more nervous when I'm naked. When the going gets tough, the tough get naked.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320311848161"]320311848161[/url] Colourful version of the one Nick has methinks. Countdown to vanishing...

Is that the Wilkinson ones like they put on new 'Vintage' basses, they pivot in the middle to give awkward intonation adjustment on both strings, hence brassy pivot in the middle.

Just dropped it off. Quick quiet go on it, check noises come out, quietly as housemate is still kipping. Is indeed a folded horn like an Acoustic cab, pretty dusty inside. Guessing upgrading speaker is in order, reccomendations for an 18? The master volume is a bit odd (to me) its twelve points, clicky between them, and its mad crackly when clicking. Will get some contact cleaner in there, any other options there? Right, housemate is up and we have rocked it. Is indeed quiet up close and loud far away. Initial knob twiddling wasn't that loud, until the sound of the kitchen being demolished became apparent.

[quote name='BassManKev' post='309620' date='Oct 19 2008, 12:54 AM']too much IMO, theres been a thunder 1A at my local shop selling for £150 all year[/quote] Those are totally wrecked though. Nice Westone thunder guitar in local gumtree though.

I general sit around in boxers, shared flat so only polite, any more than that requires a special request.

We'll see tomorrow. Right now, I'm pretty sure he has an unsuitable rig for what he does, and went into selling it pretty blindly. I still have an ebay dispute open and will remain so till this amp has been used in anger.

If he delivers it, I only end up short on the time hanging about, told him so, he sounded stressed. He was working today and arranged with parents to be in for me to test and collect, they let him down. I was all ready to have him sent solicitors letter and everything, totally on a slow burn rage, even if costs were a pain, would be takin one for the team vs. dodge ebay sellers, but turns out its not his fault and he is working to resolve. Not cutting him slack, but not excessively going out to destroy him (as making him pay fuel would mean it cost him to have it taken away, if it didn't already).

People still want buy stuff feel good, but don't have as much to spend, so they bid on cheap items like pedals instead. I know cause its exactly what I am doing in poor times.

What'smore concerning is the fact I drove 3 hours there and found no-one at home, no-one answering calls and my amp visible through the window. Waited hour and a half, spoke to neighbour and the gran of the guy and they have no clue. Ebay disputastic. Ah just got a stressed call from the dude saying his parents decided to have a day out instead of waiting for me like they agreed. He's bringing it over tomorrow. Glad I didn't break in, take it and sh!t in his linen cupboard now.