Where to go for custom cabs?

[Cat Burrito]

Just wondered what experience people had in terms of getting a custom build cab in the UK?

Zilla haven't replied to my email (& looking through Basschat, I'm not alone with that). I'm after getting a sleeve for a bass head with some very specific ideas but don't know who strikes the balance best between quality, price and speed of service.

Thanks in anticipation.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

You can try David Coomes, Doncaster, UK. [email protected]

He builds cabs of my design, I don't know if he does any others.

[Dan Dare]

Try Tricky Audio. They are licensed to build Fearless designs and will do many others.

[umcoo]

Persevere with Zilla. They're top quality and when I got mine a few years back, they were really helpful with sizes, speaker types and cloth and tolex options.   

[BassBunny]

If it's an amp sleeve you are after, Mike Walsh, (Zoot Bass), built me one to my specs a few years back. I am not sure if he is still doing cabs etc or just basses these days but maybe worth a shot.

I never used the sleeve in the end and depending on what you are after this one might suit you. It's made out of his supply of unbelievably lightweight ply.

[Chopthebass]

You could order Bill's plans and have a go at building yourself. They are great instructions and really not that difficult.

[Cat Burrito]

13 hours ago, Chopthebass said:

You could order Bill's plans and have a go at building yourself. They are great instructions and really not that difficult.

Who's Bill? Is there a link. I'm certainly curious, although still scarred by the memories of the string cutter that I made in woodwork back in 1985!

[Steve Browning]

On 29/10/2019 at 12:10, Bill Fitzmaurice said:

You can try David Coomes, Doncaster, UK. [email protected]

He builds cabs of my design, I don't know if he does any others.

Him!! 🙂

[Jack]

1 hour ago, Cat Burrito said:

Who's Bill? Is there a link. I'm certainly curious, although still scarred by the memories of the string cutter that I made in woodwork back in 1985!

Mr Fitzmaurice is the Yoda who replied above. His cabs are all here. I've been considering a Simplex 2x12" for a while.

[Painy]

Try contacting Zilla through Facebook Messenger. I contacted them that way for a quote on an amp head sleeve a couple of weeks ago and Paul got back to me within half an hour - and that was fairly late in the evening too. 

[Thunderpaws]

You could try Hoffnine. He is based in Airdrie and does a great job with a lot of pride in his cabinetry. He’ll chat through everything with you and value for money is excellent. 

http://www.hoffnine.co.uk/

[Crawford13]

+1 for hoffnine. Great cabs and a nice guy who will help you get the cab you want.

[eude]

Another vote for Mike Walsh from Zootbass, Mike made a sleeve for my Ashdown ABM RC and it's beyond what I expected, absolutely perfect with incredible attention to detail.

Eude

[eude]

Here's a pic for reference...

 

[Joebethell]

Try Facebook Messenger for zilla. 

I have had contact with them a number of times and was really pleased with the service I actually own a zilla 2x12 cab. 

 

[eude]

19 minutes ago, Joebethell said:

Try Facebook Messenger for zilla. 

I have had contact with them a number of times and was really pleased with the service I actually own a zilla 2x12 cab. 

 

I've found that if Zilla are busy, they aren't bothered about bringing in little jobs like amps sleeves.
I had contacted them about my sleeve before going with Mike Walsh, I got a ballpark figure after about 4 unanswered emails, chased it up by phone, which again took several attempts over several days before any one actually picked up, followed by another couple of unanswered emails. Mike swept in, beat the Zilla price and the end product is absolutely fantastic!

Mike also makes very nice cabs too  

Eude

Edited November 6, 2019 by eude

[Painy]

After getting my quote from Zilla I decided to just have a go at building one myself to save a few quid. 

I've just put a post up with the result of my labour here:-

 

[Cat Burrito]

Nice job & great thread Painy. Zilla never replied to my email but did read my Messenger, which they couldn't even be bothered to reply to. 

Even a "sorry, can't help" type reply would have been something but I'm seriously disappointed with them. 

[Painy]

5 minutes ago, Cat Burrito said:

Nice job & great thread Painy. Zilla never replied to my email but did read my Messenger, which they couldn't even be bothered to reply to. 

Even a "sorry, can't help" type reply would have been something but I'm seriously disappointed with them. 

Thanks. 🙂

That is a bit disappointing. If it gives you any indication of price this is what they quoted me :-

 

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

For that price you could not only make your own, you could also buy the tools to make it. 🤔

[Kiwi]

On 30/10/2019 at 01:48, Dan Dare said:

Try Tricky Audio. They are licensed to build Fearless designs and will do many others.

I have two F112 cabs from them and they are probably the last cabs I will ever own.  Really great sound and very portable.

[Cosmicrain]

On 06/11/2019 at 22:37, Cat Burrito said:

Nice job & great thread Painy. Zilla never replied to my email but did read my Messenger, which they couldn't even be bothered to reply to. 

Even a "sorry, can't help" type reply would have been something but I'm seriously disappointed with them. 

If you run a small business, customer communication should be be your No.1 proactive priority, especially if it's a price quote request.  The golden rule is "lose customers = loss of business"  Or maybe they have a sales prevention officer....... 

 

 

[Cat Burrito]

Just by way of an update, I sent Zilla a slightly curt message saying "if you just want me to go away, I will" - I got a very apologetic reply and this looks to be going ahead for early January. He was in the middle of an office move and I think I just fell fowl of that.

[jrixn1]

https://TheMagicEmail.com/  😁