How to Make a Guitar Speaker Cabinet
There are many reasons to make a guitar speaker cabinet. Some do it because it's less expensive than buying a name brand, while others see taking on the task as a hobby. A speaker cabinet is an essential part of an electric guitar rig: The speakers are what produce the guitar's sound, and the cabinet helps keep the output crisp and directed.
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Things You'll Need
- Speakers
- Wood
- Compass
- Jigsaw
- Nails
- Hammer
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- 1/4 inch input jack
- Screen mesh or grille and hardware
- Finishing material
Instructions
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Prepare the speaker board. Mount the speakers to a rectangular piece of 1-inch-thick wood large enough to contain them. Use a compass to draw the circles first as a guide, and use the jigsaw to get a nice round hole.
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Build the box. Construct a wooden box large enough to contain the speaker board. For guitar speakers, the back of the box is sometimes left open to prevent overheating, though this can also reduce directional output. A crossmember large enough to accommodate the input jack is usually placed in the rear. In the front, the board holding the speakers is usually recessed about 2 inches.
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Wire and install the input jack and jack plate. The speakers are wired to a 1/4 inch input jack, the standard output for guitars and guitar amplifiers. The jack plate is mounted to the exterior by cutting a hole in the rear of the speaker box or crossmember, and screwing it into place.
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The crudest finish for a speaker amp is to simply spray-paint the wood black. Most amps have a plastic or fabric industrial carpet stapled on the exterior or attached with a spray adhesive. Not only does this improve the look of the speaker cabinet, it also enhances durability.
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Making a speaker box look professional means affixing some sort of grille to the front, as well as handles, wheels and corner brackets. These should be of sturdy enough material to withstand rugged use. The grille can be simple screening, such as that used on a porch enclosure, or commercial grille cloth. More commonly, though, metal grates are used because they are more durable.
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Tips & Warnings
Choose which speaker to mount before building the speaker box. Have the appropriate wiring for the speaker chosen. Guitar amps don't usually have woofers, which require additional space for resonance, but can often include high- and mid-frequency separation.
Resources
- Photo Credit speaker image by gajatz from Fotolia.com
