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Post by zpilot on May 1, 2019 5:38:32 GMT -7
I recently bought a Deluxe Reverb-sized extension speaker cabinet from "sorrycharlie" on Ebay. He sells his cabs uncovered. I only intended to use it at home for testing speakers so I decided to leave it uncovered. Now I have known all along that covering a cabinet changes the sound of it but I did not realize how much until now. His cabinets are solid white pine and actually built better than vintage Fender cabinets. They have dovetail joints instead of finger joints. A minor difference but indicative of the quality.
I have tested three different speakers in four different, similar-sized cabs and the uncovered cab sounds so much more alive and resonant. There is a large difference with every speaker. I would have always used bare cabinets if I had heard this difference before. If I owned a studio ALL of my in-house guitar cabinets would be bare pine.
Fender has recently made limited runs of uncovered lacquered amps and I know from experience how much better they sound, but this is even better. Others, like Mesa, have also made uncovered cabs but it seems they are all hardwoods and I think solid pine resonates better. Of course uncovered cabs are more easily damaged and that is why builders don't offer them. You should hear my MAZ 8 through this uncovered cab though. Class A glory at its best.
This cab will stay at home but if I was to use one at gigs it would probably get a light treatment of linseed or tung oil, and of course a nice padded cover.
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Post by purpletele on May 1, 2019 8:21:34 GMT -7
I recently bought a Deluxe Reverb-sized extension speaker cabinet from "sorrycharlie" on Ebay. He sells his cabs uncovered. I only intended to use it at home for testing speakers so I decided to leave it uncovered. Now I have known all along that covering a cabinet changes the sound of it but I did not realize how much until now. His cabinets are solid white pine and actually built better than vintage Fender cabinets. They have dovetail joints instead of finger joints. A minor difference but indicative of the quality. I have tested three different speakers in four different, similar-sized cabs and the uncovered cab sounds so much more alive and resonant. There is a large difference with every speaker. I would have always used bare cabinets if I had heard this difference before. If I owned a studio ALL of my in-house guitar cabinets would be bare pine. Fender has recently made limited runs of uncovered lacquered amps and I know from experience how much better they sound, but this is even better. Others, like Mesa, have also made uncovered cabs but it seems they are all hardwoods and I think solid pine resonates better. Of course uncovered cabs are more easily damaged and that is why builders don't offer them. You should hear my MAZ 8 through this uncovered cab though. Class A glory at its best. This cab will stay at home but if I was to use one at gigs it would probably get a light treatment of linseed or tung oil, and of course a nice padded cover. Have you seen the Smithsonian Van Halen display? He has two stacks of uncovered Marshall 4 x 12's, I guess he knew something that we didn't
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Post by Ridgeback on May 1, 2019 9:48:48 GMT -7
When I built my compact solid pine 2x12, I left it uncovered. I get the urge to tolex and re-grille it every now and then but I probably never will. More due to laziness than worry about how it will affect the tone if I'm being brutally honest. The honey clear finish and the fabric store cloth do just fine.
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Post by helmi on May 1, 2019 12:58:29 GMT -7
The honey clear finish and the fabric store cloth do just fine. Honestly, I think it looks quite attractive just the way it is!
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Post by Ridgeback on May 1, 2019 16:01:17 GMT -7
Thanks. It doesn't really go with anything as far as matching but it's kind of 60's looking and it sounds good. I guess if I ever do anything with it, I always thought that the early 60's Fender wheat with gold thread grille cloth would go well with the honey pine wood. If I ever re-grille the slightly ratty blonde Band Master combo cab, I'll probably do both in that.
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Post by zpilot on May 1, 2019 21:38:06 GMT -7
Now you have me thinking that I might try to replicate the blonde finish of my '51 Nocaster. It should not be too difficult since that was a very popular finish on furniture in the '50's.
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