open vs. closed back cabinets!

[aron]

Hmmm I have a convertible cabinet. I need to try and remove the back and see how much this changes the tone. The only thing I worry about is when you open the back, live things can crawl in  :shock:

[JimRayden]

Hmmm I have a convertible cabinet. I need to try and remove the back and see how much this changes the tone. The only thing I worry about is when you open the back, live things can crawl in  :shock:

LOL, they might crawl in, but as soon as you hit the first chord, they come running outta there and never touch your cab again.

Hmmkay, I have a question too. I'm currently using a 2x12" open back cab with only one speaker in it. Could I make it louder (in the front) by closing the back, so the only opening will be the second 12" hole in the front? I've been told that this design can damage the speaker. Plus, I'd have the two holes emit sound OUT of phase. But, detuned cabs DO exist... Should I leave it open-back or close it?


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Jimbo

[Doug_H]

Well, I just opened the back of my cab (replaced the back with a smaller one, around 1/4 to 1/3 the size with the jack mounted in it). It sounds fantastic to me so far, really throws the sound around the room in a nice way. Sounds much "bigger" to me with all the reflections and etc. Like I mentioned before, I've been having trouble hearing myself with the band, so it should be interesting to see how it works at rehearsal Thursday.

Edit: Haha! OK I just remembered the buzzword to describe it- it's very ambient doodz and doodettes... :lol:  :lol:

Doug

[bioroids]

For recordings, I sometimes mic it from the (half open) back. It has a pretty nasal sound, like some kind of fixed filter.

Luck!

Miguel

[aron]

OK, I gota remove the back on mine.

Jim, this thread is the first time I ever heard about speakers getting damaged from opened backs/one in a cab etc....

Hmmm.....

[petemoore]

We built a 'horn' the length of a piece of plywood. Stuck a 12'' speaker in it [in it's own enclosed little box] ...by far the most directional and loudest 12'' cab [only if your'e standing in front of it] by a good margin that I've ever heard, AOCourse a different tone.
 just a big 'square cone'.[speakered megaphone...worked good...kinda bulky.

[R.G.]

Jim, this thread is the first time I ever heard about speakers getting damaged from opened backs/one in a cab etc....

Speakers intended for musical instrument use generally have such stiff suspensions that they don't get damaged from open backs. In general.

Soft suspension speakers, particularly hifi speakers are easy to damage this way though.

[nero1985]

guys i just cant stop learning in this forum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

im actually REALLY happy with the sound im getting out of my amp right, the only thing im worried about is damaging the speaker but Mr. R.G. just said it

Speakers intended for musical instrument use generally have such stiff suspensions that they don't get damaged from open backs. In general.

Soft suspension speakers, particularly hifi speakers are easy to damage this way though.

now i feel better!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANKS TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!

[JimRayden]

OK, I gota remove the back on mine.

Jim, this thread is the first time I ever heard about speakers getting damaged from opened backs/one in a cab etc....

Hmmm.....

No, I ment that by closing the back and have the opening on the front could harm it. It's mentioned on Celestion's homepage.

Vented / tuned / ported boxes are not recommended for lead guitar, as they can damage guitar speakers.

I'm thinking, is it a just-in-case warning or is it really harmful for the speakers to use them in a detuned cab? (detuned means closed back, with some of the speaker holes left without a speaker)

I repeat, open-back cabs are OK. I'm not talking about them here.

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Jimbo

[aron]

No, I ment that by closing the back and have the opening on the front could harm it. It's mentioned on Celestion's homepage.

First I ever heard of that as well.

Most people (I know) use under wattage celestions anyway and try to hit them with an already overdriven amp.

I wonder if they are talking "tuned" ported speaker more than your scenerio?

[sir_modulus]

A detuned cab is one a lot of bassists are familliar with (commonly, a 2X12 with a port firing out in the same direction as the speakers...ie the front). The extra speaker hole acts as a very poorly designed port hence not recommended.

Cheers,

Nish

[aron]

Thanks Nish.

Interesting....

[Doug_H]

A detuned cab is one a lot of bassists are familliar with (commonly, a 2X12 with a port firing out in the same direction as the speakers...ie the front). The extra speaker hole acts as a very poorly designed port hence not recommended.

Cheers,

Nish

Yeah, that's one of those suggestions people talk about in the KOC books. I'm not a metalhead so I'm not interested in detuned cabs.

Doug

[JimRayden]

Hmm, I found this from vintone.com:

http://www.vintone.com/dt13.jpg

Looks like two-speaker-holes-with-1-speaker to me... :\

Yeah, that's one of those suggestions people talk about in the KOC books. I'm not a metalhead so I'm not interested in detuned cabs.

Doug

Who you calling a metalhead here? It's an insult at our band rehearsals.

I'm just a britrock/blues player exploring the undiscovered fields of cabinet design.

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Jimbo

[Doug_H]

Who you calling a metalhead here? It's an insult at our band rehearsals.

Yeah, you're right. :oops:  That was a poor generalization on my part. I guess I associate detuned cabs with 7 string guitars...

Which is funny because I don't like the association of open back with jazz/blues and closed back with rock/metal. I'm not sure which category I fit in, musically. I just know with this particular spkr I prefer the cab open-backed. :lol:

Doug