Suggestions for DIY 15” Black Widow cabs

Bruiser Stone

Bruiser Stone

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Dec 7, 2017
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#1
I have two 1505-DT Black Widows, and I want to custom build a cab for each one with parallel jacks for daisy chaining. I want separate cabs for ease of transport and flexibility. One will probably go under a 4x10 with a Sunn 300T for a 4 ohm total load with lots of fuzz/overdrive. I prefer each cab to be 25.5” wide and at least 17” deep to match the dimensions of the 4x10. I need design suggestions regarding porting, sealed/unsealed, dampening material, and any other pointers to assist me in building something tailored to the sound I want. Thanks in advance!View attachment 2894749
 
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#3
BTW while I agree with the modular approach, Im thinking that foot print is going to be a large cab. You might find you need to go with a 2 x15 or do the two cabs, but smaller and set side by side for stacking. If xmax and sesitivity were equal, both 15s would yeild a closer match to the top cab for spl. Tone wise you wont know until you try...
 
#5
Thanks! I purchased these after Christmas, loaded them in an old Acoustic, but they sounded a bit muddled and undefined. I don't think the cab was deep enough, and given it was 45 years old, the internal design probably left something to be desired. In my opinion, the 8 ohm 4x10 needs a little help with the low end. I got a really good deal on the BW's, and I'm not at all against combining both 15's below it, but in addition to portability, I want to run a balanced load on the tube amp. Can I wire a 2x15 as 8 ohms when both drivers are 8 ohms? Normally that would calculate to 4 ohms, but I've seen 8 ohm 2x15's. I'm ignorant as to whether they were loaded with two 16 ohm drivers or if they were wired different to total 8 ohms.
BTW: I also have a 4x12 4-ohm cab that sounds incredible and weighs as much as a ship anchor, and my amp is 2 ohm capable, but all of this together is probably more than my back, my car, or a soundperson would tolerate under most circumstances.
 
#7
BassmanPaul said:
You must remember that a driver should have TS parameters suitable for the enclosure design of the cabinet to sound at their best. Just dropping two drivers of the right size into any old box is not a route to success unless you are very, very lucky.
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Indeed, and it didn't sound horrible in the Acoustic, just not great. That's why I now want to build something that will make them sound their best.
 
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#9
BadExample said:
You'll have to wire the two 8's parallel for 4 ohms, or series for 16 ohms.

It takes two 4 ohms or two 16 ohms to get to 8 ohms.

Are you planning to run them off two channels?
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I didn't think I could combine these for an 8 ohm 2x15, but thanks for verifying it. What I really want is to beef up the bottom end a bit with only my Sunn running the rig, yet keep all components reasonably portable. That's why I thought perhaps using one of the BW's to stick under the 4x10 in a custom box to give me a balanced 4 ohms (happy tube amp) with a little extra girth to boot in my sound. BassmanPaul gave his opinion above that a single 15 with a 4x10 is not a good match. I've seen the same opinion expressed before on TB. Lots of performing bassists still seem to do it, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's ideal.

My Sunn head has a clean and dirty channel, but I'm pretty confident I cannot split them to separate cabinets/loads. My understanding is the 2nd channel is just for blending into the clean.
 
#11
Stumbo said:
That 300t has a lot of features.
I went and looked it up:
http://www.sunnamps.com/pdfs/manuals/bass/300T.pdf

How about running a vertical 1x15 stack?
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I’ve thought about that option. I’d kind of like to keep the 4x10 as I reloaded it with new Eminence BP102’s, it sounds great (other than a bit of flubbery when drop tuning), and I may lose a bit on resale. But then again, 2 stacked BW’s should also get it done at least as well if not better than the 10’s...right?

The Sunn is awesome. I almost sold it, but I’m glad I decided otherwise. I find the EQ particularly effective (contrary to a couple reviews I’ve read), and it is LOUD...I mean serious, disorienting volume. A touch of dirt from channel 2 plus a Dunwich FuzzThrone pedal sounds mighty gnarly through it.
 
#13
The Widows found homes but the Sunn was evicted.
1DF8F27B-983C-4CCA-B033-FFE44F971C84.jpeg
 
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#19
BassmanPaul said:
Just going to throw this thought in that a 1x15 really is a poor match for a much more able 4x10.
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I agree.
Half the power is going to the 15 while each of the 10s are loafing along at 1/8 of the amp's power. (Assumes both cabs are equal impedance). The 15, in essence, prevents the 10s from reaching their full potential.

If you are building two seperate 15s, why not use both of them for your stack?
 
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#20
Old Garage-Bander said:
I agree.
Half the power is going to the 15 while each of the 10s are loafing along at 1/8 of the amp's power. (Assumes both cabs are equal impedance). The 15, in essence, prevents the 10s from reaching their full potential.

If you are building two seperate 15s, why not use both of them for your stack?
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I concur. Check out my 1:44 AM upstairs ;)
 
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