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Upgrading An Ashdown Cab


Sharkfinger
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I've a load of the front ones, EA told me the size. They are chrome, but a black marker soon cures that.  Had the same problem, haven't a clue where they went. PM me your address and I'll send you some. Just ask EA what size they are and then screwfix/toolstation/eBay is your friend. I have a brilliant tool suppliers near me that also does screws/bolts/fixings. Lost count of the times i have taken something in asked if they have what i want. they usually do.

I would be really surprised if the rack mount screws for the iAmp are any different to the current range so it might be worth asking what size the current ones are.

Edited by BassBunny
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So here are the brackets. Looks like they started life as 60x60 brackets and 40cm high. They came with 2 holes drilled on each end and to get them to fit my cabinet I ended up chopping through them on the front face and then had to drill suitable holes to match up with the amp on the other leg. Obviously this part isn't seen. You can probably get the same sort of thing undrilled, which would be much neater. A quick spray of black paint and job done.

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16 hours ago, stevie said:

It's a genuine 500-watt driver. Don't worry about it.

'like I stole it' it is then.... BTW, did you read my post about how good it sounds?  That's thanks to you Stevie.

As an aside; without the amp, the weight come in at a 'chunky' 20.5 Kg, so not exactly featherweight.  With the amp, it will be about 29Kg still manageable but I'll also attach castors and a handle on top to help wheel it about.

Eventually, I think I might have to give up my iAmp and go to a lightweight (and no doubt inferior) amp.  

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I know how good it sounds, Shark - I've got one myself. I did a very similar project to this a few years ago, but with an Ashdown Mini 15 cab. Yours should have a bit more lower-end oomph. The midrange tone from that driver is just fantastic, and I've now got it in a larger cab. Unfortunately, not many people are prepared to spend £200 on a 15" chassis. But we know better.😀

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1 hour ago, stevie said:

I know how good it sounds, Shark - I've got one myself. I did a very similar project to this a few years ago, but with an Ashdown Mini 15 cab. Yours should have a bit more lower-end oomph. The midrange tone from that driver is just fantastic, and I've now got it in a larger cab. Unfortunately, not many people are prepared to spend £200 on a 15" chassis. But we know better.😀

Hmmm, I've got a TL606 cab I'm tempted to try this in.  I'm almost afraid to, in case it's better and I end up using that instead.

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On 22/06/2019 at 09:01, stewblack said:

Well? What was the verdict? 

Tried it on both Friday and Saturday night and my goodness it's good.

Better acoustics in the pub on Saturday so could really hear the tone of it. Did first set with just the combo and was more than loud enough and souded sweeeet.  Nice 'crisp' mids and gentle but very musical highs.  Second set attached the extension cab just to see.  Was far louder but too muddy for my liking.  Ended up disconnecting it half-way through and doing the rest of the set with just the combo.

Might try next gig with just the combo on my amp stand.

 

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Can't have the amp flopping around in the enclosure, so I'm experimenting with brackets.  Bought metal ones first of all and cut them down to size.  Was going to use the bit I trimmed off as a kind of washer to hold the bolt in place.

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I was about to do this but realized I could make this out of wood and have something to attach 'blanking' panels on the front to hide the holes.  I've done this (short of the blanking panels) and it works OK but not happy with the job.  I've got another idea on how to do this.

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I've also put wheels on the bottom and a handle on the top.  Realized the bolts are nowhere near long enough to reach the t-nut underneath.  Had some lightly longer ones but they're just a bit too short too.  Damn, going to have to find slightly longer ones.IMG_20190629_1357203.thumb.jpg.18f8d5c3ba0456041ffc90e1623e9e4c.jpg

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Edited by Sharkfinger
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21 minutes ago, Pea Turgh said:

Please say you will cover those bits of wood?!  The rest of the upgrade has been so careful what with all that tape etc, it, be a shame to not finish it off!

Yep, they're the "'blanking' panels on the front to hide the holes" I was on about.

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Just one small point.  If you intend to screw the blanking plates into the wood fillets that you've fitted, you may have problems with it being an end grain.  The wood is likely to split.  I'd recommend using Velcro to hold the blanking plates in place instead.

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14 hours ago, SpondonBassed said:

Just one small point.  If you intend to screw the blanking plates into the wood fillets that you've fitted, you may have problems with it being an end grain.  The wood is likely to split.  I'd recommend using Velcro to hold the blanking plates in place instead.

Well, I did plan to drill guide holes first and anyway use fairly short screws. The plan is to add a little more structural strength to the bracket (or fillet as you call it).

The problem with the velcro is that I have to attach it to the 'plates' with something stronger than glue, i.e. staples.  I intend to make it from 3mm ply and my 'light duty' staples are at least 4mm so would go through it.  Would have to use a paper stapler with shorter staples and that might not do the job.  Worth an experiment though.

However, I had an experiment with some aluminium angle last night and the results were promising.  Would rather investigate that, as it will be inherently stronger and more durable.

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Decide not to go with the aluminium angle, as it would take me a couple of evenings to do.  I don't  have the time and more importantly, I can't be bothered.

I've started working on the blanking plates instead, which gets this project near completion.  Drilling the wood brackets first has prevented splitting, so all is good.  

Have given an initial black spray and when I do the next coat, I'll make sure I spray the screws as well.

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Apart from the handle (which I should be getting screws for soon), I'm calling this finished.

Here it is at a festival gig last night. Outdoor marquee gig (festival) with PA support so no extension cab needed. Was more than loud enough for monitoring on a largeish stage.

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  • 4 years later...

In case anyone still follows this…

 

4 years on and still my gigging rig. Have replaced the amp with a GK MB 800, using the rack tray shown on a previous page.

 

I sold my extension cab cos I never used it, this will handle the vast majority of gigs on its own even some outdoor gigs without going through the PA. I also usually have the bass part of the EQ turned down. I barely ever get the amp’s volume above 9-10 O’clock position. Especially as we all use in-ears now so can always hear myself without having to turn up and therefore start or participate in a ‘volume war’.

 

it is still not the lightest at about 24kg total but the castors go a long way to help. I’d get bigger castors but the probably would fit in my car any more.

 

If I were to replace it with anything, it would probably be a GK 1x15 or 12 combo but it would have to be substantially lighter. But I think we’d go completely ampless by that point. We’ve done that many times already on small gigs.

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