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Speaker Mount Suggestions?

Posted by Dave Onastik on May 21, 2010 at 7:32am in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I have a 2" Dia project speaker that I want to mount in a tight space in a CBG, and need suggestions.  The speaker has no mounting feet; it is about 1" deep.  I have about 2-1/4" space between the neck (thru neck) and the inside of the box, but a little more room on the diagonals.  The pics I provided don't show the best detail, but the speaker will be mounted in the top part of the box behind one of the two holes.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

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Replies

  • Tracy Kennedy May 23, 2010 at 11:32pm
    I think your right. I kids sees more as more. A seperate external amp would make him happier. When you look under the christmas tree, would yu rather have 1 or 2 presents?

    Dave Onastik said:
    I tried it with my last build. It already had a couple of 1/2 watt speakers anyway, so I removed one and swapped the other for the 3 Watt 2" speaker with no mounting feet. I used the donut method for the back of the speaker, but didn't have room to fit a donut for the front of the speaker. I just used # 6 screws from the outside. The only thing I will change is to use lock nuts instead of the standard nuts on the inside. I didn't really need screws in 4 places, but it didn't matter because the holes were already there.

    However, with my current build, I'm having second thoughts about mounting an internal speaker. It seems like a novelty, but the three watt speaker doesn't sound that great. It's just too small, and I have to turn the amp gain down because the speaker is so close to the pickup. This guitar is going to a kid in Ashville, and I'm guessing he would be just as happy if I built him a little battery powered external amp with a 3", 8 Watt speaker. I ordered this amp kit from guitarfuel.com, and should get it tomorrow:

  • Dave Onastik May 23, 2010 at 10:34pm
    I tried it with my last build. It already had a couple of 1/2 watt speakers anyway, so I removed one and swapped the other for the 3 Watt 2" speaker with no mounting feet. I used the donut method for the back of the speaker, but didn't have room to fit a donut for the front of the speaker. I just used # 6 screws from the outside. The only thing I will change is to use lock nuts instead of the standard nuts on the inside. I didn't really need screws in 4 places, but it didn't matter because the holes were already there. However, with my current build, I'm having second thoughts about mounting an internal speaker. It seems like a novelty, but the three watt speaker doesn't sound that great. It's just too small, and I have to turn the amp gain down because the speaker is so close to the pickup. This guitar is going to a kid in Ashville, and I'm guessing he would be just as happy if I built him a little battery powered external amp with a 3", 8 Watt speaker. I ordered this amp kit from guitarfuel.com, and should get it tomorrow:
    http://guitarfuel.com/MA3S_Amp_Harness.php

  • Tracy Kennedy May 23, 2010 at 10:00am
    Well Dave, what did you come up with?
  • Tracy Kennedy May 21, 2010 at 1:03pm
    I think it will offer a nice clean looking install. As though there was some thought put into it. If you choose this method I hope it works out for you!

    Dave Onastik said:
    Thanks for all the great suggestions. I will be doing some experimenting this weekend. I kind of like the donut ring idea.
  • Dave Onastik May 21, 2010 at 12:18pm
    Thanks for all the great suggestions. I will be doing some experimenting this weekend. I kind of like the donut ring idea.

    Dave K - You are right about the potential feedback issue. I wlll try the speaker out in one of the holes shown before making any mods that I can't undo. I might try to mount it on the end next to the tailpiece if there is enough height on the box. I may have to drill a hole that's a little smaller than the outside diameter of the speaker, or just under, like 1.5 to 1.75".
  • Tracy Kennedy May 21, 2010 at 10:43am
    Ok...now that I understand how this is built ( bottom is top and so on. Not that it actially maters) Here is what I would do if i were presented with this delima. Room permitting; cut a donut ring with a I.D. the same as the O.D. of the speaker. Glue that ring to the box in its proper location. Set the speaker in that ring against the inside of the box. Now cut another wood donut retainer ring, same O.D. as the first, but with a smaller I.D. to trap the speaker. Screw the reatainer ring to the first ring that was glued to the box. This allows removal of the speaker if needed. If by chance the speaker is loose, just apply some sticky back foam pads to the speaker til it is tight. TaDa!
  • Dave K. May 21, 2010 at 10:21am
    could go with holes drilled right next to the speaker; run bolts through the front, then washers and nuts on the back to clamp the speaker to the box. 3 - 4 should do it. Is this to run the pickup through an amp and then out the speaker? If so, you might want to consider mounting the speaker on a side or end instead of the top - mounted to the top, the speaker could easily set up a feedback through the pickup, making it very difficult if not impossible to get decent volume without going immediately to squeal mode. Even out a side or end is no guarantee of eliminating feedback, but it should help. Using a speaker with an enclosed back would also help (no sound pressure pumped into the box side). If you must mount to the top, do it in a way that you can remove it without spoiling the appearance, as the end results may not be what you wanted.
  • Dave Onastik May 21, 2010 at 9:56am
    The speaker is about 1" deep and has a pretty good size magnet on the back. I definitely don't want to get glue on the face of the speaker. I thought about some type of strap, or even a tie wrap method. Not sure the pipe hangers would work because of their odd shape. What type of picture hangers are you talking about?

    Tracy - I'm using the back of the Punch Box as the face of the guitar so I can access inside via the lid. The back of the box is pretty ugly, so I wanted to cover it with something. The guy who is getting this guitar is also a fiddle player. BTW - Not one of my favorite beers, but I drank it anyway. The sacrifices I make!
  • otis May 21, 2010 at 9:39am
    how deep is the speaker? ive seen guys use picture hangers to put them in place and hot glue the picture hanger so you don't have hot glue by the speaker front? just an idea.
  • Tracy Kennedy May 21, 2010 at 8:44am
    A picture of the speaker would be helpful as well. Build a stand in the corner for the speaker to stand on tall enough that the lid rests snug against it. Epoxy or use double sided tape to mount it.

    Side Note : All wood Punch Grand Puro Box with a Fiddler Elbow label?
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