XF Cab mod idea

Guitar cabs both you and your audience can hear better.
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guido
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Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 8:30 pm

XF Cab mod idea

#1 Post by guido »

First, there are way too few XF cab demos on youtube. I am thinking of building one. Like many others in the guitar community I have been looking at the Barefaced cabs and trying to figure out if they are for real. I have listen to them only on videos which I know is limited info, but I did finally hear a video that was made by a user and it did reveal that off axis the cab drops off just like any other cab. (big surprize huh) The other thing is I can't help but look at the AVD or Helmholtz resonator in the back and say uh it's a horn. Anyway here is my question, would adding a well designed "AVD" enhance the experience of an XF cab?

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Seth
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Location: Sacramento, California, USA
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Re: XF Cab mod idea

#2 Post by Seth »

How are ay doin' Guido...

I'm going to take a WAG and say that no one here will be able to answer your question to any level of satisfaction.

Here's what I'd recommend; build an XF to spec. Use it for a while. See if/how you like it. Then modify it and tell us all about your experience. Oh yeah! Video... we need video!
Last edited by Seth on Tue Apr 21, 2020 2:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Build in process - 2 WH6, one Alpha 6a loaded, one PRV Audio 6MB250-NDY loaded

Two 2x6 shorty SLA Pro's
One T39, 16", 3012LF loaded
Tall AutoTuba, 20" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421
TruckTuba, 8½" wide, 2x 8" MCM 55-2421

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Bill Fitzmaurice
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Re: XF Cab mod idea

#3 Post by Bill Fitzmaurice »

It's not a horn, it's a tapered port. It's far too short to work as a horn. I don't see the need for it. Guitar just doesn't go low enough to benefit from porting. That's why you don't see it done.

Bruce Weldy
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Location: New Braunfels, TX

Re: XF Cab mod idea

#4 Post by Bruce Weldy »

Bill Fitzmaurice wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2020 1:20 pm It's not a horn, it's a tapered port. It's far too short to work as a horn. I don't see the need for it. Guitar just doesn't go low enough to benefit from porting. That's why you don't see it done.
As a sound guy, I'm usually trying to get the bottom end OUT of the guitars - too many guys are trying to cover the entire frequency spectrum with one instrument.....fine if you only play solo, but it sucks when it happens in a band......same is true for keyboard players too.

As a guitar player, my ego wants me to be heard by the crowd....so, I typically thin up my sound and everybody can hear me....

6 - T39 3012LF
4 - OT12 2512
1 - T24
1 - SLA Pro
2 - XF210


"A system with a few knobs set up by someone who knows what they are doing is always better than one with a lot of knobs set up by someone who doesn't."

jimbo7
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Location: St. Louis

Re: XF Cab mod idea

#5 Post by jimbo7 »

My XF 2x12 cab is at a friend's house and he loves the thing. Even sitting on the ground in a cramped 10'x12' room he likes it better than his marshall stack or mesa boogie. FWIW it has some old Alnico Jensens from an organ or something.

Just build one and try out different (matching) speakers. Where you located?
BFM builds:
XF212
T24 BP102 24"
2x SLA's 6-5" mids, 9- gt-302's
2x AT 14" MCM 55-2421
TrT 5" MCM 55-2421
AT 18" JBL GTO804
2x OT12 flat array
2x SLA Pro 2-Alpha 6's 2-Goldwoods
2x T39 24" 3012lf
Simplex 10 BP102

guido
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Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 8:30 pm

Re: XF Cab mod idea

#6 Post by guido »

I'm in Traverse City MI. I am going to build one. I just finished two Tuba 24's that I started 5+ years ago. They sound sooo good! I have more time now and should be able to get the XF done much faster. I just bought two Celestion TF1018's to put in first. I am using a Quilter OD200 and also need to figure out how to build in a cubby space on the XF210 cab to make it a combo. I may have to add height to the cab to include the OD200 on the top deck. Thank you Bill for the info on the tapered port and EQ reality. Thanks Bruce for the FOH take on the using guitar cabs live.

tallevan
Posts: 92
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2019 12:15 pm
Location: London, England

Re: XF Cab mod idea

#7 Post by tallevan »

I see Bill didn't put an airhead option specifically in the XF plans, but he did in the Jack.

I built an airhead Jack 10 as my first BFM cabinet.
It's pretty straightforward, just make the sides taller and put a top on it.

Top tip: remember to include the feet on your head when you measure it up, and don't block passive heating slots.

Bruce Weldy
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Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:37 am
Location: New Braunfels, TX

Re: XF Cab mod idea

#8 Post by Bruce Weldy »

It's gonna' look a little weird.....the cab is 24 inches wide and the amp is only about 9.....You could put little drawers on each side or offset it to one side and have a long drawer for pedals, etc....

Personally, I'd just throw that little amp into a gig back and be done with it.

Or, just build a vertical 2 x 10 combo. That would be a cool little setup....a foot wide and 2 feet tall.....it will look like a toy, but pack a wallop.

I built my Boogie Mark 5:25 into a combo with a single 12 that's only 15 inches wide and about 20 inches tall.....looks like a toy.....but screams.... :mrgreen:

In fact, I built one for another guy in my band too......baby Boogies....

IMG_2311.JPG

6 - T39 3012LF
4 - OT12 2512
1 - T24
1 - SLA Pro
2 - XF210


"A system with a few knobs set up by someone who knows what they are doing is always better than one with a lot of knobs set up by someone who doesn't."

Grey Owl
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Joined: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:38 pm
Location: New Zealand, User 1603

Re: XF Cab mod idea

#9 Post by Grey Owl »

"Bruce Weldy
I built my Boogie Mark 5:25 into a combo with a single 12 that's only 15 inches wide and about 20 inches tall.....looks like a toy.....but screams.... :mrgreen:

In fact, I built one for another guy in my band too......baby Boogies...."

Fabulous little bits of kit there; real sleepers. :clap:
Cheers
You have two ears and one mouth. Use them in the same ratio!!

guido
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 8:30 pm

Re: XF Cab mod idea

#10 Post by guido »

Would the horizontal dispersion of the vertical 2x10 be as wide as the XF?

guido
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Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 8:30 pm

Re: XF Cab mod idea

#11 Post by guido »

And would it be easily heard standing few feet in front of it?

Bruce Weldy
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Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:37 am
Location: New Braunfels, TX

Re: XF Cab mod idea

#12 Post by Bruce Weldy »

guido wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:39 pm Would the horizontal dispersion of the vertical 2x10 be as wide as the XF?
A vertical orientation will have a wider dispersion than a horizontal orientation. The XF has a crossfire configuration to try and get back some of the dispersion lost by putting the drivers side by side.

I built an amp stand to hear mine better.....It looks much better than the tall metal stands.
IMG_2510.JPG
IMG_2511.JPG

6 - T39 3012LF
4 - OT12 2512
1 - T24
1 - SLA Pro
2 - XF210


"A system with a few knobs set up by someone who knows what they are doing is always better than one with a lot of knobs set up by someone who doesn't."

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Bill Fitzmaurice
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Re: XF Cab mod idea

#13 Post by Bill Fitzmaurice »

guido wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2020 5:39 pm Would the horizontal dispersion of the vertical 2x10 be as wide as the XF?
It depends on the frequency. In the low mids the vertical 2x10 would have wider dispersion, but in the highs the XF dispersion is wider.

guido
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed Apr 17, 2013 8:30 pm

Re: XF Cab mod idea

#14 Post by guido »

Ah, so what is good for a bass cab 250-500Hz (ie. clarity) could be a problem for electric guitar (muddiness). Thanks!

Bruce Weldy
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Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:37 am
Location: New Braunfels, TX

Re: XF Cab mod idea

#15 Post by Bruce Weldy »

guido wrote: Thu Apr 23, 2020 12:47 pm Ah, so what is good for a bass cab 250-500Hz (ie. clarity) could be a problem for electric guitar (muddiness). Thanks!
Well, tone can be achieved many ways......if you rolled off at 500hz....it would sound like crap. I typically high pass electric guitars from 100-150hz. It still depends on the EQ coming out of the amp. You can't fix a bad sounding amp at the board.

6 - T39 3012LF
4 - OT12 2512
1 - T24
1 - SLA Pro
2 - XF210


"A system with a few knobs set up by someone who knows what they are doing is always better than one with a lot of knobs set up by someone who doesn't."

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