AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
- Dave Non-Zero
- Posts: 1939
- Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:59 am
- Location: Dundee, Scotland
- Contact:
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
I feel your pain. We all Hate the braces.

-1 for thought terminating cliches.
Built and/or own:
8 x T48 24" 3015LF
6 x DR280
2 x DR250 old style beta10
2 x T36s 20" delta15L
1 x TAT
1 x dual Lab12 30" T60
In Progress:
2 x DR280
Built and/or own:
8 x T48 24" 3015LF
6 x DR280
2 x DR250 old style beta10
2 x T36s 20" delta15L
1 x TAT
1 x dual Lab12 30" T60
In Progress:
2 x DR280
-
djtrumptight
- Posts: 823
- Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:08 pm
- Location: Detroit,Michigan
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
Try cutting the braces oversized then sand them down to the desired size.I think out of all of my tools my favorite is my belt sander and my circular saw sled.The sled gets the cut close,the sander gets it closer.
Built:
2 Autotuba's MCM 55 2421
8 T48's 24"wide 3015 LF
2 DR 250's melded Deltalite II 2510
2 DR 250's flat Deltalite II 2510
2 SLA HT systems
1 Table Tuba Dayton DCS 255-4
2 T 39's 20" wide 3012 LF
1 T-18 13" wide MCM 55 2421
2 SLA Pro's
2 Autotuba's MCM 55 2421
8 T48's 24"wide 3015 LF
2 DR 250's melded Deltalite II 2510
2 DR 250's flat Deltalite II 2510
2 SLA HT systems
1 Table Tuba Dayton DCS 255-4
2 T 39's 20" wide 3012 LF
1 T-18 13" wide MCM 55 2421
2 SLA Pro's
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
I love my electric planer for making braces. So much faster than a sander and safer than using the table saw.
Jawhorse + Planer FTW
Jawhorse + Planer FTW
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digital_chris
- Posts: 136
- Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 4:53 am
- Location: Enfield, CT USA
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
Alright, a little better of an update tonight. I am down to the last panel, the final side. Tomorrow I will trim and screw/glue that on and then cut out my hole for the speaker terminal plate. I didn't take pictures of each panel installed, but I will take a few of the finished product without the 2nd side to show how amazing the plywood is
And hopefully by thursday afternoo/evening, I can mount the driver and toss it in the car to see how she sounds
Stay tuned!
P.S. For these last few braces, I ended up cutting them with my jig saw and then sanded down as needed if needed. Since almost every panel isn't at a perfect 90 deg angle to the side, the measurement between panels for my brace isn't the same all the way down the panel (understand what I'm saying?) Therefor, when I measure for my brace width, I would cut them wide, then trim or sand as needed, seemed to work out ok. Thanks for the ideas guys
And hopefully by thursday afternoo/evening, I can mount the driver and toss it in the car to see how she sounds
Stay tuned!
P.S. For these last few braces, I ended up cutting them with my jig saw and then sanded down as needed if needed. Since almost every panel isn't at a perfect 90 deg angle to the side, the measurement between panels for my brace isn't the same all the way down the panel (understand what I'm saying?) Therefor, when I measure for my brace width, I would cut them wide, then trim or sand as needed, seemed to work out ok. Thanks for the ideas guys
- Harley
- Posts: 5758
- Joined: Mon May 08, 2006 2:45 pm
- Location: Christchurch, New Zealand - Authorised BFM Cab Builder
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
OK, I'll be the smart-arse.
I love my metal patterns and the table-saw panel jig with the tee-rail hold down brackets - NO pre-cutting, NO sanding, NO planing, PERFECT fit every time

I love my metal patterns and the table-saw panel jig with the tee-rail hold down brackets - NO pre-cutting, NO sanding, NO planing, PERFECT fit every time
- Dave Non-Zero
- Posts: 1939
- Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:59 am
- Location: Dundee, Scotland
- Contact:
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
-1 for thought terminating cliches.
Built and/or own:
8 x T48 24" 3015LF
6 x DR280
2 x DR250 old style beta10
2 x T36s 20" delta15L
1 x TAT
1 x dual Lab12 30" T60
In Progress:
2 x DR280
Built and/or own:
8 x T48 24" 3015LF
6 x DR280
2 x DR250 old style beta10
2 x T36s 20" delta15L
1 x TAT
1 x dual Lab12 30" T60
In Progress:
2 x DR280
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
picsHarley wrote:OK, I'll be the smart-arse.
I love my metal patterns and the table-saw panel jig with the tee-rail hold down brackets - NO pre-cutting, NO sanding, NO planing, PERFECT fit every time![]()
![]()
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
I found the autotuba build went very fast for me. Basically had 2 tubas built in a saturday afternoon. I just screwed the panels together as I cut the pieces out to make sure they all aligned, then disassembled the entire enclosure when I was done and ready to glue/secure for good.digital_chris wrote:Alright, a little better of an update tonight. I am down to the last panel, the final side. Tomorrow I will trim and screw/glue that on and then cut out my hole for the speaker terminal plate. I didn't take pictures of each panel installed, but I will take a few of the finished product without the 2nd side to show how amazing the plywood is![]()
![]()
And hopefully by thursday afternoo/evening, I can mount the driver and toss it in the car to see how she sounds![]()
Stay tuned!
P.S. For these last few braces, I ended up cutting them with my jig saw and then sanded down as needed if needed. Since almost every panel isn't at a perfect 90 deg angle to the side, the measurement between panels for my brace isn't the same all the way down the panel (understand what I'm saying?) Therefor, when I measure for my brace width, I would cut them wide, then trim or sand as needed, seemed to work out ok. Thanks for the ideas guys
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digital_chris
- Posts: 136
- Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 4:53 am
- Location: Enfield, CT USA
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
Sure, pshh, rub it in... 
- Dave Non-Zero
- Posts: 1939
- Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:59 am
- Location: Dundee, Scotland
- Contact:
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
man ive made a fair few titans/tubas now and it was soooo nice to make the TAT with the small panels.
you should try a 27inch wide t60 if you hate braces....

you should try a 27inch wide t60 if you hate braces....

-1 for thought terminating cliches.
Built and/or own:
8 x T48 24" 3015LF
6 x DR280
2 x DR250 old style beta10
2 x T36s 20" delta15L
1 x TAT
1 x dual Lab12 30" T60
In Progress:
2 x DR280
Built and/or own:
8 x T48 24" 3015LF
6 x DR280
2 x DR250 old style beta10
2 x T36s 20" delta15L
1 x TAT
1 x dual Lab12 30" T60
In Progress:
2 x DR280
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
Hey, quit y'er whining! Just because you can knock buildings down, and set off seismic alarms with those things....Dave Non-Zero wrote:man ive made a fair few titans/tubas now and it was soooo nice to make the TAT with the small panels.![]()
you should try a 27inch wide t60 if you hate braces....
I know money often seals the deal, but seriously, quality is an investment, not an expense... Grant Bunter
Accept the fact that airtight and well-braced are more important than pretty on the inside. Bill Fitzmaurice
Accept the fact that airtight and well-braced are more important than pretty on the inside. Bill Fitzmaurice
- Dave Non-Zero
- Posts: 1939
- Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:59 am
- Location: Dundee, Scotland
- Contact:
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
im just looking at the pictures again and im not looking forward to making my second one.... 
-1 for thought terminating cliches.
Built and/or own:
8 x T48 24" 3015LF
6 x DR280
2 x DR250 old style beta10
2 x T36s 20" delta15L
1 x TAT
1 x dual Lab12 30" T60
In Progress:
2 x DR280
Built and/or own:
8 x T48 24" 3015LF
6 x DR280
2 x DR250 old style beta10
2 x T36s 20" delta15L
1 x TAT
1 x dual Lab12 30" T60
In Progress:
2 x DR280
-
digital_chris
- Posts: 136
- Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 4:53 am
- Location: Enfield, CT USA
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
Ok, it's about time for me to give an "in the car" update. So, here are the system specs. 14" wide AT with MCM 8" driver powered with a 230 watt Alpine Mono amp. 8 ga power/ground wire to the amp and 14 ga maybe even 16 ga wire going to the sub (I can't tell what size). Initially I turned the amp gain to 1/4 and bass boost down to it's lowest with the LP freq around 80 hz. Turned up some tunes and really nothing to hear. After turning the gain and bass boost up on the amp, I finally got some sound. Now it's set at 1 notch over half way up on both gain/bass boost. My radio setting are where they were ( -2 for bass level and Sub level at 0 or neutral).
I am getting peaks of around 20 volts at my highest comfortable listening level and the bass is pretty good. I'm not going to lie, it's loud for an 8" driver but to be honest, I think all of the hype got my hopes to high. The bass isn't as clean as I had hoped for, surprising after hearing ppl sound so excited on how clean the bass is. Maybe it's my car, idk (2001 Subaru Impreza) or my warped plywood that I used for the cab and the tuning is off, beats me or maybe even just the position in the trunk (it's pointed at one side of the trunk about 8-10 inches away). Could also be that the bass notes I'm trying to hear are below what the cab's tuned for.
All in all, I am kind of satisfied. I do have one screw hole that I need to fill on the back of the cab, other than that, the box should have plenty of glue on the inside so I'm not too worried about leaks.
One more thing, I noticed someone else had the same problem in hearing with the "phwap" sound on kicks, the beginning of bass notes and what not. I think I can hear the same thing on my TT in my living room but it's hard to tell. I feel like those sounds are whats making the cab sound not so clean to me. I can't hear the "phwap" inside the car, just next to the cab, I feel like I shouldn't hear them at all though.
Please let me know what you think and if you have any recommendations for me or my setup. Let me know if I am over expecting or if there is something I might be missing
Thanks..
I am getting peaks of around 20 volts at my highest comfortable listening level and the bass is pretty good. I'm not going to lie, it's loud for an 8" driver but to be honest, I think all of the hype got my hopes to high. The bass isn't as clean as I had hoped for, surprising after hearing ppl sound so excited on how clean the bass is. Maybe it's my car, idk (2001 Subaru Impreza) or my warped plywood that I used for the cab and the tuning is off, beats me or maybe even just the position in the trunk (it's pointed at one side of the trunk about 8-10 inches away). Could also be that the bass notes I'm trying to hear are below what the cab's tuned for.
All in all, I am kind of satisfied. I do have one screw hole that I need to fill on the back of the cab, other than that, the box should have plenty of glue on the inside so I'm not too worried about leaks.
One more thing, I noticed someone else had the same problem in hearing with the "phwap" sound on kicks, the beginning of bass notes and what not. I think I can hear the same thing on my TT in my living room but it's hard to tell. I feel like those sounds are whats making the cab sound not so clean to me. I can't hear the "phwap" inside the car, just next to the cab, I feel like I shouldn't hear them at all though.
Please let me know what you think and if you have any recommendations for me or my setup. Let me know if I am over expecting or if there is something I might be missing
Thanks..
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
On my Alpine I turned the bass boost all the way down, and the gain is about three-quarters. Maybe because your bass-boost is up, you are getting the 'phwaap'. I don't get anymore and all I've got for power wire is two times fourteen gauge...same for ground.
The way mine is set up is that I run the volume up to '30' out of '50', and set the tone controls for my tone without distortion. The sub-out is usually at +6 (out of
. With these settings, standard radio play is about 12 volts as a max, with hiphop, techno etc on the radio it will go up near 20. Aaaand, the sub amp is crossed at 140 @24db/oct because the factory door speakers just don't have it.
The way mine is set up is that I run the volume up to '30' out of '50', and set the tone controls for my tone without distortion. The sub-out is usually at +6 (out of
TomS
- Drey Chennells
- Posts: 1377
- Joined: Sun May 17, 2009 10:12 pm
- Location: Central FL ~Authorized Builder
- Contact:
Re: AutoTuba build. This is the last time...
hey there..Is that screw hole in the woofer chamber? Fill it. Take out the bass eq boost, set tone controls to 0, amp gains to neutral, lowpass at 60. Play some Fleetwood Mac or acoustic music with real instruments, not machines. Use tone eq to get it to sound 'right', keep the levels moderate. It's a 14" wide as well, be sure to high pass at 40hz. Let us know..digital_chris wrote:Ok, it's about time for me to give an "in the car" update. So, here are the system specs. 14" wide AT with MCM 8" driver powered with a 230 watt Alpine Mono amp. 8 ga power/ground wire to the amp and 14 ga maybe even 16 ga wire going to the sub (I can't tell what size). Initially I turned the amp gain to 1/4 and bass boost down to it's lowest with the LP freq around 80 hz. Turned up some tunes and really nothing to hear. After turning the gain and bass boost up on the amp, I finally got some sound. Now it's set at 1 notch over half way up on both gain/bass boost. My radio setting are where they were ( -2 for bass level and Sub level at 0 or neutral).
I am getting peaks of around 20 volts at my highest comfortable listening level and the bass is pretty good. I'm not going to lie, it's loud for an 8" driver but to be honest, I think all of the hype got my hopes to high. The bass isn't as clean as I had hoped for, surprising after hearing ppl sound so excited on how clean the bass is. Maybe it's my car, idk (2001 Subaru Impreza) or my warped plywood that I used for the cab and the tuning is off, beats me or maybe even just the position in the trunk (it's pointed at one side of the trunk about 8-10 inches away). Could also be that the bass notes I'm trying to hear are below what the cab's tuned for.
All in all, I am kind of satisfied. I do have one screw hole that I need to fill on the back of the cab, other than that, the box should have plenty of glue on the inside so I'm not too worried about leaks.
One more thing, I noticed someone else had the same problem in hearing with the "phwap" sound on kicks, the beginning of bass notes and what not. I think I can hear the same thing on my TT in my living room but it's hard to tell. I feel like those sounds are whats making the cab sound not so clean to me. I can't hear the "phwap" inside the car, just next to the cab, I feel like I shouldn't hear them at all though.
Please let me know what you think and if you have any recommendations for me or my setup. Let me know if I am over expecting or if there is something I might be missing
Thanks..
"Things happen, but music stays in your blood forever~." bf
InfraCoustik
Consulting/Design/Fabrication
Authorized BF Builder
http://www.infracoustik.com/
info@infracoustik.com
InfraCoustik
Consulting/Design/Fabrication
Authorized BF Builder
http://www.infracoustik.com/
info@infracoustik.com
