Dual Loaded Table Tuba by a Teenager

[subharmonic]

Generally i get the best sound in a corner even in small rooms, also i usually get the best sound with the mouth facing a boundary. However every room is different. Trial and error is the only way and there will always be compromises. A spl meter would really assist, a rta would even be better. Just try to listen through the entire bandpass not just a couple notes.

Also as it has been put by builder JB Bills tops are almost more impressive than his bottoms. As for pro audio that is a true statement, home tops i have yet to hear. So start your savings plan for those too.

[bassmonster]

Generally i get the best sound in a corner even in small rooms, also i usually get the best sound with the mouth facing a boundary. However every room is different. Trial and error is the only way and there will always be compromises. A spl meter would really assist, a rta would even be better. Just try to listen through the entire bandpass not just a couple notes.

Also as it has been put by builder JB Bills tops are almost more impressive than his bottoms. As for pro audio that is a true statement, home tops i have yet to hear. So start your savings plan for those too.

I don't have room for a true corner loaded setup facing directly into the corner. There is a wall, then a corner, then a window right next to the corner. Firing into the window is obviously a bad idea, so I just wall loaded it. I also tried wall loading in another position in the room. The setup near the window is the only feasible option unless I completely redesign my room, which I may.

Also, already got SLAs planned next to replace the bazaar of speakers I have currently. Off the top of someone's head, are there any buyout drivers on PE that spec well in an SLA? I know IITP, just a quick question.

[bassmonster]

Well, I did a bass gig with the TT today. Less than 100 people in a small church sanctuary. Worked quite well, smooth tone from the TT with plenty of headroom to spare. Got lots of questions too, "Duuuuude where'd you buy that??"

But that's not all.

I put the TT in the car today for a short time and let her rip. At 5 volts, the mirrors are shaking like crazy. At 15 volts, vision starts to blur a little bit and you can feel it affect your breathing. Also at 15 volts the glass was flexing as well as everything else inside and outside the car. I played the song "Decibel" by Original Sin and almost died. This thing gave me a headache in less than 5 minutes! Not practical, but cool.

[Tom Smit]

Yeeee-haaaah, haha. Did you get what you were hoping for?

[bassmonster]

Yeeee-haaaah, haha. Did you get what you were hoping for?

Not exactly, yet, because of this situation. Long story:

So I had to take the TT to the band gig I was playing bass in anyway, so I heaved the TT in the trunk of the Forester, and turned the mouth as recommended. I used my Bash amp for a quick demo in the car, I don't have a proper car audio amp yet, and I was taking the Bash along as my "bass head" anyway (I had a foot pedal for EQ anyway so NBD). I just couldn't resist having the TT in the boot and not being able to test it out with cabin gain, etc. I used a DC to AC converter that plugs into the cigarette lighter plug. Problem was, the cheap converter only states a max of 120w, and those specs are inflated anyway. So I didn't even get close to the TT's potential. The volume wasn't even up 1/4 of the way. On the Decibel song the bass occasionally cut out because the 36hz main bassline was putting too much of a load on the DC/AC converter. It still rattled me quite a bit and shoved my eardrums in and out with the bass, but I'm waiting till I get a proper 400w car amp to do some real brain damage. To be honest I'm a bit scared of what will happen to my car (and ears if not protected properly) at those volumes. At 10 volts everything inside the car was vibrating. Probably the equivalent of sticking a Buttkicker under the seat. Steve Regier RTA'd his TTLS in his van, he got response to 10hz. I wonder if the ladies would like a 15hz massage? I'm also convinced this thing could do some major damage in small-scale dB competitions (no more than two batteries or 1000w, etc.). IMO dB comps are kind of useless but it would be interesting to have the TT measured properly. Radian got 127dB with two 8" loaded AT's.

I can't wait till I'm allowed to have this monster in the car. I'm satisfied for now, but the final verdict will wait until it's completely settled in the car. Read about a year. "TT review- in the car" thread to come then.

[88h88]

How metal would it be to have to drive with hearing protectors on?

[bassmonster]

Well, I applied the first coat of Duratex today minus the bottom side, will get to that later tonight if possible. Seems like two more coats will do the trick if there's enough Duratex left. It used about 1/2-5/8 pint of Duratex but I was being liberal. It took me about an hour for the first coat! I've never used it before. It's quite interesting stuff, sorta has the consistency of pudding. It dries pretty fast too. It left kind of a sharp abrasive finish, which I don't want. Any way to reverse this on my second and maybe third coats? Add a touch of water perhaps?

Onto the pics. I must say I'm quite pleased with how this is coming out so far.

[Drey Chennells]

1) Sand now to get a consistent texture
2) Get a couple rollers for a smooth finish/low nap
3) You can thin but experiment first and mix completely before using
4) Lay it down nice and wet on the first pass and leave it alone

[bassmonster]

Thank you for the advice. I'll keep it in mind on my next coats.

[bassmonster]

No further work till this weekend, too much schoolwork.

[Titanium Hand]

Did I read in your profile that you're going to build another dual loaded table tuba? NICE!

Maturity beyond your years Master Bassmonster re: Actively possessing sufficient self discipline to identify that you don't have time to build this week and will focus your energy into study opposed to lesiure.

Sorry for the psychological rant, my Fiance is in the study with me distracting me from the forum with her own physchology studies (she's in her third year of a Bachelor of Physchology with Honours) and its coming out my ears! I just want a bass massage from 'Knife Party'

[LelandCrooks]

Watch your temp and humidity. Both are important.

[Gregory East]

I thought my BAT was a bit overkill but that thing is totally insane. Are you going to tape the windows before you do the earmuff testing?

[bassmonster]

Did I read in your profile that you're going to build another dual loaded table tuba?

Yes, after one goes in the car permanently.

Maturity beyond your years Master Bassmonster re: Actively possessing sufficient self discipline to identify that you don't have time to build this week and will focus your energy into study opposed to lesiure.

It wasn't my choice it was my parents' choice! [/quote]

Watch your temp and humidity. Both are important.

IIRC it's above 60 F and below 70% RH, according to the bag of Duratex. On the day I painted it it was in the high 60s and probably about 50 or 60% RH as it rained two days before. The Duratex was dry in about an hour.

Are you going to tape the windows before you do the earmuff testing?

I'll keep going on the volume until I think the windows will break, then back down. I find it much more exciting when I don't know the full limitations of my speakers. It's just like a fast car- how can you ever get bored of the 400hp if you've never completely run WOT?

[bassmonster]

Well, I got some surprise time in today and put two coats of Duratex on the bottom of the cab, and a second coat on the front of the cab above the horn mouth. At that point I ran out of Duratex and didn't want to open the other bag. So for the record, one pint of Duratex will do one complete coat on a box of 30x30x24", plus plenty extra for touch-ups or what have you. Two pints will be just about perfect for this cab. I also painted the inside of driver chamber, with spray paint. Ghetto, and certainly not as thorough as painting without the drivers installed, but it looks better than just plain wood, and I got good enough coverage so that you would never notice the tight areas I couldn't reach with the spray can unless you were staring straight into the driver chamber. I did protect the inside of the drivers from the extra spray.

I also quickly ran a sanding block over the cab as suggested and seemed to knock off the sharp dried pattern of the Duratex. I now like the finish now that it's not sharp or too abrasive.

In this pic you can see the spray painted driver chamber and it looks fine but in retrospect, I would have painted the baffle before permanently installing the drivers. Just feels more "clean all under", even though we all know a horn cab isn't usually pretty on the inside. I have only applied one coat of Duratex to that panel so far, hence the spottiness of the finish. The second coat should clean that all up.