Many thanks for this opportunity to say "hello." Like so many, I've returned to my love for music, performing, and pro audio gear, after many years away. In the late 1970s I owned a little sound re-enforcement company and played in garage and bar bands. Was never much good at any of it, but had a lot of fun and even learned a little bit about how people who are good do it. And like so many, my day job is in IT, where my employer gives me the great privilege of working as a systems architect and strategic planner, and getting paid for it. There is tremendous satisfaction in designing and building things that work, as everyone here knows.
Found Bill's website while looking for plans for speakers that will be part of a small rig intended to deliver high-quality audio to audiences numbering 50 to 200 or so. Don't laugh too hard now: the (at this point only dreamed-of) act will be a solo performer (me) on guitars, keyboards, and vocals, using various effects boxes, loopers, and so on. Now working to regain and extend whatever performing skills I may once have had, and since this is a labor of love not profit, want to build as much of the gear as possible. Will be building a Parts-o-caster, winding the pickups with an electric drill, for example. It's so much fun! Really it's more than fun, but there's not a word I can think of at the moment that describes how it feels to return to performance art as an old guy. Complicated.
In the day, my company's rig used JBL factory-made cabinets. As an enthusiast (emphatically not an audio nor electronic engineer, nor a competent businessman) I didn't know any better, and thought that JBL gear sounded better than anything else that was available at the time. Also I admired the stoutness of JBL's approach to design and construction, so I "invested" (wasted) tons of money. That rig sounded pretty good. But the price was not right, and this time around I want some of my own sweat and blood in the system. Will try to avoid tears.
Bill's designs, and you who post on this forum, are so impressive that I bought the plans for the Omni 15 TallBoy and the panel-cutting jig. The project plan is: start off with a pair of Omni 15 TBs, built in the 2-12 configuration using 3012LFs, with 6CBMRA midrange and APT150 tweeter, and see what happens
. Have in the past built simple speaker cabinets--copies of JBL 4312 so-called "control monitors" and 2-way wedge monitors for stage use--and have a cheap table saw, mitre saw, jigsaw, router, and nail guns of various sizes, used in home remodeling projects. So the expectation is that given the relative simplicity of the Omni 15 TB design, I can build a pair. Found a supplier of real Baltic Birch plywood here in the Atlanta metro and am ready to go!Thanks to Bill, Mark, and all of you for being here. You have my great respect and admiration: you do excellent work, and inspire me to do the same. And thanks in advance for your patience with this n00b and my dumb questions. I don't know what I don't know, but am eager to learn.
All the best, and more questions coming soon in the appropriate topic
--aeolos
. They latch together into a semi-cube. Heavy boogers.
