First Jack15 build

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Note that in the sketchups that show the filters on the bottom that's for pole mounted PA mains. For electric bass mine are on the back. In both cases so are the jacks.

Is there a reason for that, Bill?

When the speakers are on a pole you want the cable wrapped or velcro tied to the pole, so having the jacks on the bottom aid in that. Of course if stacking that only applies to the cab on the bottom.

Could I get away with 22awg for the parallel connections

You could, in that they're so short. But it's not like 18 is all that hard to work with.

[Aaron315]

I'm using a dual speakon + dual 1/4" jackplate just for maximum flexibility. What gauge wire should I use to make all the parallel connections between the four inputs? Is 18awg heavy enough? Could I get away with 22awg for the parallel connections and the heavier gauge Leland supplied connecting the paralleled jacks to the crossover and the crossover to the speaker?

Are you using enclosed 1/4" jacks? If not, you'll want some plugs....otherwise, you'll have an air leak. 18ga is fine for short runs inside the cab.

Yep, enclosed jacks. Thanks!

[Aaron315]

Leland included gasket tape for sealing the back panel. Should it go here?

Or here?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

It goes on the flange.

[Aaron315]

It goes on the flange.

Thank you! I assumed that was the case...I don't know why I was second guessing myself.

[Bruce Weldy]

It goes on the flange.

Thank you! I assumed that was the case...I don't know why I was second guessing myself.

Go ahead and predrill your holes for the back and the flange, then you can cut a little notch in the gasket tape for the screws to go through. I usually double up the tape on the flange, not stacked but next to each other and run the screws in between. Better seal and you don't want to run a screw through the gasket tape, because it can grab it and make a mess.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Since there's a gap along the edges doubling up probably isn't necessary. Placing the edge of the strip at the upper edge of the flange should do it.

[Clef's of Bass]

Looking great, dude! You'll be thumping through that thing in no time. Love the tweeters. Are you going with casters or rubber feet?

[Aaron315]

Since there's a gap along the edges doubling up probably isn't necessary. Placing the edge of the strip at the upper edge of the flange should do it.

I put it snug against where the flange and walls meet before I saw this. But it clears the screws and gives a good seal there too.

[Aaron315]

Looking great, dude! You'll be thumping through that thing in no time. Love the tweeters. Are you going with casters or rubber feet?

I've got rubber feet on this one. I have been assuming all along that I'll most likely be building a second one for a 2x15 stack and I'll put casters on the bottom one that won't have tweeters.

I got this guy up and running yesterday and played through it a bit in my basement music room. I love it so far! It seems much more responsive, more articulate (but not in a harsh way)...just more clear across the spectrum. I'm a fan! I A/B'd it next to my Acoustic Control Corporation model 408 cab (it's a ridiculous 4x15 bass cabinet...look it up if you don't know about it...really great cab in it's time, but just silly these days), both with my Acoustic Control Corporation 320 amp. The 408 was of course louder at the same settings on the dials, it's a 4ohm cab and it has 4 times the speakers so no surprise there, but the difference wasn't as big as one might expect. The Jack is definitely more efficient. And given the absurd size and weight of the 408 (it's comparable to an 8x10 SVT cab but a little bit deeper front to back) there's really no contest, the Jack15 wins in a pound for pound comparison. The real test will of course be when I bring it to the full band practice space next week and see how it does with everything else.

Honestly, with how light the Jack15 is with the Kappalite speaker in it I'll have no issues moving two of them compared to the Mesa Boogie Diesel 2x15 I'm usually bringing to shows (the Acoustic 408 hasn't left my basement for many many years, that thing is too much for anything that's not an outdoors show with no PA support). So I think I'm probably going to build another Jack15. I'll bring one with me to shows that have a decent PA and use two at shows that are at DIY punk/hardcore type spots like VFW halls and community center spaces that only have a PA for vocals.

[Aaron315]

As I was running a 30hz test tone through it I noticed the wires going to the piezo array were slapping the cab and making a heck of a racket. I have them stapled down at the array and back in the cab near the crossover but in-between those two points it's slappin. Anyone have suggestions on a way to secure them for the full run that doesn't look awful?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Black double sided tape. https://www.amazon.com/Double-Sided-mou ... &hvexpln=0

[Clef's of Bass]

Looking great, dude! You'll be thumping through that thing in no time. Love the tweeters. Are you going with casters or rubber feet?

I've got rubber feet on this one. I have been assuming all along that I'll most likely be building a second one for a 2x15 stack and I'll put casters on the bottom one that won't have tweeters.

I got this guy up and running yesterday and played through it a bit in my basement music room. I love it so far! It seems much more responsive, more articulate (but not in a harsh way)...just more clear across the spectrum. I'm a fan! I A/B'd it next to my Acoustic Control Corporation model 408 cab (it's a ridiculous 4x15 bass cabinet...look it up if you don't know about it...really great cab in it's time, but just silly these days), both with my Acoustic Control Corporation 320 amp. The 408 was of course louder at the same settings on the dials, it's a 4ohm cab and it has 4 times the speakers so no surprise there, but the difference wasn't as big as one might expect. The Jack is definitely more efficient. And given the absurd size and weight of the 408 (it's comparable to an 8x10 SVT cab but a little bit deeper front to back) there's really no contest, the Jack15 wins in a pound for pound comparison. The real test will of course be when I bring it to the full band practice space next week and see how it does with everything else.

Congrats! Happy new J15 day. Did you build with the recommended LP filter? If so, the mids can be lot, and completely dominate a band mix or room (this will upset your guitar player ). But, knowing this, you can easily scoop the mids and adjust them to each room and mix you play in to create a balanced tone.

[Clef's of Bass]

As I was running a 30hz test tone through it I noticed the wires going to the piezo array were slapping the cab and making a heck of a racket. I have them stapled down at the array and back in the cab near the crossover but in-between those two points it's slappin. Anyone have suggestions on a way to secure them for the full run that doesn't look awful?

I used clear silicone to stabilize my tweeter stack. Worked perfectly and isn't too noticeable.

[Aaron315]

Looking great, dude! You'll be thumping through that thing in no time. Love the tweeters. Are you going with casters or rubber feet?

I've got rubber feet on this one. I have been assuming all along that I'll most likely be building a second one for a 2x15 stack and I'll put casters on the bottom one that won't have tweeters.

I got this guy up and running yesterday and played through it a bit in my basement music room. I love it so far! It seems much more responsive, more articulate (but not in a harsh way)...just more clear across the spectrum. I'm a fan! I A/B'd it next to my Acoustic Control Corporation model 408 cab (it's a ridiculous 4x15 bass cabinet...look it up if you don't know about it...really great cab in it's time, but just silly these days), both with my Acoustic Control Corporation 320 amp. The 408 was of course louder at the same settings on the dials, it's a 4ohm cab and it has 4 times the speakers so no surprise there, but the difference wasn't as big as one might expect. The Jack is definitely more efficient. And given the absurd size and weight of the 408 (it's comparable to an 8x10 SVT cab but a little bit deeper front to back) there's really no contest, the Jack15 wins in a pound for pound comparison. The real test will of course be when I bring it to the full band practice space next week and see how it does with everything else.

Congrats! Happy new J15 day. Did you build with the recommended LP filter? If so, the mids can be lot, and completely dominate a band mix or room (this will upset your guitar player ). But, knowing this, you can easily scoop the mids and adjust them to each room and mix you play in to create a balanced tone.

Thanks! Yeah, I bought the premade filter from Leland at SpeakerHardware. I'm a big fan of mids so that's good . Better to have to duck frequencies than have to try to boost something that's missing.

I'll post some pics of the finished cab in the practice room later in the week.