Tuba 60 Downunder

[Titanium Hand]

After a week of constant blundering from merchants all over Australia I finally commenced my build of a 29 inch Dual Lab 12 loaded T60.

I will salvage the drivers from my T39's.

I made solid contact with Budget Group, I will have 12 tubes of PL within 7 to 10 business days

After being unable to source economical plywood of satisfactory quality, my wife organized with the good folk at DMK to get; one 3.05 x 1.52 sheet and two 2.44 x 1.22 sheets of 9 Ply S-BB Wisa Finnish Birch delivered to our friends joinery shop by morning tea time this morning. She generously paid the $479 for me - with my debit card

Unfortunately Mick was too busy to cut it for me today, so for a case of Mexican ale -$50 he will do it for me tomorrow. I'm taking a break from work after my first client at around 11 so will be able to oversee the operation, NO ONE touches Mick's saw but Mick! Therefore I happily entrusted my bounty unto him. He is meticulous.

I plan to have panel 8 full length. I'm having him cut to size; both sides, 8, 12 and panel 10. The rest of the timber is being cut into 712mm widths (as close to 28 inches as the metric system system permits)

I've purchased 4 NL4MPR 's from Cannonsound down the road - 88H88 set the precedent there. I plan to recess them into the lower section of panel 10 behind 13. The second pair I've not decided yet, each option has some form of compromise.... I invite fellow forum members to assist me with deciding their position based on there experiences

Don't think I will sleep properly tonight, like a kid on Christmas Eve, can't wait to watch the sawdust fly tomorrow!

[miked]

I admire the tenacity of you folks across the pond; sourcing cab-buidling materials is so difficult there. I ran into similar difficulties when I was stationed overseas. Where I was, the equivalent of Home Depot/Lowes did not sell lumber of ANY kind. You had to go to a "lumber supplier" and pay through the nose, espeically if you didn't want an entire pallet of 4x8 sheets.

Looking forward to the build. Remember: Pics or no cab.

[88h88]

Don't think I will sleep properly tonight, like a kid on Christmas Eve, can't wait to watch the sawdust fly tomorrow!

...wait until you get one sealed up and cranked a bit. You might shit.

[bassmonster]

There's a pattern I see on this forum.
1. Person wants T60 but forum members recommend T39.
2. Person builds T39 and is happy.
3. Person uses T39 for awhile.
4. Curiosity gets the better of the person.
5. Person builds T60.

[AntonZ]

It is related to another pattern, which is similar but not exactly the same.
1. Person wants T60 but forum members recommend T39.
2. Person builds T60 and is happy.
3. Person uses T60 for awhile.
4. Weight kills the back of the person.
5. Person builds T39.

[88h88]

It is related to another pattern, which is similar but not exactly the same.
1. Person wants T60 but forum members recommend T39.
2. Person builds T60 and is happy.
3. Person uses T60 for awhile.
4. Weight kills the back of the person.
5. Person learns to lift with back straight.

Fixed that for you.

[Charles Jenkinson]

And what about T30?

I think Radian has shared some real wisdom on the 'Upgrading the T39??' thread.

Having gotten my feet wet with the entire spectrum of BF subwoofers in person now, I can tell you to take user accounts touting the the T60 as the end-all, be-all with a grain of salt...especially if said user is coming straight from a T39 experience and nothing else. I can also vouch that if you do decide on a T39, you're HPF requirement will have you missing out on some content in even the most seemingly mundane of recorded music genres. Not necessarily a deal-breaker perhaps, but something to consider when planning.

The hand and mind of a word smith, ...beautiful.

[bassmonster]

Yeah I have seen that a lot too. Honestly, music these days has lower content than most on this forum would like to admit. If you're doing high school dances, T39 won't play everything. At this point you must ask yourself "is it worth the weight of T48/T60 to play the lowest content"?

[DJ Higgumz]

^ it is! I went from t39 - t60 and it's night and day. I don't see how I can break my back with the t60 as I am always carrying less than half of it at a time, carrying solo. (wheels) up stairs, down stairs, in to the back of a van. all solo. and I'm quite scrawny. I should note I used Arauco to build it, the weight difference with BB may be significant.

[Grant Bunter]

I feel sorry for TH,
He started off a T60 build thread and it's already become a chit chat about different subs...

[DJ Higgumz]

Sorry, you're right

[Titanium Hand]

Just checking in all.

Saturday; Sawdust began with Mick @ Two Dogs Joinery Cromer. Had all timber cut as I requested, detailed in first post.

Went back to work.

Did lay out and drilled into second side panel as per plans. Bet that makes it easy, I forgot to do this on my T39

Sunday; Made a number of saw sleds using Aluminum RHS. for centre guide bit. They work a treat.

Plunge cut access cover - plans are great as always bill. It worked a treat!

Cut and fastened panels 1 & 2 using 87 x 87 F.J. Pre Primed Pine Posts for full panel length guide boards / gluing jigs, simplified the process I think. 54 degrees is a P.I.T.A. So I followed plans, with the addition of two metal straight edges top and bottom of panel and a 40 grit flap disc. Cut to 45 and let the flap disc do the trick

Monday ; (eve after work) Built a Circle router jig from MDF. Cut Panel 3,4, and Baffle Backer. Taught myself to use said backyard blitz Circle Jig and cut holes in Baffle.

I've been taking photos along the way to follow.

Will complete baffle backer tomorrow, fasten panels 3 & 4, cut Panel 5 and perhaps start some bracing. So exciting. I've just remembered the ... a hem - Joys OF Bracing. 3 lots of each too err. Its all part of the process.

Regarding what every one said, my initial choice to build T39's was because I wanted the most noise in the smallest package. They are marvelous cabs. I never could have imagined how amazing they are. Yes they miss a bit as I've only two but for all my needs they pump. There is plenty of Dubstep and even Drum & Bass that sounds great on them. I just want more.

[chrapladm]

So does Budget group have PL again?

Every time I have called they did not have it and did not know when they were ordering more. I need to try that stuff. I have used other alternatives just fine but want to try the PL.

[Gauss]

Yeah I have seen that a lot too. Honestly, music these days has lower content than most on this forum would like to admit. If you're doing high school dances, T39 won't play everything. At this point you must ask yourself "is it worth the weight of T48/T60 to play the lowest content"?

And by 'won't play everything' you are referring to not having the deep rumble edge. There are no missing notes or instruments. I've seen this written before, and I don't think it's accurate. the 35-40 hz range is not the range of musical instruments, but effects.

[Titanium Hand]

To be honest the Budget Group haven't been all that helpful. Lots of excuses. they told me they dont stock it but takes 5 business days to get it in, then two days to freight to me in Sydney. I'll be chasing them up tomorrow to see how my order is progressing. they do as they said.

Baffles always take me forever. Lining up the drivers in the holes is a bit slow. I placed driver on bench, then placed baffle backer on top of driver, lined it all up, clamped it with 4; 3 inch clamps, flipped it over then proceeded to drill straight into basket holes screwed it in, then attached baffle checked alignment, screwed, pulled apart, glued and weighted it down for a couple of hours.

I managed to attach it aswell. I really want to churn this build out but the size of it has me waving the white flag of logic.. . If I take my time I'll get a superior result and value for my money. Some of my stupid mates put 4 or 5 hundred dollars into poker machines regularly - they get entertained for at most an hour I've been looking forward to this build for quite some time now so I may as well enjoy the journey!