Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

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Miza
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Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by Miza »

I rescued a few bits of pretty heavy 18mm ply out of the skip at a friend's business (used for making furniture), but it has a plastic laminate coating on both surfaces about 0.5mm thick.

I was planning to make a 1x12 cab with it, but I'm wondering if the laminate will affect the sound inside the cab (the way the sound waves interact with the wood; leading to less resonance and a more brittle sound?).

Anyone had experience using anything like this for making cabs? Turn out ok?
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Re: Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by Miza »

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Re: Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by griff »

Good score. See if you borrow a planer and plane off the laminate

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Re: Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by Lyle »

No idea how it will change the sound. Is the laminate glued on? A bit of heat might loosen it enough so you can pry it off?

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Re: Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by GrantB »

Nah - Tolex is a laminate, And I think those old Marshall cabs sound pretty good.
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Re: Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by Miza »

Good suggestions.
I've got a heat gun; I could try scrapping if off initially. Failing that, my dad's table saw has a planer. Might give it a crack on a piece.
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Re: Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by Miza »

GrantB wrote: Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:51 pm Nah - Tolex is a laminate, And I think those old Marshall cabs sound pretty good.
Yeah, but I'm worried about the effects on the inside of the cab? You don't reckon it'll make a difference?
I know a lot of cabs are painted black inside, but paint is thin compared to this.
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Re: Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by Bg »

I doubt it'll make any difference, its plywood for a start, its laminated with glue.

If you're really worried, I'll build you one from unicorn sperm.
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Re: Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by Bg »

or you could just add some soundproofing stuff inside i.e. batts. that will stop any standing wave malarkey (or at least set your mind at rest)
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Re: Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by Slowy »

Miza wrote: Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:55 pm
GrantB wrote: Wed Jan 27, 2021 8:51 pm Nah - Tolex is a laminate, And I think those old Marshall cabs sound pretty good.
Yeah, but I'm worried about the effects on the inside of the cab? You don't reckon it'll make a difference?
I know a lot of cabs are painted black inside, but paint is thin compared to this.
Painting them black just makes them darker.

Far be it for me to impede a man determined to give himself a world of trouble and extra work. If you really must delaminate the melteca, knock yourself out. But unless you are building a period correct vintage recreation, I can't for the life of me see why you'd bother.

It'll be fine.
Probably best not to use it for the baffle though.
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Re: Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by rickenbackerkid »

I reckon it might sound good - even more lively perhaps?

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Re: Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by Miza »

Given a lot of modern amps use MDF, perhaps the laminate won't make a huge difference.

I'll use a standard 12mm ply for the baffle though.

Cheers for the advice.
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Re: Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by Snarblinge »

are there regularly big enough bits for a cab? and where is this skip? :)
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Re: Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by Miza »

Ha ha, yeah I was shocked at the waste. The apprentice had made a few errors on the pieces and they were taking up space, so they got tossed. I guess in those kinds of businesses, mucking around using scraps is time consuming and not worth it.
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Re: Laminated ply for cab - will it kill the tone?

Post by Kris »

floor sections from containers are a good one ive found as well,garked a few off cuts from my brothers work.One of my idiot beast cabs is all 18mm.....no wait,its actually 28mm haha christ no wonder it weighs a bit!

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