Your Opinions, Please!

Hi folks,

I'm wondering what kind of market there might be for custom-built cabinets for Altec speakers to be used in the home.

These would be furniture-grade quality, available in a variety of veneers, and hand finished to the customer's specifications. Manufacturing would be held to strict tolerances, and hand-assembled on order.

I'm thinking Stonehenge V-type enclosures for 604's, plus a special version of the same enclosure that will accommodate the parts from a Model 19.

Another possibility might be a 6-cubic foot version of the SHV.

I've talked with Bill about it - he said he gets inquiries about enclosures a lot.

What are your thoughts on the market for them, price points, types of wood, etc.?

My youngest son works in a cabinet shop and is looking to supplement his income so as to help support his young family (their first child is four months old), hence my interest.

It sounds like a great idea, but I don't think I'd count on too many orders coming from this board. Most of us seem to be Do-it-yourselfers, or Do-with-outers. That's not to say money can't be made taking on such a project.

As far as types of wood...... lots of people get into all those African woods, like Zebra. I like good ole Walnut myself.

Yeah, I know most here are DIYer's - but I respect their insight.

I really like the 1/4-sawn oak or red oak myself.

Cherry is pretty too, if you do it right.

Bill's offered to let me set up a link to a website I'd build for my son - that may prove to be very helpful.

THANKS!

Todd..i really do believe that professional cabinet builders could get much better results in the waf catagory. also, there are some really beautiful designs out there. i really like the horn enclosures in the thread concering 414's and 811's.

Well, I've actually been able to sell SH V's because the wife thought they were nice looking...if that's what you mean by WAF...

He is a professional cabinet maker - and he does nice work.

His dad is a pretty good amateur with many years experience in speaker cabinet design and construction, so he's not too averse to having help from his old man...

Personally, I don't see much of a market beyond Bill's queries, so unless he's willing to direct customers to your son.........

That said, 846B, M19, Onken and Magnificent style cabs are perrenial faves and a flat pack kit with maybe any horn sections preassembled made from whatever wood a customer prefers (priced accordingly) may be viable products as well as a few finished ones if shipping costs don't make them deal breakers.

HT is where it's at these days though, so compact as practical monitors designed to mate to 80 Hz XO'd sub systems may be viable flat pack and finsished products., not to mention matching sub systems.

GM

I've thought about precut kits for some of these cabinets myself, as well - not a bad idea for someone who has the ability but not the time or inkling to buy the materials, cut them correctly, etc., - all they'd have to do is assemble and go.

Still think nothing sounds as good a a big speaker (of the correct type) in a big enclosure (of the correct type and tuning) - beats the heck out of the best little speakers in my ears hands down.

Yes, with Bill's referral's, it might be a good idea...

Wow, I'm still having trouble accepting that either of those 2 polite young men I met at the GPAFest awhile back could be old enough to be family men now... how could they have gotten older? I haven't...;)

I think the biggest obstacle might be shipping, or more specifically, the $ it adds to the total price. Parts Express offers a selection of cabs, but they seem to top out at less than 1 cu ft. Don't know if that's because that's what sells, or because no one will pony up for shipping anything bigger.

Whatever the result, I wish him the best!

(add another vote for red oak) :)

Yeah, the older one is married, too. It's the one with the flat-top that's married with a baby now. He turns 20 tomorrow!

I haven't gotten any older, either - not sure how this all happened: seems like only yesterday I was a freshman at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville...

After mulling a bit, a potentially good thought struck me.

Perhaps a model to start with that would be more on the compact, currently-marketed lines, and easier on the shipping fees. I'm thinking of something tailored specifically for Bill's new 212s. Could be for stereo or HT mains. Another semi-compact box for a 3154 could fill in sub duty.

Added:
No need to stop there though. A 212 CC and surrounds.

As for shipping knocked-down "kits", something that would only require a screw gun or driver to assemble might be very appealing. With cabinetry-grade cabs, there are roll and strip adhesives that could eliminate the glue mess, and some matching screw plugs or stick-on trim to hide the screws.

Added later:
Just trying to think like a consumer (and that ain't easy fo' me!)