13 DIY Guitar Speaker Cabinet Plans You Can Build

DIY Guitar Speaker Cabinet Plans

If you’re a passionate guitar player, you had better build a guitar speaker cabinet for yourself.

The cabinet made on your own can fit your guitar speakers the best. You should know that speakers are often different in size and shape.

Besides being a speaker cabinet, it also helps improve your tone. Cabinets usually come with a handle to conveniently bring the speaker around more.

Finally, DIY plans save you a bunch from buying an expensive commercial cabinet.

Can’t wait! Check out these 13 DIY guitar speaker cabinet plans.

1. DIY A Guitar Speaker Cabinet From SMYCK

DIY A Guitar Speaker Cabinet

Let’s begin with a basic 1×12 guitar speaker cabinet. It would be best if you had 18mm birch plywood cut to sizes.

The steps are as follows:

  • Add an inner skeleton to each of the wood pieces and connect them with different pieces of wood to create the frame.
  • Prepare the front plate and make a hole in the center for the speaker. Cut another two smaller plates in the back.
  • Attach the speaker to the front plate screw all plates on the frame. Next, add a cable and audio input jack on the back.
  • Drill two holes on the top. Then, install the handle onto, using a self-locking nut and big washers.
  • Also, you should cover the inside cabinet with insulation wool to reduce echoes.

Project details: smyck.net

2. Build A Red DIY Guitar Cab

Build A Red DIY Guitar Cab

Next, we also have another 1×12 cab to introduce with a design semi-open in the back. Unlike the completely closed cab, it allows sound to go out in both the front and the back.

While not being as much efficient in directing sound waves in one direction as closed models, this one provides an extra mic option and is better at filling a room.

With this plan, you need to build a hardwood frame with a hole in the front for the speaker.

You must also screw vertical and horizontal wood pieces to the joints to enhance the sturdiness. Loose parts will significantly degrade your tone’s quality.

For the open back, install two equal boards in the back but leave the middle open wide enough for a hand to get through.

Moreover, you can cut two square holes on the sides of the cabinet so that you can lift it more comfortably. The holes also allow strings to go through, and you can connect other gears to the speaker inside the cabinet.

The final step is sanding the whole cabinet and wrapping it with Tolex. This material helps protect the amp without damping the sound

Project details: spinditty.com

3. Making A Guitar Amp Cabinet

Interestingly enough, this cabinet is inspired by the vintage Gibson GA-5 practice amp in the 1960s.

Exactly equal box joints glue together four pieces to ensure dead-square corners. The two sides have a 30-degree angle on the top and two slot cuttings inside where to install the chassis.

The next part is the backplate. Its dimension will fit the two side walls. You can staple a grill cloth down, so the cabinet has the same look as the GA-5.

Install the speaker into the backplate and attach it to the frame. You need to know about handling electronics to get the job done.

Otherwise, the chassis might not be inserted correctly and damage the sound.

The last, you add a leather handle to the top and 4 rubber feet at the bottom to finish the project.

4. Building 1×12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet

Building 1×12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet

The plan is designed to accommodate a single speaker and a small-wattage combo.

The first step is to rip the 1×4 pine piece into strips and screw them into the corners to create a box.

Next, it is time to install the front baffle. Cut a round hole for the speaker and a rectangular port. From behind, all edges are sealed with caulking and a jack plate. Install the gear, spray it with the black paint, and cover it with a grill cloth.

The cabinet supports a more directional sound performance – preferable in recording situations.

Project details: toddfredrich.com

5. DIY A Guitar Cabinet With Cheap Cost

No worries if you hardly know or have tools to cut box joints. You can buy some ready-to-joint lumbers and a large shelving piece in the nearest ranch store.

The remaining work is straightforward:

  • Install four lumbers in their box joints. Glue and screw them to make a tight-connected frame.
  • Measure and cut the baffles to the dimension of the frame. If they do not sit flush on edge, consider sanding and cutting the baffles a little bit more.
  • Cut a perfect 11-inch circle to fit the speaker. It is a little more complicated once almost all parts are installed. Thus, you can cut the hole and glue the back baffle to the frame.
  • Drill four holes in the back baffle where you can install ¼-inch jacks.

It is optional, but you can add a custom carving on the front plate and staple the cloth over the circle hole to prevent unwanted sounds.

6. Pine Wood Guitar Amplifier Cabinet

Pine Wood Guitar Amplifier Cabinet

If you have a small speaker, you can build this simple cabinet for it. The dimensions are 14.5 x 15.25 x 10 inches.

Since the cabinet is finger-jointed, you had better prepare a finger-joint jig to cut the lumbers. Each joint is ¾ inches wide.

Always dry-fit the joints first to adjust the cuttings before gluing and screwing them.

Allow the glue for at least few hours to dry before installing the angled front and cutting the Amp chassis section out.

The construction is easy to follow with the detailed guide so you will know how to make it at a glance.

Project details: instructables.com

7. DIY Workshop: Build A Speaker Cabinet

Building A Speaker Cabinet

As long as you do not mind spending twice on the speakers, you can consider this combo cabinet.

It offers enough room for dual speakers. There are holes for two speakers and a sufficient space above for the chassis. It would help, supposing that your sounding gears are big and with many control options.

The most important step is to determine the dimension of the cabinet. For your reference, this front board is 24.5 x 22.5 inches, and there are ¾ inches around the speakers and panel. That way, sounds will not mix, and valves do not lose and fall out.

The frame is connected by finger joints and sits snugly with the baffle in the front, and the back is left open. Inside, there is a crossing bar to hold the chassis and divide the cabinet into two parts – the other is for speakers.

No wrapping is added, but you can consider gluing a layer of Tolex or insulation cloth insides.

Project details: guitar.com

8. DIY Guitar Speaker Cabinet By MerwinMusic

This cabinet is covered by the grill cloth, it does not reveal to you that it can accommodate two speakers. But it does.

  • The outer frame is as large as 29x18x9.5 inches. It is built out of finger joints.
  • Then, cut the front baffle and cut two 10×3-inch circles next together to install speakers.
  • You will not screw the grill cloth directly on the front baffle. Instead, build a finger-jointed small frame for the fabric and attach it inside the original structure.
  • You only need to cut two horizontal boards in the back and screw them on the top and the bottom. Leave the center semi-opened.

An exciting addition to this cabinet is four rubber legs in the bottom. They will help the cabinet stand balanced and prevent the moisture from wicking in from the ground.

9. Building An “Orange” Guitar Cab

Building An “Orange” Guitar Cab

For beginners, you can try building this speaker cabinet from basic woodworking techniques.

Prepare two 2×4 sheets of ¾ inches plywood for the basic frame and another two 2×2 sheets of ½ inches for the front and back baffles. Cut the 2×4 sheets into four equal smaller pieces and glue them up.

Next, you add a few screws and attach strips to the inside rim of the box to ensure square corners and add sturdy for the frame.

The most tricky part is the circle in the front baffle. If you have a jigsaw, it would be much easier. Otherwise, use a drill bit and cut the holes according to the dowel diameter. Sand the edge down and install it into the frame.

Then, the cabinet is ready to attach your guitar speaker!

Also, you must check part 2 in the guide to complete this project as cover it with Tolex, and add all necessary hardware.

Project details: hammersandchords.com

10. DIY 1×12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet Under $200

While many guitar cabinets for speakers often use the box joints, this 1×12 plan uses Kreg joints. Without being as sturdy as the box joints, the Kreg connection reduces the cutting and measuring.

Cut some straight lumber to cover the front of the frame. You simply drill three holes on the bottom and another three on the top of two sideboards, making them ready for forming the frame. The additional structure helps hide the grill cloth later.

For the front baffle, use the jigsaw to cut a hole a little smaller than your speaker. Add your speaker and staple the grill cloth in the front.

With the back, cut a straight board to the side of the frame and create a small square for the jack plate.

Cover all parts with black Tolex and possibly add water-proof paint to all parts. The rest is to crew them together to form the final cabinet.

11. DIY 2 X 12″ Guitar Speaker Cabinet Box

DIY 2 X 12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet Box

Many guitarists say the size of cabinets does not matter. Yet, you should know that big plans often allow more air movement and sound generation.

As such, you might desire to build this big cabinet for two 12-inch speakers.

The frame is created by using mortise connections. No screws are required. Moreover, the two sides are angled-cut so that the frame will look more attractive.

Cut the front baffle contouring with the frame. Then, cut two circles for the speakers and cover the front with a red Tolex.

A staple gun and glue will help; on one side and the back, cut rectangular holes for the jack and wire to get through.

Screw the back to the frame. Finally, you add brackets in the corner and four wheels under the cabinet to easily move it around.

Project details: instructables.com

12. DIY 2×10 Speaker Cab

With the dimension is 2×10 inches, meaning that this cabinet is for speakers with a smaller size than the standard.

As always, get started with the frame. In this project, cut four boards and screw them directly together. Then, glue and add dowel to improve the connection. Continue with cutting blocks added directly on the frame for installing the front and back baffles.

Cut two holes for 10-inch speakers on the front baffles and paint it in black. Install the speakers and insert the baffle in the frame.

Leave some inches in the front, where you will add a cloth-wrapped screen.

On the back, make an inside bay for the speaker jacks. Finally, screw all parts and install the rubber legs and the handle.

13. DIY 1×12 Vintage Speaker Cabinet

DIY 1x12 Vintage Speaker Cabinet

The final plan has a vintage style that reminds you of the cabinet of the 1960s. Overall, the external dimension is 600 x 400 x 300 mm.

You can buy pre-cut wood boards and cleats and install the cabinet out of the box or cut by yourself.

Straightforwardly, glue and screw both sides and the bottom as the above projects. Then, add the top panel. The cleats will be placed internally at the top, bottom, back, and front sides.

Remember to leave 20-mm space from the cleats to the posterior borders, where you will attach cover panels.

The front cover is filed into the borders with at least 2 mm on each side. There is a hole in the center for the speaker.

Leave the back a rear open so that air can go inside and prevent damping the bass sound.

Project details: rezzonics.blogspot.com

Conclusion

Have you checked all the above DIY guitar speaker cabinet projects out?

If yes, we believe that you will find your favorite one. Building the guitar speakers cabinets is not hard and not spend more of your time.

However, the most challenging part is to install the speaker and jacks. It must be done before you connect all details of the cabinets together.

Thus, make sure you do it properly, or you should lend a hand to others who know the electronic devices.

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