Latest set of Tannoy GRF's - Thought AOS guys might like the see...

[Magna Audio]

After the mitred corner cabs for me. Here's me next project I thought you might be interested in - curved top and base cabs this time.

I have made the first pair for a Pink Fisher with Alnico 4 hole HPD's (later type crossover) and am about to start on a 2nd pair of earlier 8 hole mounting with the earlier Golds type crossover type for yet another Pink Fisher.

Here's one cab lot of wood all sanded and prepped.

http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/25141/2793992950071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2793992950071997495DKKZZQ)

Tight sandwich construction this time

http://inlinethumb51.webshots.com/34482/2335320640071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2335320640071997495SGMAIf)

Nice and true all round
http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/9603/2298137720071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2298137720071997495NClSqx)

24mm top, base and front. rest 21mm. these are going to have a nice weight to them:)
http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/44794/2044804430071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2044804430071997495vMsjXM)

http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/44946/2153092770071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2153092770071997495fwHmDh)

Back of the wardrobe. I make the backs removable so the bass can be tuned to suit different rooms. This is done with velco'd on felt sections - remove or fit to taste.
You do have to undo the 22 screws though.

http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/44235/2925914020071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2925914020071997495lVGAEs)

All baffled and felted
http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/10173/2157207230071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2157207230071997495iDCcuR)

Plinthed and castored
http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/17304/2890556500071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2890556500071997495syTBbg)


Well that's it so far for the first cab. Just the speaker posts, blind nuts, rear panels bracing, staining to taste and varnishing to go on this one.

And then there were two

http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/44478/2418164640071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2418164640071997495EqsWbn)

On to final finishing / staining and grilles soon.

Got the Alnico drivers and crossovers today and mounted them up.
Mr Coco was present to listen to them back to back compared to my 3828's.

I also mock fitted the cloth (it's not stretched and stapled on) just to see how the full length grille fronts look.

http://inlinethumb16.webshots.com/43215/2672359570071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2672359570071997495GeVSQu)

http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/46004/2345903580071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2345903580071997495VCmrcn)

http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/43817/2087015750071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2087015750071997495nzKWaf)

http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/45446/2287551380071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2287551380071997495ALucqS)

Drivers out and staining to taste next...

Finished article cab#1 takes it place in the test zone

http://inlinethumb34.webshots.com/44641/2925796380071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2925796380071997495sFtOqB)

without the grille

http://inlinethumb32.webshots.com/11999/2369366230071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2369366230071997495eVRtGM)

Take your pick - they sound pretty much the same

http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/43376/2418195170071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2418195170071997495PaMVHB)

Cab#2 takes it place

http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/46977/2981446020071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2981446020071997495JNEbvL)

Oh yeah, here's a swatch of some colours to choose from - as many as Homebase, B&Q etc have also of course

http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/45367/2663141770071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2663141770071997495VKPuyO)

Just got some great feedback both on finish and sound from the chap I made them for - makes it all worth it.
He is staggered by the improvement over his Berkeley's. He has played them really loud to the point the Berkeley's would have broken down... Not these babies.
But it is normal listening vols where all the extra sub 200Hz mid and lower bass comes out and make the music really special.
Comparisons with Ardens are also favourable for the Birch ply GRF's. The Ardens sound big and boomy but do not communicate the subtle mid and lower bass anything like as well.
Fun and games...

[Dave Hewitt]

Hi Steve
Very impressed with your cabs,I think the full lenth grilles look superb.

Cheers Dave.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Looks great Steve. I agree that the grille finishes it off a treat.

[Marco]

Hi Steve,

Superb work, mate... Quality! :respect:

Have you done anything special with the crossovers?



Hi Steve
Very impressed with your cabs,I think the full lenth grilles look superb.


Hi Dave,

You wanna get yerself some Monitor Gold drivers, and ask Steve to build some cabinets for you - you know it makes sense! :)

Marco.

[DSJR]

They look stunning. Congrats to the maker and the eventual user..... :)

Ard'Ons had a very tubby mid-bass (shallow cabinets?) from memory and this dominated the rest of the speaker's performance...

[goraman]

SWEET!!!

[Magna Audio]

Well, it's been a few weeks and yet another pair are born - This time in Ronseal 'does what it says on the tin' dark oak!

I won't bore you with yet more construction pics/details though...

Looks darker in this artificial light pic though
http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/3582/2661352590071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2661352590071997495BdjDlg)

In daylight
http://inlinethumb35.webshots.com/43810/2084550440071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2084550440071997495JdBdIV)

Next to mine
http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/45111/2639201610071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2639201610071997495WSXdUa)

The pair
http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/45108/2598006910071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2598006910071997495XXcUfw)

Side on
http://inlinethumb31.webshots.com/47454/2823323680071997495S600x600Q85.jpg (http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2823323680071997495OdVLis)

Sounded great - these had the older Golds type crossovers even though they are HPD's, also had 8 fixing hole baskets like Golds.
Be interesting to hear what the new owner thinks of them in own home.

I'm making another pair in the next few weeks - Will be curved top and base again but natural finish.

/Steve
(Bringing GRF's to the masses)

[Marco]

Hi Steve,

Your cabinets are an absolute joy to behold, so well done! As far as I'm concerned anyone wanting to go down the big Tannoy route should be buying the drivers on Ebay and sending them to you to get some top-notch cabinets made for them, which of course you'd charge for accordingly. It's a no-brainer, really - that is if you don't mind doing the work :)

I'd thought of having my Lockwoods re-veneered, as the existing 1960s 'Rosewood effect' Formica isn't particularly visually appealing!

Would you be up for that? :cool:

Marco.

[anthonyTD]

excelent work [again] steve.:)
A...

[Rare Bird]

Jesus what you stained em in

:sofa:

[Marco]

I think they look fantastic, Andre, what's the problem? :scratch:

Marco.

[hifi_dave]

Steve,
Absolutely stunning. I am in awe. Respect.

Any idea what the drivers in my LGM's would sound like in those fantastic cabinets ? Would there be some bass to go with their schreechy top end ?

[Themis]

Really impressive work. :stalks:

[Rare Bird]

I think they look fantastic, Andre, what's the problem? :scratch:

Marco.

Nothing up with em they are great but that finish looks terrible.. remember i was originally a cabinet maker i have an eye for 1st class wood finished..Sorry steve, didnt mean to be rude but it looks like all in one stain/varnish that has a tendency to build up & leave patches,either that or you used a colour liquid dye or tinted wax! a serous mistake but if you think it looks good great... :lolsign:

Never ever stain wood, natural all the time, you want a wood that colour buy wood that colour..

That's me in the dog house but it is solid advice.

[DSJR]

Steve,
Absolutely stunning. I am in awe. Respect.

Any idea what the drivers in my LGM's would sound like in those fantastic cabinets ? Would there be some bass to go with their schreechy top end ?


I'm sure they'd sound amazing in custom cabs, as I read somewhere that the LGM's boxes were too small..

As for the screechy upper mid, I suggest a crossover tweakerette, but haven't a clue whom to suggest, except Tannoy themselves.....

[Marco]

Lockwood are the people to help there, Dave :)

There may also be some useful info on the Tannoy users website.

Andre,

Point taken - and you're right, *but* they still look a hell of a lot better than some supposedly 'professionally designed' cabinets I've seen, and likely built for a fraction of the cost! ;)

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

It would also make them far more expensive if made out of various hardwoods.

[Marco]

Indeed!

Love the new avatar, btw - I wonder where you got that from? :lol:

Marco.

[Barry]

Indeed!

Love the new avatar, btw - I wonder where you got that from? :lol:

Marco.

Strange choice however for a lover of electrostatic speakers. ;) No doubt they sound good when fed with single-figure wattage SET amplifiers, fed in turn by a Westrex pick up tracking at 1/2 ounce! :eyebrows:

Regards

[Ali Tait]

:lol: It was too good to pass up!

I do like my statics I admit,but I like other speaker types too,and I think the pic is appropriate for someone who has a 5.5ft pair of statics,a 6.5ft pair of statics,and a pair of 4ft transmission lines all crammed into the living room! I have one very understanding partner.

BTW,the direct-coupled amp is underway,some iron is ordered,the rest will be ordered soon.When I have the info on sizes,the chassis will be built by a friend.Some nice hardwood and copper top and front is what I have in mind at the moment.It was also suggested to have the trannie covers copper plated too,which I liked the idea of.Should be a nice looking pair of monoblocks when finished.

[Marco]

I do like my statics I admit,but I like other speaker types too,and I think the pic is appropriate for someone who has a 5.5ft pair of statics,a 6.5ft pair of statics,and a pair of 4ft transmission lines all crammed into the living room! I have one very understanding partner.


Yes, remind me of his name again? :lol:

:ner:

Marco,

[Ali Tait]

Forgotten already? Same name as yours! :ner:

[Alex_UK]

Nothing up with em they are great but that finish looks terrible..

Wow! what monitor & graphics card have you got Andre to be able to see such detail? Even at 100% I can't see any patches, but then I'm not the expert. (They look great on my monitor Steve, well done.)

[The Grand Wazoo]

I love what has been done, but I can pick out a few patches near the top of the right hand side wall.
There's a lot of sense in what Andre says about choosing the wood, but that has the potential to have a big effect on the old budget.

[Magna Audio]

I agree entirely on the don't stain the wood - leave it natural.
If you want dark then make them out of darker wood but
the staining was done for the owners benefit. They are very happy with them and to be honest they photo's don't always do them justice.

These are DIY done at a low cost, with sound foremost in mind - you don't look at the mantle piece when poking the fire, most of the time I suspect the most the owners will be looking at is the grilles or listening in Tannoy heaven :-)

Both owners have sent thanks mails and reviews saying how the sound is just out of this world compared to the previous cabs (Berkeley's, Mansfield's and Amesbury's). Far exceeding what they had expected.

Should be starting another pair late next week - Natural finish;)

[Marco]

So would you re-veneer my Lockwoods, Steve? :)

Marco.

[Dave Hewitt]

Hi Marco.
Dont you know that lockwoods have to retain their formica finish so that they can easily be wiped down with an oily rag when listening comes to an end?
He He Dave.

[Marco]

Hehehehe... But oil and 'cream' don't mix, Dave! :eyebrows:

Marco.

[Dave Hewitt]

Mike who?
Dave.

[Marco]

Mike? :scratch:

Marco.

[Dave Hewitt]

Hi
Mike seems to have turned into mix.
Dave.

[Marco]

S'ok, old chap, I know you've not taken your tablets yet! :lol:

;)

Marco.

[Magna Audio]

Veneer is something I've not played with so NO!
I've seen some nice DIY with iron on - how hard can it be... Remember Solar film and R/C model aircraft - that was iron on and bloody hard to get nice.

I would want to build my own veneered pair first and that ain't gonna happen cos I like natural birch ply;)

[Marco]

No worries, matey - just a thought :)

TBH, I'm getting less and less concerned these days about the 1960s Formica finish of the Lockwoods, as their stunning sound occupies my mind too much to give a shit! ;)

Marco.

[Alex_UK]

No worries, matey - just a thought :)

TBH, I'm getting less and less concerned these days about the 1960s Formica finish of the Lockwoods, as their stunning sound occupies my mind too much to give a shit! ;)

Marco.

60's Formica rocks! No need to change - remember, you don't look at the mantle-piece when you're stoking the fire... ;)

[Marco]

Indeed (although as I'm a shy and innocent wee boy I have no idea what you're referring to).

They don't look too shabby do they (see in action here at Scalford Hall)?


http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2563/scalfordhall2010.jpg (http://img222.imageshack.us/i/scalfordhall2010.jpg/)


Marco.

[Stratmangler]

Have to disagree strongly with you about the looks of your Tannoys Marco - I've seen prettier Marshall cabs that have done 10 world tours :lolsign:

[Marco]

Lol - well, we all know what your taste in speakers is like (bottylus, snottylus)!! :eyebrows:

Marco.

[DSJR]

Oh gawd, I'm looking at Cheviots on ebay.............................................. ..............................