DIY wood amp cabinet need suggestions

faster100

Ok it's on to my next amp case project.. I sold the first one i did to organ...
they are console amps and are just a plain metal chasis..

what i do is build a wooden surround for it and install binding posts, paint the chasis and transformers and add new rca jacks.. power cord and stain the cabinet.. It's fun, I dont have a garage or shop so they aren't perfect but makes them more functional and i think they look unique..
I plan to paint the inside and side panels gloss black and clear it.. unless you have another color that would look better, unique?

Ok i need some suggestions on colors,
1. color of chasis
2. color of transformers
3. possible stain colors..
4. should i install an led and bezel on the front?

I'll include some pics and update as i move along.. I put the surround together today and sanded it.. I need to order the parts and im going to do an iec outlet, led on front i think..

These usually have a plain metal chasis but the guy i got this from painted it up, did a **** job at that

faster100

either no one ever checks the diy forum or you guys have no interest..

madmax

Personally I don't like it. Putting tubes in a box is a crime against asthetics. My only suggestion would be a different way of doing things. I would prep the top of the chassis with either a high gloss coat of some very bright color such as orange or yellow then buy the 2" or 3" oak boards from Home Depot or wherever, cut to length and attach as a frame around the front, sides and back of the chassis then apply the rub on clear poly coat from MinWax. This could look very sexy and the only thing you would really have to do is make a few square cuts, attach to the chassis and finish sand before rubbing on the clear coating. Of course this whole thing is a totally different way of doing your project.
madmax

faster100

well what you said is what i did, i made a front/back and side panels.. it wont have a cover or bottom.. and i may raise the chasis in the surround so the metal shows more.. like i did in my other amp project.. I just put the second coat of stain on the front and dang it if i got little specs of **** from the brush.. gonna have to rub it out after it dries and redo it.. Its a stain and poly combined from minway.. the color is maple satin..

madmax

Personally, I would raise the chassis even with the top of the wood. Thats just me though.
madmax

Early B.

I think this is an example of what madmax was saying...

faster100

well last one i made, all the wood was the same size, i happened to have a 6" piece of oak left from my center speaker bracket i made so i wanted to go for the large face plate style with short sides and back.. like the old amps that were all face plate with a plain metal frame and no cage.. I will however i think raise the chasis even with the sides and back wood frame.. i rubbed out the finish with 0000 steel wool and gonna clear satin it soon..

so what ya think about an LED light right in the middle or where would you put it or at all?

DollarDave

Early B. wrote:

I think this is an example of what madmax was saying...

Beautiful.

Faster, maybe go for this look. Put the amp on a 2" pedestal and put that 6 inche panel in the back?

For what it worth, I think LED should be on the left.

faster100

well the amp project is completed as of a few minutes ago.. IEC outlet, new wire to the new binding posts.. a fuse holder was added on the back panel.. I just need to install the led light and wire it.. will post pics later
I also detressed the front panel alittle as the first picture looked to new and uniform.. and satin cleared it after

does this thing need any new burn in? LOL

I have gold rca jacks but i havent decided to remove the originals as the last pop rivets on this i tried to remove was a **** to do..

madmax

Pics! Need Pics!
madmax

faster100

ask and you shall receive.. flush mounted as you suggested

the chasis had a bunch of worthless holes from stuff removed i guess from when the original owner had it, I used epoxy to fill em in.. but couldn't get it smooth.. but you can't see it with the front panel anyways.. so that's the only real mess up or not real smooth part..

madmax

The pics make the fill ins look really bad. I'm assuming it doesn't look like that in person. I've noticed that a lot of mint looking equipment looks really bad in pics I've taken. So, how does it sound?
madmax

faster100

Id like to say it looks better in person.. however it is a mistake i couldnt fix after i did it as the epoxy is very hard.. It sounds great!! I think it may even have a bit more bass.. maybe the heavier power cord, better speaker connections.. It looks good sitting there on the rack.. if ya look close its certainly not perfect, but i like it..

faster100

Ok last opinion needed on my project... I have a 1" x 1" dome sticker coming and its not whether its going on it, But where... so do ya think right under the led light which is in the exact center of the face, or where? suggestions.. course i can decide myself, just thought it would be fun to get suggestions of what you would like to see if it were yours.. Thanks guys