Open back cab design, tweaking...

[Tonegeek]

I read another thread that talked about the thickness and mass of the wood having an effect on resonance. How does the back affect the tone? I have a partially open back cab that is a bit boomy. How can I mod it to have less bottom or at least tighter more defined bottom?
thanks

[908ssp]

Are the speakers side by side and on the floor? Try setting the cab on end or raising it off the floor. If you can remove the back panel entirely and try that. Typically the more back panel and one with oval hole in the middle will have the most bass the ones with the least back panel or none have the least. I have large sideways 2x12 Fender copy from pine and it always sounds bigger and boomy compared to my smaller vertical 2x12s made from birch with an oval hole in the back. I have another even smaller horizontal 2x12 and it sounds even smaller. Your results my vary.

[Tonegeek]

Are the speakers side by side and on the floor? Try setting the cab on end or raising it off the floor. If you can remove the back panel entirely and try that. Typically the more back panel and one with oval hole in the middle will have the most bass the ones with the least back panel or none have the least. I have large sideways 2x12 Fender copy from pine and it always sounds bigger and boomy compared to my smaller vertical 2x12s made from birch with an oval hole in the back. I have another even smaller horizontal 2x12 and it sounds even smaller. Your results my vary.

I will try going vertical although that is a bit unstable with the amp on top. I may be able to mount my speaker jacks somewhere else beside the back panel which will allow it to be removed. Actually I have some slack on the speaker wires, so I will just pull if off first and see if I like it. Thanks for the suggestions. I just need a minor adjustment.

[captain_rusty]

I found that my 1x12 cabs were boxy-sounding - too much low-midrange and to "enclosed". I cut out a couple of little ports in each cab back, and they sound miles better now - more open and airy. Like you suggest, I started by taking the back off, and then trying various degrees of "openness" by trial and error.