Back panel for Deluxe Reverb

Discussion of Speakers, Cabinets and Cabinet Building

Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal

Post Reply
User avatar
dobbhill
Posts: 434
Joined: Sat Jan 22, 2005 12:04 am
Location: Louisiana

Back panel for Deluxe Reverb

Post by dobbhill »

Anyone try a Dumble style oval hole replacement back panel on their Deluxe Reverb? I wonder if it would improve bass response?
I'm so spoiled by my 2x12" D-style cabinet. It would be great to get the same type response from my combo. Sometimes, I just don't wanna bring all that stuff and my DR is my only combo amp.
Just wonderin' before I waste a Saturday and a piece of wood...
D
There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.......
Laurent Brondel
Posts: 33
Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2013 10:10 am
Location: West Paris, ME
Contact:

Re: Back panel for Deluxe Reverb

Post by Laurent Brondel »

The tubes need proper ventilation on a combo, the oval hole would need to be as big as the original opening.
User avatar
martin manning
Posts: 13080
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:43 am
Location: 39°06' N 84°30' W

Re: Back panel for Deluxe Reverb

Post by martin manning »

I think as long as you maintain the same gap below the chassis the ventilation will be fine. The oval cut-out will still have many times that area.
Attachments
Semi_Open_DR.png
Bombacaototal
Posts: 1669
Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2016 5:53 am

Re: Back panel for Deluxe Reverb

Post by Bombacaototal »

I wondering if you implemented this in the end and how much did the sound change/improve
Bill Moore
Posts: 152
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:53 am
Location: Silver City, New Mexico

Re: Back panel for Deluxe Reverb

Post by Bill Moore »

I haven't tried with a tube amp yet, but I have had good luck with SS amps, really more noticeable bottom!
Attachments
Lead 12-3.jpg
User avatar
TUBEDUDE
Posts: 1656
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:23 pm
Location: Mastersville

Re: Back panel for Deluxe Reverb

Post by TUBEDUDE »

I'll bet it does have bass! That is close to a closed cabinet. Don't try that with a tube amp. It will need the upper gap to breathe. Otherwise it might be a fire hazard.
Tube junkie that aspires to become a tri-state bidirectional buss driver.
Travis_HY
Posts: 63
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2009 3:18 am

Re: Back panel for Deluxe Reverb

Post by Travis_HY »

Resurrecting an ancient thread with some fresh content. I recently threw together (rather crudely, I willingly admit) an oval ported back panel for my 1979 Fender Deluxe Reverb. Using this cabinet has always been a struggle, particularly in getting a decent bass response that wasn't so diffused. The baffle is also the dreaded dado'd MDF panel, which certainly doesn't help. It had the two small rectangle composite (I think they are 1/4" MDF) panels on the back and it never had decent bass response with any speaker I tried in it or any amp I played through it. Bass controls basically didn't do anything. It may as well have a board with a speaker mounted to it.

The port I selected is 5 1/2" by 11 1/2" as per Tone Tubby's 1 x 12" cabinet port. The oval itself is not centered in relation to the center of the baffle just as the speaker isn't centered, but the port is directly centered behind the speaker. This port shape and size is also very similar to a Kay Model 703 combo amp I own that has ridiculous bass response for its size. I have a hunch that HAD may have lifted the oval design from the Kay amps, as many of their early 60's cabinets have this port design on the back panel. I might make a panel with a larger Dumble sized port in the future, but the current smaller port seems to improve the low end response to my tastes. It doesn't turn the cabinet into a 2 x 12" but it does add significantly to the sub lows without getting mushy. Single notes are much fatter because they have more bass-it sounds like its around 40-50hz or so. Very, very low and just a touch more bass, but just enough to give power chords some meat and single notes some good width. Palm muting and quiet to loud dynamics were also drastically improved. Definitely worth $15 and an hour of time. Some filing and some Tolex and it might actually be passable as a "public" amp. :-)

Thanks y'all!

Ps. Apologies for the caveman woodworking. To be fair, I never said I was a pro. :-)
Attachments
IMG_3272.JPG
"Genius manifests itself. You got a hammer. You either build a Cathedral or you build a shithouse." - Carl Schroeder
Bill Moore
Posts: 152
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2007 12:53 am
Location: Silver City, New Mexico

Re: Back panel for Deluxe Reverb

Post by Bill Moore »

I have no science to quote, but I have been making the ovals the length of the speaker and 1/4 the width, it seems to work!
PB7.jpg.JPG
Post Reply