Fender 12" tone ring cabinet

J W · June 26th, 2003, 05:27 AM

Fender 12" tone ring cabinet--any year! Actually need to "reverse engineer one but would also buy or trade for one totally intact. Any one knowing of one is encouraged to contact me via email--ALL responses appreciated! Thanks J W

Wally · June 26th, 2003, 05:31 PM

1) That tone ring cabinet will be difficult to duplicate. There is a metal ring that is press-formed. It has a flange that fits to the interior baffle. The speaker attaches to the interior of the 'cup' that juts about 3" forward to place the speaker in the middle of that 15" hole that is in the outer baffleboard. That 'tone ring' will be very hard to make. If you can make that, then building the cabinet should be easy.
2) Lance, I have a smallbox BF 2X12 cab, but it sits as half of a dead mint '65 Bandmaster; and I am sure you don't want the expense of buying a 'new' '65 Bandmaster head. Why not just get a new cab with speakers of your choice?

PhatBoy · June 27th, 2003, 07:32 AM

do read the g.s. I go there first, then the main board.
Lance, maybe no one is able to help you out.

I *do* appreciate keeping the classified stuff to a minimum. (I'm not against placing some 'wanted' stuff) But I don't want to see a buncha ads

We've survived.......

PB 8)

Lance · June 27th, 2003, 08:11 AM

I've been looking for at least 6 months for a "period correct" bottom to match the bassman head. Gbase hasn't yeilded anything....Ebay offers the typical frustrations (we've been over that one eh?). Eventually, one will turn up....it's not like this is critical in the grand scheme of things.

I check the garage sale daily. The reason I made that comment is that, in my observations, there seems to be a large percentage of members that only post to the main forum and ignore the others. Maybe I've drawn the wrong conclusion that it means they're not reading the other forums or the garage sale. It's hard to tell...but it seems that way.

I have to agree with Paul's point...we hardly want the forums being another classified section.

johnb · June 27th, 2003, 09:00 AM

I have a Showman 1 -12 Tone Ring cab.
Someone took out the original baffle and repalce it with a 15 (that's the size of the "front" baflle hole).
There are new metal Tone Rings available from a gentleman in Minnesota so I ordered one and put the cab back in its original configuration. It sounds good but I need to do it again as my hole-cutting needs some work.
Email me and I'll dig up the gentlemam's name and number. It's buried in a stack of GAS receipts.

Tremo · June 27th, 2003, 01:00 PM

I once had the privilege of working on Jay Graydon's early blonde Showman head with matching 1x15 JBL D130 tone-ring bottom. Man what a sound. It's absolutely HUGE. I like those tone ring cabinets!!!

Wally · June 27th, 2003, 04:22 PM

The coolest bottom that I have put together with a BF Bassman head is a thing called the 2X10 openback Deluxe cabinet from the '80's. It is a small open back cab that fits under a Bassman very well....more compact than a regular Bassman cab. These cabs are not the most available of cabs..I have seen two in 13 years. One other option that I performed for a customer who wanted my special OB Deluxe cab was to use a Tremolux cab (new) with a special back which was open on one side(1/3 of the side was open). The results were ear opening----bigtime 3-dimensional sound with some overtones that were magical.

Pierce · June 28th, 2003, 07:39 AM

saw the minnesota tone rings at the philly show and they are CHEAP at 25ish. I think Larry rodger's could make you a new baffle/cab with a 12" tone ring. I think "somone" who is handy could make a bunch of tremolux bottoms and really do well. I see 3 heads to every one cab advertised

Mitch Roberts · June 28th, 2003, 07:47 AM

I,too, have always been interested in tone rings. I wonder why the cabinet makers like rodgers, Jenkins, enev Crusty, don't offer them as options. I have never opened up a tone ring cabinet, so I am not sure what the description above is saying. Ate there 2 front baffles, or just a bigger-than-the-speaker opening that the ring attaches to, then the speaker attaches to the ring???
I used to know a guy with an old tan SHowman that I thought had a 15 JBL on a tone ring. He played bass through it and it sounded huge with a very deep tone.

Wally · June 28th, 2003, 10:52 AM

Mitch, the tone ring cabs do have two separate boards. The one that you see...or at least the hole that you see in the front one...is in the normal postion. The hole is about 3" larger in diameter than whatever speaker the cab uses....12" speaker, 15" hole in the front baffle;15" speaker-18"hole. Behind the front baffle about 3" inches or so, the is a second board that is open on the ends...that is there is space on each end between this board and the walls of the cabinet. In this second board, there is a hole in which there sits a 'can' about 3" deep. This 'can' or tone ring holds the speaker out in front of the inner board about 3", thereby placing the speaker in the center of the hole in the front or outer board. There is an open space around the entire edge of the speaker, and there is an open space on the ends of the inner board. I would suppose that this is a 'porting' method with the port surrounding the speaker. The result is a big, rich tone....very smooth is what I hear.
I would suppose that the expense of building the tone-rings or 'can' would be an impediment to producing these cabs. Wouldn't it be nice to have the original tools for the press? I don't know how big the market would be for this, though. These cabs were not built for long or in large numbers, so most folks don't know what they are about anyway.

Mitch Roberts · June 28th, 2003, 02:08 PM

Thanks, Wally. That was very clear in my mind's eye. I am also interested in how The Dr. Z amps are constructed, as I read that he has developed his own type of ring or baffle system. Remember those old Acoustic bass amps with a single speaker and a folded-horn cabinet design? Those mothers also sounded huge. It's amazing what an understanding of acoustics can do for speaker cabinet design.

June 26th, 2003, 05:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
J W NEW MEMBER! Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 7	Fender 12" tone ring cabinet Fender 12" tone ring cabinet--any year! Actually need to "reverse engineer one but would also buy or trade for one totally intact. Any one knowing of one is encouraged to contact me via email--ALL responses appreciated! Thanks J W

June 27th, 2003, 07:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
PhatBoy Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 356 3 Photos	Well, I for one do read the g.s. I go there first, then the main board. Lance, maybe no one is able to help you out. I do appreciate keeping the classified stuff to a minimum. (I'm not against placing some 'wanted' stuff) But I don't want to see a buncha ads We've survived....... PB 8)

June 27th, 2003, 08:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,155	Yeah...it's been tough.... I've been looking for at least 6 months for a "period correct" bottom to match the bassman head. Gbase hasn't yeilded anything....Ebay offers the typical frustrations (we've been over that one eh?). Eventually, one will turn up....it's not like this is critical in the grand scheme of things. I check the garage sale daily. The reason I made that comment is that, in my observations, there seems to be a large percentage of members that only post to the main forum and ignore the others. Maybe I've drawn the wrong conclusion that it means they're not reading the other forums or the garage sale. It's hard to tell...but it seems that way. I have to agree with Paul's point...we hardly want the forums being another classified section. __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

June 27th, 2003, 09:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
johnb TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Georgia Posts: 44	I have one! I have a Showman 1 -12 Tone Ring cab. Someone took out the original baffle and repalce it with a 15 (that's the size of the "front" baflle hole). There are new metal Tone Rings available from a gentleman in Minnesota so I ordered one and put the cab back in its original configuration. It sounds good but I need to do it again as my hole-cutting needs some work. Email me and I'll dig up the gentlemam's name and number. It's buried in a stack of GAS receipts. __________________ "Dim lights, thick smoke, and loud loud music is the only kinda' life that you'll ever understand!"

June 27th, 2003, 04:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3,641	HEy, Lance, The coolest bottom that I have put together with a BF Bassman head is a thing called the 2X10 openback Deluxe cabinet from the '80's. It is a small open back cab that fits under a Bassman very well....more compact than a regular Bassman cab. These cabs are not the most available of cabs..I have seen two in 13 years. One other option that I performed for a customer who wanted my special OB Deluxe cab was to use a Tremolux cab (new) with a special back which was open on one side(1/3 of the side was open). The results were ear opening----bigtime 3-dimensional sound with some overtones that were magical.

June 26th, 2003, 05:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3,641	1) That tone ring cabinet will be difficult to duplicate. There is a metal ring that is press-formed. It has a flange that fits to the interior baffle. The speaker attaches to the interior of the 'cup' that juts about 3" forward to place the speaker in the middle of that 15" hole that is in the outer baffleboard. That 'tone ring' will be very hard to make. If you can make that, then building the cabinet should be easy. 2) Lance, I have a smallbox BF 2X12 cab, but it sits as half of a dead mint '65 Bandmaster; and I am sure you don't want the expense of buying a 'new' '65 Bandmaster head. Why not just get a new cab with speakers of your choice?

June 27th, 2003, 01:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tremo Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA Posts: 3,643	I once had the privilege of working on Jay Graydon's early blonde Showman head with matching 1x15 JBL D130 tone-ring bottom. Man what a sound. It's absolutely HUGE. I like those tone ring cabinets!!!

June 28th, 2003, 07:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
Pierce Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: skull island Posts: 471	thread drift part.. saw the minnesota tone rings at the philly show and they are CHEAP at 25ish. I think Larry rodger's could make you a new baffle/cab with a 12" tone ring. I think "somone" who is handy could make a bunch of tremolux bottoms and really do well. I see 3 heads to every one cab advertised

June 28th, 2003, 07:47 AM	#9 (permalink)
Mitch Roberts Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 425	Tone Ring I,too, have always been interested in tone rings. I wonder why the cabinet makers like rodgers, Jenkins, enev Crusty, don't offer them as options. I have never opened up a tone ring cabinet, so I am not sure what the description above is saying. Ate there 2 front baffles, or just a bigger-than-the-speaker opening that the ring attaches to, then the speaker attaches to the ring??? I used to know a guy with an old tan SHowman that I thought had a 15 JBL on a tone ring. He played bass through it and it sounded huge with a very deep tone. __________________ I think, therefore I jam.

June 28th, 2003, 10:52 AM	#10 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3,641	Mitch, the tone ring cabs do have two separate boards. The one that you see...or at least the hole that you see in the front one...is in the normal postion. The hole is about 3" larger in diameter than whatever speaker the cab uses....12" speaker, 15" hole in the front baffle;15" speaker-18"hole. Behind the front baffle about 3" inches or so, the is a second board that is open on the ends...that is there is space on each end between this board and the walls of the cabinet. In this second board, there is a hole in which there sits a 'can' about 3" deep. This 'can' or tone ring holds the speaker out in front of the inner board about 3", thereby placing the speaker in the center of the hole in the front or outer board. There is an open space around the entire edge of the speaker, and there is an open space on the ends of the inner board. I would suppose that this is a 'porting' method with the port surrounding the speaker. The result is a big, rich tone....very smooth is what I hear. I would suppose that the expense of building the tone-rings or 'can' would be an impediment to producing these cabs. Wouldn't it be nice to have the original tools for the press? I don't know how big the market would be for this, though. These cabs were not built for long or in large numbers, so most folks don't know what they are about anyway.

June 28th, 2003, 02:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mitch Roberts Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 425	T-Ring Thanks, Wally. That was very clear in my mind's eye. I am also interested in how The Dr. Z amps are constructed, as I read that he has developed his own type of ring or baffle system. Remember those old Acoustic bass amps with a single speaker and a folded-horn cabinet design? Those mothers also sounded huge. It's amazing what an understanding of acoustics can do for speaker cabinet design. __________________ I think, therefore I jam.