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The speaker cabinets that came with the original piggyback Bassman and Bandmaster were designed & built to handle 40-50 watts, and loaded with speakers deemed efficient for their day -- 45 years ago. Using a 70-watt amp pushes them a little above their intended limits, and today's more efficient speakers -- and porting -- add additional stress. I added internal bracing because the original back panels were rattling, and ran a bead of putty along the baffle board to reduce cabinet vibrations. When I set up my stage, I am meticulous about centering the head on top of the upper cabinet, so I was surprised when, after playing a couple of songs, I looked back and noticed that the amplifier was askew. I would move it back into position and a few minutes later, see that it had moved again. Anything that can move forty pounds of dead weight across a 32-inch board is not something you take lightly. I had visions of hearing my amp crashing against the floor as I was merrily singing "sha-la-la-la-la" during the chorus of "Brown-Eyed Girl."
After seeing my amp scurry across the top of my trusty Fender speakers one too many times, and having snagged a big charity event, I decided to retire the old cabinets and enter the 1980s. Having lived with these things for more than 30 years, and after investing all that time and money into refurbishing them, it was not a painless decision...old habits die hard.
I was stationed at an Air Force base in Biloxi, Mississippi (and I'm sure you vets know which one I'm talking about!) in 1970. They had a band at the Airman's Club that caught my attention not only because they were little more than children (as was the rage at the time, with the Jackson 5 and Cowsills), but because they were playing through amplifiers I had never seen before. They were as big or bigger than the industry-standard Fenders, and a little louder. They seemed to be an intermediate step between Fender and Marshall. This was my introduction to Peavey amps...one of the finest things to come out of the South since mint juleps. I guess it was only natural that the then-fledgling company would have the market cornered in their backyard, not yet having conquered the northern markets. Since I got a look at these tail-kickers, I have always wanted one of their big cabinets.
A local pawn shop had this 215 cabinet tucked in the middle of their prettier equipment. I brought my amp into the store because I wanted to make sure this cabinet -- although time-tested -- didn't have any quirks that would make me think twice about purchasing it. I expected the damaged speaker to not work (which I intended to use as a bargaining chip) but was surprised when I found the edge coming off the lower speaker. I told the guy that without working speakers, this was only worth the cost of the cabinet. And he sold it to me for the price of an empty cabinet.
Since I didn't have any 15" speakers in the house (and didn't want to buy any, much less shell out $$$ for Black Widows), I built sub-baffles to mount the Eminence Delta 12LFs I did have, using the baffle board left over from a false start. It does the job but I would feel better if I were using 3/4" wood instead of 1/2" stock.
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This thing has definitely seen better days but is structurally sound. I added a layer of insulation (I notice that many of today's cabinets lack insulation; this was standard back in my day) and removed the "BW" logo from the bottom of the grill cloth panel. If I ever become rich and famous I'll get another pair of Black Widow 15" speakers (or perhaps just the basket...?) But those things are so heavy, I'd have to get a roadie, too.
Since I didn't want to spend the rest of my band days breaking my back trying to haul this beast around -- and to look impressive by standing in front of more than one cabinet -- I bought a smaller one for use with my three Legend B-102s. A local music dealer sold me his personal Crate cabinet, originally loaded with a quartet of 12-inchers and now empty. I cut a new baffle board, complete with the fender 'slap' slats. The board fell just a little short of the full mounting height, but that worked out OK because according to Win ISD, the gap below the board is just the right size for a tuned port! Note how I've reinforced and bolted the loose end.
I was disappointed to learn that this cabinet was made out of particle board because like the Fender cabinet it replaced, it vibrated when I cranked the amp -- although not as badly. I screwed in a few pieces of 3/4" plywood to reinforce it. This has greatly reduced vibration. (Yes, it adds a little weight but it was well worth it.) I also stuck some insulation in this cabinet, too.
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That beam sticking up in the middle keeps the baffle board and back panel from vibrating by applying a little pressure on both (I think). I stuck the Fender logo on there because I am still a Phender Phanatic, and to have a little fun by confusing the guys who think they know Leo's products and are scratching their heads as they try and identify this one!
I plan on slapping silver Naugahyde on these cabinets, too, but that's a down-the-road project for a rainy day. In the mean time, I'll just have to live with a set of mismatched luggage and dream about the glory days of the cabinets time passed by as they sit in my basement, speakerless, partially disassembled, yet resplendent in their grand new clothes. I haven't decided what I'm going to do with these old warhorses.
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