Blackbird Guitar Cabs - latest projects

BlackbirdCabs · January 2022

Hi Fretboard users,

My name is Sam, and I've recently started up my own bespoke guitar cabinet business. My background is as a cabinetmaker in London, and after many years of indecision and procrastinating me and my partner have finally bitten the bullet and moved our lives and family down to North Devon.

I've taken the opportunity to re-focus my woodworking skills to something I'm passionate about - guitar cabs. There's something so cool about crafting an object that is going to be used and loved (as opposed to, say, a kitchen cupboard!), and the aesthetics of guitar amps is such a great tradition to explore and tinker with.

I know there are a handful of UK businesses out there doing something similar - I'm hoping there are enough amp enthusiasts, DIY kit builders, and woodwork admirers out there for me to carve out a little niche in the market.

Above is an example of my work - hopefully it communicates my love of timber and my desire to let beautiful wood be the star of the show. You can find more pics at www.blackbirdcabs.com.

That's my take on guitar cab design - but I can build whatever your imagination can dream up! My only caveat is that I don't plan on going down the Tolex or Tweed route. There are enough people out there doing that already, and doing it really well.

I'll be back in a day or two with a special offer for Fretboard users (I've been using the forum as a resource for guitar and amp info for a while now, so I already feel indebted!). In the meantime, check out the website if you get a chance and feel free to post any questions here or to me directly.

Cheers,

Sam

fastonebaz · January 2022

Looking good there Sam.

darthed1981 · January 2022

Good luck with the new venture

BlackbirdCabs · January 2022

Thanks for the kind words, much appreciated

bertie · January 2022

you do realise its tradition that you have to send test samples to the first 5 replies

Kittyfrisk · January 2022

bertie said:

you do realise its tradition that you have to send test samples to the first 5 replies

Helloooooo. Phew, just got in under the freebie ligging wire

@BlackbirdCabs Only kidding Sam, much good luck with your new venture

UnclePsychosis · January 2022

Looks very nice. Good luck with the new venture!

JCA2550 · January 2022

Welcome and the best of luck with this venture.

monquixote · January 2022

Good luck chap, hope it goes brilliantly.

BlackbirdCabs · January 2022

Thanks all, this forum is such an oasis of genuine goodwill amongst the rest of the internet!

I'm just doing some sums/head scratching and working out the best way to offer a worthwhile discount to the fretboard community - will be back in touch over the next few days.

BlackbirdCabs · January 2022

OK, so how's this to go with your Friday afternoon sunshine................

As one of those non-members who lurk in the background, this forum has already been a really valuable source of knowledge for me, pointing me in the direction of amp builders, pickup makers, and general guitar info. It's also lost me many wasted hours reading entertaining waffle, but I'm willing to look past that.

I'm keen to put down roots in the Fretboard community and would love to be able to start some projects with members here. Word of mouth recomendations via this forum would be such a bonus for me (as I can see they have been for other makers). Hopefully I can also be a helpful source of woodworking knowledge for those of you keen to put your own cabinets together.

I also appreciate that I'm a new member here and as such I'm an unknown quantity.

With the above in mind I'm offering a 30% discount for Fretboard members for any commissions throughout January.

This could be to house a small head or a 4x12 midlife crisis - it could be pine, ply, walnut, zebrawood or whatever else we can get our hands on - get in touch and I'd be happy to talk through any inklings of ideas you might have for your set up.

Go to the website for a bit of inspiration if needed!

Send me a message through the forum or e-mail me directly with your fretboard username if you're interested - I can get back to you with a rough guide to prices that way as well.

Cheers,

Sam

Power-Beef · January 2022

This is wonderful, best of luck, Sam. The speaker cabs look great.

viz · January 2022

Timber Timbre, if you’re looking for a name

KDS · January 2022

North Devon is nice place to live, I'm just outside barnstaple. Where about are you (if you don't mind me asking). Good luck with the new venture

BlackbirdCabs · January 2022

viz said:

Timber Timbre, if you’re looking for a name

Maybe I'll save that one for my bespoke tambourine business, then I can really go to town: Timber Timbre Tambos

BlackbirdCabs · January 2022

KDS said:

North Devon is nice place to live, I'm just outside barnstaple. Where about are you (if you don't mind me asking). Good luck with the new venture

Hi KDS, I'm up in Ilfracombe, which on a day like today is amazing. Good to hear from a fellow Devonian (Devon-ite?) - I might get in touch further down the line, I'm still trying to get a sense of the music scene down here, it would be good to make some connections with other guitarists etc.

BlackbirdCabs · January 2022

Afternoon folks,

This is just a reminder about my January offer: 30% off for Fretboard members.
Thank you to those members who have been in touch already, it's much appreciated

Image: /plugins/EmojiExtender/emoji/fb/1.gif

Please do get in touch with any ideas you might have, I'm happy to chat through your particular situation to try and find a bespoke solution, even if it goes no further than a chat!
Hopefully the following is helpful to those of you wondering where to start:

Want a beautiful hand built extension cab for your set up?
https://www.blackbirdcabs.co.uk/speaker-cabinets

DIY builders - have your own guitar amp project that needs a bespoke cab?
https://www.blackbirdcabs.co.uk/diy-amp-builders

Starting from scratch? Do you have a dream guitar amp in your head and wondering how to make it happen?
https://www.blackbirdcabs.co.uk/unique-boutique

Love the sound of your amp but not how it looks? Or maybe your set up stops you playing as much as you'd like?
https://www.blackbirdcabs.co.uk/revamp-your-amp

Cheers,

Sam

BlackbirdCabs · January 2022

Just hours to go folks! Get in there before midnight to get your 30% discount.

guitargeek62 · January 2022

PM incoming

BlackbirdCabs · March 2022

Here's some pics of my latest cab - made for @Power-Beef who wanted something small, lightweight and easy on the eye. She specified no handles and no corners in order to let the timber do the talking. I'm a bit of a magpie so was initially worried about the lack of shiny bits but I'm happy to have been proved wrong!

BlackbirdCabs · March 2022

We went for a healthy 10.5 inches of cabinet depth to make up for the smaller dimensions of the cab, so the internal volume is actually pretty decent for such a small cab. Aesthetically it also gives the cab a nice bit of 'chonk' as @Power-Beef said when she got hold of the cab - definitely a word I'll be using in future promotional material

.

Below are some pics of the back - as you can see the cab can be used in both open and closed back configuration. The closed back provides that nice tight response whilst also preventing @Power-Beef 's cats from snoozing in there!

I gave the panels a healthy lip to make sure the cab is properly closed when the middle panel is on. I also wanted the cab to look 'right' when the middle panel is removed.

BlackbirdCabs · March 2022

I took advantage of the sun and got some photos of my latest commission, a dinky little 1x10.

The cab is made from birch ply veneered with chunky walnut veneer - unlike standard veneer it 'pops' just like solid timber when the oil goes on.

I've been playing my Princeton Reverb and my Tweed Tremolux through it this morning and it's sounding really nice, perfect for home playing, especially if you have hard of hearing neighbours!

This one is 10" deep and I didn't get any 'boxy' vibes at all.

Happy weekend folks

BlackbirdCabs · March 2022

Is it too soon to say happy weekend? Almost there ladies and gents.

Here's some more chunky veneered birch ply cabs for you, this time using cherry. I'm really happy with how these have turned out.......

BlackbirdCabs · March 2022

These are actually both for sale - I haven't put them up on the website yet as it will no doubt involve getting lost down a Squarespace doomhole, but get in touch if you're interested or have any questions.

The larger combo cab will fit a Deluxe Reverb size chassis and can be either a 1x12 or a 2x10. It's currently set up as a 2x10 and sounds really nice.

The smaller cab is a 1x12 and also sounds great - it's 10" deep so there's plenty of breathing space for those juicy tones.

Here are some more pics......

grappagreen · March 2022

These are lovely - great work!

Si

BlackbirdCabs · March 2022

Cheers Si

BlackbirdCabs · March 2022

Here's some pics of the above cab's older brother in Walnut-veneered birch ply. This is my favourite build so far, I'm really happy with how this one has turned out. Internally it's Deluxe Reverb / Vibroverb width, but with a bit of extra depth for a bigger sound. I've made a 2x10 baffle but this cab will be just as happy as a 1x12.

It's up for sale on my website but give me a bit of time to play through it if you don't mind!

ToneControl · March 2022

good luck

be aware that there is a small carbon-fibre guitar builder in San Francisco called Blackbird guitars
Blackbird Guitars

I doubt it will affect you, but worth knowing about

BlackbirdCabs · March 2022

ToneControl said:

good luck

be aware that there is a small carbon-fibre guitar builder in San Francisco called Blackbird guitars
Blackbird Guitars

I doubt it will affect you, but worth knowing about

Thanks for that @ToneControl - I wasn't aware of them I must say. I think there's another Blackbird over in the States as well, I can't remember exactly what they make, I think pedals - you can see I take my research very seriously

If I receive a cease and desist warning my logo will still work as a Song Thrush so there's my next company name!

jasonbone75 · March 2022

Free thrush with every cab?! ........ (sorry!

)

BlackbirdCabs · March 2022

jasonbone75 said:

Free thrush with every cab?! ........ (sorry! )

And a free tube of Caneston maybe.

'Song Thrush Cabs - they sound so good it'll sting when you wee'

*excitedly calls marketing department*

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Blackbird Guitar Cabs - latest projects

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