Imperial Russian Stout Build Thread

[fastbike1]

Re: Imperial Russian Stout Build Thread

Sadly, it looks like I'm not going to get ot the listening phase until next weekend if then. I've got to be out of town all next week. I have no doubt that they will sound great.

[fastbike1]

We have Music!! Imperial Russian Stouts

Tested the XOs tonight and wonder of wonders, we have music. I'm always gratified when the first test of the XOs yields musics without problems.

Kudos to Brewski for this XO. Listening to the drivers individually really highlights the XO points.

Ran them up to ~85dB and everythings holds together nicely. Can feel the bass even with the drivers in open air on the table top. Powering with an old HK395i (30w/ch). Still plenty of room on the volume control, so should be nice in box w/ the serious amps.

Here's a couple of quick snaps of the sophisticated test setup in my secret anechoic lab.

[Brewski]

Re: Imperial Russian Stout Build Thread

Hopefully they'll sound even better in the cabs. I'm glad to see they're coming together and working well so far. On paper and from having used the Fountek drivers I thought it should be a pretty nice speaker once it was built.

Take it easy
Jay

[50 watt head]

Re: Imperial Russian Stout Build Thread

Have a chance to work on these lately? We need an update! :D

[fastbike1]

Re: Imperial Russian Stout Build Thread

Painting color coats on the cabs. Colder than usual in Texas, so I haven't been able to paint as often as I expected. I've also been busier at work than I expected this spring. Included a week in Phoenix.

I haven't been real pleased with the cab painting. I had some kind of strange reaction between the plywood and the primer which hasn't helped the surface. It was sort of like grain raising but not consistent. The primer also didn't live up to its claim of easy sanding either. The cabs will look ok from a few feet away but aren't the best work I've done. I may redo the cabs in the future, but the build has gone on too long. The drivers and XO sounded really good on the bench so I'm just going to get things put together and be done.

Have a chance to work on these lately? We need an update! :D

[Brewski]

Re: Imperial Russian Stout Build Thread

Sorry the paints not working out as well as you'd like. Is the baffle glued in place currently? Those are two beautiful pieces of wood that I'd hate to lose if you opted to redo the cabs later.

Could veneering the sides top and bottom of the cabs be an option at a later date?

Take it easy
Jay

[50 watt head]

Re: Imperial Russian Stout Build Thread

Included a week in Phoenix.

:eek:

Now you tell us!

If you give us some advance notice next time, maybe the AZ crew can arrange a speaker party :D

[fastbike1]

Re: Imperial Russian Stout Build Thread

I thought about it, but the work included 10 hour days w/ another hour or two in the evening. I did get done early enough on the Friday to catch the first day of qualifying for the Arizona Nationals at Firebird.

:eek:

Now you tell us!

If you give us some advance notice next time, maybe the AZ crew can arrange a speaker party :D

[fastbike1]

Re: Imperial Russian Stout Build Thread

The baffle isn't glued on yet since I have some final sanding before I start with the Waterlox finish. I was going to glue the fronts, but am rethinking making them removable (backs already removable). I'm not sure how well the veneer would hold over a painted surface and I don't think I can get all the paint off. I tried a "cabinet grade" plywood instead of BB and don't think I'll do that again. I also tried some different primer and finishing steps that didn't pan out like I'd hoped.

The cabs won't look awful, but I'm not as satisfied as I'd like. The baffle will be great and I'm sure they will sound outstanding. I have really mostly been battling a case of low "want to" for the last couple of months. It got to be a chore/second job rather than the enjoyable hobby. Things are looking better and its time to put the drivers and your XO in their place and working.

Sorry the paints not working out as well as you'd like. Is the baffle glued in place currently? Those are two beautiful pieces of wood that I'd hate to lose if you opted to redo the cabs later.

Could veneering the sides top and bottom of the cabs be an option at a later date?

Take it easy
Jay

[fastbike1]

Getting Closer

A quick tease. Second coat of Waterlox (still wet). Quick, bad, unprocessed Cell phone pic.

Cabs paint coming along as well.

[jclin4]

Re: Imperial Russian Stout Build Thread

Perfect tease...makes you want to see more :D

[Brewski]

Re: Imperial Russian Stout Build Thread

I think they're going to be beautiful I like the contrast the sap wood brings to the baffles.

Take it easy
Jay

[fastbike1]

Re: Imperial Russian Stout Build Thread

I love the Waterlox. Every time I use it, I want to grab all the hardwood in the shop and start laying on the Waterlox. :D

I'll really try to get some serious photos this weekend. The baffles should be close to final finish and I should be able to get some progress on the cabs as well. Weather has been cooperative.

Perfect tease...makes you want to see more :D

[fastbike1]

Re: Imperial Russian Stout Negative progress

Good news and bad news.

Good news: Baffles w/ 6 coats of Waterlox = Outstanding.
The Waterlox really is foolproof to apply.

Bad news: Weird stuff going on w/ cabinet paint.
Giving up on the painted cabs. I'm going to try and strip to bare wood. If that works, will resand and veneer. If not, will build new cabs and veneer.

I will get some good pics up of the baffles. I'm going to want some opinions on veneer. I'm still concerned that Walnut veneer w/ the walnut baffle will be too much of a good thing.

I have anigre, european ash, german beech (eye burl), and pecan veneer as well as the walnut. If I don't go w/ walnut, the plan would be for these veneers to stay light, i.e. straight Waterlox. Stay tuned for pics and thanks for the patience. Been a weird build. The hard parts have been easy and the easy parts hard.

[Brewski]

Re: Imperial Russian Stout Negative progress

I will get some good pics up of the baffles. I'm going to want some opinions on veneer. I'm still concerned that Walnut veneer w/ the walnut baffle will be too much of a good thing.

Sorry the paint is still giving you a headache. I think the two options I'd try for for the sides would either be picking up the lighter color of the SAP wood and continuing that around to the side or going for dark grey/black sides for the contrast to both wood colors in the baffle. I'll look forward to the updated pictures and seeing what others suggest for finishes.

Take it easy
Jay