WATKINS DOMINATOR CABINET

Seeing and hearing is believing

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Mr_dB
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Post by Mr_dB »

Neato!

I see that on stage with a Gretsch 6120, an upright bass, and a cocktail drum set.
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user669
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Post by user669 »

Here are more photos...
If you are interested in this cabinet and need help with building or tolex e-mail me and I can send you the dimenisons and methods that I used to make this cabinet.

<img src="http://www.ampcabco.com/pics/dominator2.jpg">
Here is the back of the cabinet.
<img src="http://www.ampcabco.com/pics/dominator3.jpg">
And the top
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gene
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Post by gene »

That is beautiful! Not being a real woodworker, I am interested in when these will be available to order from you.

Thanks.

gene
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echuta13
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Post by echuta13 »

That really turned out nice user669! The piping, and other accents really look slick. 8) I'd be interested in getting some details on the construction/dimensions you used. I"ve done one cab that is loosely based off the Dominator (very loose), but I always liked the retro look of the Dominator itself.
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tarzanalog
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Post by tarzanalog »

Great job Mike!!!

Needs a swanky slipcover now...

I would definitely be interested in the construction details... particularly how you attached/braced the angled corners. Would the chassis just fasten to the back... or did you build in a chassis shelf to support it?
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Post by Poppatwang »

3 Homina rating (homina scale runs 0 to 3).
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Post by user669 »

Thanks for the great comments everyone!

Gene, if you go to my website I have a page for the Dominator cabinet go check it out!

The construction of the prototype was done using 1/2" Baltic birch for the 5
" sides and 3/8" BB for the front panels. Top and bottom were done with 1/2" BB also. The 2 speaker baffles are 3/8" BB

where the chassis mounts there is a piece of 1/2" BB glued to the top 1/2"BB 1" total to support the chassis and protect the control knobs.

On the prototype I made 2 front panels with the edges cut at the correct degree and made a rabbited cut on the top and bottom area so they had a place to sit. Behind the front panels there are wood supports for extra hold.

I got a blank chassis from turretboards.com that will fit this cabinet very well and I made the inside shelf brackets so you can just slide it in and tighten it down. The chassis is not going anywhere that way. I really put a lot into this and it is VERY well made.

It may take me a little time but I will have to draw some plans up if anyone wants them.
If you are wondering why someone that builds cabinet would give out plans to build cabinets... well one: there are people that are going to build their cabinets no matter what and there are people that are going to have someone else build them. AND two: Handing over my plans lets people see just how much I put into my work.

Thanks Again Everyone Keep the Comments Rolling!


Here is a photo of the chassis I am going to build the amp on. It's nice and shiny.

<img src="http://www.ampcabco.com/pics/combochassis.jpg" />
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Michael
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Post by Michael »

user669 wrote:
If you are wondering why someone that builds cabinet would give out plans to build cabinets... well one: there are people that are going to build their cabinets no matter what and there are people that are going to have someone else build them. AND two: Handing over my plans lets people see just how much I put into my work.

Thanks Again Everyone Keep the Comments Rolling!

/>
Mike,

This is TOO true. Many folks start out planning to build a cab, but if the price is fair and the product is high quality, buying a cab is so easy and desirable! And if you don't have the tools or a good shop, it's a no brainer. Let's us build more amps.

If you build them, I'll buy one!
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tarzanalog
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Post by tarzanalog »

HEY! That's sounds like a pre-order! I had mine in first!!!

:wink:
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Post by user669 »

I am glad to have such a good response to the cabinet!!

I am finishing the details on this cabinet and need your help on some things.

1. The corners for the baffle. The original dominator had 90 deg. corners and I have curved corners on the prototype. Should I keep it that way or do you like it better with sharp corners?

2. If you had a dominator cabinet what colors would you choose?

I would be interested to know what everyone’s responses are!

I am getting ready to build a small run of Dominator style cabinets and would like to know what people think!
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echuta13
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Post by echuta13 »

I like it with the rounded corners personally. Color wise this amp looks good with the colors you selected, but black/tan, black/blue, black/red might also look nice (I"m partial to the black/tan). Can't do black/yellow... it look like a frickin bumble-bee. :D Piping, and grill accents could run gold, silver, black, white.

Methinks with some modding this could also make a great 4x10 cab. :twisted:

The 2x10 cab I built was wired for stereo (8 ohm), or mono (4 ohm) operation. Which could be a wiring option.
Last edited by echuta13 on Sat 03/17/07 4:15 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Mr_dB
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Post by Mr_dB »

user669 wrote:I am glad to have such a good response to the cabinet!!

I am finishing the details on this cabinet and need your help on some things.

1. The corners for the baffle. The original dominator had 90 deg. corners and I have curved corners on the prototype. Should I keep it that way or do you like it better with sharp corners?

2. If you had a dominator cabinet what colors would you choose?

I would be interested to know what everyone’s responses are!

I am getting ready to build a small run of Dominator style cabinets and would like to know what people think!
The question of the corners of the grilles is a tough one. I think the radius looks better, and if I hadn't gone looking for pictures of Dominators after reading your question, I would have bet money that yours looked "right". I tend to be a tedious stickler for authenticity though, so I vote for square.

I bet a 2-tone with the two Fender "brownface" Tolex colors, rough white in the middle and rough brown on the top and bottom, would look great. There are a lot of traditional and untraditional materials that could look good. The 1990s Vox wheat-textured fawn Vynide in the middle with Vox black "basket" on the ends would be cool too. Tweed in the middle and brown leather on the ends...
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tarzanalog
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Post by tarzanalog »

I think a few departures from the original design are fine... rounded baffle corners, etc. You have to remember that the WEM stuff changed it's look a few times as well. Particularly where the chassis is exposed.

I think do whatever makes sense from a production standpoint...

Colors?!? For the style of the cabinet, anything in the Art Deco realm would fit. With the white cloth you're on the right track with what you chose for the prototype. Although anything that might hint at the automotive (metal flakes, etc.) would look sweet and draw in more of the rockabilly crowd, keeping true to the originals with something that would look right sitting next to a Big Band orchestra riser would make the most sense. With what's available out there these days for tolex, cab string, and piping you could do almost anything but I'd stick close to the monochromatic look with black white and one accent color like gold, silver, tan, maybe cordovan like the new Gretsch combos but nothing like a Ferrari red. Even just doing the top and bottom black with the accent parts as a black sparkle would set it off enough to catch the eye. (Like the white cloth's not gonna do that anyway...)

For me, I play a '74 LP Signature goldtop so I'd be happy as a clam with your prototype.
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Post by E-rex »

That is a beautiful cab 8)
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Post by user669 »

Thanks for the input everyone. I think what i am going to do is build them uncovered and cover them in whatever colors that are chosen, that way I have the cabinet ready to go and I can still offer many color combinations.

The grill cloth was real hard to pick. There were two that I really liked here are the samples

<img border="0" src="http://www.ampcabco.com/pics/clothsamples.jpg" />

The one on the left is the weave that I choose for the prototype and the one on the right was the runner up. You may not be able to tell but that is gold woven into white. I did decide however that I am going to order that too. I wish there were places that I could get it from by the yard but I have to order large amounts from the manufacture.

The corners were real hard for me to decide on but I am going with the rounded look. I just like how it looks more over the sharp corners. I already had to lower the rear vent so it would not show the chassis and vent the tubes. So one more small change won't be a biggie besides if someone wanted a exact copy of the dominator I could offer that too.

I am going to take photos of the next builds to show some details.

The prototype is sold but I can remake it for anyone else that liked how it looked. I didn't realize how fast it would go.
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Post by Michael »

Over many years of selling everything from stuff to things, I've learned that options, options, options are a businessman's best friend. If someone wants Clemson orange mixed with Georgia Tech gold, with a cane grill, it's an option! Pay more, get something different. You make a bit of profit if done right. And you have a bunch of happy customers.

I'll bet that if you offered just the raw cabs there would be several folks out there who would provide tolex services in many different colors and styles. 8)
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chriswu101
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Post by chriswu101 »

So, are the dimensions exactly the same as the original Dominator? I remember you said you were just eyeballing it at first. Did you ever get the exact dimensions? I'm with Mr_dB on this one, keeping it just like the original would be nice. If you have the dimensions and angles, I would be interested to see what they are. How does it sound anyways? With those offset speakers, does it leave the middle sound stage somewhat empty in larger rooms? Thanks,

Chris

Also, where did you get the gold braces that are outside the grill cloth? Very cool.
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Post by user669 »

Hey Chris,
I have been working my butt off e-mailing folks all around the world about the dimensions of this cabinet and I almost have all of them. I am missing the size of the front two square cutouts height and width. So I am waiting to hear back from someone about that.

The room that I tested the cabinet out in was about 20 X 20 with the cabinet about 5 ft from the rear wall and centered. I stood 10 feet directly in front of the cabinet and it sounded as if you were standing 2ft to the side of a normal amp and standing a little to the side sounded like you are standing in front of a normal amp. There is not an area that is low vol. but you can hear a slight difference. It filled up the room pretty good. I also removed the back and this allowed more mids to come out and it seemed louder to me. (but just in the slightest)

Maybe someone would like to demo the next one I build so everyone can have a more independent review :D
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Post by brownnote »

Put me on the list for one of those...
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chriswu101
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Post by chriswu101 »

user669 wrote:Hey Chris,
I have been working my butt off e-mailing folks all around the world about the dimensions of this cabinet and I almost have all of them. I am missing the size of the front two square cutouts height and width. So I am waiting to hear back from someone about that.

The room that I tested the cabinet out in was about 20 X 20 with the cabinet about 5 ft from the rear wall and centered. I stood 10 feet directly in front of the cabinet and it sounded as if you were standing 2ft to the side of a normal amp and standing a little to the side sounded like you are standing in front of a normal amp. There is not an area that is low vol. but you can hear a slight difference. It filled up the room pretty good. I also removed the back and this allowed more mids to come out and it seemed louder to me. (but just in the slightest)

Maybe someone would like to demo the next one I build so everyone can have a more independent review :D
I would love to demo one, I would also be interested in what you think of a 2x10 vs the 2x12 versions. Really cool you have this thing almost nailed to the original specs too. I would LOVE to see a drawing of all the dimensions........I've been longing for a Dominator cab for my next build.....
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