Hi, guys!
I'm going to be starting a small-scale tabletop shelf project for my studio. It's going to be a way to have my screens at a height I prefer, and my monitors placed more properly in-line with where I sit. But I'll have a few big questions that are going to change the overall construction of the final build:
 
"Studio" Questions
- I've got only a pair of 'monitors' with 3in woofers (Alesis Elevate 3's). In the build, they're raised so that the tweeters are right in line with my ears. Is that okay? I've read they should be that way as high frequencies are more directional and low freq's are more "surrounding".
- What should I make it a point to accommodate? I know this is up to personal preference, and I know what I need on my desk and available to me, but any ideas on this?
 
Construction Questions
- I'm willing to spend a bit - but not more than, say, $125, on this project. What are some good ways to get my hands on a lot of free wood? I'm searching Craiglist, but I'd also need to be able to get it cut. So....
- Where can I get wood cut? Even reclaimed wood, parts from old wood-products, etc. The whole build only has maybe 4 right-angle cuts, plus that large slabs and planks need to be downsized, but I don't have the equipment, time to waste, skill to perform, or money to risk such a job.
 
 
Sorry, not many questions, not much to say yet. This thread is also just so that those who want to can follow along in the construction process. I'll hopefully be starting next week. Photos coming later today- I've made size-accurate 3d mockups and 2d overhead diagrams! Super excited :)

I used glass blocks and pine shelving to raise my displays

I've always wanted to build my own desk. If I did, I would put a shelf UNDER the desk for monitors, with a glass desktop to see them through. Turn on your evening news program and look closely at the news desk. They have monitors there, but you can't see them because they're below the desk. They do it for the camera's benefit, but for a studio that would also remove the displays from line-of-sight to the speakers so they don't impact frequency response. 
 
And yes, line the tweeters up with your ears.

I think you're going to find it hard to get reclaimed wood cut without knowing someone with a saw. Tool libraries exist, but you'd have to do the work yourself.

After thinking about it, I'm going to rather go with a nice plywood instead of reclaimed wood, as it'd be much easier (although far more expensive) to get my hands on. I heard that at Home Depot, one can get cuts in wood, each for $0.50. 
 
My (bad-quality) renders below:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/22emkqurgvg5fli/std_dsktp_002.bmp?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cb1uw5ar3wcmku7/std_dsktp_005.bmp?dl=0
 
The surface underneath (the wood frame with glass in the middle) is the existing table, and the new part sits on top. You guys can probably see that it's conceptually pretty darned simple - raising the monitors and the screens so that everything is just a bit more comfortable. it can also accommodate some of my books and gear so that I don't need to go to the closet every time I want to find a mic.
 
Either way, I'll keep you guys posted. The process starts this coming week.

Is that table sturdy? You're looking at quite a bit of weight for those legs to hold.

I could sit on this table and it wouldn't collapse, that I'm certain of. I was in fact more worried about how the thickness of wood I use might affect the sturdiness of the desktop unit itself (the build, that is), given that two rather weighty monitors will be sitting on top of it.
I've thought about both 1/2in and 1in wood, but I haven't made a final decision yet. Either way, i'll end up need a little bit of stuff under the monitors to raise them to the exact right height, it seems.

I built my own 66" x 30" modular desk with 3/4" Cherry vernier plywood from Home Depot and power hand tools. The top I had made with 3/4" countertop covered with flormica at a local cabinet shop that's screwed to 3/4" pine.
 
I got design ideas by googling "music studio furniture" under "Images" and combined some of the ideas.
 
It's modular in that it's really two 20" x 30" 12 space rack units with 10 space turrets with a 24" wide center section. The 2 units are connected by the flormica top and sit on 4 castors each for mobility. Total supplies were a bit over $500 but a far cry from the $1000s they want (+shipping) for readymade stuff.
 
At the time I had a Tascam 688 which was exactly 24" wide. Now my 24" monitor and 17" laptop reside in the center. Speakers sit on top of the turrets horizontally with the tweeters pointing toward center just above ear level. One lower unit houses a desktop computer and 3 half width drawers for mics and such wit a printer shelf in the turret while the other unit houses 3 slide out drawers below and all my rack gear in the turret. Audio mixer sits in front of them.
 
It took me 2 weeks to plan & make and will not admit to anything other that the fact that if you want all cuts to be exactly square you should use a table saw.... I didn't. 
 
Being modular, I can attach the units straight or angled, add additional modules or use the units separately.

Any building center will sell pine shelving. I've been using it for years and years. They sell it in all sorts of sizes too. 
So if you don'thave a saw you might be able to get exactly what you need already cut. It comes in 8", 12", 16" and 20" width, And then 2', 3' 4' 6' and 8' lengths.  
My currant desk was a corner unit I scored at Ikea for $30 in the reject dept. That's another real good place to scrounge desk parts. They discount it because it has a tiny blemish or a screw missing. I then added 4' wings to either end. I used Ikea wooden self brackets ( $8) and some 8"  pine selves for upper selves for my monitors etc.  Well under $100 as you see it in this pic
 
 

Nice setup Cactus...