If you have the desire and ability, by all means build your own cab. I've owned all sorts but the best were the ones I built for myself. There are about 4 cabs I made that I wish I'd kept. I made several using solid redwood that were amazing and there was a 2x12 Bluesbreaker cab that rocked. I don't have the wood cutting gene, so I have to design them and have another guy build them.
 
I have some 14" clear pine boards I'm saving just for Fender tweed projects. Go crazy and make yourself something you're proud of and happy to look at.

So far beyond anything I would ever consider. You guys who build amps and cabs are like mad scientists! (in a good way, not the evil ones)

ampfixer
If you have the desire and ability, by all means build your own cab. I've owned all sorts but the best were the ones I built for myself. There are about 4 cabs I made that I wish I'd kept. I made several using solid redwood that were amazing and there was a 2x12 Bluesbreaker cab that rocked. I don't have the wood cutting gene, so I have to design them and have another guy build them. I have some 14" clear pine boards I'm saving just for Fender tweed projects. Go crazy and make yourself something you're proud of and happy to look at.

Now you're messing with my head!
You and Bat were starting to convince me building might not be a good move...

Reading what these speakers sound like is a long shot from hearing what they sound like.
I've never heard an Alnico speaker but the praise is high.
Any input on what an Alnico paired with a V30 (12") would be like?

Ya, maybe without an acoustic engineering book, perhaps you be wasting your time building a speaker cabinet. To give you an idea, first you build a 2 ft. square box (2ft.x 2ft. x say 8" forget exactly) and measure the speaker in that box facing in the box for resonance frequency (where the speaker move in and out the same usually around 35Hz or so) then you build a cabinet for the speaker according to specs given by the manufacturer for internal volume of the cabinet and then - the hard part - how loud, what sound you want out of it, and all of that.
I have JBL 10" speakers (well actually more - 15" and bullet ring radiators) and at the time got a readout kind of instructions on what cabinet the speakers were made for. Say like the 10" speaker can fit in a 1-1/2 cubic foot box, if you want, it also can fit into anything size wise like 0.5 cu. ft. (12"x12"x6") to 3 cu. ft. type box. Now what are the dimensions you want, what kind of sound for the speaker enclosed in the box, will it be ported or anything like that, open back (if the speaker is made for it or enclosed back) - that is what sound you get when you are done. Now, you will have to imagine how the cabinet will help the speaker and what sound (tone wise ) you will end up with.
 
Tight sound - smaller cabinet - bassier sound - bigger cabinet. All plays into it, so try and imagine how the finish cabinet and speaker in the cabinet will sound.
 
Well, good luck!
 

Internet was slow - double post.

Here Dave.
 
Everything you need to find out just what it would cost you.

I love small, low power amps. I have an old Mesa Boogie Studio 22 that will get loud and you still get sweet tone at the more reasonable levels.
 
I like the idea of buying cabinets loaded with speakers. You can carry your head into the store and try the cabs on the floor.
 
If, on the other hand, you are capable of building nice looking cabs, you would need to buy speakers to load them. That means, you would need to be aware of the various tonal characteristics of the various speakers in the various sizes. But that also allows you to build a cab with a back that has an "easy open" port to allow the option of open back in a flash.
 
A good head, like the Mesa, is capable of making just about any speaker array sound good. So I wouldn't be sweating the details..... I'd head to the local store, and audition some cabs and get the one you like best.

Thanks for the link Spacey.
 
Herb, yeah it's the tonal characteristics of the different speakers that I need to address.
Guess I need to see what cabs Sweetwater and (gasp) Guitar Center has in stock, see what speakers are in each and go play thru them.
This is one of those times where you really need to be able to hear what it sounds like and when
you have other people playing in there it becomes almost impossible.
Never-the-less... still a good way to spend an afternoon.
 
Maybe I'll come down with something over the next few hours, be forced by peer pressure to leave the office, then stop at Sweetwater on the way home.
That is not a bad plan for a Friday, eh?

 
 

"Building" I thought was the keyword.
If so and the woodwork is not an issue -as you stated then
you're left with only three major decisions to make;
Cabinet design
Cabinet materials
Speaker selection
 
*cost is a factor but things change when the desire to create is the driving force. Nobody can
determine what that is worth to you.
 
"I built it" is what I would think is at the heart of it...and being the best you can do to achieve the
results you desire.
When I read opinions about points that aren't relevant to "building" I wonder if I'm understanding
your OP.
I also don't understand or agree with ignoring details. Especially in a closed back design or cabinets
containing the amp with the speakers.
I've heard many backyard cabinets what weren't worth the effort...more or less the cost.
 
If you were wanting opinions which would be better- to build or buy - in cost comparison
then the link I provided will help determine build cost and built if their offerings fit.
 
Speaker selection is personal.
Depending on how much I wanted to invest I would want to know my options and they'd probably
be;
One 12" cabinet and two different speakers so I could determine sonic preference.
Two cabinets each to hold one 12" and use two different speakers for same goal.
One cabinet for two 12" speakers- both being the same with plans to get others to hear.
One cabinet for 4-12" and one "tilt" cabinet for 4-12".
 
Size of speakers?
Many different sizes can work based on the design and number of speakers.
I've had cabinets with 6-8" that were fantastic.
 
Whatever it is you're wanting to do...good luck and have fun with it.
 
 

spacey
"Building" I thought was the keyword.
If so and the woodwork is not an issue -as you stated then
you're left with only three major decisions to make;
Cabinet design
Cabinet materials
Speaker selection
 
*cost is a factor but things change when the desire to create is the driving force. Nobody can
determine what that is worth to you.
 
"I built it" is what I would think is at the heart of it...and being the best you can do to achieve the
results you desire.
When I read opinions about points that aren't relevant to "building" I wonder if I'm understanding
your OP.
I also don't understand or agree with ignoring details. Especially in a closed back design or cabinets
containing the amp with the speakers.
I've heard many backyard cabinets what weren't worth the effort...more or less the cost.
 
If you were wanting opinions which would be better- to build or buy - in cost comparison
then the link I provided will help determine build cost and built if their offerings fit.
 
Speaker selection is personal.
Depending on how much I wanted to invest I would want to know my options and they'd probably
be;
One 12" cabinet and two different speakers so I could determine sonic preference.
Two cabinets each to hold one 12" and use two different speakers for same goal.
One cabinet for two 12" speakers- both being the same with plans to get others to hear.
One cabinet for 4-12" and one "tilt" cabinet for 4-12".
 
Size of speakers?
Many different sizes can work based on the design and number of speakers.
I've had cabinets with 6-8" that were fantastic.
 
Whatever it is you're wanting to do...good luck and have fun with it.
 
 

Yeah Spacey, 'building' still is the keyword here.
Admittedly what Avatar has to offer looks very good and if I choose to buy rather than build
I could find what I want there, for sure.
 
But the building project intrigues me. It's the "I did it" factor...
 
I do know I want 2 different speakers for flexibility.
2 small cabs good for flexibility, but 1 cab with selectable input jack for one or the other speaker or both would be acceptable in a larger cabinet.
 
Absolute worst case if I build something and it sounds like crap, I buy a cab and move the
speakers into it.
Wasted the cost of some material... not the end of the world.
As for my time, well if I'm out working in my shop then no matter the outcome, it is never
wasted time to me.