Filmonator Prototype
I've been wanting an original V-front Dominator for a good while now after experiencing the huge, broad sound field they produce, but they're a bit expensive these days. I decided to have a go at making something similar for a Filmo amp. It took over a year in the end, with a full time job, amp repairs and other projects to keep me busy.
I had some vintage 10" Celestion speakers, which I picked up years ago, that came out of a church, complete with ply baffle and a tweeter. I thought I'd recycle them, but in hindsight, I should have made the combo a bit deeper. The speakers, have quite small magnets that only just clear the massive transformer on the amp chassis, which makes upgrading speakers a challenge in the future.
I had some vintage 10" Celestion speakers, which I picked up years ago, that came out of a church, complete with ply baffle and a tweeter. I thought I'd recycle them, but in hindsight, I should have made the combo a bit deeper. The speakers, have quite small magnets that only just clear the massive transformer on the amp chassis, which makes upgrading speakers a challenge in the future.
The Celestions sounded rather bright, so I whipped out a couple of Elacs from an old Wem column speaker cab (also taking up space for years) and removed the whizzer cones carefully with a Dremel. They sound better although I haven't had chance to test it properly yet due to various lockdowns and access to suitable premises.
Without any plans, other than my own sketches, I began making the carcass from yellow pine. Unfortunately I made a booboo with the dovetailing and had to cut the sides down 20mm to remake them, hence the baffles had to be shortened as well and now I have a bigger problem with speaker fitment than I would have.
I am quite pleased with the results, and with the engraved badge, although some of the letters didn't get the machine passes they should have (free software and lack of CNC knowledge) and are a bit uneven. It buffed up nicely with some acrylic paint squeeged in to pick out the detail.
The handle came from my local salvage yard, and was professionally buffed up by an old boy who was grinding and polishing way back when Sheffield was probably the top cutlery and steel tool maker in the world.
This one is just for me. I might be tempted to do a second one to accommodate a pair of Greenbacks or possibly Blue Pups, but that might be a while yet.
Without any plans, other than my own sketches, I began making the carcass from yellow pine. Unfortunately I made a booboo with the dovetailing and had to cut the sides down 20mm to remake them, hence the baffles had to be shortened as well and now I have a bigger problem with speaker fitment than I would have.
I am quite pleased with the results, and with the engraved badge, although some of the letters didn't get the machine passes they should have (free software and lack of CNC knowledge) and are a bit uneven. It buffed up nicely with some acrylic paint squeeged in to pick out the detail.
The handle came from my local salvage yard, and was professionally buffed up by an old boy who was grinding and polishing way back when Sheffield was probably the top cutlery and steel tool maker in the world.
This one is just for me. I might be tempted to do a second one to accommodate a pair of Greenbacks or possibly Blue Pups, but that might be a while yet.
