Here’s the deal: I have a pretty nice electronic drum kit. It includes an amp/speaker. For quite some time now, I haven’t really been using the drums–part of the reason for this is that the amp has been covered by a cardboard box to prevent my cats from having their way with it. Anybody who has cats and amps knows that that fuzzy stuff on the outside housing is like crack and catnip combined to the little furballs, and if I leave it uncovered it will soon be shredded. I know this because they’ve already shredded part of my guitar amp.
So…I’d like to enclose the drum amp in a wooden crate/storage cube to prevent them from getting at it, while still having it be accessible. I’ve looked around on the net but I can’t find anything that’s the right dimensions (the amp is about 19" wide by 19" deep by about 14" tall. The controls are on the top, so the enclosure would need to have enough space on the top to reach them.
I wouldn’t mind paying to have someone build this for me–we’re in the process of remodeling the room the drums are in so it looks like adults live there, so I don’t want some random piece of stuff that happens to be the right size. But I’m kind of clueless when it comes to this sort of thing. So who would I call? Cabinetmaker doesn’t seem right. Are there just general purpose woodworkers? 20shredded part of my guitar amp.
So…I’d like to enclose the drum amp in a wooden crate/storage cube to prevent them from getting at it, while still having it be accessible. I’ve looked around on the net but I can’t find anything that’s the right dimensions (th
(Argh! I’m trying to edit this but it keeps cutting off the end. Here’s the whole post–mods, can you delete the previous one? Thanks!)
Here’s the deal: I have a pretty nice electronic drum kit. It includes an amp/speaker. For quite some time now, I haven’t really been using the drums–part of the reason for this is that the amp has been covered by a cardboard box to prevent my cats from having their way with it. Anybody who has cats and amps knows that that fuzzy stuff on the outside housing is like crack and catnip combined to the little furballs, and if I leave it uncovered it will soon be shredded. I know this because they’ve already shredded part of my guitar amp.
So…I’d like to enclose the drum amp in a wooden crate/storage cube to prevent them from getting at it, while still having it be accessible. I’ve looked around on the net but I can’t find anything that’s the right dimensions (the amp is about 19" wide by 19" deep by about 14" tall. The controls are on the top, so the enclosure would need to have enough space on the top to reach them).
I wouldn’t mind paying to have someone build this for me–we’re in the process of remodeling the room the drums are in so it looks like adults live there, so I don’t want some random piece of stuff that happens to be the right size. But I’m kind of clueless when it comes to this sort of thing. So who would I call? Cabinetmaker doesn’t seem right. Are there just general purpose woodworkers? Would they even take a job that small without it being prohibitively expensive? Or, conversely, does anyone know of a wooden cube that might fit my needs? I suppose a cabinet would work too–I could just open it when I want to use the amp.
I faced the exact same situation, and I asked my wife if she could make a nice cover for the amp. She bought some heavy canvas at the fabric store and made a very sturdy canvas cover for the thing. It is mildly annoying to take the cover off each time I want to practice, but it looks a whole lot better than a cardboard box.
By the time you make something big enough so the cats can’t reach inside, you’re looking at a pretty big thing. Or do you want the sides close to the amp cabinet and have just the speakers and controls accessible at the front?
Have you considered pulling the “roadie rug” stuff off and re-covering the amp with either naugahyde or canvas for a more retro look?
A cabinet shop would probably charge three arms and half a leg, but if you know any neighborhood woodworkers, they could probably knock this out for under $100. For that price, staining and varnishing or painting may well be up to you to do.
I want the sides close to the cabinet, the back enclosed (except for a hole for the cord to come out), enough space at the top to reach and use the controls, and the front open (though on reflection, having cabinet doors on the front wouldn’t be bad).
I am about as handy with that sort of thing as…well, something that isn’t very handy. I fear that if I tried that it would end up looking terrible.
Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. I keep hoping I can just find something either online or locally that will fit the bill, but so far I haven’t had much luck.
Given the dimensions you should be able to get away with half a sheet of plywood. I’m assuming it has no bottom and acts like a giant wooden toaster-cozy. For a superficial cover like that I’d probably go either 1/2" plywood (most likely overkill – which is my style), or 1/4" plywood with 1x1’s on the all the edges to sort of frame it. Something like that wouldn’t cost much. You could do it yourself if you’re handy. Gotta friend with a home shop?
You could go very higher end and make it look like furniture. A bench or cabinet with a false fronts. Or something with an actual working drop drawer (so it’s be higher than 14") to store… amp stuff. (cables, picks, guitar strings.)
I’ve made a few things for co-workers at cost just to get some experience building something different. Maybe you have hidden talent in your pool of friends.
I wonder if there’s a market for that – AmpCozies… could I get rich making them?
I have a couple of Anvilcases that I suspect will work. I’ll have to double-check the size.
They’re foam lined and in great shape. Spec one out at Anvil and they’re over $500 new. Each.
Make me a nice offer and some brownies & you can have one. Or two.
Thanks, ducati, but I’m thinking those probably won’t fit in with my room decor. I’m going for kind of eclectic Scandinavian dieselpunk, not “early roadie.”
