Box joints only for durability?

[ben_allison]

Just wondering: is the advantage of making a cab with box joints (as opposed to simple butt joints + screws + glue) really only for durability/structural integrity?

Does box jointing change tone at all? I can imagine it might since the pieces of wood are connected in a more intimate way... but then again, maybe not!

 

[Austinrocks]

really the design, construction, size, rigidity, wood type have more to do with the tone, the box joints are very easy to make on a router table, or free hand with a template, so they are common in projects and they look very nicer than most other wood joints,

 

[ben_allison]

I figured... thanks bro.

 

[gulliver]

Many that you see are actually dovetail joints, which is a box joint with a flair for more strangth. If you buy furniture, look for this joint on the drawers, much stronger than a butt joint with more glue coverage and a connection that might even hold without glue. Really overkill on a speaker cab since they generally have 6 sides.

 

[ben_allison]

Really overkill on a speaker cab since they generally have 6 sides.

So you're saying that simple butt joints are actually sufficient for guitar cabs?

 

[Leonc]

So you're saying that simple butt joints are actually sufficient for guitar cabs?

Tone-wise, absolutely. Strength-wise--probably, but it depends on how much abuse it's going to be expected to take, the wood involved, other design factors. IME, if you're using 5/8" or 3/4" ply and you really do a good job and don't plan on jumping on the thing, it'll almost certainly be fine.