2 X 12" Guitar Speaker Cabinet Box

Motivation

In 2013, while waiting for my internship to begin and staying at my parents' place, I found the perfect opportunity to dive into a small, hands-on project. I've always enjoyed woodworking and the DIY spirit, so I decided to build something both practical and personal: my own GuitarBox on wheels.

Background/

Most commercially available cabinets, while visually appealing, are typically made from cheap chipboard and covered in vinyl leather or fabric. I’ve always preferred the natural look and feel of real wood—something that’s hard to find in store-bought options.

My design is tailored for home use rather than stage or touring environments, so a rugged surface finish wasn’t a priority for me.

And this is why I chose to build my cabinet from plywood. Not only does it offer a more defined tone, but it also provides a beautiful wooden surface that doesn’t require any additional laminating. The result is a solid, durable speaker box—built to last—with drivers that harken back to the golden era of British blues rock.

I hope you'll like it.

Disclaimer

This Instructable isn’t a traditional step-by-step guide, but rather a walkthrough of my decision-making process. It provides enough insight to understand how I approached the project and why I made certain choices. As is often the case with DIY builds, everyone works under different conditions—with varying tools, materials, and constraints—so anyone attempting a similar project will need to develop a plan tailored to their own setup.

Tools

There’s hardly a tool you wouldn’t find in my father’s workshop. It’s fully equipped with everything from a jigsaw and table saw to a mill, belt grinder, rotary grinder, and drill—perfect for any kind of hands-on project.

Material

Baltic Birch Plywood (draw a plan and consider your demand)

1. 19 mm for front and back
2. 40 mm for the frame

20x20 mm pine wood beams to construct the internal frame that supports both the front and back panels.

I decided to base my build on an existing design. To find something I liked, I browsed through the selection at the music store Thomann. Once I found a cabinet design that appealed to me, I used the available product photos—viewed from all angles—and analyzed them in GIMP by counting pixels to determine proportions and angles. With one known dimension from the shop’s specifications, I could scale the rest accordingly.

I won’t mention the specific brand or model I used as a reference, just to avoid any accusations of product imitation.

I chose to use mortise joints for the construction—completely avoiding screws. One of the great things about this approach is that, if executed well, even professionals will take notice and appreciate the craftsmanship.

Most of the panels were cut using a table saw. Cutting the angled joints was particularly tricky; I had to build custom jigs to position the pieces correctly on the sliding table and hold them securely during the cuts. These kinds of on-the-fly solutions became a recurring theme throughout the build. Due to the thickness, weight, and size of the plywood, many tools simply weren’t up to the task.

If I were to recommend a tool for similar projects, it would be a guided hand-held circular saw—it offers more flexibility and control for large panels. For assembly, I used standard white wood glue, which provided a strong and clean bond.

The Result: A Personal Masterpiece

Once everything came together, the finished GuitarBox looked exactly as I had envisioned. The form, the proportions, the raw elegance of the wood—it all aligned with the image I had in my mind from the start. Though the camera doesn’t quite capture it accurately—the red cover appears more purple in photos—in person, it radiates a deep, rich wine red that complements the natural wood beautifully.

I chose to apply only a thin layer of varnish, just enough to protect the surface while preserving the organic texture and showcasing the craftsmanship. Every joint, every grain, every imperfection tells the story of a hands-on build driven by passion, not perfection.

The back panel is made from three separate pieces, allowing for flexible configuration: fully closed for tight, punchy tones, or half-open for a more airy, resonant sound. It’s a small detail, but one that adds real versatility to the cabinet’s character. ... but my personal reference is open :)

Tools Used

This project was powered by a mix of precision and improvisation. I used:

1. Electric drill
2. Table circular saw
3. Jigsaw
4. Milling cutter
5. Sandpaper
6. Wood glue

Some tools worked better than others, and many moments required creative problem-solving—especially when dealing with the weight and thickness of the plywood. But that’s the essence of DIY: adapting, learning, and pushing through.

Sound & Soul

At the core of the box are two Celestion Greenbacks, made in the UK—classic speakers known for their warm, vintage tone. In this configuration, the cabinet delivers 50 watts at 16 ohms, echoing the spirit of British blues rock that inspired the build in the first place.

Download the PDF and leave me a like!