A PHOTOGALLERY OF A KLIPSCHORN FOLDED BASS HORN REPLICA BUILD
The photographs shown below were taken during the assembly of a Klipschorn folded bass horn replica. The photos are not arranged in any particular order. The project was undertaken to illustrate the complexity of the horns construction. Building a Klipschorn bass unit, without dedicated tooling, is a significant challenge even for an experienced cabinet maker.
The plans used to build the horn below were from actual D-sized blueprints that appear to be from Klipsch. They are not dated but have been in my possession since the late 1970s. The build below deviates from the plans in three areas, the throat opening (drawing shows 6x13", here it is 3x13"), the thickness of the the two panels that comprise the woofer back chamber (drawing shows 1/2", here it's 3/4" Baltic birch multi-ply) and the front panel (drawing specifies 1/2", here it's 3/4").
The build is an accurate replica of the factory horn* as evidenced by comparison of the complex impedance between the the two using the Klipsch K33E woofer.
Note that in the build shown below, the panel opposite the woofer access opening is stiffened by two "tabs" created by the three 90° notches cut into the rail. The tabs, when glued to the panel surface, provide considerable resistance to spurious resonance. This design element, detailed in the plans used here, is not found in either the original plans or the current factory build*.
*A photo of a factory build is shown at the bottom of the page.
EACH IMAGE BELOW IS A THUMBNAIL, CLICK ON IT AND A SEPARATE BROWSER WINDOW WILL OPEN
The photographs shown below were taken during the assembly of a Klipschorn folded bass horn replica. The photos are not arranged in any particular order. The project was undertaken to illustrate the complexity of the horns construction. Building a Klipschorn bass unit, without dedicated tooling, is a significant challenge even for an experienced cabinet maker.
The plans used to build the horn below were from actual D-sized blueprints that appear to be from Klipsch. They are not dated but have been in my possession since the late 1970s. The build below deviates from the plans in three areas, the throat opening (drawing shows 6x13", here it is 3x13"), the thickness of the the two panels that comprise the woofer back chamber (drawing shows 1/2", here it's 3/4" Baltic birch multi-ply) and the front panel (drawing specifies 1/2", here it's 3/4").
The build is an accurate replica of the factory horn* as evidenced by comparison of the complex impedance between the the two using the Klipsch K33E woofer.
Note that in the build shown below, the panel opposite the woofer access opening is stiffened by two "tabs" created by the three 90° notches cut into the rail. The tabs, when glued to the panel surface, provide considerable resistance to spurious resonance. This design element, detailed in the plans used here, is not found in either the original plans or the current factory build*.
*A photo of a factory build is shown at the bottom of the page.
EACH IMAGE BELOW IS A THUMBNAIL, CLICK ON IT AND A SEPARATE BROWSER WINDOW WILL OPEN
KLIPSCHORN FACTORY BUILD
Photo of a Klipschorn work-in-progress at the Hope, AR facility (circa 2000). Compare to the photos above (photo courtesy Klipsch, LLC).
Note additional aft braces along tail-board panel shown in vintage unit, lower left. Design is similar to the original embodiment of Klipschorn first produced by Klipsch (lower right). In drawing, note "splitter" attached to tail-board.
Note early versions on the horn (below) employed the reinforcement tabs which provide stiffening to the sides of the horn. In the replica build a variant of the method is used.
NORTH
READING ENGINEERING Photo of a Klipschorn work-in-progress at the Hope, AR facility (circa 2000). Compare to the photos above (photo courtesy Klipsch, LLC).
Note additional aft braces along tail-board panel shown in vintage unit, lower left. Design is similar to the original embodiment of Klipschorn first produced by Klipsch (lower right). In drawing, note "splitter" attached to tail-board.
Note early versions on the horn (below) employed the reinforcement tabs which provide stiffening to the sides of the horn. In the replica build a variant of the method is used.
NORTH READING, MASSACHUSETTS 01864 USA