It's getting harder and harder to find good installers.

[Milk Mayne 10+ year member]

@bbeljefe what you're doing sounds pretty similar to myself. I've been into audio since I was a child, and got into the mobile scene thanks to a friends uncle when I was 13. My first car, I paid a local shop a lot of money to do an install for me. Afterwards, I made it about five minutes down the road before the back end of my car was on fire. Ended up having to file a suit against them because somehow they felt it was not they're responsibility even though I drove it out of the install bay and made it only a few miles down the road.

Anyway, that pushed me towards learning all the ins and outs of mobile electronics installations to save myself and any friends the pain of having their hard earned money pissed away. Built my first enclosure at 17, and for a couple years I used to change setups like underwear. So I've done probably 150 or so custom enclosures since then. Everything from your standard rectangular ported boxes, to stealth designs, custom consoles, kick panels and fibreglass. I attended a university for two years in an EE major, then dropped out to join the military, performing a job dealing with various electronics installations, repairs, and construction. And about six months ago after having trouble finding worthwhile employment (released from Army due to combat injuries sustained in Afghanistan), I started my own business doing precisely what you are out of my home. So far business has been pretty good, although I wish the custom orders would be more often. I tend to advertise on local social networks. What means have you used to reach out to your customer base?

 

[NuckinFutz 10+ year member]

Shoot. I may get a hold of you in the next few weeks then

Trying to decide what I want to do with it right now.

 

[Steven2002]

Bbeljefe, your console box is insane nice. In my single cab 2006 silverado , I thought about going a different setup where I have room to mount my amp. Currently my truck has a ported box behind the back seat. I have bucket style seats with a seating area in between the seats. I had thought about removing the middle portion and replace it with a ported box that held a beafier sub than my P3 Rockford Fosgate. I might let you know when I'm ready to get that done.

 

[calebkhill 10+ year member]

Look on those Facebook audio groups. Might be able to find someone underground in your area.

 

[des343 10+ year member]

I installed all my own gear and it saved me a ton of money but getting someone locally to build a box is practically impossible. I wanted a box for one ported 12 originally. My goal was to get a real good high rms sub and jam the hell out of it with power. I ended up settling for 2 sealed Kenwood 12s. Kind of hard to have a stereo installation shop without the ability to build custom boxes. Is that pretty much everywhere now? Not to mention they are telling people it will be 3 weeks before they can do installs yet they have no cars in the bay. Kind of sounds like to me they are about to go under or just don't care. Has it got that bad for installers these days with the boom on internet sales?

Same here man and they want literally an arm and a leg. To do it..and no one want to help just for the sake of the hobby or fun ?an kind of depressing

 

[calebkhill 10+ year member]

Same here man and they want literally an arm and a leg. To do it..and no one want to help just for the sake of the hobby or fun ?an kind of depressing

in a loud, deep, barbaric voice, A shouting comes from the sky :::::: "BECOME YOUR OWN INSTALLER":::::

 

[drockstar 10+ year member]

Bbeljefe, you're really not that far off. 90-100 miles. I may do that when I get time.

Steven, I went to his shop today. Wow, definitely worth the trip down. I signed with him for doors and bed box about an hour ago, he's starting the doors next week.