LDS 15/6 versus Barefaced Big One 15/6

[SactoBass]

Hello TB'ers. I am looking at buying a 15/6 cab. I am looking at the "tall" LDS 15/6 and the Barefaced Big One 15/6. Both are similar to Greenboy's fEarful 15/6 in design. However, I am not into building my own cabs, so I am looking at buying a tall LDS 15/6 or a Barefaced Big One 15/6.

I am interested in hearing whatever comments you wish to share regarding a comparison of the tall LDS 15/6 cab and the Barefaced Big One.

Here are some facts as I understand them:

• Both have the Eminence Kappalite 3015LF woofer.
• The LDS uses the 18sound mid. Barefaced uses a Beyma mid.
• Both are crossed over at around 800hz.
• The LDS cab is around $650 shipped. The Barefaced is around $1200 shipped.
• Both cabs are roughly 30" tall, 20" wide, 16" deep.
• LDS uses 3/4" plywood. Barefaced uses dual density plywood that is less than 1/2" thick.
• Both cabs weigh between 45 and 50 pounds.
• The LDS has a lead time of 8-12 weeks. The Barefaced cab is readily available anytime.

Other than the obvious cost differential and lead time, what comments/opinions do you have that might sway you one way or the other on which cab to buy?

Please note: I have already read all of the LDS threads, fEarful threads, and Barefaced threads. I was unable to find a thread or info on a comparison of the two subject cabs, hence my post here.

I play in classic rock cover bands at moderate to loud volume levels, sometimes without PA support for the bass. Some venues are indoors, and some are outdoors.

All comments on comparing these two cabs are certainly welcome, however, I am particularly interested in comments relating to performance comparison.

It would certainly be cool to hear comments from Bill Fitzmaurice, Greenboy, rpsands, KenJ and others who are familiar with these cabs, but I welcome comments from anyone with input.

Thanks.

[Top_Ten]

I can't give you the info you're looking for -- i.e., a performance comparison -- but one other consideration is that, with LDS, you can pick how you want your cab to look -- covering, hardware, grill, etc. Also, you can pick your crossover -- it doesn't have to be the 800hz that you mentioned (I got the 1200hz crossover, per Don's recommendation).

Also, you probably already know this, but despite the salivating over this type of cab here on TB, they take a little getting used to and don't play nice with certain heads. I really love my LDS 15/6, but I had to try a few amps with it before I found the combination where I really felt like I was "getting it" with this cab.

I didn't like it at all with my Shuttle 9.0. It was better with my LMIII, but it was only with my Alembic F-1x/Stewart set up where I really understood what these cabs can do. Based on the Kern/QSC set up in your sig, you should be in pretty good shape.

[GregC]

IIRC, Barefaced is based in the UK, and I know LDS is in Michigan. I wonder if anyone has actually tried both? (I understand you're talking about the implications of the differing specs as well.) Also, shipping the Barefaced cab to California would cost some serious ducats, I'd imagine.

[billfitzmaurice]

Similar drivers in similar size boxes are going to give similar results. Some voicing differences will exist, but there's no way anyone else can say what your voicing preference is. I'd go by price if it was me. If that LDS price is accurate IMO it's at least $150 less than it should be.

[Top_Ten]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Similar drivers in similar size boxes are going to give similar results. Some voicing differences will exist, but there's no way anyone else can say what your voicing preference is. I'd go by price if it was me. If that LDS price is accurate IMO it's at least $150 less than it should be.

That's about what my LDS 15/6 cost as well -- around $650 shipped. Actually, it might even have been a little less -- I recall it being about $550 for the cab and then shipping was around $60.

[mntngrown]

I know you are doing your homework, but you are missing the LDS concept. You posit that the LDS cab is "XYZ" and the barefaced is ____ Don Oatman of LDS is a quality custom builder and will build upon request, not from a list of LDS pre engineered specs. There is no set LDS 4x10 or 2x15 or (insert wish cab). Hachikid and Don conspired on a wild 10's and 18 cab! Don does not have an inventory of preconcieved cabs waiting in a warehouse for 10 day deliverey.
Give him your dream cab plus deposit and hope for 10 week delivery. I have passed the 5 month mark.
When it gets here it will either ROCK! or Don will work with me on why it don't! The day he blows anybody off I am sure they will post here. Got time and your own ideas, you can't beat LDS price and quality. Need somethin this week look elsewhere. IMHOIMHO

[mntngrown]

I know you are doing your homework, but you are missing the LDS concept. You posit that the LDS cab is "XYZ" and the barefaced is ____ Don Oatman of LDS is a quality custom builder and will build upon request, not from a list of LDS pre engineered specs. There is no set LDS 4x10 or 2x15 or (insert wish cab). Hachikid and Don conspired on a wild 10's and 18 cab! Don does not have an inventory of preconcieved cabs waiting in a warehouse for 10 day deliverey.
Give him your dream cab plus deposit and hope for 10 week delivery. I have passed the 5 month mark.
When it gets here it will either ROCK! or Don will work with me on why it don't! The day he blows anybody off I am sure they will post here. Got time and your own ideas, you can't beat LDS price and quality. Need somethin this week look elsewhere. IMHOIMHO

[dannster]

Originally Posted by mntngrown

I know you are doing your homework, but you are missing the LDS concept. You posit that the LDS cab is "XYZ" and the barefaced is ____

Not XYZ but what he wants Don to build is XYZ i.e. the standard tall fEarful 15/6.

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

If that LDS price is accurate IMO it's at least $150 less than it should be.

Sssssssshhhhhh!! hush now...he might hear you!

[mntngrown]

the "tall" LDS 15/6
The line above this one is yours. There is no such animal on a website drop down menu. Every LDS build is a one off in concept. However he has made a bunch for folks, in this category. It is not like contacting MESA or Bergantino or Aguilar and asking them to ship their "XYZS" cab.
LDS website told you this too, if you went there.\

[dannster]

Originally Posted by mntngrown

the "tall" LDS 15/6
The line above this one is yours. There is no such animal on a website drop down menu. Every LDS build is a one off in concept. However he has made a bunch for folks, in this category. It is not like contacting MESA or Bergantino or Aguilar and asking them to ship their "XYZS" cab.
LDS website told you this too, if you went there.\

No one is disputing Don's custom order status/ability/way of doing things. Why are you questioning what the OP wants? Is it not custom enough for you? Are you the gatekeeper? Just weird.

[mntngrown]

Originally Posted by dannster

Not XYZ but what he wants Don to build is XYZ i.e. the standard tall fEarful 15/6.

No such thing in his toolbox in my personal experience and more importantly research on product delivered. Ask folks like "Thud" or many others. Don dances to his own drummer,(not Greenboy's) and make no mistake all quality but not necess/ a fEarful design and there are many threads explaining size differences etc. I will inspect mine when it gets here and if it has tube ports, aka waste line PVC vs the fEarful shelf port and interior cu/ft volume than I requested, I will act accordingly. Danster please explain your post. I have yet to see anyone post on these many applicable threads that they requested an exact fEarful build from LDS and received it spot on per design. I have been in the chorus of folks who have said "close is good" Now I was suggesting to the OP that there is no specific LDS 15/6 and you are answering for the OP that He/She meant fEarful 15/6!
There is no LDS spec'd 15/6 on a website and in fact Greenboy has recently questioned nEarfuls percieved values, suggesting the builders may not be getting it right.
So please explain in further detail.

[mntngrown]

Originally Posted by SactoBass

Hello TB'ers. I am looking at buying a 15/6 cab. I am looking at the "tall" LDS 15/6 and the Barefaced Big One 15/6. Both are similar to Greenboy's fEarful 15/6 in design. However, I am not into building my own cabs, so I am looking at buying a tall LDS 15/6 or a Barefaced Big One 15/6.

I am interested in hearing whatever comments you wish to share regarding a comparison of the tall LDS 15/6 cab and the Barefaced Big One.

Here are some facts as I understand them:

• Both have the Eminence Kappalite 3015LF woofer.
• The LDS uses the 18sound mid. Barefaced uses a Beyma mid.
• Both are crossed over at around 800hz.
• The LDS cab is around $650 shipped. The Barefaced is around $1200 shipped.
• Both cabs are roughly 30" tall, 20" wide, 16" deep.
• LDS uses 3/4" plywood. Barefaced uses dual density plywood that is less than 1/2" thick.
• Both cabs weigh between 45 and 50 pounds.
• The LDS has a lead time of 8-12 weeks. The Barefaced cab is readily available anytime.

Other than the obvious cost differential and lead time, what comments/opinions do you have that might sway you one way or the other on which cab to buy?

Please note: I have already read all of the LDS threads, fEarful threads, and Barefaced threads. I was unable to find a thread or info on a comparison of the two subject cabs, hence my post here.

I play in classic rock cover bands at moderate to loud volume levels, sometimes without PA support for the bass. Some venues are indoors, and some are outdoors.

All comments on comparing these two cabs are certainly welcome, however, I am particularly interested in comments relating to performance comparison.

It would certainly be cool to hear comments from Bill Fitzmaurice, Greenboy, rpsands, KenJ and others who are familiar with these cabs, but I welcome comments from anyone with input.

Thanks.

Sactobass says in plain English above danster. Need an interpreter? i can link you to the LDS site where you can click on the LDS 15/6 as requested! Sheesh

[silky smoove]

mntngrown: Don does in fact have two standard 15/6 models that he offers at a standard rate. As is the case with anything from LDS, you can customize to your heart's content, but these are offered from Don as a standard model. He's included the "standard" text in emails and someone even quoted it in the LDS megathread about 38,000 posts ago.

[dannster]

Originally Posted by mntngrown

So please explain in further detail.

This thread has been hijacked enough already. I honestly have no ****ing clue what you are bunched up about. I'm done. Have a nice day.

To the OP I'd opt for the LDS you want. Cheaper, closer to home and most likely worth the wait. You could have 2 for the price of getting that Bareface across the pond and through customs. Don will be moving to the Seattle area sometime soonish too. I'm personally going to wait until he is here to order up my cab.

[SactoBass]

Originally Posted by dannster

No one is disputing Don's custom order status/ability/way of doing things. Why are you questioning what the OP wants? Is it not custom enough for you? Are you the gatekeeper? Just weird.

Gozer the Traveller; he will come in one of the pre-chosen forms.
During the rectification of the Vuldronaii, the Traveller came as a large and moving Torb!
Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the Meketrex Supplicants, they chose a new form for him -- that of a Giant Sloar!
Many Shubs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Sloar that day I can tell you!

LOL!!! That movie is a friggin classic!

Okay, now back to the topic.

I appreciate mntngrown sharing the fact that Don will build anything you want. Yep, Don sure will! If you can dream it, he will build it! For clarification and for the purposes of this thread, I am only interested in his 15/6 cab that is similar to the fEarful 15/6. I e-mailed Don about his 15/6 cab, and he said he makes it in two sizes: the tall one which is 30" high, 20" wide, 16" deep, or the "squattier" version which is 22" high, 24" wide, 16" deep. He volunteered those dimensions. I did not ask for those dimensions. He said the tall version seems to be the more popular one. That is the one that I am interested in, and that is the one that I seek comments on comparing it to the Barefaced Big One which has essentially the same dimensions (as does Greenboy's fEarful 15/6 design plans).

Bill FM made a good point (come to think of it, *all* of his points are always good) in stating that similar sized boxes [with similar drivers] will yield similar results.

I appreciate Top Ten commenting on amp types. I do indeed think that the Kern and QSC that I have will work well. My stereo power amp provides around 750 watts RMS per channel into an 8-ohm load. So I plan to use one side of my power amp to drive the cab. The power amp has a selectable 33hz high pass filter too, which is nice.

Note to GregC: the $1200 cost of the Barefaced cab includes shipping to my front porch in California.

dannster: you are correct......I specified Don's "tall" 15/6 (per Don's dimensions that he gave me via e-mail). Btw, *I* didn't actually coin the term "tall" for Don's tall 15/6. That term came from many TB'ers in the LDS megathreads.

Even though this thread is less than one day old at this point, I am beginning to think that as long as I am willing to wait for Don to build the cab, it is worth the cost savings as it seems to me, based on the information that is available from all sources, that the LDS cab would, for all intents and purposes, perform commensurate with the Barefaced Big One. Putting it another way, the Barefaced costs twice as much. Does it provide twice the performance? I'm not seeing that it does.

Sorry if all of this seems overly analytical. I have been a civil engineer for over 25 years, and I have this derranged habit of collecting as much data as possible, then weighing all of the pros and cons of each alternative, and selecting the final product. I guess my work spills over into my hobbies as well.

Please keep your comments coming! I find all of them helpful.

[SactoBass]

Originally Posted by dannster

To the OP I'd opt for the LDS you want. Cheaper, closer to home and most likely worth the wait. You could have 2 for the price of getting that Bareface across the pond and through customs.

Yeah, two LDS talls for the price of one Barefaced Big One. Excellent point dannster!! At the moment I am typing this, I am smiling as I envision a pair of LDS tall 15/6's stacked on their sides, with each side of my power amp feeding each cab. Anyone need any buildings knocked down??? Vavoom!

[SactoBass]

Originally Posted by silky smoove

mntngrown: Don does in fact have two standard 15/6 models that he offers at a standard rate. As is the case with anything from LDS, you can customize to your heart's content, but these are offered from Don as a standard model. He's included the "standard" text in emails and someone even quoted it in the LDS megathread about 38,000 posts ago.

Silky: yep, you are correct. That is exactly how Don put it in his e-mail to me.....two standard sizes of his 15/6. Btw, as a side note, I recall reading in one of the LDS megathreads that you ordered a pair of tall LDS 15/6's, and you ended up selling one of them to a relative because two of them together simply wreaked too much havoc on humanity. Wow!!

[rpsands]

The Barefaced crossover is going to be a lot better most likely. Alex has invested a *lot* of time in perfecting his crossover. His bracing is likely to be a minor bit better, and the weight might be a little less (5lbs or so).

If it were me, I would go with the LDS. The magic price point for me with Alex's cabs would be closer to 950ish - just the damn exchange rate and imports and all that jazz that kill it. I did go with the LDS.

That said, if you're really wanting boutique level quality, Alex is there, and LDS is not quite. His price to performance is fantastic though, I don't dispute that.

[dannster]

Originally Posted by SactoBass

Yeah, two LDS talls for the price of one Barefaced Big One. Excellent point dannster!! At the moment I am typing this, I am smiling as I envision a pair of LDS tall 15/6's stacked on their sides, with each side of my power amp feeding each cab. Anyone need any buildings knocked down??? Vavoom!

You might even condsider having them book-ended. So that if you stack one upside down on the other you have your 6's lined up vertically together. Or get the 15sub version of the same thing
(Like this) to sit under your 15/6. Probably cost less too. Would be a sweet setup. I myself can't decide If I want that arrangement or the big 151566 refer style. Modular seems more useful and accommodating.

[SactoBass]

Originally Posted by rpsands

The Barefaced crossover is going to be a lot better most likely. Alex has invested a *lot* of time in perfecting his crossover. His bracing is likely to be a minor bit better, and the weight might be a little less (5lbs or so).

If it were me, I would go with the LDS. The magic price point for me with Alex's cabs would be closer to 950ish - just the damn exchange rate and imports and all that jazz that kill it. I did go with the LDS.

That said, if you're really wanting boutique level quality, Alex is there, and LDS is not quite. His price to performance is fantastic though, I don't dispute that.

Thanks rp. In your opinion, what would make Alex's crossover better than the one Don uses?