Low Down Sound Club, Part Four

[LowBSix]

Originally Posted by CL400Peavey

Right but the whole LF driver + mid driver puts you in the realm of "PA type cab." Those 10's scale analogously with the rest of the 301xLF line. The 10's by them selves would sound like poo alone, they are not full range drivers. If you like the tonality of your 3010LF based cab, I have no doubts that you will like a cab based on the 3012LF, heck you could probably use the same type of mid driver and preserve the tone almost dead on.

Eminence LF 3010 range is 42Hz - 1.6kHz
Faital 6PR150 is 100Hz-5kHz

I'm not needing more than that....

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by LowBSix

Eminence LF 3010 range is 42Hz - 1.6kHz
Faital 6PR150 is 100Hz-5kHz

I'm not needing more than that....

Right so pair that faital mid driver with a 3012LF and you are there, at less weight.

Im not seeing how you see this as more or less of a "PA type cab."

So request a build from Don with those drivers, and appropriate cross over. Ask him to build it in 1/2" okoume ply, and see if he can source an aluminum grill. I bet you come in around 32 pounds.

[LowBSix]

Originally Posted by CL400Peavey

Right so pair that faital mid driver with a 3012LF and you are there, at less weight.

Im not seeing how you see this as more or less of a "PA type cab."

So request a build from Don with those drivers, and appropriate cross over. Ask him to build it in 1/2" okoume ply, and see if he can source an aluminum grill. I bet you come in around 32 pounds.

He used the 1/2" on my cab....
I've considered if that's what I'm gonna do...

[kringle77]

Thats a nice cab, but I don't think that little bit of weight savings is really going to do much for you. I would have went with a taller, thinner profile with a pull out luggage type handle so that you could pull the cab most of the time instead of lifting it. You could actually use one of those on the current cab. I'll bet that it sounds great though.

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by LowBSix

He used the 1/2" on my cab....
I've considered if that's what I'm gonna do...

Okoume would save you on weight though.

[joelb79]

JGR, Tom Bowlus, or anybody else educated on this fearful crossover/l-pad design:

When the knobs are at full does that equal flatter frequency response. Or is the middle of the l-pad knob the "flat" position? My thinking is the l-pad is nothing more than a pad, but how is that pad configured? All the way up on both sounded more like what I imagined a flat sounding cab would be. dialed down it sounded duller and what I would think less 800hz and up sounds like.

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Originally Posted by joelb79

JGR, Tom Bowlus, or anybody else educated on this fearful crossover/l-pad design:

When the knobs are at full does that equal flatter frequency response. Or is the middle of the l-pad knob the "flat" position? My thinking is the l-pad is nothing more than a pad, but how is that pad configured? All the way up on both sounded more like what I imagined a flat sounding cab would be. dialed down it sounded duller and what I would think less 800hz and up sounds like.

It's going to depend on the efficiency of the woofer, midrange, etc. and the particular crossover design.

Looking at the FS thread on your new cabinet, I found this post by JGR:

Originally Posted by JGR

... I've played/seen the cab firsthand, and I also built the low/mid crossover (featured in the latest BGM mag BTW!).

He could probably tell you what's what for your cabinet/crossover/driver combination.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by astack

I think it was in another thread, but sounded like 1/2" BB was standard these days from Don. Was the 3/4" an upgrade or was this built a while ago? Looks like a sweet little cab. Size-wise, would make the weight a bit more manageable. Get a heavy duty backpack, dude!

The 3/4" ply was still a standard when I had that made, but I think Don was also offering 1/2" at the time. The 2-12 cab Don made me is 1/2" ply and it weights about the same, overall, as the 2-8 cab.

[Sliderbass]

Originally Posted by joelb79

Right that is what I gathered after a 1 hour session with the cabinet. I found that this is completely flat, like plugging into a PA cabinet. I see using the post switch on my DI now is going to be a great option sending the sound guy my tone dialed from the preamp.

What I found worked for me as a tone was:

15db pad on
comp 11
gain 1:30-2
bass 10-11
mid FULL or just below (clipping starts when this knob is at full when the clip light does not light yet)
mid switch on 1 (250hz)
treble 9:30

Mid dial was just past middle
tweeter dial was in the middle

This was just some sweet full and present bass tone that had everything I wanted. I can't wait to hear it in some context sunday; and the PA there being substantial enough to test out the post DI thing I want to try. At 300w, this thing is as loud as my UL410 was at 500w; and the tone is so much more open feeling but of course lacking the low-mid that a 410 has. My EQ setting added that back; so now I have more clarity and all the same sweet tone. That's about all the notes I can think of after 1 hour with it. The only thing I dislike is that I can hear the 70db noise floor of the Ampeg head now, and its not pleasureful. I can also hear the pre-amp clipping and it does not sound sweet like a tube but rather harsh and abrasive. I have to be very careful now to use the compressor and gain structure to keep the preamp clean- and then I seem to add hiss in by cranking the master. While I knew there was some noise with the UL410, this cabinet is so flat that you can really really hear the hiss more so than ever before. More to follow on this though..

Happy bass player!

Glad it worked out for you. ...and yes your x-over IS famous!

[TheEmptyCell]

Been playing through some 15" cabs, and I think I'm ready to commit to getting a new cab for myself.

I'm really interested in the fEarful stuff, but I'm not sure I want the low-end extension that they offer. I like the idea of a cab that can put out notes lower than my Dingwall's B, but I don't really go lower than B.

What I think I want is a 15" (or 2x15) + midrange. I want a compact cab, ported, lightweight. If I went with one of his 3015lf + mid designs, I understand that they have amazing off-axis performance. But again, I'm not sure I'll like the tone of a nEarful/ I do have a 3-way 1x12" from before the fEarful designs came out, and like the tone, but it won't handle loud gigs, and I don't recall what drivers are in it. What are the other options for 15's, and what do they very generally sound like?

I basically want something that's loud, and can give me an aggressive, cutting tone. I like a nice bit of trebly clank, but I don't have much need for a tweeter. I'd kind of like a kickback design (like the new fearless cabs or old Hartke/Behringer combos), but is that necessary with the 3015lf? What about other 15" options?

I plan on e-mailing Don, but I'm checking to see what you guys are playing first to get some real-world opinions.

[lomo]

If you want to hear all the Dinger can offer, and clearly, a 15/6 with lots of power will be KILLER, even if you "just" want to hear the B.....I'd go that route just for E on the B string, YMMV.
However, Don can build whatever you want, and a more trad 2-way or single driver cab may suit your taste more. I have an LDS 15/6 and a Greenboy Bassic 15. The latter is much lighter, and handles much less power, but is more old-school, less clear and does not go as low. I love them both, but I only gig the 15/6 (with M9) and if I had to drop to a single cab, that would be it.

Originally Posted by TheEmptyCell

Been playing through some 15" cabs, and I think I'm ready to commit to getting a new cab for myself.

I'm really interested in the fEarful stuff, but I'm not sure I want the low-end extension that they offer. I like the idea of a cab that can put out notes lower than my Dingwall's B, but I don't really go lower than B.

What I think I want is a 15" (or 2x15) + midrange. I want a compact cab, ported, lightweight. If I went with one of his 3015lf + mid designs, I understand that they have amazing off-axis performance. But again, I'm not sure I'll like the tone of a nEarful/ I do have a 3-way 1x12" from before the fEarful designs came out, and like the tone, but it won't handle loud gigs, and I don't recall what drivers are in it. What are the other options for 15's, and what do they very generally sound like?

I basically want something that's loud, and can give me an aggressive, cutting tone. I like a nice bit of trebly clank, but I don't have much need for a tweeter. I'd kind of like a kickback design (like the new fearless cabs or old Hartke/Behringer combos), but is that necessary with the 3015lf? What about other 15" options?

I plan on e-mailing Don, but I'm checking to see what you guys are playing first to get some real-world opinions.

[kringle77]

I personally would go with a pair of eminence 3015 drivers and a faital pro 5" mid. Cross over to the mid at around 1.5khz and you will a clear but punchy cab. There are technical reasons not to but, I'd also have a switch available to run the 15's fullrange as well since you would get more of a regular bass cab sound with better dispersion from the 5". If I ever have a cab built with 15's again, this is exactly what I would do. Those 3015 (non lf) are just amazing drivers.

[kringle77]

Lomo's 15/6 with the 3015lf is an awsome cab in every way. I prefer a more bass cab like tone so, the 3015 made me happier, it just needs the extra top end of a mid.

[astack]

Originally Posted by kringle77

I personally would go with a pair of eminence 3015 drivers and a faital pro 5" mid. Cross over to the mid at around 1.5khz and you will a clear but punchy cab. There are technical reasons not to but, I'd also have a switch available to run the 15's fullrange as well since you would get more of a regular bass cab sound with better dispersion from the 5". If I ever have a cab built with 15's again, this is exactly what I would do. Those 3015 (non lf) are just amazing drivers.

I'd gig that That Eminence 2.5k peak will get that clank through. There's a lot of possibilities with the 215+mid format. Fearless and NV215 being at the two ends of the spectrum.

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by kringle77

I personally would go with a pair of eminence 3015 drivers and a faital pro 5" mid. Cross over to the mid at around 1.5khz and you will a clear but punchy cab. There are technical reasons not to but, I'd also have a switch available to run the 15's fullrange as well since you would get more of a regular bass cab sound with better dispersion from the 5". If I ever have a cab built with 15's again, this is exactly what I would do. Those 3015 (non lf) are just amazing drivers.

What did 'nt you like about the Faital 15's ? I've been told that they have a JBL K140 kind of tone, which is my favorite 15 of all time.

[kringle77]

The faital is a great driver and probably bright enough on it's own for me but, you still have the problem of off-axis dispersion so, like it or not, for that you need a smaller driver. So, since I would be adding a mid driver, I would go with the eminence because they can handle alittle more power and I like the slight mid grind that they have. I didn't find the mid spike harsh at all and actually gave it a nice character. LDS built the 2x15 I had and I really loved it but, wanted more top end and dispersion. I wish that I would have had my fdeck hpf3 at the time too.

[3rdcurve]

Originally Posted by bassike

Got my first LDS before Christmas
Can't get over how this cab makes my fretless sound.

[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

What r the specs? Is that a 12 or a 15?

[LowBSix]

If you want a LDS 1010/6 in Tweed without the 5-6 week wait...

It sounds better than it looks and it is beautiful... Click link in my signature...

[LowBSix]

I talked with Don today... I just may be sending the cabinet back to him and he suggested taking the drivers I have in the 1010/6 and building 2 cabinets as a 10/6 and a 10 sub...

or a 12/6

Comments?

[::::BASSIST::::]

Originally Posted by LowBSix

I talked with Don today... I just may be sending the cabinet back to him and he suggested taking the drivers I have in the 1010/6 and building 2 cabinets as a 10/6 and a 10 sub...

or a 12/6

Comments?

^ My suggestion is that whatever you eventually decide on building **insist** on using Italian Poplar for the wood. My DIY 15/6 cab is 43LBS and only about 3LBS heavier than the exact same cab I had in fibreglass.

The wood choice makes the biggest difference in weight by far. It is a soft wood but if it is braced well it will be fine with about 3 coats of duratex.

Now if you asked me (and I really don't intend to be pushy here) a fEARful 12/6 or a TC thunderchild in fibreglass from Mike Arnopol would the lightest option for a bass cab that can still easily hang with acoustic drums. For a few pounds more and less money, I'd go Italian Poplar. I built my 12/6 out of Auraco with the side panels being IP and my weight is 36LBS. I bet you could get it to 30, or close, with some thought.