Thoughts on fEARful cabs for distorted/aggressive sound

[cymatics]

I'm looking to upgrade my cab setup (currently two SVT 15E) and am intrigued by all I've read about the fEARfuls. I was hoping to get some input from fEARful users on how these cabs might work with my setup/playing style. The relevant info is as follows:

• I rarely (if ever) play anything without some manner of distortion
• I use a pick and play very percussively
• I play through either a Magnavox era SVT, a Boogie 400 (the non plus version) or a Sunn Beta Bass
• The sounds range from thick/deep/fuzzy (think Big Muff or Boss ODB-3) to piercing/metallic (think RAT or Tube Screamer)
• I play two Gibson Grabbers (one tuned BEAD, the other EADG) but obviously not at the same time

Based solely on what I've read, I'm thinking about a 15/6 Tube and a 15 Sub.

Any thoughts?

Also... seeing as there is no way to try one in a store... if anyone has a 15/6 and would be willing to meet up for a listening session that would be amazing. I'm in Baltimore and I'd be happy to drive an hour or so to meet up.

[MysticMichael]

I don't understand the premise of the question...

Any quality cab, well-designed and using quality components, ought to be able to reproduce just about any kind of tone and frequency range, within its technical specs. There's nothing about the nature of distortion (to my knowledge) that would make it any more difficult to reproduce than a crystal clear tone. On the contrary, any potential speaker distortion would probably be masked by the distortion coming from the amp - thereby making the crystal clear tone the more demanding goal to reach.

If anything, it seems to me that the fEarful would likely reproduce more of whatever you put into it, than would a standard, run-of-the-mill commercial cab.

Does that help?

MM

[zachoff]

cab design should be fine. Just don't get aluminum coned speakers.

[Jared Lash]

I didn't have a true-to-spec fEarful, but I did have an LDS 15/6 that I sold and am actually in line to have Don build me a second one at the moment.

And while my goals are different than yours (synthy tones rather than aggressive/metallic ones) I definitely used gated fuzzes, overdrives and distortions (and a Prunes & Custard however you want to categorize that effect) and they all worked very well.

For me the lack of a tweeter was a bonus. I don't like the sound of dirt pedals through a tweetered cab. Considering that a tweeter can help accentuate a picked attack I don't know if you'll miss it or not, but the fEarful should make you very happy with fuzz and distortion.

[Fuzzbass]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

I don't understand the premise of the question...

Any quality cab, well-designed and using quality components, ought to be able to reproduce just about any kind of tone and frequency range, within its technical specs. There's nothing about the nature of distortion (to my knowledge) that would make it any more difficult to reproduce than a crystal clear tone. On the contrary, any potential speaker distortion would probably be masked by the distortion coming from the amp - thereby making the crystal clear tone the more demanding goal to reach.

Those who use tube amps and/or overdrive/distortion/fuzz have different needs. First, as Jared explained, tweeters are usually avoided because distortion can sound horrible in their frequency range -- the dreaded "buzzy bees" effect. Second, sealed cabs are sometimes preferred because they can tame the powerful low end that comes from tube amps. So, the question is legit.

[cymatics]

Originally Posted by MysticMichael

I don't understand the premise of the question...

Any quality cab, well-designed and using quality components, ought to be able to reproduce just about any kind of tone and frequency range, within its technical specs.

That statement contradicts most of my empirical observations in twenty years of trying gear. A speaker cabinet that is well designed and well implemented will not do all things equally well simply by virtue of its design and implementation.

There's nothing about the nature of distortion (to my knowledge) that would make it any more difficult to reproduce than a crystal clear tone.

I'm not concerned with the ease or difficulty a fEARful has with reproducing a distorted signal... I'm concerned with how it subjectively sounds when doing it.

If anything, it seems to me that the fEarful would likely reproduce more of whatever you put into it, than would a standard, run-of-the-mill commercial cab.

That's kinda what I'm guessing... but I'm just guessing... which is why I'm asking for user's opinions.

[honestjohnny]

I have the proto-fEarful, a Carvin LS1503, and I can tell you for certain that your fuzz/dist of choice will only sound better through a 3-way cab. You may need to tweek your EQ to taste, but these 3-ways are very responsive to EQ. As for the tweeter, the high frequency driver in the fEarful is not a piezo tweeter that sounds horrible with distortion. It is a PA type compression driver with a much smoother sound. Also, it's crossover point is 3-5kHz, which is much higher than those cheap piezo tweets, which are usually at 1kHz. Bottom line, unless you EQ a lot of highs into your fEarful, you may not notice the HF driver.

[billfitzmaurice]

Probably a bad idea. Midrange drivers and tweeters are easily overpowered and blown with heavily distorted content. IMO it doesn't sound good either. That's why guitar amps don't use them.

If anything, it seems to me that the fEarful would likely reproduce more of whatever you put into it, than would a standard, run-of-the-mill commercial cab.

In this case that's the problem. To get a good result you'd need a good EQ post-distortion to remove the excess harmonic content before it gets to the speakers. Guitar cabs do that by the design of their drivers.

Builders of my Omni full range cabs who've not cared for them typically are those who use lots of distortion. When asked I tell them they're better off with a different design, but unfortunately not all bother to ask before they build.

[cymatics]

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

I didn't have a true-to-spec fEarful, but I did have an LDS 15/6 that I sold and am actually in line to have Don build me a second one at the moment.

And while my goals are different than yours (synthy tones rather than aggressive/metallic ones) I definitely used gated fuzzes, overdrives and distortions (and a Prunes & Custard however you want to categorize that effect) and they all worked very well.

For me the lack of a tweeter was a bonus. I don't like the sound of dirt pedals through a tweetered cab. Considering that a tweeter can help accentuate a picked attack I don't know if you'll miss it or not, but the fEarful should make you very happy with fuzz and distortion.

Jared:

I'm with you on the tweeter issue... a BIG no-no as far as I'm concerned. I do like an extended mid to upper mid-range, but for my purposes, anything above 5kHz begins to sound like a swarm of angry bees. The tones you are describing are in the same ballpark as what I'm going for so that sounds promising. I'm definitely considering having LDS build the cabs for me if I go ahead with this.

[rockstarbassist]

For OD/distorted toanez, 12's are your friend. More than a "Sub" sounding setup.

[BurningSkies]

Considering that the designer of the fEarful cabinets likes overdriven tones and also enjoys using effects would indicate that this cab would be a good choice. If you add in the fact that the 6" speaker is a lot less problematic at reproducing higher end distortion than a standard tweeter, you're in pretty good shape.

Now if you add in that the fEarfull is designed to faithfully reproduce what you feed it, you can see that it would also be a potential fit. Although you may find it shows off any weaknesses in your effects chain.

[fu22ba55]

I'll let you know.

I'm currently building two 15subs for this exact purpose. I'm about two weeks out from being done. (I used to run two 18" subs full range, so I'm looking for the same sound in a smaller package)

I would steer clear of the 15/6. Mr BFM knows what he's talking about. Crossovers don't like what we do to them.

I play my magnavox SVT like this 100% of the time. (choose SVT clips in link)

I figured I'd go with either the 15sub or the 212sub. I went for the 15subs for easier schlep-i-tude.

The only issue I can see (based on my experience with the non-LF 3015s in TL606s) is that they can take way more than the SVT can throw at them, so they tend to break up a bit later than a 200W rated speaker. But that's good. You're not in danger of cooking them with a mere 150W per driver (assuming you use two.)

I'll let you know.

[rpsands]

I use a crapload of distortion through my fEarful. It sounds amazing. there might be a few clips up somewhere if you search my posts.

With the amount of padding and the thermal handling of the 6nd410, you're not going to blow it with fuzz unless you're blowing the 15 too, most likely.

[Swift713]

I would think it would sound fine. I loves me some distortion through my fEarful.

[JoshuaTSP]

I play fuzzed out bass 85% of the time.....tried a pair of Acme B4s.

While the cabs sounded GREAT clean......I pretty much ended up attenuating the tweeter and mid-driver all the way down for dirty stuff.

With the Acme cabs....they're super flat......and I realized that I prefer a colored cab.
My SWR 2x15 has Emi Kappalites.....seems to be very hyped in the mids, and low mids.

So I'd say avoiding the tweeters would be a good idea.

I play a 800RB, and I would really like to try using two cabs, utilizing the bi-amping feature.

[cymatics]

Originally Posted by fu22ba55

I'll let you know.

I'm currently building two 15subs for this exact purpose. I'm about two weeks out from being done. (I used to run two 18" subs full range, so I'm looking for the same sound in a smaller package)

I would steer clear of the 15/6. Mr BFM knows what he's talking about. Crossovers don't like what we do to them.

I play my magnavox SVT like this 100% of the time. (choose SVT clips in link)

I figured I'd go with either the 15sub or the 212sub. I went for the 15subs for easier schlep-i-tude.

The only issue I can see (based on my experience with the non-LF 3015s in TL606s) is that they can take way more than the SVT can throw at them, so they tend to break up a bit later than a 200W rated speaker. But that's good. You're not in danger of cooking them with a mere 150W per driver (assuming you use two.)

I'll let you know.

That clips sound effing great! I can't wait to hear your 15Sub build. No worries on losing the speaker breakup... I prefer it that way. Thanks for the feedback.

[Passinwind]

Yeah, a crossover and a 6 incher don't work well for distortion...

Or maybe you happen to like this sort of ugliness?

[thudfromafar]

Agreed with all the other fEarful users here, if anything, it's a better cab for distortion than most others out there...

[wcriley]

I use distortion through my 12/6 (Alpha mid, no tweeter).
I haven't blown anything (yet) and the cab sounds great whether I'm playing low register stuff or doing "lead guitar" lines in the upper registers.

[cybersnyder]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

Yeah, a crossover and a 6 incher don't work well for distortion...

Or maybe you happen to like this sort of ugliness?

Nice! I always took you for a more blue grassy or jazz style from the avatar pic. Heh.