TL 15", fEARful and 2x12 driver question

[webmonster]

I've started gigging again. (Hooray!)
I've got a TL-606 style cab with an Eminence 200W which I've had for many years and I really like it. I used to have another TL with a Black Widow driver, but I sold that a few years ago...

Should I get another TL cab or should I think about building a fEARful 15/6?
I'm not sure if the TL would go well with a fEARful or if I would even need the TL - sounds like a fEARful can handle a lot of power.

Given that I sometimes want to play with fairly low powered valve amps, two cabs for +3dB or one efficient cab would be desirable?

The other cab I have is a late 1960's Jansen bassman (NZ) 2x12 cab which I wasn't considering gigging with, but perhaps I would if I changed the original 20w Philips drivers for something better. Any suggestions?
The matching amp is 75W:

[dukeorock]

If you like the 606, you'll love two of em

I'm obviously biased toward the greenboy cabs, and the 15/6 is amazing and goes very loud.

[::::BASSIST::::]

I can't comment too much on the tube amp thing as I'm not a tube amp guy.

However, there is a fEARful owner (cableguy perhaps?) who had a TL606 and then built a fEARful and reported that the fEARful was night and day better.

That said a pair of TL606 loaded with 3015 drivers would probably be really sensitive and get the most spl out of your rig.

[Downunderwonder]

Two issues, tone and sensitivity.

Dual cabs with sensitive drivers seals the deal if you like 3015 in tl606.

[webmonster]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

Two issues, tone and sensitivity.

Dual cabs with sensitive drivers seals the deal if you like 3015 in tl606.

I've not had the chance to hear a 3015 in a TL cab - what is their 'sensitivity' rating? (is this dB/m?)
A TL cab could be tuned successfully for a 3015?

What might the sensitivity be of the Eminence currently in my TL cab? Its 200W and was built new for me in 1993 if that is any clue.
I do like the tone of what I have, so another of these would be nice.

[webmonster]

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

I can't comment too much on the tube amp thing as I'm not a tube amp guy.

I've got a custom built hybrid amp (300ish W) too that I want to rebuild, but currently my favourite is a Selmer 50 that I had reconditioned recently.
I took it to a gig and it performed really well with the single TL cab. It kept up with two AC30's being slightly driven and I could not hear it distorting, although I imagine it would have if I turned it up much more.

However, there is a fEARful owner (cableguy perhaps?) who had a TL606 and then built a fEARful and reported that the fEARful was night and day better.

Interesting. What sorts of genres of music and/or basses was he using?

That said a pair of TL606 loaded with 3015 drivers would probably be really sensitive and get the most spl out of your rig.

If the technology is there for good SPL for a given input level, then I'd like to consider it.
The fEARfuls use 3015's don't they?

[webmonster]

Originally Posted by dukeorock

If you like the 606, you'll love two of em

I'm obviously biased toward the greenboy cabs, and the 15/6 is amazing and goes very loud.

As well as good power handling, are the greenboy cabs efficient for lower powered amps like I am wanting to (sometimes) use?

The other question I have is about dispersion on stage - I suspect that my TL bin is tonally 'directional' if that makes sense. What are the greenboy designs like?

[CL400Peavey]

The fEARful cabs use 3015LF drivers.

[webmonster]

Originally Posted by CL400Peavey

The fEARful cabs use 3015LF drivers.

Are the LF's best for use where there is a crossover?

[Downunderwonder]

LF is a subwoofer driver, different altogether. 3015 is quite forgiving of tuning in general. There are loads of TL606 using them.

[Downunderwonder]

Originally Posted by webmonster

As well as good power handling, are the greenboy cabs efficient for lower powered amps like I am wanting to (sometimes) use?

The other question I have is about dispersion on stage - I suspect that my TL bin is tonally 'directional' if that makes sense. What are the greenboy designs like?

All 15" cabs have poor dispersion compared with 6" equipped cabs.

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by webmonster

Are the LF's best for use where there is a crossover?

The LF's are not a full range driver. They do a fantastic job of covering from ~40hz to around 800-1000, at which point they need to be crossed over with a mid driver. You may think, "I dont need anything above 800hz..." but you would be wrong. Above 800hz is where all your presence and tone is.

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

All 15" cabs have poor dispersion compared with 6" equipped cabs.

+1 but lets not confuse a lack of dispersion with a lack of highs. There are lots of 15's out there that have great mid and high presence, and to be very fair a 115 has better dispersion than a square 410 (albeit not a pair of vertically stacked 210's).

So if someone were comparing a 215 to say an 810, then yes the 215 has better dispersion. Whether or not the tone of one is more pleasing to you over the other is personal preference.

[dukeorock]

Originally Posted by webmonster

As well as good power handling, are the greenboy cabs efficient for lower powered amps like I am wanting to (sometimes) use?

A 15/6 would 'sound' fantastic with low powered amps, but to take full advantage of those huge lows, you're better off putting a little more power to em as big lows require more power

[webmonster]

Thank you for all the replies so far - I'm leaning lots
About the 3015 - from its specs a question I have is about its frequency response - at (say) 50Hz it is down to a bit less than 90dB.
Is this a 'problem' if I load one into a TL cab?
BTW - I have no idea of the specs of my current Eminence driver in the TL I've got.

Having said that, the power handling, sensitivity and light weight of the 3015 is very appealing, so it is ticking lots of boxes!

From reading a few other threads here it seems that some people have enlarged the port of the TL when they've installed a 3015. Is this necessary? I guess that I would know if I loaded one in and listened to it.

[webmonster]

Originally Posted by dukeorock

A 15/6 would 'sound' fantastic with low powered amps, but to take full advantage of those huge lows, you're better off putting a little more power to em as big lows require more power

At some point I intend to gut and rebuild (with assistance) the innards of my Monster Custom:

It can make about 300W, but there are problems in its design e.g. one half of the power supply to the power stage (solid state) has been 'raided' to run the lightbulbs for the logo, so the amp always has a sort of crossover distortion.
So, a more powerful amp is certainly on the cards.

How does a 15/6 handle a bit of overdrive if you turn up a little amp a bit too much?
I do like the tone of Noel Redding, Roger Glover etc. quite a lot

[Downunderwonder]

Originally Posted by webmonster

Thank you for all the replies so far - I'm leaning lots
About the 3015 - from its specs a question I have is about its frequency response - at (say) 50Hz it is down to a bit less than 90dB.
Is this a 'problem' if I load one into a TL cab?
BTW - I have no idea of the specs of my current Eminence driver in the TL I've got.

Having said that, the power handling, sensitivity and light weight of the 3015 is very appealing, so it is ticking lots of boxes!

From reading a few other threads here it seems that some people have enlarged the port of the TL when they've installed a 3015. Is this necessary? I guess that I would know if I loaded one in and listened to it.

Someone will probably tell you the exact answer at some stage, even post a graph of the TL606 with 3015, or you can model it yourself. Bear in mind winISD is a little off in its predictions of port length vs frequency response.

For a TL606 50 hz is on the low side. I'm pretty sure it's traditionally tuned a good bit higher. You might be able to mess with your cab but I'm not sure if you can get loud response even at 60Hz, which is what you need to get a full sounding low B to satisfy most of us. A few like to get fundamentals but that's a 20 page thread worth there. You will certainly have been enjoying 2nd harmonics to date.

Fearful with tweeter won't like a lot of distortion but you can always switch it off of leave it out.

[dukeorock]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

Fearful with tweeter won't like a lot of distortion but you can always switch it off of leave it out.

That a matter of opinion...one of my favorite things about the fF cabs is how well they take effects...so much detail comes out of those mid drivers...even the horn

[4Mal]

A single 15/6 would be a better choice overall though it does want around 300 watts to 'open up'. Personally, I leave the tube thingy in the rehearsal/recording space and gig a nice powerful and easy to schelp Class D. My old tubester gets loud enough but the old vintage tone stack can be problematic in a boomy room. The old timer is also bulky and not light. Given it's a 100 watter, I run it with a custom 3015 loaded 2x15. Which is also bulky though it is light. Gig time I use a fEarful and Mb-Fusion. It's just too practical and good sounding to ignore...

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

Fearful with tweeter won't like a lot of distortion but you can always switch it off of leave it out.

Or get a distortion unit that plays nice with tweeters.

[webmonster]

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

For a TL606 50 hz is on the low side. I'm pretty sure it's traditionally tuned a good bit higher. You might be able to mess with your cab but I'm not sure if you can get loud response even at 60Hz, which is what you need to get a full sounding low B to satisfy most of us. A few like to get fundamentals but that's a 20 page thread worth there. You will certainly have been enjoying 2nd harmonics to date.

Ah! Good thinking! I had forgotten about the 2nd harmonic etc. I don't use a 5 string either.

A 3015 in a TL cab is looking quite appealing at this point (certainly not ruling out a fF in the future though!)

When I start looking for a 3015 in NZ or ship one out from USA?