Who would buy a fEARful if commercially available complete?

[Sundogue]

I don't think there is a single fEARful owner that regrets building one or having someone else build it for them.

There are lots of cabs out there purchased without being able to try them out and many do so on nothing more than word of mouth or TB recommendations. And there is an awful lot of buying, selling and trading of commercially available cabs going on.

And I get that the professional cab designers, or even those of us who only do it as a hobby or just a side interest of playing bass, are in the minority, so the DIY aspect probably leaves many cold. So I'm curious why there isn't more interest in buying a fEARful designed cab with so many options available (12/6, 1212/66, 15/6, 1515/66, subs, cubes, etc., etc., etc.) to meet any tonal, size or weight goal?

Is it the DIY aspect? There are builders who will build to suit and cutkits available that make it so easy a cave man could do it!

Is it the "no-name-brand" thing? I would bet its only a matter of time.

Is it the price? They aren't the cheapest, but they aren't the most expensive although they compete with more expensive cabs.

So, why aren't more using fEARfuls?

Who would buy a fEARful if they were commercially available complete? And no I don't mean nEARfuls or the Avatar TB153 cabs. I mean the holy grail, one and only fEARfuls?

Curious because after 30 years of playing through so many cabs I can't even recall them all, I have yet to find anything comparable to a fEARful design. Power, clarity (even in the low end), lightweight and any kind of tone one could desire.

Is it just because they aren't in a store near you?

[Foz]

I would have bought more than one... but missed out on some fun making xovers.

[azfryguy]

This is my first time in the amp threads what is fEARful

[steamthief]

A lot of people won't buy a bass guitar online - "try before you buy." I guess I'm that way now with cabs. I'd have to demo it with my head before I parted with my dough.

[hdracer]

I recently had the privilege of trying a 15-6 and was blown away by how good it sounded. I want to build one but I am so busy right now that I will have to wait until next winter to have enough free time to do it. If I could buy one ready to go today I would.

[dannster]

Money.

[Robby Hoinsky]

You'll be seeing more and more fEARfuls from me and Leland in the coming weeks, months, and hopefully years. greenboy struck deals with both of us to manufacture his design. You are right, it was only a matter of time until his great design caught on commercially. I've already shipped the first few of my ultra lightweight fEARfuls with more going out this week or the next. I think Leland has the kits and finished cabs going strong. Harley in NZ has single handedly introduced that half of the world to BFM cabs, so I am sure he is going to take fEARfuls to the max.



Right now we're custom by-the-order shops. It will be a while if ever that you see fEARfuls in GC and in larger channels, but I'm not so sure I'd ever want to see that.

So be glad, the sun is rising and the dawn of better times is here.

Robby

[tocs100]

Caveat: still waiting on a backordered 3015LF to take the fEARful SUB for a spin):

PLUSSES:
1) MUCH lighter and less bulky than a 4x10, esp. a non-neo.
2)-3) ASSURANCE the box is tuned right and will put-out 4x? the low-end of of a competing 15" (i.e. Peavey Black Widow or Carvin Neo, both 2.5mm xmax), and about 6x? as much as a similar-sized "PA speaker" really only good for midrange stuff.
4) TESTIMONIES on talkbass.com

MINUSSES
1) FAIRLY HIGH COST: $150 in parts and $85 to ship just for the cab, and friend charged nothing for labor.
2) LACK OF TESTED, drop-in alternatives now 3015LF's have increased from roughly $150 to $300.
3) UNCERTAINTY factor of buying online.
4) Can find decent, loaded 15" cabs online for $100--$150 easily.

It really comes down to
YES: Buying from a trusted tb member who, trying something new, doesn't mind taking a hit on labor cost and has a cheaper than 3015LF alternative, asking about $325 shipped--maybe $400 max with an 3015LF (vs. a new, $500 Avatar TB153). If not new, the $500 Avatars will appeal to the majority, but won't deter the truly pro-bass-market.
NO....umm, YES: Finding a couple matched, Peavey or Carvin 15" cabs (newer, maybe 70lbs max each) used locally, for about $250. This will grow old quick though, as bassists play in bigger and different (esp "dead-room") clubs where mid-hump cabs just don't cut it. Then, after trying many different speakers and amps, will discover both talkbass and fEARful stuff.

Win/Win for fEARful.

[seamonkey]

Only if they're assembled in the USA
And of course they came with full measurements

I don't quite get why it's cheaper to build a whole cabinet and ship it, than just ship the parts and let a local cabinet ship build it. Especially if you got a group of bass and/or keyboard buddies to join in a a group build. But then BFM cabs would be everywhere also.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by azfryguy

This is my first time in the amp threads what is fEARful

a type of bass cab that has a low frequency neo crossed over to a mid cone and/or high quality tweeter. to me, the sound of these cabs is like listening to yourself plugged into a really good small pa system. and since they use neos that are built to move some serious low end air, you can move way more air than typical 115 bass cabs.

not much downside to them...the only downside i can see to these cabs is that some still favor the traditional bass cabs because they define good bass tone as most of us know it. nothing wrong with that. i like both for different reasons.

[lbwdog]

Originally Posted by Sundogue

Who would buy a fEARful if they were commercially available complete? And no I don't mean nEARfuls or the Avatar TB153 cabs. I mean the holy grail, one and only fEARfuls?

SUNDOGUE.....I would have bought at least one three years ago had they been for sale. I've been on board with the concept for a long time. Then, when GB discovered the great possibilities for the Carvin LS1503, I got one and modded it with the 3015LF.

When he started posting the fEarful plans, I was impressed with the whole concept, simply because it was everything I've wanted in a bass cab, and much thought was put into every aspect of the design. Something you don't find in commercial cabs.

So yes, I'd buy one (if it fit in my current budget)!!

[fu22ba55]

I think the cost-savings is in the DIY labor. All the bracing, etc...

I'm (slowly) building some 15subs and the materials really cost next to nothing...

But lots of time for cutting and you need the right tools...

If I could walk into a store and pay $300 for a fEarful sub. (or 500 for a pair) I'd probably do it. But if I had to pay 400 or 500 each? (due to labor costs...) It's a no go.

fEarfuls' will only be cheap and good if someone embraces the economy of scale. Building anything one at a time is always more expensive.

He (greenboy) could have CAD cutkits made, then set up a shop (like Avatar or Emperor or LDS) and pay 22-year-olds to glue and clamp all day.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by tocs100

^Having said all that, for rock a least, the TB-consensus for the "standard-approved" set-up seems to be:

Where on earth did you get those impressions? And why did you delete the post I quoted?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Passinwind

Where on earth did you get those impressions?

i'm guessing thin air.

[::::BASSIST::::]

Who would buy a fEARful if commercially available complete?

I would. I originally bought my LDS nEarful 15/6 used from Chef on the TB classifieds and am really amazed at what it does.

Knowing what I know now about the 15/6 driver configuration, I decided to get a bona fide greenboy designed fEarful 15/6. I expect it to be much more ergonomical, and easier to move and I have no doubts that it will equal or exceed the LDS version. Even if its very close tonally (etc) I know it will be easier to move and be a bit taller. Essentially, I am 90% sure my cab GAS will be cured.

Robby Hoinsky is building mine and, though I am not sure if that is defined as "commercially available", I do know that the nidacore fEarful 15/6 he completing for me is going to be super light, capable of a great deal of volume and most importantly will have superb tone.

[JimmyM]

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

I would. I originally bought my LDS nEarful 15/6 used from Chef on the TB classifieds and am really amazed at what it does.

Knowing what I know now about the 15/6 driver configuration, I decided to get a bona fide greenboy designed fEarful 15/6. I expect it to be much more ergonomical, and easier to move and I have no doubts that it will equal or exceed the LDS version. Even if its very close tonally (etc) I know it will be easier to move and be a bit taller. Essentially, I am 90% sure my cab GAS will be cured.

of course it will, torin...of course it will.

[bongomania]

If I was gigging, I would snap up a fEarful or two even with the drastic increase in cost of neo speakers. As I'm not gigging these days, my back-breaking Bag Ends keep me pretty happy. I participated eagerly in gb's earliest thread about his fEarful ideas, and then I dropped out of the threads once I realized I was just not in a position to put my money where my mouth was. But again, I'm sure that I'd find that money somewhere if I had gigs on the horizon.

[PhiDeck]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i'm guessing thin air.

Is "thin air" = flatus? (I'm not sure about the latter's density relative to that of lower atmospheric air).
If so, I concur re. the probable source whence came the alleged "standard approved " setup.

[Jazz Ad]

Simply put, I hate trends.
These days you can't open a cab thread without the fEARful army spamming it.
As with most trends, many of the guys recommending these cabs have never even approached one in real life.
Eventually if the design is good enough it will find its way into readily available, branded commercial products.

[bongomania]

Then please explain why three-way cabs have been in existence (and commercial production) since the 1940's, yet most bass cabs on the market are two-way, with a crappy tweeter? I'll answer that for you: it's because the commercial production market is driven by cost, not by excellence of design.