• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Do you use fEARful?

SplinteredSkull

SplinteredSkull

Guest
Jul 20, 2013
937
487
Roanoke, VA
#1
There's a lot of buzz on TB about fEARfuls and I'm curious as to how many of us out of the total actually use them. It may just be me, but I feel as though it's about a %40. So I'm genuinely intrigued as to how close I am. And also if you have a fEARful but you use a different cab instead I'd like to know why? Or if you personally tried a fEARful but picked something else instead.
 
#3
I have one, but also use a Sunn 200S when playing in my Grateful Dead cover band. It's just more of that sound, but absolutely everything else gets the fEARful treatment. I've got the parts to update the crossover, so I'm really looking forward to checking out how that sounds.
 
#4
I own and use a 12/6 and a 12 sub. I really like them. They're light, compact, loud, and I love the sound. I don't want anything else, until someday it becomes possible to build something even lighter with the same sonic performance.

With that said, I don't think they have anywhere near a 40% market share among TB members. I'd be surprised if it's as high as 5%. They're expensive and they're not nearly as well known as the major commercial brands, even here on TB.
 
#7
Jim Nazium said:
With that said, I don't think they have anywhere near a 40% market share among TB members. I'd be surprised if it's as high as 5%. They're expensive and they're not nearly as well known as the major commercial brands, even here on TB.
Click to expand...

The bummer is that at the beginning they were an inexpensive alternative to commercial cabinets. The fact that the woofer has doubled, and at times almost tripled, due to fluctuating neodymium prices has made it a pricey cabinet. But it's still a great value.
 
#8
I use them. I have a 12/6, 15/sub & another 15/sub about 75% done. I will probably build a 15/6 down the road. I really dig the flexibility. 15/subs also make kick-ass PA subs. As far as on TB, I would say under 3% on people who actually own them. As for me, I'm sold on them. I also like to build my own, so that adds to it.:bassist:
 
#9
Jim Nazium said:
I own and use a 12/6 and a 12 sub. I really like them. They're light, compact, loud, and I love the sound. I don't want anything else, until someday it becomes possible to build something even lighter with the same sonic performance.

With that said, I don't think they have anywhere near a 40% market share among TB members. I'd be surprised if it's as high as 5%. They're expensive and they're not nearly as well known as the major commercial brands, even here on TB.
Click to expand...

I told one of my friends that I was going to build a fEARful and he had no idea what I was talking about. So I started telling him about it and then he asked how much it would cost. He then tells me that are tons of great cabs I could get for that or less. However, now that I've looked through the green(boy) colored glasses I'm not really seeing it that way so much anymore. But it does support your point
 
#10
edwinhurwitz said:
The bummer is that at the beginning they were an inexpensive alternative to commercial cabinets. The fact that the woofer has doubled, and at times almost tripled, due to fluctuating neodymium prices has made it a pricey cabinet. But it's still a great value.
Click to expand...

And brands that do use neo drivers generally use their own cheaper in-house speakers to save cost. And I agree; to get a cab that will perform as well as a fEARful and be as neutral will cost you more. Even to buy a fEARful rather than build it is a large price jump.
 
#15
Baird6869 said:
I am happy with my Bergantinos, but to each their own.
Click to expand...

Ah yes; I did some researching on alternatives to fEARfuls. Those look like nice cabs. I think once you reach that level and price-point of independent and specifically designed cabinets it becomes a matter of tonal preference. But since you have to buy Bergantino's and Barefaced cabs, I am choosing to go with a fEARful
 
#17
I use an LDS 1515/66/1 which is basically a fEARful clone. I went with LDS because HogBranch was selling the enclosure for cheap about 5 minutes from my house. If I was going to buy a brand new one, I'd just go fEARful based on principle.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back