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Do you use fEARful?

#501
canadian*eh said:
As for ABs and those who want to be .... This is From Dave"greenboy" Green himself that he posted a while Back. When ever on our Facebook page I get people asking me about becoming an AB I refer them to this.....

"....... Hello all. It comes and goes in cycles, but particularly in the past couple of months I have seen a number of people interested in becoming authorized builders. I will comment here that until after the NAMM show I will not be evaluating any case that is presented. Which gives anyone truly interested, a chance to prepare a case, and an encouragement to rattle my cage again after January, with a pitch that will have both parties excited with the possibilities.

Of course the first thing I think about is how an AB can complement the existing group of dedicated ABs in a way that doesn't just make their slice of the pie thinner. These guys are all my friends in a very real way and I do not want to reduce their joy. So. As a For Instance, if a potential AB can show the promise of serving an area that has great potential by being able to demo cabs to a large prospective base, that makes a compelling reason. If I sense an incredible drive behind that, and some real thought put into it, it stirs my interest. If a potential AB has some visibility and reputation that can be traded on, that's an edge. Someone with lots of drive, and some new angles in marketing has an edge over a "hobbyist" builder at this point, because unlike Bill Fitzmaurice I am not interested in having a long list so much as I am in having very strong friends and partners in this enterprise. An AB who just wants to add another design source to his list of design sources is not as energizing as one who is personally committed to these cabs. Just some things to think about.

So perhaps one should do a box or two to know if it's for them. More than one of the current builders first built a personal rig and that made them realize that the world needs more of these! But in the case I am thinking of, some additional boxes got built but only one was populated with drivers at the start, with plans to populate the others as finance allowed.

On the other hand, over the past couple years, there have been a lot of unmotivated tirekickers and guys who I think just wanted access to drivers and components at a lower cost so they could do personal builds for even cheaper. And more recently, the promise of getting one's hands on the plans for the non-fEARful cabs and crossovers would be a likely brass ring for the less honest or motivated to make an attempt for... But what is needed is people who want to open multicans of whupass for instrumentalists, and see a way to do it.
Click to expand...

Thanks. On another note, I find it interesting that rather than building or having the FL cabs built overseas, etc, it seems Greenboy, has taken more of a franchise business approach.
 
#502
Splintered Skul said:
I'm going to build my own fEARful cab. Save myself about $300-400. Plus that way, I can do whatever I want looks wise and know then and there if it's what I want. I have a friend who's an artist and we've been going back forth with ideas. However, if I was going to use an authorized builder I would probably look through their gallery to see if any one builder's products stood out from the rest, and/or ask if they specialize in anything. I believe basic cost is about the same across the builders but it does vary a little. And a closer location would be optimal.
Click to expand...

Oh okay. Yeah the topic/subject I like most on the TB Amp forum is DIY cabinets - in particular, (besides drivers) "lightweight cabinet bracing". Good luck and keep me updated on your project. New page Bump ;)
 
#503
CL400Peavey said:
Dont know... Have you seen Torin and Elliot? At least Tony and John can grow some kind of beard to cover up their fugly...
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Hey! Who you calling ugly? :D :mad::crying::D

torinbass55665566-2.jpg
 
#505
Joe Louvar said:
Thanks. On another note, I find it interesting that rather than building or having the FL cabs built overseas, etc, it seems Greenboy, has taken more of a franchise business approach.
Click to expand...

With the aid of the internet and shipping companies, this sort of contracting or "outsourcing to other Americans" sort of manufacturing business model is one thing that actually does keep some jobs and money here. It's a pretty cool way to work and many of these manufacturers are actual mom-n-pops again.
 
#506
will33 said:
With the aid of the internet and shipping companies, this sort of contracting or "outsourcing to other Americans" sort of manufacturing business model is one thing that actually does keep some jobs and money here. It's a pretty cool way to work and many of these manufacturers are actual mom-n-pops again.
Click to expand...

Personally, I love the idea. I wonder how far he can take it - hopefully it will give him enough buying power to really compete.
 
#507
I fully embrace the idea of authorized builders. MANY players have wanted a fEARful and could NOT do the woodwork or the electronics work. That's a huge barrier. Many people don't know how to go about finding a competent woodworker and working out the deal.

I joined the fEARful world way back before there were builders. Had there been, I would have gone for it. Instead I word of mouthed for months to find someone to do my first build and spent a lot of my time reinforcing the need to do it correctly and to the plans. I did all the rest of the work once the box was made, it was a process but worth it. At that time if I had been able to place an order from one person and get a kit of all the parts? Heck yes. I went to many distributors, paid exorbitant shipping costs to get the parts I wanted. I also boot strapped my way into l-pad, crossover and all the other details. I had never built any of that. I used advice and specs provided by Passinwind and Greenboy. I upped the basic components to the higher grade ones too.

The plans are free. If you don't like the idea of putting money in the pocket of the guy who spent so much time making them, just do it yourself. If you don't mind the idea of rewarding the guy who took the initiative and gave back to the bass community...you can donate to his paypal...or use an authorized builder which will also save you the work.
 
#508
BurningSkies said:
I fully embrace the idea of authorized builders. MANY players have wanted a fEARful and could NOT do the woodwork or the electronics work. That's a huge barrier. Many people don't know how to go about finding a competent woodworker and working out the deal.

I joined the fEARful world way back before there were builders. Had there been, I would have gone for it. Instead I word of mouthed for months to find someone to do my first build and spent a lot of my time reinforcing the need to do it correctly and to the plans. I did all the rest of the work once the box was made, it was a process but worth it. At that time if I had been able to place an order from one person and get a kit of all the parts? Heck yes. I went to many distributors, paid exorbitant shipping costs to get the parts I wanted. I also boot strapped my way into l-pad, crossover and all the other details. I had never built any of that. I used advice and specs provided by Passinwind and Greenboy. I upped the basic components to the higher grade ones too.

The plans are free. If you don't like the idea of putting money in the pocket of the guy who spent so much time making them, just do it yourself. If you don't mind the idea of rewarding the guy who took the initiative and gave back to the bass community...you can donate to his paypal...or use an authorized builder which will also save you the work.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#511
will33 said:
With the aid of the internet and shipping companies, this sort of contracting or "outsourcing to other Americans" sort of manufacturing business model is one thing that actually does keep some jobs and money here. It's a pretty cool way to work and many of these manufacturers are actual mom-n-pops again.
Click to expand...
It's wonderful. And this idea is being applied in other fields as well. Farming equipment and even houses are being built in this way. Programs and data for buying or 3d-printing your own parts is available, and you can basically start your own free-standing community using freely available plans. I don't know if this movement will take off, but in some ways it seems like the best economic model to come along in a long time...
 
#512
smeet said:
It's wonderful. And this idea is being applied in other fields as well. Farming equipment and even houses are being built in this way. Programs and data for buying or 3d-printing your own parts is available, and you can basically start your own free-standing community using freely available plans. I don't know if this movement will take off, but in some ways it seems like the best economic model to come along in a long time...
Click to expand...

+1

There are people out there with CNC machines and soon-to-be 3D printers just waiting for your design....and it's being done here.
 
#516
nick98338 said:
Rats!! Ya shoulda told me that before I started gassin' to build a second one. :p
Click to expand...

Hmmm... something like that happened to me too. I love my 15/6/1, but I'm GASsing for a pair of 12/6/1s.

Difference is, though, that I know it won't change my tone and I have plenty volume with my current cab, so I can be patient and get them done when I get them done. :)

It's a different kind of GAS, like a slow burn gas, rather than heartburn... or something.
 
#517
Oobly said:
Hmmm... something like that happened to me too. I love my 15/6/1, but I'm GASsing for a pair of 12/6/1s.

Difference is, though, that I know it won't change my tone and I have plenty volume with my current cab, so I can be patient and get them done when I get them done. :)

It's a different kind of GAS, like a slow burn gas, rather than heartburn... or something.
Click to expand...

Yeah, slower.. But it last longer :-)
 
#519
::::BASSIST:::: said:
Hey! Who you calling ugly? :D :mad::crying::D

torinbass55665566-2.jpg
Click to expand...

Oh snap... Well I guess that beard does cover up some fug. :D

(dont worry, there is very damn good reason I have a beard too...)

vbchaos said:
That's not true, look at Julian. He wouldn't stop until he owns all of them ;)
Click to expand...

Hey now... I have actually sold one of my fEARfuls.... So I could buy two more. :ninja:

Should I win the lotto, I will grab a jHawk or BAD F215. Round out my big cab stable.
 
#520
BurningSkies said:
I fully embrace the idea of authorized builders. MANY players have wanted a fEARful and could NOT do the woodwork or the electronics work. That's a huge barrier. Many people don't know how to go about finding a competent woodworker and working out the deal.

I joined the fEARful world way back before there were builders. Had there been, I would have gone for it. Instead I word of mouthed for months to find someone to do my first build and spent a lot of my time reinforcing the need to do it correctly and to the plans. I did all the rest of the work once the box was made, it was a process but worth it. At that time if I had been able to place an order from one person and get a kit of all the parts? Heck yes. I went to many distributors, paid exorbitant shipping costs to get the parts I wanted. I also boot strapped my way into l-pad, crossover and all the other details. I had never built any of that. I used advice and specs provided by Passinwind and Greenboy. I upped the basic components to the higher grade ones too.

The plans are free. If you don't like the idea of putting money in the pocket of the guy who spent so much time making them, just do it yourself. If you don't mind the idea of rewarding the guy who took the initiative and gave back to the bass community...you can donate to his paypal...or use an authorized builder which will also save you the work.
Click to expand...

I agree, the builders are doing killer work!

Thanks to BurningSkies for holding my hand via email on my first crossover build. Back then, I had to order parts from three vendors, and on one order, the shipping was more than the parts. And it was cold and lonely out there in the garage, building my first fEarful.

But Passinwind had shown me light, and turned me on to the sound, and come by the house to get me to slice some plywood, and see what was for lunch and maybe a beer or two. It was grassroots in the backwoods, baby!

The idea that you can order everything from Speaker Hardware, and choose to do some or all of the work DIY, or simply order a cab from a builder, is pretty cool.

Sure beats trying to pool a $100 order together to get free shipping from Parts Express. We won't even mention Erse, since nasty language is forbidden on TB.

The fEarful thing has been an extraordinary journey. People sharing ideas and resources to build something the market wasn't providing.

Maybe, if we can all come together, like Talkbass has over the fEarfuls, we can do this health care thing.;)
 

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