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El Whappo Jr. or LDS 15/6 ?

Blue

Blue

Supporting Member
Jun 19, 2004
753
208
Southeast North Carolina
#1
I’m looking for a replacement cab for my 110 pound EV B115 monster - and have negotiations on both an El Whappo Jr. and an LDS 15/6 …

The B115 is pretty much a 15/6 - a 70’s model with an old school 15” - not that special and not a huge magnet - but it a well tuned very stiff box. There is a 6” VMD (vented midrange driver - basically a self contained tuned port thang - by itself weighing 20 pounds) … that’s it. Real Big and Real Heavy but sounds great in the larger halls I’m playing. Too much for any bar around here. Sound is old school Funk and Rock for the Moose Lodge Dancers.

Anyway - the LDS has my eye because it’s similarly configured but with modern drivers and 1/2 the weight. The El Whappo is a different but well respected alternative.

Any thoughts? Amp might be a Mesa Subway, or a Thunderfunk or perhaps a QSC with various preamps … so TBD based on final cabinet decision.

Advice solicited from this gallery.
 
#2
All I can contribute is this: The few times I’ve used AccuGroove cabs they sounded great. I don’t recall them being especially light weight, though.

The only LDS cab I’ve ever played through is a single 12, purchased here on TB, which exceeded my expectations in every way. It’s a great sounding cab that sounds huge for its size. It’s not lightweight ply or a neo driver but it’s still reasonably light. Of course, being a custom shop, Don will build lightweight versions of any of his cabs and/or tune them to taste but it sounds to me, based on your post, that you’re considering an existing cab.
 
#3
The EVM-15L is a fairly unique sounding driver and IIRC, the crossover uses a low pass filter on the LF driver so overall it’s just a different way to do it and it does end up sounding differently than other similar LOOKING cabinets.

I suggest going out and playing some different cabinets, the differences are very significant.
 
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#4
agedhorse said:
I suggest going out and playing some different cabinets, the differences are very significant.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure if those specific cabinets are around here but it’s certainly worth asking about. Will Do … and there’s a pretty good bass shop in the area. Be’s a big fan of the GR’s but also has a good and ever changing selection of gear.
 
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#10
I played through an EV S15-3, which I think is the PA version of your bass cab. Same 15L and VMR.
I changed to an LDS 15/6. They are not the same, but I find it pretty easy to get the same sort of sound I like when using a Nemesis NA650 and 4-string bass. I adjust my HPF to just cut muddiness without hurting the low end, the amp's semi-parametric eq to provide some boost around 1900 hz, and the cabinet's L-pad to get the low/mid-high balance I want. The 15/6 is not as sensitive as the EV, but it will handle a lot more power.
While I don't have any experience with the El Whappo, it certainly wins the name game! The LDS will be noticeably lighter, and uses off-the-shelf drivers, so they are easily replaceable if necessary.

Enjoy!
 
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#11
Although Accugroove is still very much in business, they don't appear to make the El Whappo JR. anymore. They do make a cab called the El Jeffe, which may be similar, but I bet it doesn't use the same drivers as in the old Jr. So, you might have a problem with replacement parts if you get the Jr. and something goes wrong. Maybe get a hold of Accugroove and ask about that before you buy. OTOH, as has been pointed out, LDS uses off the shelf drivers, tweeters, etc., so getting a replacement part probably should be straight forward. Never played an Accugroove, but I have had Don make me a few cabs in my day; no complaints whatsoever.
 
#13
I use a fEARful 15/6, no tweeter, as my main cab. One group I practice with has an El Whappo Jr in the practice space that I play through.

I would go with the LDS 15/6, which I think approximates a fEARful 15/6 with the Eminence Kappalite woofer. While the El Whappo Jr is a nice sounding cabinet, it sounds one generation older than the fEARful, which is both lighter and goes lower, and also is a bit more clear.

One thing to possibly consider - this El Whappo Jr is at least 15 years old, maybe more, and saw some tough road use in its day.

But still, I’d go with the LDS.
 
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#15
Blue said:
I’m looking for a replacement cab for my 110 pound EV B115 monster - and have negotiations on both an El Whappo Jr. and an LDS 15/6 …

The B115 is pretty much a 15/6 - a 70’s model with an old school 15” - not that special and not a huge magnet - but it a well tuned very stiff box. There is a 6” VMD (vented midrange driver - basically a self contained tuned port thang - by itself weighing 20 pounds) … that’s it. Real Big and Real Heavy but sounds great in the larger halls I’m playing. Too much for any bar around here. Sound is old school Funk and Rock for the Moose Lodge Dancers.

Anyway - the LDS has my eye because it’s similarly configured but with modern drivers and 1/2 the weight. The El Whappo is a different but well respected alternative.

Any thoughts? Amp might be a Mesa Subway, or a Thunderfunk or perhaps a QSC with various preamps … so TBD based on final cabinet decision.

Advice solicited from this gallery.
Click to expand...

I'm a little late to the party but LDS cabs LOVE Mesa Subway heads!
 

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