fEARful™ Part Ten (10)

[bassybeenz]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I'm having don build my cab to the original 15/6 specs with greenboys crossover. I'm not going to worry about volume until I get it and can judge for myself. Can't wait for it, green tolex and dark brown stained baffle with circular grills.... Ahhhhhhhhhhh

 

[singlemalt]

We got a dusting of snow on the hilltops this week, 6" on Mount Hood in the last day.

Cold and rainy mostly. Frosty in the mornings.

 

[Sundogue]

This might be of help to those who buy the pre-built crossover from Leland at speakerhardware. It was a little confusing to me (being a newb myself with the electronic end of cab builds), so some others might benefit from this...

This is my pre-built crossover installed in my 15/6 on the port shelf...

Invalid Link Removed

And here is a quick wiring schematic (sorry, I'm not the best at wiring diagrams)...

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Sundogue]

Sundogue,

Damn fine work. Let us know how the velcro grill works out at gig volume. That was what I was possibly going to use on my next cab. Also you're setting the bar pretty damn high. You're cabs look too good.

Thanks. Wait 'til you see its next incarnation with it done in a dark red blood color and bursting in a really cool flame job! That was my original intention, but ran out of time.

The grill frame only touches the soft fuzzy velcro. It doesn't touch any other part of the baffle or cab. The fuzzy part of the velcro goes all the way around and the grill frame itself just has the looped part at the corners and in the middle all the way around. There is nothing for it to vibrate against at any volume.

Also, the frame itself slopes inward towards the inside so that the face of the frame is not flat, so there is also nothing for the grill cloth to "flap" against at high volume. Remains to be seen if it does the trick, but I think it will. I recall someone having LDS build a cab with grill cloth and they siliconed the cloth to the inside edge of the frame which stopped the flapping noise but seeped through and looked horrible. Hopefully I solved that, if it even ever was going to be an issue in the first place.

 

[Sundogue]

If you have time, could you please take some pix of the frame? I'm really interested in your approach, but am not that good at visualizing.

Thanks.

There really isn't much to see in a photo. Especially now that its covered up. I just made the frame 1/4" shorter in all dimensions so the once the grill cloth was on it still would not touch any part of the cab itself (vibration issues).

Just imagine making a 1/2" thick picture frame (only with overlapping corners instead of mitered corners)...and two of them, one glued on top of the other for a 1" thick frame (just make the corners overlap).

I have a picture framers tape gun and I ran double sided tape all around the sides and also on the back, so when I would stretch and fold the material over the frame it would stick well until I stapled it.

 

[dug dog]

Just imagine making a 1/2" thick picture frame (only with overlapping corners instead of mitered corners)...and two of them, one glued on top of the other for a 1" thick frame (just make the corners overlap).

That's the part I wasn't getting.
Thanks.

 

[Sundogue]

That's the part I wasn't getting.
Thanks.

You could do mitered corners and just buy some "L" brackets to put on the back. I wanted it super strong so it would not flex at all when stretching the grill cloth.

I've stretched a lot of canvases in my time, so this was really easy to do. The material is like a much thicker, softer window screening. Supposedly it is very durable (given its design was for keeping pets from damaging window screens).

Adds less weight than a steel grill (even with the frame).

I should point out that I did not leave out the "notch" as in the grill standoff (for those doing metal grills). I simply narrowed the bottom piece above the mid driver (so the mid driver fits), and the top piece has a curve cutout to match the mid driver's circumference (extending a bit back away from the mid driver).

 

[dug dog]

How wide did you make each frame element? I'm guessing from the photo that they're about an inch and a quarter.

I made a pet screen grill for my 15/6/1 using the DIY aluminum window screen framing that you get at Home Depot, but it wasn't stiff enough to allow the screen to be pulled tight. I like your method a lot better.

 

[Sundogue]

How wide did you make each frame element? I'm guessing from the photo that they're about an inch and a quarter.

I made a pet screen grill for my 15/6/1 using the DIY aluminum window screen framing that you get at Home Depot, but it wasn't stiff enough to allow the screen to be pulled tight. I like your method a lot better.

The bottom "frame" is 1 1/2" wide for the bottom and sides, with the top piece of it being only 1/2" wide (so it fits against the baffle above the mid driver).

The top "frame" (glued to the bottom frame) is 1" wide all the way around (with a semi-circular cutout around the mid driver)

The thicker bottom frame (1 1/2" wide) is what gets the velcro loop tabs and the narrower top frame (1" wide) has the grill cloth stretched over it (although the grill cloth does get wrapped all the way around to the back of the bottom frame where it gets stapled).

I used my belt sander and beveled the top pieces so they slope down as it goes inward (from the outside edge of the frame). This makes the grill cloth only touch the outer edge of the frame when stretched and will have nothing to "flap" against at high volume.

It's stretched very tight. I have to push really hard on it to even touch the speaker frame. It is grill cloth and not a steel grill so there is some give to it.

 

[Sundogue]

I know I'm not telling any of you who already play through a fEARful anything new, but...

While I know living room volumes are not stage volumes, having played many cabs before in my living room AT known stage volumes, I have a reference point here.

I cannot crank my amp. That is not a bad thing because what I mean by that is I literally cannot tolerate the volume of this beast even at less than 1/3 of my amp's full output (at what the settings offer I mean). Dang!

And an interesting thing I found while playing around with it. When I first plugged it in to test it earlier today I set everything flat to start (well whatever the "flat" setting on my amp is). After playing around with it tonight, I set everything to the settings I used with my 110/6 cabs. That's it! It has pretty much the same tone I had with my 110/6 cabs, except more...more brilliance, or a more shimmering quality to the upper mids and highs. And obviously the lows were fuller at the same amps settings used with my other rig. It's like my 110/6 cabs on steroids. Just more of everything but the sound I like with those settings.

I cannot even imagine playing this rig anywhere near cranked. Even at the volume I tried it at everything in my house was falling off shelves or desks, the cats ran away and my whole living room was vibrating to the point where I really needed to stop.

And...I understand why greenboy said he could just wheel his fEARful in and keep it on the floor without tilting it back or raising it up. That mid is so clear no matter where you stand it just blows me away how clear everything sounds. I've always wanted my cabs elevated. No need to with this thing. Putting the mid at ear level could damn near rip your head off if you aren't careful.

More EQing to do tomorrow before I pack it up for the gig. This gig is at a place where last time our guitar players seemed to want to crank it. If they want to play that game, I'll be ready for 'em this time.

Hellaciously loud and proud to be a fEARful owner. What a cute little atomic bomb I have.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

Thanks for the comments! I always like hearing people's opinion regarding the tone of these 15/6s.

Were you bridging your bx1200 for 800w at 8 ohms?

 

[Robby Hoinsky]

I know I'm not telling any of you who already play through a fEARful anything new, but...

While I know living room volumes are not stage volumes, having played many cabs before in my living room AT known stage volumes, I have a reference point here.

I cannot crank my amp. That is not a bad thing because what I mean by that is I literally cannot tolerate the volume of this beast even at less than 1/3 of my amp's full output (at what the settings offer I mean). Dang!

And an interesting thing I found while playing around with it. When I first plugged it in to test it earlier today I set everything flat to start (well whatever the "flat" setting on my amp is). After playing around with it tonight, I set everything to the settings I used with my 110/6 cabs. That's it! It has pretty much the same tone I had with my 110/6 cabs, except more...more brilliance, or a more shimmering quality to the upper mids and highs. And obviously the lows were fuller at the same amps settings used with my other rig. It's like my 110/6 cabs on steroids. Just more of everything but the sound I like with those settings.

I cannot even imagine playing this rig anywhere near cranked. Even at the volume I tried it at everything in my house was falling off shelves or desks, the cats ran away and my whole living room was vibrating to the point where I really needed to stop.

And...I understand why greenboy said he could just wheel his fEARful in and keep it on the floor without tilting it back or raising it up. That mid is so clear no matter where you stand it just blows me away how clear everything sounds. I've always wanted my cabs elevated. No need to with this thing. Putting the mid at ear level could damn near rip your head off if you aren't careful.

More EQing to do tomorrow before I pack it up for the gig. This gig is at a place where last time our guitar players seemed to want to crank it. If they want to play that game, I'll be ready for 'em this time.

Hellaciously loud and proud to be a fEARful owner. What a cute little atomic bomb I have.

Awesome review, thanks so much Let us know how it goes after the gig.

Robby

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

In case anyone missed this...

Cool 12/6 12sub build on youtube.

YouTube - Full Range Cabinet Build

 

[lelandcrooks]

This might be of help to those who buy the pre-built crossover from Leland at speakerhardware. It was a little confusing to me (being a newb myself with the electronic end of cab builds), so some others might benefit from this...

This is my pre-built crossover installed in my 15/6 on the port shelf...

Invalid Link Removed

And here is a quick wiring schematic (sorry, I'm not the best at wiring diagrams)...

Invalid Link Removed

I am so stealing this picture.

 

[Sundogue]

I am so stealing this picture.

Please do Leland. I hope it helps others. If you want to post it on your website or use for instructional purposes with the sales of your pre-built crossovers, you are more than welcome to it.

I appreciate you getting everything together for me (after your suppliers put you on the spot).

NOTE to others: Were it not for Leland working hard to get the products in stock and quickly putting together my crossover, I wouldn't have my fEARful for my gig this weekend. Big props to speakerhardware!

Thanks again for everything.

 

[Sundogue]

Awesome review, thanks so much Let us know how it goes after the gig.

Robby

I sure will. Normally I'm not so gushy about a new piece of gear, but I just have to say that 3015LF just kicks ass, and really anyone building a fEARful should get the 18Sound mid driver. I know some say it's a little too bright, but I believe that can be EQ'ed back. It is a phenomenal mid. Better to cut back on the mids and highs than to not have them at all.

Gigs are always different than living room tests. That's why I always do both...to gain a better point of reference. I'll post back on Sunday.

 

[Sundogue]

Thanks for the comments! I always like hearing people's opinion regarding the tone of these 15/6s.

Were you bridging your bx1200 for 800w at 8 ohms?

Yup. Bridged BX1200 into 8 ohms. LOUD...almost intolerably loud, to the point where I know I'd never be that loud onstage for any gig and I was nowhere near pushing this thing all that hard.

Actually I'm a little scared to crank my amp because there is so much headroom right now. Just plain scary. A word of caution to anyone attempting to crank their amp through one of these in their living room. Take down the expensive paintings and valuable family photos. Take fragile items off shelves and tape down everything else. Be prepared to do a little drywall repair afterwards.

 

[Sundogue]

I also want to add...as per my previous post, this cab should really come with a WARNING: May cause hearing damage! I'm serious. For those who are used to having to tilt their cabs or put them up on a stand of some kind just to hear themselves, this cab and the 18Sound mid has the potential to damage your hearing.

Some say the mid is too much but honestly this is the first cab that has a speaker with the cajones to accurately and wonderfully produce sparkling and definitive upper mids and highs in such way that one may need to actually CUT mids and highs instead of having to boost them just to be heard.

My main interest in this cab initially was for the 3015LF and I was going to rob one of my 110/6 cabs of its mid driver to save some money, but I am so glad I bought the 18Sound 6NM410 mid. THAT little sucker really makes this cab. I'm sure the crossover design just puts the mid and the 3015LF together in the perfect way too.

As compared to every other cab I've ever played through (commercial or DIY) this is the first cab that is truly uncolored. Most cabs have some of their own characteristics like scooped mids, accentuated mid-hump or what have you. This is the first cab I've played through where its only characteristic is my sound...whatever I want it to sound like.

You want a more scooped sound? Dial it in. You want more mids? Dial it in. You want deep, strong low end...go ahead and boost it without worry. Slap sound? Dub? Metal, Rock? Jazz? This cab gives you whatever tone you want at whatever volume you want. That's not a knock on other cabs, but compared to every other cab the fEARFul makes others sound like one trick ponies even if they aren't. If anyone is looking for THE cab, just build one of these and be done with it.

Greenboy is the Louis Pasteur of bassdom as I think fEARfuls are the cure for GAS.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

If anyone is looking for THE cab, just build one of these and be done with it.

I totally agree. If for whatever reason you cannot build your own, have one built for you.

I currently have an LDS 15/6 and it is one amazing cab. I'm having a true GB spec nidacore fEarful built mainly because of the better form factor and if it performs better I will be quite pleased as the LDS version is already the best cab I have ever played thru.

 

[philter25]

It's done!

I won't even have a chance to fire it up until later, but it will get a testing tonight yet! Question...I've read a lot about breaking in a new speaker...necessary? Take it easy on it for a while?

Here's some pics in some horrible lighting...

Without grill (soft velcro all the way around on baffle where the cloth grill frame attaches to eliminate any vibrations from grill). Grill doesn't touch anything but the velcro anywhere.

Invalid Link Removed

With black "pet cloth" grill installed. This material is some really nice, easy to work with stuff!

Invalid Link Removed

That looks incredible. How did you attach the grill? Did you just make a wood frame, stretch the material over the wood frame, and then screw it into the 3/4 inch standoff frame around the baffle?