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fEARful 15/16 vs 12/16

J

jordan2

Apr 2, 2011
135
5
#1
Hi everyone, I am going to be building a fearful cab in a month or two and am doing some research about what I want to make. Right now my biggest decision is whether to go with the 15/6 or 12/6, (if I went the 12 route I might build a sub somewhere down the line).

My main question is IS A 12/6 LOUD ENOUGH BY ITSELF.

Loud is obviously very subjective so here is what I mean.
I play in jazz settings that require minimal amplification (upright) but also rock and hip hop groups with loud drumming. I want the ability to get loud but also a small cab. What are your experiences with the trade of (size and volume). What do you guys use?

Thank you so much for your help.
 
#3
I can't speak on comparing the 2, but I used to run 500 watts @ 4 ohms into 2-15's and now I run 500 watts @ 8 ohms into a 15/6 fEARful....I haven't been dis-appointed yet. Everything I read when I researched fEARful said the voicing between the 2 is the same and a lot of players are happy with a lone 12/6. I'm sure others will chime in soon!
 
#4
no personal experience yet as I'm still working on my 1212/6/1 but one thing to keep in mind is with only one 15/6 youll be staying at 8 ohms and possibly never using your amp to its full potential but if you build another 12/6 later you will end up with 4 ohms and get full output from your amp.
or do what I did and go right off the deep end and build a 1212/6 or 1515/66 right from the start.
another thing I learned after comiting to my build is that 2 of the alpha mids(used in the 12/6 only) are smother than one 18sound mid that you would use in a 15/6 or 1212/6
 
#5
A 12/6 is a very loud cab for its size, but don't expect miracles.
To get all of its potential you need wattage in the 500w @8 ohms range.
All of my experience with it was in a loud metal band and it wasn't quite enough. Against a 100w mesa and a half stack it was out matched but just barely.
Two would have been fine. I believe a 15/6 would have been much better by itself.
Cost for one 15/6 is cheaper than two 12/6s, so there is always that.
 
#7
For me:
No, the 12/6 is not a standalone cab.
With a 12sub, it kills,
And I prefer that stack to a 15/6 alone.


The 15/6 is pretty well gig worthy, but I like the taller 12/6+sub stack much better
 
#8
A 15/6 will exceed a 410 given enough watts. A 12/6 will match possibly exceed a 310.

I started with a 15/6. Then I built a 12/6 and bought a 12sub. Once I had the 12 stack, the 15/6 went untouched for months so I sold it. Now I REALLY loved that 15/6 and put alot of thought into its build so to sell it was something I thought I'd never do. Its been probably a year since then and no regrets. BTW, you can build the 15/6 light... mine was 43LBS.

I also like to have 500w at 8 ohms as a baseline.

In my opinion if you could do with a 310 (such as the epifani ul310.... which I have owned) in your loud band a 12/6 will definitely get you there.
 
#10
You might be fine with loud jazz and a 12/6 but the 15/6 is going to be the bare minimum to getting above a loud hip-hop drummer (IME). the 12/6 is going to get loud enough to do a lot of stuff, but nowhere near a properly powered 15/6 which will do anything a 410 can do and more. If you cannot provide the power to the 15/6 though, I think a 410 is louder in frequencies where it counts than the 15/6 will ever be.

I would rather have a 410 if you only have 300w is what I'm getting at.
 
#11
Thanks for the feedback everyone! If it helps I will be using a Little Mark II to power this (500 watts@ 4 ohms, 300@8 ohms) so not a ton of power but decent. Right now I'm looking at the 12/6 because it can be more flexible, and I can get into the fearful world starting small. I'll just have to wait a little bit before I get really loud.
 
#13
12/6 with a LMII ? Not enough power . 15/6 and LMII ? Much better match . I play in a loud rock band and had to crank the LMII all the way to keep up with my 12/6/1 . I had much more luck with a 15/6 , got loud enough with less power .

earful011.jpg
 
#15
I gigged the 12/6 stand-alone - It kicked ass all through the bar! the bar itself was vibrating very nice :-)
But it's one single speaker. I currently add a second 12/6 to get the dual-woofer mojo. But for smaller gigs, the 12/6 is absolutely fine! Don't be fooled by it's size. It puts out more than my ashdown abm410 (especially when talking CLEAN).

I went this road to have a fully variable rig! 2 cabinets for all the mojo, two standalone cabs for different locations or small gigs. Both are very light, 20 kg fully loaded.
Going the +sub road leaves you with a less-variable stack for 100 euro less - not my choice.
 
#16
My mileage does vary!

I have downsized from a 15/6 to a 12/6 and it works for me (without PA support) but we don't play at war volume so one side of my amp is enough (around 320w IIRC). I carry a bridge cable but have not needed to use it in 2 years of fEARful use.

I play a standard tuned 5 string, have a 24db/oct 35Hz high pass filter permanently connected and don't boost the lows but do boost low mids.
 
#17
Man, you and I see this completely differently.
Which is fine.

But, a 12/6 is "just a really good 112," IMO, and saying it's a 410 equivalent, and, actually better than a 410 is a gross overstatement.
IMO.

My Epi UL410 would flat out crush -any-112 I've ever played, including the fF 12/6 and Bear ML112; both of which are "top shelf super 12's."

Again, I really like my 12/6/1, but "it's not miracle sauce." It's a really good 112; but, it's still a 112. Without the 12sub under it, it's only good for rehearsals, and small gigs for me; and I -do not- play in uber loud bands.

vbchaos said:
I gigged the 12/6 stand-alone - It kicked ass all through the bar! the bar itself was vibrating very nice :-)
But it's one single speaker. I currently add a second 12/6 to get the dual-woofer mojo. But for smaller gigs, the 12/6 is absolutely fine! Don't be fooled by it's size. It puts out more than my ashdown abm410 (especially when talking CLEAN).

I went this road to have a fully variable rig! 2 cabinets for all the mojo, two standalone cabs for different locations or small gigs. Both are very light, 20 kg fully loaded.
Going the +sub road leaves you with a less-variable stack for 100 euro less - not my choice.
Click to expand...
 
#18
Chef said:
Man, you and I see this completely differently.
Which is fine.

But, a 12/6 is "just a really good 112," IMO, and saying it's a 410 equivalent, and, actually better than a 410 is a gross overstatement.
IMO.

My Epi UL410 would flat out crush -any-112 I've ever played, including the fF 12/6 and Bear ML112; both of which are "top shelf super 12's."

Again, I really like my 12/6/1, but "it's not miracle sauce." It's a really good 112; but, it's still a 112. Without the 12sub under it, it's only good for rehearsals, and small gigs for me; and I -do not- play in uber loud bands.
Click to expand...

I don't get your point, really. Are you saying that a 12/6, although being a top-shelf-super-12 cannot cut it without a second cab?

the OP asked for something that is OK for jazz gigs -> I think a 12/6+12sub stack (or a 15/6) might be a bit overkill.
Also he wants to compete with a loud drummer -> My 12/6 can compete with our freaky loud drummer. Even more our drummer is afraid of my 12/6
For HipHop/Crossover things, I think a single 12/6 is on the weak side, that's why I suggested a second 12/6.
 
#19
Yes, that's what I'm saying.
I was not happy with the 12/6/1 for jazz gigs; nor the ML112, not the AudioKinesisTC112.
I need more cab than that.

Maybe you don't, which is fine, and your prerogative.
 
#20
It wouldn't be big enough for me. But then, there are some shows where I've brought a single 15/6 and pushed it to its limits too.

I personally found that the LMII wasn't suited perfectly to power a fEARful setup to its fullest advantage. When it reaches it's clean limit, it starts breaking up in the mids in an ugly way, and I didn't like hearing that happening in the 6".
 

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