fEARful cabs, your thoughts, reviews?

[Chef]

We're sort of saying the same thing. Sort of.

If you *like* what traditional cabs bring to your tone, the LF based cabs are going to present you with some new challenges.

 

[wcriley]

KJung,
I agree that having a rig that "gets you most of the way there" without much EQ works fine for players like you who have one specific sound that works in every situation you play in.

Obviously we're two different people with different tastes/situations. My personal tastes and playing situations vary widely from night to night and sometimes even from song to song or within songs. I would go bonkers if I had to use the same sound for an entire 3 or 4 hour gig.

As for:

+1 in that if you want to spend enough money and time and carry around enough stuff, you can pound most any cab to get where you want to go"

...I don't get that (unless you're referring to the biamping suggestion).

My G-K head has 6 knobs and 2 switches for EQ. My main bass has 3 bands of EQ with variable mids and switchable HF points. As BFM would say: those knobs and switches are there for a reason. I can beat any cab, including the FOH, into putting out whatever sound my brain can conjure up...without any extra money, time, or "stuff". (Well...the onboard preamp did cost me $100 and took me 1/2 hour to install.)

EDIT: Something I just thought of is that I have the Eminence Alpha6 mid driver in my cabs. That could account for some of the difference in opinion. I need to compare the FR charts between it and the 18Sound.

 

[aborgman]

For me, the relatively large size of the 15/6 (much larger than, for example, my Bergantino AE410

Eh?

AE410: 22.75"W x 25.5"H x 15.5"D, 62lbs

fEarful 15/6: 20.5"W x 30.5"H x 16"D, 50 lbs (my personal 15/6)

AE410 - 5.2 cubic feet
fEarful - 5.8 cubic feet

So the fEarful is a whopping 10% larger in volume, but weighs less.

That doesn't really seem like "much larger" too me.

 

[KJung]

KJung,
I agree that having a rig that "gets you most of the way there" without much EQ works fine for players like you who have one specific sound that works in every situation you play in.

Obviously we're two different people with different tastes/situations. My personal tastes and playing situations vary widely from night to night and sometimes even from song to song or within songs. I would go bonkers if I had to use the same sound for an entire 3 or 4 hour gig.

As for:

...I don't get that (unless you're referring to the biamping suggestion).

My G-K head has 6 knobs and 2 switches for EQ. My main bass has 3 bands of EQ with variable mids and switchable HF points. As BFM would say: those knobs and switches are there for a reason. I can beat any cab, including the FOH, into putting out whatever sound my brain can conjure up...without any extra money, time, or "stuff". (Well...the onboard preamp did cost me $100 and took me 1/2 hour to install.)

EDIT: Something I just thought of is that I have the Eminence Alpha6 mid driver in my cabs. That could account for some of the difference in opinion. I need to compare the FR charts between it and the 18Sound.

+1 in that I was referring to the bi-amping thing with the rack of stuff. I actually thought my Genz Max 9.2 did a VERY good job of varying the tone of the fEARful to get close to what I like. But never close enough to really be totally happy versus my main performance rig (which is mostly either an Audiokinesis TC112 with F500 for smaller gigs, or the Bergantino AE212 with F500 for everything else). I do use the Streamliner900 with the Bergantino AE410 when I want a bit more old school thing with my P, and that works nicely also. Again, PURE IMO here.

I typically play in a 'variety band' type situation, covering everything from 80's hair band stuff to Prince to Sinatra to neo soul to hip hop, to dance pop, etc. I never feel the need to turn a knob on a gig myself. Hand position and technique gets me everywhere I need to go, whether it is slapping on a Prince tune or laying down low on an Usher tune, or 'round and punchy on a Bon Jovi tune or whatever.

I use the same bass, and mostly the same rig on everything from heavy dance gigs to cocktail jazz sets, etc.

Again, just setting a context versus a 'wrong or right'/better or worse' sort of thing.

A touch of passive tone control and a slight pickup blend change on a few tunes (if I'm playing my J) is all I've ever needed to get anywhere I need to go. To be fair, even on tunes that might call for it, I don't 'go distorted' ever, but could easily do that with a VT pedal through pretty much any rig.


Edit: And, +1 in that I do find the primary difference I hear between various 15/6 executions is the brand of the mid driver. Putting a Faital mid with appropriate crossover with an LF driver is an entirely different experience, and more mimics the top end of the Audiokinesis models. All these executions (fEARFul,the various LDS builds, Baer, Thunderchild) have their own vibes and positives and negatives, just like comparing various executions of 410 cabs or whatever.

 

[Joe Louvar]

Got the clamps at Harbor Freight.. I think they're about $10 each.. might have picked em up on sale..

way cool, thank you.

 

[KJung]

Eh?

AE410: 22.75"W x 25.5"H x 15.5"D, 62lbs

fEarful 15/6: 20.5"W x 30.5"H x 16"D, 50 lbs (my personal 15/6)

AE410 - 5.2 cubic feet
fEarful - 5.8 cubic feet

So the fEarful is a whopping 10% larger in volume, but weighs less.

That doesn't really seem like "much larger" too me.

If you saw them next to one another, it is a huge difference. Also, mine is a composite build, which adds about another inch or so all around. Also, my main cab is the AE212, not the AE410, which doesn't see a lot of gigs any more. The AE212 is almost miracle of even tone and volume for its size IMO and IME..... very 'schlep friendly' with a kart-a-bag Super600 for those long walks from car to big city hotel venues, etc.

Of course, with 750 watts going into it, the fEARful would outperform my AE212 in total low end and max volume. The good news is, I never, ever run out of headroom with the AE212 and the typical 500 watt into 4ohm micro, so that is a moot point for me. And, the voicing of the AE212 is much closer to 'the tone in my head' with very little muss and fuss.

Obviously, not a deal breaker if I really dug the performance, but just another strike for me personally. No big deal... it is going to a very good home!

 

[aborgman]

If you saw them next to one another, it is a huge difference. Also, mine is a composite build, which adds about another inch or so all around. Also, my main cab is the AE212, not the AE410, which doesn't see a lot of gigs any more. The AE212 is almost miracle of even tone and volume for its size IMO and IME..... very 'schlep friendly' with a kart-a-bag Super600 for those long walks from car to big city hotel venues, etc.

You want to call it a huge difference between a AE212 and a 15/6 - seems hyperbolic, but I can see it.

You want to call it a huge difference between a AE410 and a 15/6 - it just ain't there.

 

[KJung]

You want to call it a huge difference between a AE212 and a 15/6 - seems hyperbolic, but I can see it.

You want to call it a huge difference between a AE410 and a 15/6 - it just ain't there.

Um, OK.

 

[mbelue]

Size differences are incredibly subjective. Mostly due to transportation limitations. What fits fine in one vehicle, might not fit through the door/trunk on another. Sometimes that extra inch gets you "that much closer" sometimes its the straw that breaks the camels back.

 

[BurningSkies]

Size differences are incredibly subjective. Mostly due to transportation limitations. What fits fine in one vehicle, might not fit through the door/trunk on another. Sometimes that extra inch gets you "that much closer" sometimes its the straw that breaks the camels back.

Which is why I bought a Honda Element...or I would have been limited to one 15/6 in the back seat of my Maxima. I bought it in 2008 specifically because of its gear hauling abilities...and this weekend it will house 3 band members, my full rig plus our guitarist's AC30.

If I was severely size constricted, I'd be looking at some Crazy8's.

 

[rad bassman]

a dual 15" woofer fearful setup is quite simply, something else, feed it with plenty of power and dont look back, its just awesome!

 

[Joe Louvar]

Chef, said it well, “Not all things are for all people: this is very ok.”

@ OP, for more “15/6” vs. “1515/66” etc help/comments - you may want to ask this question on the fearful forum, or read through the zillions of fearful threads on TB - but could take forever, so asking on the fearful forum will most likely yield a quicker/better result.

 

[mbelue]

My element at least for me has been ideal.
Are you a seats up fellow or seats out kind of guy?

 

[swspiers]

A fEArful is a demanding, unrelenting beast that will demand not only that you have power, but the ability to exercise that power.

It will insist that your intonation be as perfect as possible, that your technique be refined and precise. Whatever you do, you will hear it.

Don't know anything about gain? You'll learn.

Don't know anything about EQ? You'll learn.

The rewards are worth it. But it will not hesitate to let you know that something is wrong...

 

[jeff7bass]

A fEArful is a demanding, unrelenting beast that will demand not only that you have power, but the ability to exercise that power.

It will insist that your intonation be as perfect as possible, that your technique be refined and precise. Whatever you do, you will hear it.

Don't know anything about gain? You'll learn.

Don't know anything about EQ? You'll learn.

The rewards are worth it. But it will not hesitate to let you know that something is wrong...

I'm not worthy!!!

 

[BurningSkies]

My element at least for me has been ideal.
Are you a seats up fellow or seats out kind of guy?

If it's just me, I put both cabs in the back with seats in place, if I have a guitar amp with me I fold up the driver's side seat for more room. If I need even more I'll fold up both or take the seats out altogether. On occasion, I've taken my stuff, 2 guitar amps and a full keyboard rig including 2 boards amp and cab.

 

[swspiers]

I'm not worthy!!!

LOL!

Actually, I'm referring to myself. My poor set-up and lack of finesse is killing me

 

[RNV]

Sorry, I haven't read the thread. I have the 1515/66 and it has made me a better player, it has helped me to truly understand what ever frequency in my EQ really do, and it made me the first bassist to not have to run FOH at a local club because the sound was "So present and articulate, but never got in the way." That came from the Engineer/Club owner who is a phenomenal bassist himself. We are going to start building his "66" within the next few months.

And now for pics.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

+1 I try to review a cab based on what I hear. Whether I like it or not should be relatively uninteresting to the general reader.

For the OP, the fEARfuls have incredible bass response. A very nice combination of 'going deep but not stupid deep' (i.e., no 'efficiency problems', or strange mechanical issues like with the Acme's IMO), and the 3015LF driver used in these cabs (and the 3012LF driver in the 12 cabs) has 'PA sub' mechanical specs, which means you can POUND on your B string if you want, and you won't fart these cabs out.

There is absolutely no low mid bump in these cabs, which is good for some and not for others.

The upper mid response, due to the crossover used in this particular version of a 15/6, and the very aggressive, bright, powerful 18Sound mid driver generates a LOT of energy in the upper mids (peaking around 2K to my ear) It is surely not 'flat'. Again, could be a positive or negative depending on what the player wants. For some, that is just the frequency area where you want to soften the response.

It would be key for me to have an amp with at least two semi-parametric mid controls, which would allow a player to 'bump the punch' if he so desired and also to soften that upper mid response to reduce 'clack, gank', etc.

Nice combination of big low end, bright top end, decent efficiency. If you are a DUB style player, forget about it... nothing comes close to it on the market. For other styles of playing, some will need quite a bit of EQ power to get you where you might want to go IMO.

For me, the relatively large size of the 15/6 (much larger than, for example, my Bergantino AE410 or 212), the limitation of amplification choices (the 8ohm impedance and big low end really needs an amp that can comfortably put out 500 watts or so at 8ohms to reach my typical gig volume), and for me, the additional EQ power it would take to get me where I want to me tonally, resulting in the cab not working as well as my current cabs. Pure IMO there.

"Good for some, not for others" is a great way to express a balanced critique. These cabs will not meet everyone's needs, but they sure meet mine, especially considering their power/weight/portability. Having said, that I also agree with the eq comment. I definitely like to eq my 15/6. I cut 6db at about 1000hz and boost 120hz-200 about 3db. That's with my J bass with flats and tone control on the bass rolled completely off. I am not a fan of in your face high mids and I find these settings work very nicely for a fat, yet punchy tone with little in way of treble or high-mids.

 

[BurningSkies]

Sorry, I haven't read the thread. I have the 1515/66 and it has made me a better player, it has helped me to truly understand what ever frequency in my EQ really do, and it made me the first bassist to not have to run FOH at a local club because the sound was "So present and articulate, but never got in the way." That came from the Engineer/Club owner who is a phenomenal bassist himself. We are going to start building his "66" within the next few months.

And now for pics.

That indeed IS a benefit of fEARfuls. I've noticed this as well. Many house sound guys really like how they sound in the mix, and I've had one or two tell me to turn up then bring down the bass in the PA.