fEARful/fEARless - Guidance Needed

[BigBasserino]

Two of them would easily handle 800W and outperform most 4x10s, or 2x15s.

Cool. Now if only I played often enough to justify all that. Lol. I'm mostly interested in the 212s or 115 builds.

 

[Rev. Cornelius]

As a client of @popgadget, I can testify to how great the F212 sounds. For a better look at one, see my signature.

Thanks

 

[Ian Lewis]

For reggae there is no other way to go than feearful/fearless. I play reggae exclusively and have not found a better tone. I built a 15/6 and it was phenomenal, more clear bottom end than any cab i have ever used. I only sold it to help pay for my wedding. With the agreement i could build another one later. So then i built 2 12/6s because the 15/6 wont fit in my 350z. The 2 12/6s were glorious and aounded superb for reggae. Just as much low end as the 15 but in a smaller lighter (35lbs) package. I run mine with a mesa boogie pre/di and a crest prolite 3.0.... do yourself a favor, get a fearful. And you dont need the tweeter
View attachment 3049912

I have to agree about the tweeter; the eminence 12" covers 45-2k, the 6" 180-6.3k, the horn 1.8-20k. As I roll off everything above 8kHZ the horn is really only working when I play MP3s through it for practice.

 

[Jim Carr]

For reggae there is no other way to go than feearful/fearless. I play reggae exclusively and have not found a better tone. I built a 15/6 and it was phenomenal, more clear bottom end than any cab i have ever used. I only sold it to help pay for my wedding. With the agreement i could build another one later. So then i built 2 12/6s because the 15/6 wont fit in my 350z. The 2 12/6s were glorious and aounded superb for reggae. Just as much low end as the 15 but in a smaller lighter (35lbs) package. I run mine with a mesa boogie pre/di and a crest prolite 3.0.... do yourself a favor, get a fearful. And you don't need the tweeter...

All wise words, but for the tweeter. A high frequency driver will make your cab more flexible and also a better bet for selling—if the day comes—IMHO.

 

[pickles]

A true 3-way crossover and a tweeter will make the cab sound much sweeter in the frequencies where the mid and tweet overlap with the standard crossover (or a cab without a tweeter). You hear your 4k through the tweeter instead of the ragged top end of the mid driver.

 

[Foz]

A gentle reminder to all considering a Fearful cab build - if you use the free plans to build a cab please consider a modest donation to the GB forum - also, this site is the best place for advice and troubleshooting tips for the novice builder.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Your Friend,

Shaft

 

[Billtbagginz]

Thought I might add a couple of rig pics...Can't find one of the 1212/6/1 or the 12/6/1, but here are some 15/6/1 pics and a 15sub. I now use a Crest Prolite 3.0 and an old ART model 259 preamp for TX and HI. Sometimes use a Mesa Subway 800 with the upright when running a magnetic Krivo pickup on the upright. Yes, 800 watts into a 4 ohm 1212/6/1.
For upright. Yup.

Texas reggae rig:
View attachment 3006490

Hawaii reggae rig:
View attachment 3006492

Do you use the 15sub with the 1212/6/1 ? If so, is it a good pairing? I'm a fearless/fearful"virgin" so to say, so if I'm going to spend the time and money on 2 to 3 cabinets I'd like to know it's going to sound good. Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[wcriley]

...The hairs in the first turn of the chochlea are the 4 kHz ballpark receptors, and they tend to be badly damaged on people who have served in the military...

Yep. I'm ex-military and ex-construction worker.
The only good thing about a serious dip in that are is that it makes it hard to hear my wife. <evil grin>

 

[Ian Lewis]

Good day Gentlemen,

I'm EXTREMELY interested in getting a fEARless/fEARful cab, or two, but I'm overwhelmed with the amount of information on the web. Having said that, I decided to communicate directly with my needs in hopes that you guys can help me to narrow down some things in my quest for the right cab(s).

Thank you all in advance

Here goes;

I'll list what gear I currently have, and what I'm trying to achieve in replacing these cabinets. Hopefully that'll be a good starting point for the discussion. I'm seeing lots of talk about 4ohm, 8ohm, & 2ohm, so I've also included my amps, and links to their specs in my gear list.

(1) SWR Goliath II 4x10
(1) Peavey TVX 2x10
(1) Eden WT-800 Amplifier = WT800 | EDEN Amplification
(1) Ashdown Little Giant 1000 = Little Giant 1000

My intent is to have a cab that's LOUDER/BETTER than my current 4x10, or most 4x10 cabs, but with a smaller footprint. I use the 2x10 for smaller gigs, and some rehearsals (depending on location). With that said, the "possible" 2nd fEARless/fEARful cab would be for those occasions where a 4x10 and a 15 inch sub would've been paired together. I've never owned an 8x10 rig, but also wouldn't mind having a combo of cabinets that would rival an 8x10. I've owned (2) SWR Goliath II 4x10 cabs before, and I liked the option of stacking them if needed. Right now, I'm either using the 2x10, or the 4x10...NOT both together.

THINGS TO KNOW:

• My main gig is Reggae, specifically the sounds of Roots Reggae/Dub Reggae in the tradition of the 70s-80s. Think WARM, Low B, Flatwound, and WIDE sound.
  
• I occasionally do some soulful R&B, Motownish gigs in between as well, but Reggae is what I do 95% of the time.
• The cabinets will be for Electric Bass & Acoustic Electric Bass as well
• I'm a backup singer (sometimes), and I see that there's some folks on the web mentioning using their cab for vocals while not sacrificing anything on the low end. It's not a must, and I wouldn't mind having that option, BUT it's definitely not a priority.
• I've never heard a fEARless/fEARful cab in person, don't know anyone who has one, and don't live on the Cont US, or Europe where I can meet up with someone to try one out, or hear it for myself....Bummer eh?

I hope I didn't leave out any important details in my post, if I did, I'll be quick to respond if someone has a particular question about something that I didn't cover.

Again, thank you all in advance for your guidance in assisting me to narrow down my search.

Honorable mention to the guy somewhere on TalkBass with a fEARless/fEARful cab, and a custom Dingwall painted in Red/Gold/Green. If someone knows who I'm referring to, perhaps you can ask him to chime in because I remember reading a post from him, and he also plays Reggae.

With Gratitude

I know I'm not in the same genre, or volume requirement, but I thought I'd respond with my GreenBoy experience. Since 1972 I've played most genres through all sorts of rigs, with 18" and 15" cabinets, but four years ago I began playing my Warwick 5 strings through a TecAmp Puma 500 and a fearless f112H (12.6.1). I've never had so many "great tone" compliments in my life!

 

[Jim Carr]

Do you use the 15sub with the 1212/6/1 ? If so, is it a good pairing? I'm a fearless/fearful"virgin" so to say, so if I'm going to spend the time and money on 2 to 3 cabinets I'd like to know it's going to sound good. Thanks in advance for any input.

I suppose I could, but I never have, seeing as how I'd hate to cause a dangerous seismic disturbance and the attendant world-wide tsunami, LOL.

But seriously, I use a 12/12/6/1 most of the time now. Haven't needed more for a while. It is also just easier to schlep a 12/12/6/1 than a 15/6/1. The 12/12/6/1 is on tilt-back wheels and is tall enough to easily tip in or out of the back of my bass mobil.

I also like my 12/6/1 (a single 12) for tiny stages or theater work—any time the cab needs to be small or unobtrusive.

Another possible pairing I have not used is a 12/6/1 + 15sub. Several TB folks, including gear sage @tombowlus — consider it superior to a 12/12/6/1. I just haven't needed it.

Honestly, I have used the 15sub way less than any other of my fEARfuls. Just rarely need it.

A 12/12/6/1 or mirrored pair of 15/6/1 cabs, and you are loaded for Brontosaurus.

 

[singlemalt]

Doesn’t the 12/12/6 run at 4 ohms, vs the 8 ohm 15/6/1?

That would account for part of the big volume increase.

I’d build a 12/6 cube to start, and another if that ends up being not enough, or you just need more occasionally.

 

[Jim Carr]

Doesn’t the 12/12/6 run at 4 ohms, vs the 8 ohm 15/6/1?
That would account for part of the big volume increase.
I’d build a 12/6 cube to start, and another if that ends up being not enough, or you just need more occasionally.

Yes, the 12/12/6/1 is a 4 ohm cabinet and the 15/6/1 is 8 ohms. I always have plenty of power for an 8 ohm or 4 ohm fEARful.

IMHO, the issue is not a volume increase with the 4 ohm cabinet. It is the superior overall power handling and loudness with the 12/12/6/1.

To be honest, I have actually farted out a single 15/6/1 on occasion. It is a loud slapping sound that is likely very expensive if it continues more than a few seconds, LOL.

Also for me, the 12/12/6/1 is easier to transport than a 15/6/1, and way easier than a 15/6/1 plus a 15sub or a second (mirror-baffle) 15/6/1. I've done both!

A 12/12/6/1 can go louder than a 15/6/1, and I must confess, I play in some loud bands, frequently without significant PA support.

A 12/6/1 cube is a great place to start. My neighbor has a rig with a 12/6/1 and a 12sub which he powers with an SVT. Killer. However, transporting a 12/12/6/1 is still the big win, IMHO.

Tilt-back wheels and top/back handle are a big factor, plus the tall form makes it an easy tip-in or tip out for (un)loading a vehicle.

 

[Foz]

yup - dual woof gb's are a breeze to schlepp

 

[Jim Carr]

yup - dual woof gb's are a breeze to schlepp

Now I'm thinking 15/15/6/6/1. Is there something wrong with that, LOL!? Help.

 

[Passinwind]

Now I'm thinking 15/15/6/6/1. Is there something wrong with that, LOL!? Help.

Foz is the last person in the universe you want to ask that question of!

 

[Foz]

I dare ya Jim... triple dog.

 

[Jim Carr]

Foz is the last person in the universe you want to ask that question of! View attachment 3771032

Uh oh. The question is: What do I say to band mates if I show up with an EVEN BiGGER cabinet? LOL.

 

[Jim Carr]

I dare ya Jim... triple dog.

OK, how big is your truck?

 

[CosmicRay]

Fearless F215
Never looked back.....

 

[Passinwind]

OK, how big is your truck?

Oh boy, you're really asking for it now! But of course who doesn't want a Unimog for gigging?