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fEarful users-what amp do you use.

cableguy

cableguy

Jun 4, 2009
3,878
2,949
North Bend, WA
#1
Built a 12/6 and it rocks. I'm looking at getting a smaller head and was curious what head fEarful users use. I know there will be alot, just curious on my part. I will most likely add on a 12/sub in the future for bigger gigs. So what heads do you guys like for your fEarfuls. I may even go with a 15/6 instead of a 12/sub so don't be afraid to chime in if you have one of the bigger fearfuls.
 
#7
i use a shuttle 9 with my fEarful 12/6.
it sounds fantastic with the amp EQ'd completely flat but i've never really gigged with it (only played it at home). i'd probably have to boost mids or highs a touch to cut through in a mix.
 
#9
For driving both the 15/6 and the 12/6cube, I like the Carvin B1500 (which of course also works great with just one cab). The Ampeg SVT-8Pro is another great match. I definitely need to try my Titan V-12 with these cabs!

On the micro head side of things, I've tried a bunch, but the GK MB500 and MB Fusion are my faves by a surprisingly wide margin.
 
#13
I know it's all subjective. And some people change gear like underwear, but I'm not one of them. It's good to know what other fearful users use with good results. I don't get a chance to see many other players and their equiptment live so this gives me an idea of what works for people.
 
#14
I'm using a Thunderfunk TFB 420.

It hits my tone goal through the fEarful - sound pretty much like I do through a top flight PA or direct into an upper end console then played through full range mons.

I also really dig the eq on the Thunderfunk.

It is all so personal. What each of us holds as important to us is what is important. I like having a eq section that works like a console. I'm also a studio engineer, so that's the source of my bias.

The hard part is learning what is important to you, and to understand the trade offs involved in different gear selections.
 
#16
I've played quite a few 15/6 and 12/6 executions with a number of amps. Given the superior low end control and power these cabs have, and the sweet, smooth paper cone top end (if you don't have a three way version), I've found that heads with an inherent big low end, smooth, clean mid response and sweet but present top end work very well.

So, that would be amps like the TecAmp Puma, the EA iAmpPro, the Genz Streamliner, the Glock Heartrock, and to a lesser extent, the GK micros (wide, but not particularly clean IMO).

I've had decent luck with the Markbass F1/F500 also, with the VPF engaged a bit to widen out the tone and smooth the mids a bit.

IMO, and 'at home testing' of a variety of these 15/6 and 12/6 executions from LDS as a final test prior to shipping to customers.
 
#18
I ordered a 15/6 from LDS and used it with the following heads:

Gallien Krueger 1001RB-II
Carvin B1500
Markbass LMII
TecAmp Puma 1000
Carvin BX1200

and then sold the cab. I moved to a Mesa Walkabout and Berb NV412 setup which gave me the fat, tubey tone I wanted but lacked volume and didn't have that rich low end extension of the 15/6

So I ordered another 15/6 from LDS and bought a Streamliner 900. Don hasn't started my new cab yet but I've had the Streamliner for a couple weeks now and love it. I have very high hopes for he combination.

As for the heads I tried previously, all of them worked well in their own way (other than the LMII lacking a bit of juice) and it really depends on if you want deep lows and smooth highs (TecAmp) or a tighter more aggressive tone (GK) or somewhere in between.
 
#19
Thanks for the input so far guys. Sounds like I need to take my cab down to Bass NW and try out a few different heads. Some of the heads mentioned I've heard of but never seen. That leads me to believe they may be out of my price range. I'm going to be looking to keep it under a grand. And Jared I do like a more aggressive tone but with the ability to clean up at times so maybe the GK would work well. Sounds like I'll be trying out some heads in the next few weeks. Fun!
 
#20
cableguy said:
Thanks for the input so far guys. Sounds like I need to take my cab down to Bass NW and try out a few different heads.
Click to expand...

Time for another Seattle GTG?

Out of the mini amps I've tried with fEarfuls, I like the G-K MB500 best for cost/performance ratio. I still hugely prefer a rack rig to any of the little thingies though. One size never fits all for me -- I have five rack preamps and wouldn't really mind having five more. ;)
 

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