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help required chosing a fEARful design

#101
Freddels said:
I was able to try out Don's F215 back in September and it was absolutely wonderful. However, it's probably way more than I would need on 99.99% of my gigs. So, I am anxiously awaiting news of the F115. If it sounds like the F215, it would probably be perfect for my needs. :D
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The plans are finalized. I would contact your nearest builder and see what they can to. Should sound like the 215.
 
#102
Freddels said:
I was able to try out Don's F215 back in September and it was absolutely wonderful. However, it's probably way more than I would need on 99.99% of my gigs. So, I am anxiously awaiting news of the F115. If it sounds like the F215, it would probably be perfect for my needs. :D
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Don Barry is your nearest authorized builder, and I probably don't need to tell you his build quality and service are among the best in the world today...good to be you!

I can tell you the F115 is to the F215 what the fEARful 15/6 is to the 1515/66/1. They sound the same, but the bigger one does it louder. There is a little added magic to the two woofer thing to be sure, but I've been using a FEARLESS 112 on a lot of my gigs and even with two electric guitars and a drummer haven't had the slightest problem getting the sound I want at the volume I need to be heard...the F115 is a real winner, IMO, and will become my main gig cab within a week or so :)
 
#103
When I first contacted Don, I was interested in the Dually. He had his own F215 there for me to try. I was able to try it on two occasions and compared it to the 15/6/1 and a Basic 15. The F215 was just so much better but I knew that it was way more than I'd truly ever need. Then I noticed the thread on Greenboy's site about the F115. I think that would be perfect. :D

We are having a local gtg this Saturday and Don will be attending. I don't know what he's bringing with him for cabs (except I'm sure he'll bring his personal F215). It should be interesting. :)
 
#104
Freddels said:
When I first contacted Don, I was interested in the Dually. He had his own F215 there for me to try. I was able to try it on two occasions and compared it to the 15/6/1 and a Basic 15. The F215 was just so much better but I knew that it was way more than I'd truly ever need. Then I noticed the thread on Greenboy's site about the F115. I think that would be perfect. :D

We are having a local gtg this Saturday and Don will be attending. I don't know what he's bringing with him for cabs (except I'm sure he'll bring his personal F215). It should be interesting. :)
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I talked to Don the other day...I think he'll have an F112 and an F215, but not sure he'll have time to get an F115 done...listen to the little one and the big one, split the difference, and there's an F115 :)

Actually, I'm kinda serious :)
 
#106
dukeorock said:
I talked to Don the other day...I think he'll have an F112 and an F215, but not sure he'll have time to get an F115 done...listen to the little one and the big one, split the difference, and there's an F115 :)

Actually, I'm kinda serious :)
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That F112 is very intriguing too. I'm looking forward to trying it. I'm going to bring a TH500 to try them with. I had tried the others with a GK 800RB and an Ampeg 7 Pro.
 
#108
aglide said:
So what are the main differences between Fearful and Fearless cabs?
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Depends on who you ask :hiding:

To paint with a very broad brush here...all greenboy cabs share a similar ideal, but the main differences as I see them are;

FEARLESS cabs are smaller and lighter than their fEARful equivalents. The mids are a tad less 'forward' on FEARLESS CABS.

The lows are a little 'tighter,' but unless you play below the low A on a drop tuned B string, they cab both sound exactly the same on the low end.

I mainly play a FEARLESS 112 and F215, with a F115 being built this week. I do still have a fEARful 15/6/1, 15sub and have owned and toured a 12/6/1cube, but some darn customer insisted on buying it :hmm:

Overall, I prefer the FEARLESS cabs, but the fEARful cabs are unreal...had greenboy never come out with the FEARLESS line, I'd be blissfully playing fEARfuls and would have zero complaints.

Not sure that helped...?
 
#111
I had compared the Fearless F215 with the FearFul 15/6/1 and used a 4 string (tuned EADG). I could hear the difference b/w the cabs. The F215 had a more focused low end. To me, it sounded more like a traditional cab but very clear and full. The 15/6/1, in comparison, sounded like the lows were extended and not as focused as the F215. Both of these cabs use the 3015LF.

If the F215 wasn't there, I would have said the 15/6/1 was a great sounding cab (b/c it is) but the direct comparison showed me that I preferred the F215.
 
#112
I think one of things that needs to be kept in mind is that greenboy designed the fEARful 15/6/1 to meet HIS needs and tastes, which included modeling and and extended range (low F#) bass. After releasing the design into the public domain, he followed it up with a smaller/lighter design (the 12/6) based on the same goals.

He later designed the Bassic/Dually for those wanting an "old school" sounding box without the size and weight of old school cabinets.

Most of us don't need the sub-low extension of the fEARfuls, hence the fearless line, a design he was working on several years ago but only recently tweaked, finalized and released. Without the need for low F# extension, the fearless boxes can be smaller and lighter while still meeting the needs/tastes of players who want a reasonably smooth "full range" sound with better than average mid dispersion.
 
#113
wcriley said:
I think one of things that needs to be kept in mind is that greenboy designed the fEARful 15/6/1 to meet HIS needs and tastes, which included modeling and and extended range (low F#) bass. After releasing the design into the public domain, he followed it up with a smaller/lighter design (the 12/6) based on the same goals.

He later designed the Bassic/Dually for those wanting an "old school" sounding box without the size and weight of old school cabinets.

Most of us don't need the sub-low extension of the fEARfuls, hence the fearless line, a design he was working on several years ago but only recently tweaked, finalized and released. Without the need for low F# extension, the fearless boxes can be smaller and lighter while still meeting the needs/tastes of players who want a reasonably smooth "full range" sound with better than average mid dispersion.
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I have no idea how to put it any better than Bill just did :), but I will add this;

I have had the pleasure of some fun a/b tests when we first started building greenboy cabs. The first 3 cabs we made was a 1515/66/1, a 15/6/1 and a 15sub (all to greenboy/fEARful spec). We placed them side by side and listened with the same amp at the same settings. The 15/6/1-15sub stack was a lot 'bassier' and the 1515/66/1 was more articulate...that was our first impression in a nutshell. I took the the 15/6/1-15sub stack on tour and my buddy Geoff Firebaugh took the 1515/66/1 on the road. We spoke with greenboy everyday, discussing the size of the venue, how much PA support and all the variables in crazy amounts of detail and we gave our impressions. In the first 3 weeks I played everything from small/medium sized clubs with no more than 150 people to an outdoor festival for 10,000 people and Geoff did the same. Both Geoff and I were in love with our rigs, but that isn't what greenboy wanted to hear...he wanted to know how he could make them better for our needs.

I just so happens that both Geoff and myself play primarily upright, gut string bass in the slap style at extreme volumes. We both double on electric for a few songs in our sets, which gave us a great overview.

A lot of this research helped lead to the development of the FEARLESS line of cabs...greenboy designed a mid voice switch for those who don't always need the mid forward thing of the fEARful cabs and I suppose you could describe the lows as 'tighter' but that's somewhat misleading because you can still make a FEARLESS cab as tubby as you want it to be...if you go any lower than low A on your B string, you might consider staying with the fEARful cabs as they are designed to stay solid all the way down to low F#. For most of us, the FEARLESS cabs work perfectly and do so in a smaller, lighter package. I have a/b'd the FEARLESS 215 with a fEARful 1515/66/1...for me, they're the two best 'big boy' cabs ever made...I would be thrilled to use either, but if forced to choose, I'd go with the F215, and do :)
 
#115
CL400Peavey said:
Mark if you had to make a choice between a 1515/66/1 or a 15/6/1 + 15 sub, which would you choose and why?
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That is a very tough question! Both are so amazing and have different strengths...let's see.

For touring, I'd probably go with the 1515/66/1 for a couple of reasons.

I prefer loading one slightly bigger cab over two smaller ones. I can push more lows out of a '66' if I need to and still have lots of articulation. The 15/6/1-15sub starts out with stronger lows, but you can make each rig sound the same with a little eq.

The argument for a 15/6/1-15sub would be modularity...for most gigs, the 15/6/1 is more than enough cab, but there's no denying that magic of a two woofer greenboy rig. I still occasionally use my 15/6/1 on local gigs, just for fun, though lately it's been more fun to see how shocked people are at the amount of sound I can get from the teeny FEARLESS 112.

That's kinda like showing me a picture of a screaming hot redhead, blonde and brunette and asking me which I'd prefer :)
 
#117
CL400Peavey said:
And you run with tweeters in all your rigs? Out of the different tweeters you have used in the greenboy cabs, are there any differences you hear? Or is there one that stands out to you?
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Lots of folks don't feel they need tweeters and I can understand that. I like 'em for the upright thing...very subtle, but a little 'sweeter' and airier up top.

Which compression driver in some cases depends on the size of the cab needed...for the big cabs like the 1515/66/1 or the FEARLESS 215, it's tough to beat the HD125, but on the F112 or F115 I'm kinda digging those Faital HF 102's...again it's a subtle thing, but I tend to prefer a Mylar, or some sort of 'soft dome' tweeter over the titanium domes...on a loud slap upright, the titanium domes can sound ever so slightly 'pingy.' Splitting hairs for sure, but those are my favorites :)
 
#119
wcriley said:
I think one of things that needs to be kept in mind is that greenboy designed the fEARful 15/6/1 to meet HIS needs and tastes, which included modeling and and extended range (low F#) bass. After releasing the design into the public domain, he followed it up with a smaller/lighter design (the 12/6) based on the same goals.

He later designed the Bassic/Dually for those wanting an "old school" sounding box without the size and weight of old school cabinets.

Most of us don't need the sub-low extension of the fEARfuls, hence the fearless line, a design he was working on several years ago but only recently tweaked, finalized and released. Without the need for low F# extension, the fearless boxes can be smaller and lighter while still meeting the needs/tastes of players who want a reasonably smooth "full range" sound with better than average mid dispersion.
Click to expand...

This really puts it in context, thanks.

Does anyone know if there are any plans for an F212?
 

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