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Low Down Sound Club, Part Four

#841
Ok so I left it for roughly 18 hrs on and off @ 31 Hz in a back room with a door (luckily the concrete walls helped to keep the sound away from our bedroom), then took the full rig outside this afternoon to mess around on the porch.

HOLY. CRAP.

Now of course this isn't a fair comparison, but my previous rig was my Shuttle Max 12.2 into 2 x Aguilar SL112. I've done gigs where I ended up pushing those cabs hard to get the sound I wanted but it would come up short in either volume (amp would peak, sound would become compressed) or low frequency response (strong mids but lacking real bottom end).

Now I've taken the SL112's outside on the porch before and tested its limits (amp peaking or cabs straining). As I expected, with the 15/6/1 + 15 Sub I'm getting ridiculously more volume and bass than the SL112 stack could achieve. What I didn't expect was that both the cabs AND the amp weren't breaking a sweat! No peak light on amp, no breakup with the cabs (unless you mean all the house doors and windows holding on for dear life). I don't want to be stupid loud, but it's nice to know I won't ever be lacking horsepower...before getting the cabs I thought I'd want to find a used Shuttle Max 9.2, Black Jag 900 or a MB Fusion 800 for more 8 Ohm power, but if (not even) 375W could push that kind of volume then the only consideration right now would be each amp's inherent tone.

What I really found really surprising was the Performance of the 15 Sub by itself. I know the 3015LF isn't a full range driver, but I wondered what would happen if you dial back the lows and give it a good push? Well, paired with my J-Bass w/ flats it sounds like it could be pretty decent if you're doing a strictly Motown, Soul or Reggae gig, but obviously not for anything else that needs some shine up top. Plus, at around 35 lbs it's an easier carry than the 15/6/1. Looking forward to some new adventures with these guys :bassist:

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To summarize: Don is the man!!!
 
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#842
For those of you familiar with Don's 15/6/1 (with the 18sound mid): I normally hear that in this application, the 18sound needs to be padded back a little to achieve parity with the 3015LF...but my cab has continuously variable L-pads on both mid and tweeter. I've tried no pad on both drivers (fully clockwise) and, while it doesn't sound bad, I'm wondering if anyone can direct me in figuring out how much I should pad back each driver to achieve true parity. It does seems heavy on the mids and highs (but not in an overbearing way), but I'm trying to achieve that flat sound that these 3 way designs are known for (which most say ends up being a good representation of what your bass through the PA would sound like, given you send a post-EQ signal from the head's DI).
 
#843
Don doesn't really have a standard design on that style cabinet. For example, on mine he used the 500w Faital neo 15s instead of the 3015LF, and ceramic Faital 6.5" mid drivers.
In order to truly know if your bass is flat through your cabinet, you'd need a spectrum analyzer of some kind, wouldn't you? But if you want to just get close, you could try this method:
If you have a decent pair of studio monitors, plug your bass into one and play on that for a couple minutes. That should give you an idea of what your bass sounds like flat. Then plug back into your amp/LDS cab and try to match it. What amp are you using? Your Shuttle should be able to get an uncolored, flat sound.
 
#846
johndough247 said:
For those of you familiar with Don's 15/6/1 (with the 18sound mid): I normally hear that in this application, the 18sound needs to be padded back a little to achieve parity with the 3015LF...but my cab has continuously variable L-pads on both mid and tweeter. I've tried no pad on both drivers (fully clockwise) and, while it doesn't sound bad, I'm wondering if anyone can direct me in figuring out how much I should pad back each driver to achieve true parity. It does seems heavy on the mids and highs (but not in an overbearing way), but I'm trying to achieve that flat sound that these 3 way designs are known for (which most say ends up being a good representation of what your bass through the PA would sound like, given you send a post-EQ signal from the head's DI).
Click to expand...


Read the Fearful plans.
IIRC, and I may not, they call for the mid driver to have a toggle switch for an all the way on, and, -3db setting.
 
#847
johndough247 said:
For those of you familiar with Don's 15/6/1 (with the 18sound mid): I normally hear that in this application, the 18sound needs to be padded back a little to achieve parity with the 3015LF...but my cab has continuously variable L-pads on both mid and tweeter. I've tried no pad on both drivers (fully clockwise) and, while it doesn't sound bad, I'm wondering if anyone can direct me in figuring out how much I should pad back each driver to achieve true parity. It does seems heavy on the mids and highs (but not in an overbearing way), but I'm trying to achieve that flat sound that these 3 way designs are known for (which most say ends up being a good representation of what your bass through the PA would sound like, given you send a post-EQ signal from the head's DI).
Click to expand...

You would need to contact the shop about specifics on the cross over, and any shaping of the sound done with it.
 
#848
Don doesn't adhere to the fEarful cab dimension/crossover specs to the letter. He builds whatever the customer asks him to build, and offers advice/ideas when they are invited. His pal Ralph Patterson designs his crossovers. When the customer asks for something based around the fEarful design, he incorporates his own unique design characteristics while giving the customer his version of the 15/6/1 concept.
 
#849
my Faital 15pr400 loaded 115 in Don's 'standard clothes' arrived this week, and it is impressive. I am impressed with Don's top notch build quality. The cabinet fits my Ampeg V4B which is at a friend's being repaired, but the SVT sounds killer through it. I ordered it at 4ohms for the Ampeg heads.


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#852
Chef- your input in this thread along with all the other LDS users made me choose Don for a build. I am blown away by this cab and cannot belive that Don's work isn't more well known outside TB. The idea of building a custom cab where the sky is the limit for the prices Don charges makes me think of how much more of a cab one could have for a little more money than the mass produced cabs.

I own 2 Berg cabs I can never part with and this cab is a definate keeper. I'm now thinking of future builds from Don to use with my big rigs. I am liking Don's 12/6 builds and maybe a 610 or 412 in the future to make my tube amps push more air.
 
#853
I quit using my 8" loaded stuff when I had Don build the 12/6/1 and 12 sub; and, then sold my Mesa head.
Which, if I was gonna use the 8" stuff, I needed; as they're all 4 ohm cabs, and I like using two of them.
So: a used M6 showed up here and I hit it; which leads to this; I'd forgotten how great this sounds. I'll probably end up using the two 2x8's stacked vertical when I use them, but this was what was handy at lunch break today.

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#856
I talked to Don about a cab for my Mesa and thought of 2 212 cabs built similar to Mesa's Powerhouse line.

I like Chef's setup with the 8's, this thread has opened my mind to the world of 8's and thought a SWR style 6-8 cab would be cool. I saw an LDS 610 a few months ago on Craigslist in the NY/NJ area that was a 610. The owner said he bought it from a guy who ran it with an Ampeg V4B. I passed on it because it was too far away and it wouldn't fit in my Volkswagen, but I should have asked him what drivers Don installed in it.
 
#857
Don would know what he put in that 610 ;)

Also; since I've had those 8" cabs built, last time I talked to Don he had Neo 8's he liked; so he could build cabs like mine (which are really great cabs) and have them come in much lighter. I think the 2x8's are about 50, and the 4x8 is ~75 or 80lbs. Not light, but, great.
 
#859
My 8's are long throw Faitals, if I remember right. Don said ne had a Neo substitute for those he liked.
Of course, "some cab you played at Sam Ash with 8" drivers in it" might have sounded good; there are other folks like Ampeg and Fender who have done such.
I have no idea what you might have played.

I've never heard the newer Neo's Don mentioned to me.

You could call him for more info.
 

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