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Low Down Sound Club V3

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#421
Yeah, any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated, Mr. Duke... Otherwise, I'd understand, and wouldn't be too disappointed with my cab I think. :p

I chose this driver:
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And this horn:
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Even comments on those selections would be nice. I'll be honest... I pretty much selected that horn because I think it looks cool. :o

I can always make changes to my order before he starts, which won't be for several months anyways...
 
#422
Rpsands, thanks for your kind words.

Thud, I think you have chosen a very practical and cost-effective compression driver for pairing up with the 3012HO. The horn you've chosen is among the better ones in its general size and price range. I use a different model that is similar in size and radiation pattern but imho of more advanced acoustic design; here it is if you'd like to take a look:

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In my opinion you might want to raise your target crossover frequency up to the 1.5 - 2 kHz ballpark. Two main reasons: First, you'll get a better radiation pattern match between woofer and horn in that region; and second, that Selenium horn starts losing pattern control as we go significantly south of 2 kHz (some oversimplification in that statement, but it conveys the general idea).

Overall I like your approach (big surprise... it's a lot like what I'm doing). You may need some EQ to meet yout tonal goals with the 3012HO; it trades off deep bass for efficiency, but has more excursion that most 12's so it can handle some EQ - and depending on your tonal goals, it might be just what you are looking for.
 
#423
Yeah, for a bass cab I won't be needing a huge amount of volume out of it, so I figure I could always EQ in some bass... My "loud rock band" cabinet is an LDS fearful style 15/6 (which should arrive at my door very soon). I am indeed going with the HO for the increased efficiency. Also I just like trying different things.

Your comments are appreciated, I will definitely take them into account.
 
#424
DukeLeJeune said:
Rpsands, thanks for your kind words.

Thud, I think you have chosen a very practical and cost-effective compression driver for pairing up with the 3012HO. The horn you've chosen is among the better ones in its general size and price range. I use a different model that is similar in size and radiation pattern but imho of more advanced acoustic design; here it is if you'd like to take a look:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

In my opinion you might want to raise your target crossover frequency up to the 1.5 - 2 kHz ballpark. Two main reasons: First, you'll get a better radiation pattern match between woofer and horn in that region; and second, that Selenium horn starts losing pattern control as we go significantly south of 2 kHz (some oversimplification in that statement, but it conveys the general idea).

Overall I like your approach (big surprise... it's a lot like what I'm doing). You may need some EQ to meet yout tonal goals with the 3012HO; it trades off deep bass for efficiency, but has more excursion that most 12's so it can handle some EQ - and depending on your tonal goals, it might be just what you are looking for.
Click to expand...

Very helpful and proffessional from someone in your position. I like how you provided useful information to someone buying/building a similarish but different project to yours. I very much look forward to the Thunderchildren running wild around here. IT looks incredibly intriguing. I'd certainly like to see Kjung's opinion, comparing it to the plethora of high-end commercial cabs he has.
 
#425
I've spent some time with one; but because it was a pre-production model, and this ain't the thread for that, all I'll say is: it's gonna be kewl when it's finalized.
 
#426
Not the best pic I know :p

Review (and better pics) to come in the following days. :D:D:D:D
 

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#428
I am planning on meeting up with Don next Sunday to pick up my 12126 cab from him, as I will be in the area for a Mini-Rickenbacker confluence. :)

Don will get to meet the bass in my avatar.
 
#430
Well, I think I may have to hop on the ole Lowdownsound bandwagon in the new year. I'll make it my new Years' Resolution to get one... or two.

I wanted to get a 610 and a matching 215 for the longest time and really had my heart set on some Bergs. After talking to some buddies I was reminded of Emperor cabinets, which I forgot about for a long time. I couldn't decide which route I would take, until yet another buddy told me he would go with Lowdownsound.

I was trying to compare all three but it wasn't easy. I read many, many reviews on Emperor cabinets and while they are supposed to be astounding cabinets, they're heavier than other cabinets of the same size. Now, I don't mind heavy cabinets since I'm still young (22), but if I am going to be playing with multiple cabinets, lighter is a better route. So this left me with Bergantino and Lowdownsound.

The Bergs can be hard to get by time (or so I'm told). A friend of mine told me he had some LDS cabinets priced with specifications very similar to some of the Berg cabinets and the prices were pretty close. Well, shoot! If the price is the same, and LDS cabs are customized... why the hell not?!

Over the last few weeks I have been listening to sound clips, looking at pictures/videos, and reading a lot of reviews on this board and any site I can find on Google.

I've started writing some specifications out and will fine-tune them after reading up a bit more and seeing what others have chosen for similar set ups. I know Don has/had(?) a stock 610, but my design will be a little different. I was worried about pricing before, but seeing how his 810 was $700, I'm not too concerned anymore. Besides, I make more than that per paycheck :smug:.

I will post more after getting my details "set in stone" to see what everyone thinks, or if I should change anything up. Like I said, I am going for a 610 and a 215. I will need something that will be good for many genres including doom/sludge (with tuned down basses) and a lot of punch, grind, and clarity, which it seems like these cabs have. I may add another cabinet in the future because, let's face it, why play with one cabinet when you can play with many? When playing doom/sludge, I will be running TWO Ampeg heads (SVT-CL and SVT-VR). I just need to spend a lot of dough to have the VR fixed up first :crying:.

Wow, I can't believe I just typed all that... Oh well! As far I can tell, LDS cabs are the way to go. Amazing quality, great performance/sound, and excellent pricing from what I hear!

Oh, I may get a little one for practice, too. Right now my only amp is an Ampeg 810. I could use something to take to practices or playing in different rooms of the house. A few of you have little 210 combos with a slot for the head to go in. I may just have to jump on that idea and get another head, too!
 
#431
Josh Pelican said:
... If the price is the same, and LDS cabs are customized... why the hell not?!

...
Click to expand...

Resale value was my first thought... Bergantino cabinets are a known entity and a future buyer would probably know what to expect. A custom LDS cabinet (or two or three) on the other hand, isn't and they'll have to take the seller's word for what they sound like. Outside of TalkBass, I have no idea if LDS cabinets are widely known (although the same might be true to a lesser extent with Bergantino).

Good luck!
 
#433
Well, I have some ideas for the 610. I guess you guys can tell me what would work and what wouldn't. I don't really know what sort of speakers/tweeters/horns I should use. I haven't played through too many cabinets because I've been using my Ampeg 810 for so long. The stores around here don't have much variety so there's a lot of gear I haven't seen/touched in real life yet (Aguilar, Bergantino, Epifani, etc.).

This is what I'm looking at so far:
-1,200 watts RMS
-Neo speakers
-Vented pole pieces if possible...
-Crossover with variable tweeter control
-Two tweeters
-1" horn driver
-4 ohms
-36" x 24" x 15" (H x W x D)

Ideally I'm looking at something with a frequency of 48 hz to 4.5 khz or something around there.

Of course, I'd like this to have a tilt back design with handle (and handles on sides) with 3" casters... but that's nothing special.

Give me advice while I work on the 215 specifications!
 
#434
Josh Pelican said:
Well, I have some ideas for the 610. I guess you guys can tell me what would work and what wouldn't. I don't really know what sort of speakers/tweeters/horns I should use. I haven't played through too many cabinets because I've been using my Ampeg 810 for so long. The stores around here don't have much variety so there's a lot of gear I haven't seen/touched in real life yet (Aguilar, Bergantino, Epifani, etc.).

This is what I'm looking at so far:
-1,200 watts RMS
-Neo speakers
-Vented pole pieces if possible...
-Crossover with variable tweeter control
-Two tweeters
-1" horn driver
-4 ohms
-36" x 24" x 15" (H x W x D)

Ideally I'm looking at something with a frequency of 48 hz to 4.5 khz or something around there.

Of course, I'd like this to have a tilt back design with handle (and handles on sides) with 3" casters... but that's nothing special.

Give me advice while I work on the 215 specifications!
Click to expand...

A sealed 610 should be able to get you to 4K without a tweeter. The rest looks pretty standard. Not sure if 24ohm speakers are available as standard order in order to get to 4ohm impedance though. You'd have to check with Don on that.

Take a look at the Bergantino NV610 spec... that's probably the vibe you are looking for. The Epi610UL is basically a bigger 410UL... so modern, wide, sizzly up top versus the more grindy, classic punchy tone of the Berg. I haven't heard the Aguilar.

K
 
#435
For a sealed cab I'd recommend Basslite CA2010s. Not insanely sensitive but the top end that goes higher more smoothly than the other Basslites, and a high QTS that gives it excellent performance in a sealed box. The rolloff will happen later than say with S2010s and you really don't give up much sensitivity to achieve it. Maybe 1.5db or so, and some in the mids, for smoother top end extension and better bottom.

Without eq, it'll probably sound a lot better too.

Anyway, talk to Don about it if you really want sealed.

My advice: Get a 6nd410 midrange crossed over at 1200hz, but allow a defeat switch where you can turn it off and allow the 10s to roll off naturally. If you're using an SVT, I wouldn't use a horn myself, especially if you get it grindy.

With a sealed cab, you're not going to do much better than -10db at 48hz without going really big or using some other drivers that aren't eminence.
 
#437
Played a gig with my cab last night. It's an LDS 15/6/1 "fEarful" build with the 18sound mid, eminence horn and dayton waveguide.

I haven't set it up for biamping yet, but run full-range it sounds amazing. From what I've heard thus far, it will get louder than my previous avatar setup (2 SB112's), and at the same time lower/deeper, with more mids.

LDS cab construction is really nice, on par with any other cabinet manufacturer if not better than many. Not sure what the default coating is for Don's cabs but I really like it. It's blackish and somewhat thin, I can feel the wood grain. It's kind of a rough finish. I can see how some people wouldn't like it, but I like it a lot! If you throw around the cab, may be better to get a stronger coating.

I specified no mid attenuator in one of my emails, but I guess Don missed that detail. Oh well, not a huge deal... I have left it in the default position and it sounds great -- I can pretty much completely control how much sound comes out of the mid driver with my EQ (frequency at 2khz, about 1 to 1.5 octave Q). However if you have just a standard bass head with basic or crappy EQ, I can see how the mid attenuator would come in handy for some people who want less mids in their sound.

I just hope that I got greenboy's crossover, I made sure to specify the CBG crossover in the initial order and several emails before he started the build. I know that I got Duke's hi-pass because we specifically discussed it on the phone. Speaking of which, I can hear added hi-frequency content when the horn is switched on, but I doubt most people will need it or even hear it, especially in a band setting. I'm glad I got it, regardless. It will be more noticeable for music playback. But anyways, phone is definitely the way to order and discuss things with Don/LDS.

With this design I am getting more volume and extended low end, and at the same time, more mids. It sounds great in the mix. EQ is the key here to making it sound different. As stated by everyone with this design, EQ makes more noticeable changes when compared with most bass cabs. You can make it sound like other "flavored" cabs, but the great thing is that you're not stuck with a certain cab coloring. I believe that was a main intent with this design, and a main reason I ordered one.

I had become somewhat attached to my avatar 12's, but don't think I will miss them too much. Can't wait to try bi-amping soon, which is the method I'll be using most often. The 15/6 with passive crossover will blow any other similar-sized cab out of the water. If there was no such thing as biamping, I would still go with this design and be plenty happy for my bass playing needs. It's just my experimental and learning-obsessed and hyper-creative side that wants to biamp. Most players would be ecstatic with the 15/6 and passive x-over.

I will be able to comment much more after I get more playing time on this cab, and after the drivers break in... supposedly it's only going to get better...
 
#439
I am glad to see the LDS thread is back up and running. I am still thrilled with the 4x8 Don build for me last spring! When I can pull the money together, I'll order another cabinet. I am still torn about stacking the 4x8 with a 15 or simply another 4x8
 
#440
If it were me, I'd go with a lightweight 115.
Much as I love my 4x8-and it's kinda my main cab right now-it is awful heavy-ish, and i wouldn't want to move it twice as it were...
 
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