• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Major milestones in Speaker Technology.

#121
That's funny. Seriously. After I left this thread, I started searching for the fearful info.
I might just build a 15/6. I could do the work myself. I actually like building stuff, but what I don't have is the patience for covering the thing. I was thinking about LineX, maybe. I already own a new Peavey BW 1502-8. I was going to put it in a crap Headliner 115 that I had used for an acoustic trio which is just sitting around now, and then building a cab for a 6 or 8 with a crossover. Funny how this speaker indecision is eating at me. I have to commit to something fast before I go nuts.
 
#122
bumperbass said:
That's funny. Seriously. After I left this thread, I started searching for the fearful info.
I might just build a 15/6. I could do the work myself. I actually like building stuff, but what I don't have is the patience for covering the thing. I was thinking about LineX, maybe. I already own a new Peavey BW 1502-8. I was going to put it in a crap Headliner 115 that I had used for an acoustic trio which is just sitting around now, and then building a cab for a 6 or 8 with a crossover. Funny how this speaker indecision is eating at me. I have to commit to something fast before I go nuts.
Click to expand...

If you decide to build a fEARful the cross overs designed for that particular system can be purchased prebuilt on speakerhardware.com.
 
#123
Every time I spec out a rig on speakerhardware.com, and then carefully step away from the browser without clicking 'checkout', I consider it a major milestone in speaker technology, not to mention my marriage.
 
#124
CL400Peavey said:
If you decide to build a fEARful the cross overs designed for that particular system can be purchased prebuilt on speakerhardware.com.
Click to expand...

I think I am losing control of myself. I saw a bunch of builder wood kits available elsewhere, but they don't have the weight savings that speakerhardware has. Gee, I am really wanting one of those!
How long did it take to build yours? Seriously, how long?
 
#126
bumperbass said:
That's funny. Seriously. After I left this thread, I started searching for the fearful info.
I might just build a 15/6. I could do the work myself. I actually like building stuff, but what I don't have is the patience for covering the thing. I was thinking about LineX, maybe. I already own a new Peavey BW 1502-8. I was going to put it in a crap Headliner 115 that I had used for an acoustic trio which is just sitting around now, and then building a cab for a 6 or 8 with a crossover. Funny how this speaker indecision is eating at me. I have to commit to something fast before I go nuts.
Click to expand...

Yeah, man---build your own. If you buy from Speaker Hardware you can buy premade kits and xovers. Or build your own. With the advent of PL Adhesive it's super easy. You don't have to clamp. Rent or borrow a brad nailer. PL, pop a few brads---next corner. I'm an authorized builder and pretty much a dummy as far as electronics, although I'm good at soldering. It was really easy making the crossovers. Leland (at Speaker Hardware) has the circuit boards and completed pics. Piece of cake. You can complete the woodwork on a flat pack kit in a day.
 
#127
Oh man. I am in trouble. Now off to get rid of my excess 'stuff'. Especially that 96 lb. Peavey 410TVX. My back aches for two days after every gig. It's nuts. How much is my back worth, do you ask? More than a fearful 15/6, that's for sure.
Thanks, Mike!
My only question is, I don't see a FULL kit with EVERYTHING needed...like the Duratex, etc. Is that a separate order? How about the stuffing? I didn't see anything on the site FAQ about this, either. I want all the stuff in my garage, ready to go without.."Oh man, now I gotta wait for this and that".
Thanks again!
 
#128
Leland carries Duratex, PL, all that stuff. If you want it all in a ready-to-go kit, you can get it. Jackplates, corner hardware, etc.

Although stuff like PL and sandpaper is at your local Home Depot or wherever. Cab lining, AKA quilt batting/matress foam/pillow stuffing at local fabric stores, etc.
 
#136
Don't just build a fearful. If you must, understand why it is built this way and once you understand, you may choose another route....

The fearful will make the most of the 3012 or 3015 LF driver - the cab size is adequate to allow free movement of the driver to the full 9 mm+ level at normal playing EQ's, boost the bass too much it will still hit it excursion limits at high levels but it will also be quite a massive bottom end before this happens and you are unlikely to get any port chuffing.

So, you may find you don't have to raise the bass on the eq as much as previous designs, the sound will be very deep, but in my opinion, less punchy than many other designs so will offer a different presentation.

The 18 sound mid is outstanding and removes the 2 to 3 kHz gank from the normally Kappalite extended range drivers. It is a good combination and the cab is well designed for a reflex.

The fearful is a well executed design using state of the art drivers - however not a milestone in speaker technology. There are others who use good drivers and poorly execute the cabinet. Very good cabs are available with less good drivers. It is only good due to the sum of its parts, good drivers and good cab design. Using great cabinet design with state of the art drivers in other cabs will also produce fantastic results but a different presentation is possible if you prefer something different.

I have now extensively tested the HO against the LF (12 ") and now prefer the HO for 60Hz up to 1000 Hz over the LF. That's most of the bass range. However, the LF will give more bottom than the HO which produced more punch.

The 15" seem to do both. Although I am not a big fan of 15's, the 3015LF is a cracker and is a good balance between punch and depth. If you are building a fearful, I would go 15"...
 
#137
Unless our definitions of "punch" are different, I find that a little boost in the low mids/upper bass region (around 200Hz) into a fEARful 12/6 gives me the punch I desire.

As for your comparison of the 15" and 12" fEARfuls:
Are you really hearing that much difference?
I've never compared my 12/6 cabs to a 15/6, but many who own both have reported very little (if any) sonic difference.
 
#138
wcriley said:
Unless our definitions of "punch" are different, I find that a little boost in the low mids/upper bass region (around 200Hz) into a fEARful 12/6 gives me the punch I desire.

As for your comparison of the 15" and 12" fEARfuls:
Are you really hearing that much difference?
I've never compared my 12/6 cabs to a 15/6, but many who own both have reported very little (if any) sonic difference.
Click to expand...

Yes the upper bass/lower mid area - If you consider the two speakers have similar X-max but significantly different areas (lets say for arguments sake 1.3 times area of 12"), you can build a very capable 15 with 1.2 times the volume box which will still offer more low end but significantly more punch. (tuned to the same port frequency).

However, I agree that the two fEARfuls have similar characteristics. The lower free air resonance of the 12" though lends itself to making low bass in a smaller box (but will less punch).
 
#139
Thanks for the reply.
It makes me glad I chose to build 12/6 cabs. I'd rather EQ a slight bump in that area when/if I want it than to have the bump built into the "voice" of the cab.

One problem I see with having a built-in bump in that region is that it's not very far above the "Boom" region that sounds terrible to my ears and seems to be typical of cabs that are too small for the driver(s).

This is something that I think Greenboy tried to avoid when he designed each of the fEARfuls. I don't recall any of the modeled or measured response charts I've seen for fEARful 15/6 cabs showing a bump in the region you and I are calling "punch".
 
#140
If I do anything at this point, I might put the 3015LF into an existing Peavey enclosure and build another cabinet for the 6" to sit on top, with the crossover inside the 6". I printed out the Thiele-Small parameters to see if I need to change the port length.
This way, I can use the 15 by itself in an acoustic trio and use both for our rock/variety cover band.
I am checking the parameters now. I have PA support so I'm not looking to fill Shea Stadium with just a cab. I am not one of those "my bass needs to be the loudest thing on the stage" anyway, so this seems like a perfect fit. Now all I need is some alone time to figure out if I can match my cab to the Kappalite.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back