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New Lightweight Cab
- Thread starter Todd Grendon
- Start date
My 1515/66 is smaller, lighter, and louder than any 810 cab. It for a lower. The design just plain kicks the cap out of an 810.
CL400Peavey said:
+1 my 1515/66/1 is a beast and yes my 810 was no match for it in both volume and lowend, but I just look at even my 15/6/1 and it is smaller and 30 lbs lighter then a 410 yet can get as loud and lower then a 610!! I run 700 watts in to it @8 ohms and can crank it and not overdrive it and yet have more lows then most 18 and still be clear!! It makes my 410 sound like a tin box!! Maybe it use to be the bigger and heavier the better but not anymore!!
There will always be cheaper cabs of any given type that the fearfuls and the bassics compete against. I think greenboy is smart to not try to compete on price. He competes on quality and useability. He hits a home run in both, IMO. I have two cabs on order from Art Of Noise, an official fearful builder. Do I wish they were cheaper? Heck yeah!! But I know I will enjoy the quality and versatility long after the sting of the purchase price is forgotten.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
unfortunately, IMO, alot of people equate price with value. to me, they are two completely different things. when i have a piece of gear (like a cab in this case) that does exactly what it's intended to do, it really doesn't matter so much what it costs. IME, quality doesn't come cheap.
most TB'ers know that i'm a vintage JBL K140 nut, but the new faital 15PR400's have ALOT of the K140's 'vibe' (i.e are very smooth and efficient), and when you consider their tone, power handling and price, (which i don't find to be expensive at $160) their weight savings is just icing on the cake.
while i also think that GB's original fFEARful's (2 and 3 ways) are some of the best sounding and highest quality cab designs ever offered at any price (or weight), i find really cool that he has also recognized that there are those that prefer 'vintage sounding' cabs and has also introduced the 'bassic' and 'dually'. it may be hard to believe, but just two 3015's or 15PR400's actually dwarf my ampeg 8x10 cab (which i really like) in both clean output level and low end. but if you want more lows a 1515/66 or a 1212/6 will do that for you
most TB'ers know that i'm a vintage JBL K140 nut, but the new faital 15PR400's have ALOT of the K140's 'vibe' (i.e are very smooth and efficient), and when you consider their tone, power handling and price, (which i don't find to be expensive at $160) their weight savings is just icing on the cake.
while i also think that GB's original fFEARful's (2 and 3 ways) are some of the best sounding and highest quality cab designs ever offered at any price (or weight), i find really cool that he has also recognized that there are those that prefer 'vintage sounding' cabs and has also introduced the 'bassic' and 'dually'. it may be hard to believe, but just two 3015's or 15PR400's actually dwarf my ampeg 8x10 cab (which i really like) in both clean output level and low end. but if you want more lows a 1515/66 or a 1212/6 will do that for you
I recall that SWR used the "Bassic" name for it's Bassic Black combo introduced in 1992, then changed it to "Basic Black" the next year. I vaguely remember that the name change was due to a trademark conflict, but haven't tried to research it. Could that be an issue for this new cab? In any case, good luck with this great product. 
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
Thanks for posting, Todd.
Since I am the builder and and an authorized Fearful/Greenboy builder I thought I'd chime in. I was just looking at Musician's Friend site. Most of the not bargain basement amp companies are within $100 or so. And I know that they are not using drivers that are as expensive or have the power handling capabilities that we are using in the Bassic and Dually cabs. And I also know that the quality of construction is not as high. All of Greenboy's cabs are spec'ed for the highest quality components and construction techniques.
As far as equating enclosure size to bass output---there have been major breakthroughs in speaker development that allow speakers to move much more air and in smaller enclosure sizes than ever before. I'm 56 and I can tell you that the Bassic goes as loud as most 2x15 cabs I used when coming up. If you look at the excursion capabilities of speakers even 10 years ago they are no where near what's available now. And I'll also tell you that the current commercial manufacturers are not using these drivers. The profit margins are too low.
And the techniques that the wood builders are using (as per Greenboy's specs) are much more laborious. If you look at the weight of even the wood Greenboy designs they are at least as light as any non-crap-build cabs out there. It's because they use EXTENSIVE bracing to add strength and rigidity. Which is why they have better bass,
And the composite builds that I'm doing---faget about it. It yields a lighter, more rigid cab but is INSANE as far as the labor involved. I just kindof dig doin' 'em. And I think the technology is cooler than shite.
If you're comparing cabs anywhere near the prices of these cabs you're really not comparing apples to apples. That's not saying that Aguilar, Mesa, Genz, and others don't make good cabs. They do. It's just that it wouldn't be profitable for them to produce cabs that use as good drivers and as obsessively nuts construction techniques that we do.
And there's always Behringer.
Oh, and I'm building a Dually cab for a customer (2x15"). I think I can beat 40 lbs.
Since I am the builder and and an authorized Fearful/Greenboy builder I thought I'd chime in. I was just looking at Musician's Friend site. Most of the not bargain basement amp companies are within $100 or so. And I know that they are not using drivers that are as expensive or have the power handling capabilities that we are using in the Bassic and Dually cabs. And I also know that the quality of construction is not as high. All of Greenboy's cabs are spec'ed for the highest quality components and construction techniques.
As far as equating enclosure size to bass output---there have been major breakthroughs in speaker development that allow speakers to move much more air and in smaller enclosure sizes than ever before. I'm 56 and I can tell you that the Bassic goes as loud as most 2x15 cabs I used when coming up. If you look at the excursion capabilities of speakers even 10 years ago they are no where near what's available now. And I'll also tell you that the current commercial manufacturers are not using these drivers. The profit margins are too low.
And the techniques that the wood builders are using (as per Greenboy's specs) are much more laborious. If you look at the weight of even the wood Greenboy designs they are at least as light as any non-crap-build cabs out there. It's because they use EXTENSIVE bracing to add strength and rigidity. Which is why they have better bass,
And the composite builds that I'm doing---faget about it. It yields a lighter, more rigid cab but is INSANE as far as the labor involved. I just kindof dig doin' 'em. And I think the technology is cooler than shite.
If you're comparing cabs anywhere near the prices of these cabs you're really not comparing apples to apples. That's not saying that Aguilar, Mesa, Genz, and others don't make good cabs. They do. It's just that it wouldn't be profitable for them to produce cabs that use as good drivers and as obsessively nuts construction techniques that we do.
And there's always Behringer.
Oh, and I'm building a Dually cab for a customer (2x15"). I think I can beat 40 lbs.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
i think you should be able to make a composite dually in the 40lb range. my scratchbuilt (dually-sized dual 15PR400) cab weighs 46 1/2lbs and it's made of 1/2" plywood. and BTW, it sounds great. 
Very cool, John---I was just kindof extrapolating but maybe I can hit 38#---I know I can hit 40#.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
Hi Mike,
i think that 40lbs is actually going to be pretty tough to hit, but possible.
the drivers are 16lbs by themselves and their 16 mounting screws with 16 threaded inserts adds another few ounces. then the grill panel (i used an aluminum perf one which actually weighs about 1/2-1lb less than a wood frame vintage type one) is another 2 1/4lbs. once you add a handle, wiring, speakon jack and the feet you're at about 20lbs, so the empty bare cab with the foam mattress topper stuffing and whatever coating you use for scuff protection has to weigh about 20lbs which is pretty tough on a cab this size with bracing, even for a composite cab.
i think that 40lbs is actually going to be pretty tough to hit, but possible.
the drivers are 16lbs by themselves and their 16 mounting screws with 16 threaded inserts adds another few ounces. then the grill panel (i used an aluminum perf one which actually weighs about 1/2-1lb less than a wood frame vintage type one) is another 2 1/4lbs. once you add a handle, wiring, speakon jack and the feet you're at about 20lbs, so the empty bare cab with the foam mattress topper stuffing and whatever coating you use for scuff protection has to weigh about 20lbs which is pretty tough on a cab this size with bracing, even for a composite cab.
a challenge has been issued!
My empty Thunderchild 15 cab came in empty at 10#---maybe I can make it!
My empty Thunderchild 15 cab came in empty at 10#---maybe I can make it!
i think you should be able to make a composite dually in the 40lb range. my scratchbuilt (dually-sized dual 15PR400) cab weighs 46 1/2lbs and it's made of 1/2" plywood. and BTW, it sounds great.
That's also an uber-classy P bass that you're playing through it!
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
thanks!
yeah, i love that one. it weighs only 7 3/4lbs.
( btw, the cart on the right with the oscilloscopes, dummy load, maxi-matcher, DVM's, temp guns, ESR, LCR meters, signal generators and distortion analyzer is my 'test station' for all of my amps).
yeah, i love that one. it weighs only 7 3/4lbs.
( btw, the cart on the right with the oscilloscopes, dummy load, maxi-matcher, DVM's, temp guns, ESR, LCR meters, signal generators and distortion analyzer is my 'test station' for all of my amps).
I don't get the "ouch" on $750 for one of these:
Pic of GB Bassic cab by BAD - one of the fEARful builders
$750 seems too much - Really?
What 1x15 are you trying to compare it with - something like this?
Well there's your problem.
Pic of GB Bassic cab by BAD - one of the fEARful builders
$750 seems too much - Really?
What 1x15 are you trying to compare it with - something like this?
Well there's your problem.
I'm very interested to see how Mike's 2x15 Dually turns out, as I have been talking to him about possibly ordering one. For the quality of work and parts used, I think the prices are very reasonable.
Is it ironic that I would play one of these <40 lbs 215s with an 85 lbs SVT-VR on top?
Is it ironic that I would play one of these <40 lbs 215s with an 85 lbs SVT-VR on top?
Nah, I play a 100 lbs tube head on a 1515/66. Its not as light as a composite Dually (baltic birch) but its still light compared to an 810. No worries on a heavy head on a light cab.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
I recall that SWR used the "Bassic" name for it's Bassic Black combo introduced in 1992, then changed it to "Basic Black" the next year. I vaguely remember that the name change was due to a trademark conflict, but haven't tried to research it. Could that be an issue for this new cab? In any case, good luck with this great product.
Bassic was the trademark of the bassamps form Solton/Craaft in Germany.
They had the original Bassic - ~1980 - was 200 W, with a small EQ and a basic 3 - way coarse control.
Then was the bassic Pre - and power amp - 10 band EQ just like trace with built-in variable X-over, into a 2x250 W power amp.
Later they put the 10 band EQ with a 400 W mosfet power amp as the bassic 400 - my old amp.
Later came another pre with Bass - treble and full parametric mid.
They did all common speaker configuration, plus one very interesting one:
2 x 13 1/2 inch!!!! + 6 " + horn.
you read right - 13 1/2"
