Thunderchild tc112 or fearless f112?

[steve_rolfeca]

Any observations on the port tuning and plugs with the TC? I find that pretty cool- especially for 'the pit' in a theater situation.

I own the TC, have spent time with a few fF's, but I've never had a chance to hear the LDS cabs.

Talking about about sound is like dancing about architecture, but I would say that the AudioKinesis is "safer" than the Greenboy cab when it comes to low-end control.

Although I almost never use the port plugs, they still stay in my gig bag for emergencies. This is an area where the wider low-end voicing on the F112 is more likely to cause you trouble in bad rooms or in tight quarters, compared to the tighter TC.

Ditto for the harsher upper mids on the F112. Better for cutting through, but more likely to emphasize nasty peaks elsewhere in your signal chain.

To be practical though, while they do sound different, both designs are so far ahead of conventional bass cabs for your stated gig profile, that the differences almost fade into insignificance. If you want a doubler's "desert island cab" to cover all genres, all instruments, all gigs, there's nothing better. Except maybe the 15" versions of both.

 

[CL400Peavey]

I own the TC, have spent time with a few fF's, but I've never had a chance to hear the LDS cabs.

Talking about about sound is like dancing about architecture, but I would say that the AudioKinesis is "safer" than the Greenboy cab when it comes to low-end control.

Although I almost never use the port plugs, they still stay in my gig bag for emergencies. This is an area where the wider low-end voicing on the F112 is more likely to cause you trouble in bad rooms or in tight quarters, compared to the tighter TC.

Ditto for the harsher upper mids on the F112. Better for cutting through, but more likely to emphasize nasty peaks elsewhere in your signal chain.

To be practical though, while they do sound different, both designs are so far ahead of conventional bass cabs for your stated gig profile, that the differences almost fade into insignificance. If you want a doubler's "desert island cab" to cover all genres, all instruments, all gigs, there's nothing better. Except maybe the 15" versions of both.

The fEARless 112 is tonally different from the fEARful 12/6. Have you directly compared the F112 to the TC112?

 

[jnewmark]

Let's say you are in a traditional Blues band, medium volume, guitar, blues harp, bass guitar and drums. You need to lay down a solid foundation, yet need to stick out also with a chunky tone, as opposed to a modern, slap tone. What one of these cabs would be your answer , or would a more traditional bass cab be the way to go, for a one cab solution ?

 

[barryaudio]

I went to see Mark (BNA Audio) play live with Derek Hoke a couple weeks ago. He was playing upright and using a F112--smooth as butter. I tell you, Mark really has a sweet tone--one of the best I've heard on URB live.

NB: this was a country act, not one of his slap gigs

 

[steve_rolfeca]

The fEARless 112 is tonally different from the fEARful 12/6. Have you directly compared the F112 to the TC112?

Oops...

I thought that F112 was just user shorthand for the 12/6 and 12/6/1.

Removes size 13 from mouth...

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Let's say you are in a traditional Blues band, medium volume, guitar, blues harp, bass guitar and drums. You need to lay down a solid foundation, yet need to stick out also with a chunky tone, as opposed to a modern, slap tone. What one of these cabs would be your answer , or would a more traditional bass cab be the way to go, for a one cab solution ?

Just discovered that I don't know anything about the new F112.

That said, any of these cabs will kill conventional boxes for sound-per-pound in a compact one-cab solution. But in general, it depends on what you want to hear.

Here's an Avatar copycat cab being used to lay down a tone that's far from what I think of as a peaky, modern slap tone. Does it float your boat?

 

[KJung]

Well, to the OP, one thing is clear. The guys who make money by building F112's like them better than the cabs they don't sell

 

[jnewmark]

Just discovered that I don't know anything about the new F112.

That said, any of these cabs will kill conventional boxes for sound-per-pound in a compact one-cab solution. But in general, it depends on what you want to hear.

Here's an Avatar copycat cab being used to lay down a tone that's far from what I think of as a peaky, modern slap tone. Does it float your boat?

Yes, that's kind of in the neighborhood of tone I am describing, and I am familiar with that cab, and remember seeing the video when it came out. Does the TC and fEARLess cabs sound similiar ? As I recall, the Avatar cab was significantly on the heavy side, compared to the fEARful cab it mimics, right ?

 

[nostatic]

Let's say you are in a traditional Blues band, medium volume, guitar, blues harp, bass guitar and drums. You need to lay down a solid foundation, yet need to stick out also with a chunky tone, as opposed to a modern, slap tone. What one of these cabs would be your answer , or would a more traditional bass cab be the way to go, for a one cab solution ?

Actually, that sounds perfect for a Baer ML212, or one or a pair of ML112s. I think the TC112 is a bit polite for that type of situation.

 

[tombowlus]

Actually, that sounds perfect for a Baer ML212, or one or a pair of ML112s. I think the TC112 is a bit polite for that type of situation.

Or a Berg HD112 or the new CN112.

I do love my greenboy cabs and Duke's cabs, and Roger's cabs, but what you are describing kinda sounds like a Bergantino situation, to me.

 

[dukeorock]

Well, to the OP, one thing is clear. The guys who make money by building F112's like them better than the cabs they don't sell

Not to mention the guys who can give such complete reviews on cabs they've never heard

 

[KJung]

Or a Berg HD112 or the new CN112.

I do love my greenboy cabs and Duke's cabs, and Roger's cabs, but what you are describing kinda sounds like a Bergantino situation, to me.

A little OT from what the OP is looking for, but +1 here all the way in response to the post you are responding to.

For that vibe, either an ML112 or HD112 in a small cab (or maybe the new CN112.. haven't heard that yet), or the ML212 or especially the new CN212 (obviously, I've heard that one) are stunning. Expert design, top end build quality, traditional tone. For those who are willing to put up with a bit more weight, I'm sure the HD212 is awesome also.

 

[dukeorock]

The REALLY good news for bassists here is that just a few years ago we wouldn't be able to have this discussion at all.

It wasn't that long ago that I tried so many so 'super 12's' and would never consider one for touring due to their limitations. The fact that there are at least a handful of sub 40lb cabs that can go out and do real gigs at real volume is just fantastic news for all of us

 

[tombowlus]

The REALLY good news for bassists here is that just a few years ago we wouldn't be able to have this discussion at all.

It wasn't that long ago that I tried so many so 'super 12's' and would never consider one for touring due to their limitations. The fact that there are at least a handful of sub 40lb cabs that can go out and do real gigs at real volume is just fantastic news for all of us

+1 Great point. And with so many good options, it's more important than ever to know as much as possible about a given player's wants/needs/preferences, gig situations, and related gear before you can really give any kind of an educated (or hopefully, at least helpful) recommendation.

 

[dukeorock]

+1 Great point. And with so many good options, it's more important than ever to know as much as possible about a given player's wants/needs/preferences, gig situations, and related gear before you can really give any kind of an educated (or hopefully, at least helpful) recommendation.

HUGE +1

 

[steve_rolfeca]

Yes, that's kind of in the neighborhood of tone I am describing, and I am familiar with that cab, and remember seeing the video when it came out. Does the TC and fEARLess cabs sound similiar ? As I recall, the Avatar cab was significantly on the heavy side, compared to the fEARful cab it mimics, right ?

Don't know about weight, but that's easy enough to find out. My understanding is that the Avatar box was tonally in the same general ballpark as the fEARLess 15/6/1, but not implemented quite as well.

So yes, that guy would have gotten something pretty similar out of a 12/6/1 or a Thunderchild, with a little less max output (3012 vs 3015).

But as others have pointed out, for a blues band, you might like something like the Baer ML112 or a Bergantino equivalent as much or more. Similar in terms of giving big output from a small box, but with more of the added harmonic content that you get from traditional cone drivers, and even less like the squeaky-clean Thunderchild.

If the F112 is playing in the same sandbox as the Baer, then you could add that to your list as well.

 

[jnewmark]

Or a Berg HD112 or the new CN112.

I do love my greenboy cabs and Duke's cabs, and Roger's cabs, but what you are describing kinda sounds like a Bergantino situation, to me.

Does the HT112ER fall into this category also ?

 

[KJung]

Does the HT112ER fall into this category also ?

The current HD112 is the same box and driver as the discontinued HD112ER. The main difference is the HT112ER has a very high end, hi fi, crystal clear tweeter and crossover voicing that makes it IMO the poster boy for modern, clear tone. Super crisp up top, nicely relaxed and clean in the upper mids, big and meaty down low. For my tone goals, the newer, more subtle tweeter and crossover in the HD112 is a positive. The CN line is punchier with a nice warm, natural sounding lift in the upper mids, which is even more of a positive!

 

[jnewmark]

The current HD112 is the same box and driver as the discontinued HD112ER. The main difference is the HT112ER has a very high end, hi fi, crystal clear tweeter and crossover voicing that makes it IMO the poster boy for modern, clear tone. Super crisp up top, nicely relaxed and clean in the upper mids, big and meaty down low. For my tone goals, the newer, more subtle tweeter and crossover in the HD112 is a positive. The CN line is punchier with a nice warm, natural sounding lift in the upper mids, which is even more of a positive!

Thanks. Sounds like the new CN112 would be closer to what I'm looking for in a small Blues band context.

 

[dukeorock]

Back to the two cabs from the OP...I've played both the TC115 and the F112 in a small blues context, and both are great in that, they take what you give them, but I guess I don't understand the concept of genre based cabs.

That sounds WAY snarkier than what I actually mean to say, but my point is... A well designed bass cab, to me should just accurately spit out whatever you feed it. Example, I love Slim Harpo, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, etc. Willie Dixon is my all time hero, along with Carol Kaye and Duck Dunn. I pick my favorite basses for the intended sound, but I use the same cabs for dirty blues gigs that I use for punk rock and pop country gigs. Having great cabs allows me to focus on other things when selecting the right tools for the job.