Which Amp for fEarful 12/6 stack?

[singlemalt]

I checked parts express for prices on the drivers. About $180 for the 3012 LF and $40 for the alpha 6 mid. Looks like prices on the LF are down a bit.

Thirty bucks for plywood.

You could pull off a 12:6 build for around $300.

So much fun and then you can play with it!

 

[And I]

@singlemalt, yup, that's the plan!! I may pay a little more for a "flat pack" since I am not good at cutting straight lines. i think it will take me as long to clean up the workbench room in my basement than it will to assemble the cab...

 

[Blankandson]

I've an uncle in east TX who has a large pro wood shop. He's told me several times to come on down and he'd help me build a cab or two. May do it this summer.

 

[Bassman1775]

Did the OP ever build the second fEARful? I was running a 12/6/1 with a Mesa WD-800 and I had the thing cranked. I was kind of running into the same problem. It sounded great and performed ok at smaller indoor venues but at outside gigs it was definitely underpowered. I felt like the cab wasn't even breaking a sweat but I couldn't push it anymore with the Mesa. I ended up building a second 12/6/1 to try and increase the dB. It made a significant difference. I was able to turn my amp volume down by almost 1/3 to achieve the same volume level. I would love it if I could find an amp that could power this stack at about a 1/2 volume setting. I know the Mesa is a good amp and the tone seems adequate. Leaning toward just keeping it. I've heard the Mesa's can take a beating as well.

 

[Jim Carr]

...I would love it if I could find an amp that could power this stack at about a 1/2 volume setting. I know the Mesa is a good amp and the tone seems adequate. Leaning toward just keeping it. I've heard the Mesa's can take a beating as well.

I use a Mesa D800 a lot with a 12/12/6/1, but when I need headroom, I use a Crest PL3 (ProLITE 3.0 non-dsp). The PL3 can be bridged into 4 or 8 ohms, so it's good for a single 8 ohm fEARful, a pair, or a 4 ohm 12/12/6/1, 1515/6/1, or single fEARful + sub.

Bridged, the PL3 can drive a single 15/6/1 to distortion, and not the good kind. When driving a 15/6/1 pair bridged, I didn't encounter distortion. It was capably loud.

 

[And I]

I ended up finding a great deal on a used D-800 and got a Broughton HPF (there is one built into the D800 at 30hz, but I go a little higher). I probably would have used the sweepable mids on the 800+, hi mid at 480hz is a little low for my liking. But my onboard preamps cover it.

Having done a gig with the D-800 and fEARfuls, I'm pretty happy. It's got a great sound, more on the transparent side, and plenty of volume.

 

[And I]

Did the OP ever build the second fEARful?

 

[Bassman1775]

I use a Mesa D800 a lot with a 12/12/6/1, but when I need headroom, I use a Crest PL3 (ProLITE 3.0 non-dsp). The PL3 can be bridged into 4 or 8 ohms, so it's good for a single 8 ohm fEARful, a pair, or a 4 ohm 12/12/6/1, 1515/6/1, or single fEARful + sub.

Bridged, the PL3 can drive a single 15/6/1 to distortion, and not the good kind. When driving a 15/6/1 pair bridged, I didn't encounter distortion. It was capably loud.

View attachment 3541117

Nice setup! Did the second cab fix the volume issue for you or what was your solution? Here’s my dual fEARful rig and WD-800 that I rack mounted...

 

[And I]

nice! i like the wicker grille. looks all old-timey and unassuming, then you hear the tone and it's like WOW.

Yeah the D-800 and both of these cabs can get louder than I would need with some room to spare. The TH-500 seemed like without PA support it may have run out of juice / gotten a little too dirty.

 

[Bassman1775]

nice! i like the wicker grille. looks all old-timey and unassuming, then you hear the tone and it's like WOW.

Yeah the D-800 and both of these cabs can get louder than I would need with some room to spare. The TH-500 seemed like without PA support it may have run out of juice / gotten a little too dirty.

Ya, I’ve always like the vintage Mesa wicker grilles on their guitar amps. It lets plenty of air through too with all the holes. I ended up finding some dark brown faux osterich skin material so I wrapped them with that and finished them off with some antique brass hardware. Gives it a mega vintage vibe and then you realize they’re fEARfuls and... whoa!

 

[Jim Carr]

Nice setup! Did the second cab fix the volume issue for you or what was your solution? Here’s my dual fEARful rig and WD-800 that I rack mounted...

OK, I think that question was for the OP, but I thought I might still put my oar in. I've really not had a LOW volume problem for quite a while, LOL. I usually use a 12/12/6/1. I used to bring one 15/6/1 regularly, but I got the 12/12/6/1 because it is so easy to move, i.e., no hand truck needed.

Occasionally I take out a pair of 15/6/1 cabs for large/outside gigs here in Texas. I use a 15/6/1 + 15sub sometimes, too. When I am in Hawaii, I use only a single 15/6/1.

It seems to me that a pair of 12/6/1 cabs or 12/6/1 + 12sub or 15sub would be great, just feed them enough power.

 

[And I]

It seems to me that a pair of 12/6/1 cabs or 12/6/1 + 12sub or 15sub would be great, just feed them enough power.

totally. generalizing because not all watts are created equal... 250w per cab is possibly not quite enough. of course depends on the stage setup, the venu, the band, the music, etc. the fEARful's sound great (well, they sound like your bass sounds, which hopefully to you is great) but the woofers not being particularly efficient on the sensitivity-rating scale does mean they are power hungry.