NCD: Barefaced Big Twin T

4-string · #1 10-20-2011, 04:29 AM

So, I thought I would share some thoughts on this cab as I get to now it better, hopefully there will be other owners on here as well.

This just arrived a couple of days ago, so I have just tried it in the basement thus far. I will be doing several gigs this weekend though, and will report back later.

First, for those who is unfamiliar with this cab:

Barefaced Bass - Big Twin

I got the T version with the additional tweeter. There's an attenuator for the tweeter, and a two-position switch for the mid driver. Mid driver either full on, or turned down by 5db if I understand correctly. I am running through my Ashdown MK-500 (haven't tried the RH750 yet).

AFAIK, this cab is fairly close to a fEARful 1212/6/1. Alex and/or Greenboy might be able to share some details perhaps.

First impression is VERY good! My main objectives with this purchase were shaving off some weight, and getting a transparent, hi-fi cab with great clarity. I play 4-string basses only, and even though I tune down to both D and C here and there, and also use and octaver I don't really need huge sub lows. Also, the mid dispersion never worried me too much as I have never had any problems hearing anything my cabs put out (neither have my band mates). Not denying the physics, it just wasn't a factor when I decided to get a new cab. We also have PA support, always.

However, I love uncompressed lows and the Big Twin seems to be extremely potent in that area. So far, what I have heard is unlike anything I've heard from a bass cab before; no colouration at all, just big, clear and loud. Nice! The hole in the upper mids between the woofers and the tweeters that you hear in so many cabs is gone. Also nice!

The cab weighs in at 26.2 kgs at my bathroom scale (which, according to my wife, tends to read a couple of kgs too high)

and that is 12 kgs less than my previous cab, Schroeder 610L. Tilt back wheels and three handles makes it a dream to schlep.

OK, enough for now. More to come over the weekend.

No pic no cab, so:

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jnewmark · #2 10-20-2011, 05:50 AM

This may have been answered in other Barefaced cabs before, so excuse me if I ask again. What speakers are in Barefaced cabs ? For some reason I thought I read that Alex does'nt use the 3012LF in these cabs?

5StringPocket · #3 10-20-2011, 11:38 AM

Awesome. This is the first post I've seen on the Barefaced Big Twin T. Subscribed.

4-string · #4 10-20-2011, 05:25 PM

I'm not sure which drivers that are in this cab, sorry.

Back from playing for about 4 hours with the band, and I am very impressed. First, I carried the cab up the stairs in one hand, bass in the other. Not really a one hand cab perhaps, but stupid light! And that top handle is exactly where it should be.

I only got one complaint during the evening, and that was that I was too loud.

I experimented a little with the mid and tweeter settings, and so far I prefer the mid switch in the most quiet position and the tweeter full on. We play lots of west coast and fusion style music, in a rock'n roll setting I would probably do the opposite.

Amazing huge and clear lows!! Compared to most cabs I have owned there is a lack of low mid bump, something I wasn't really sure how I would like. It seems to turn out great as the sound is fatter than ever, with much less eq.

Even if this cab sounded the same as my previous one I would have been happy as I have major back problems, and 12 kgs is a significant saving. Especially after a late night gig.

When it actually plays better, I have no complaints.

Alex was very helpful and thorough before taking my order, seems that we did pick the right cab for me.

4-string · #5 10-20-2011, 05:29 PM

One more thing, I don't know exactly how these are built, but the materials used appear to be very thin. Yet, there is no rattling at all. I keep setlists on top of my amp (which is in a rack, on top of the cab) and I am used to them flying all over the place when the volume gets up. Now they just sat there...impressive!

alexclaber · #6 10-21-2011, 09:07 AM

It is indeed a 3012LF in the Big Twin (and Big Baby). Big volume per woofer, fairly low tuning and damned big ports for maximum bottom! Have you tried playing recorded music through it? Apart from the mono aspect it's awesome.

anonymous02282011 · #7 10-21-2011, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4-string

One more thing, I don't know exactly how these are built, but the materials used appear to be very thin. Yet, there is no rattling at all. I keep setlists on top of my amp (which is in a rack, on top of the cab) and I am used to them flying all over the place when the volume gets up. Now they just sat there...impressive!

and there you have a properly braced, well-designed speaker cab.

enjoy

cableguy · #8 10-21-2011, 09:19 AM

Awesome cab! This was one of the cabs I was looking at before I built my fEARful. It was a tad out of my price range in the USA so I decided to build my cab to save some dough. I know Alex & GB seem to have some communication going about cab design and such so I'm sure it sounds awesome. Congrates on the cab!

4-string · #9 10-22-2011, 05:57 AM

So, had a great gig with the Big Twin last night. The first set didn't start too well though, as I could barely hear myself. I got very worried as I just got lost in the mix.

Our drummer has a tendency to step all over my pedalboard, and of course he had last night, but after the second song I got to check all connections and then BAM! The biggest, fattest and clearest sound! Huge grin and thumbs up from the sound man.

We did 3 sets, 28 songs and it was just great. I still kept the mid switch so that the mid is turned down by 5db, and tweeter on full. I had it on a stool as the stage is small, and I had to stand very close to my rig. No rumble or boom at all.

Another gig tonight at the same club, can't wait.

KJung · #10 10-22-2011, 06:57 AM

Very cool! The weight on that cab is amazingly lightweight.

I have a clip on my Youtube channel of a similar 212 cab (double 3012LF drivers, an 18sound mid driver, and an Eminence tweeter), and it is just a huge, smooth, articulate sounding box.... wide open low end with no noticable drop-off when digging into the B string, and quite high efficiency with moderate powered heads (since it is a 4ohm cab).

Really nice. Alex is doing some cool stuff. It would be cool if Alex landed a single distributor/retailer in the US.

Alex... hint... Glen Kawamoto of Austin Bass Traders does a great job of representing EU gear in the US... he handles Glock, TecAmp, and EBS, and does a great job with it. If you have the production bandwidth to handle the demand, might be worth a call.

4-string · #11 10-23-2011, 10:48 AM

Another gig last night, and this cab is just great. Huuuuuge, fat and clear!

My back is always killing me after three sets, so at 03:00am the Big Twin's light weight was a blessing.

Again, I am just amazed by the fact that this extremely light cab doesn't vibrate...the set list sat there on top of my amp, no gaffa tape needed.

Alex, I haven't had the chance to play recorded music thru it yet, but I have a feeling that will be great.

alexclaber · #12 10-23-2011, 12:49 PM

Cool! It's a shame the cost of shipping makes the cabs more expensive in the US but it's nice to know that anyone in Europe can get one of our cabs at an accessible price - and Australia works out pretty well because everything is more pricey there so they're par for the course.

The Big Twin has some cunning bracing - not only is there lots of it but it's where it's needed and spaced so that any panel modes have different frequencies and their harmonics are as non-coincident as possible. That's why it doesn't vibrate!

Another big deal is the huge port area - and curiously this leads me to wonder if one of the reasons the Eden 410XLT was so popular was that its ports worked properly at high SPL. It's quite shocking how many bass cabs lose their deep bottom at high SPL because the port output starts to cancel the woofer output (exactly the opposite of what the simplistic linear models state.)

smeet · #13 10-26-2011, 07:10 PM

I wish these were more available and affordable in the US...

Are they comparable in weight, output and sound to the fEARful cabs?

someparts · #14 10-26-2011, 07:23 PM

Man, these cabs need some distro in the USA!

4-string · #15 11-02-2011, 11:49 AM

Sorry for bumping my own thread.

I just got to play the RH750 through the Big Twin, and it was LOUD (at least as loud as the MK-500) and good. However, the nature of the RH heads shines through with that cab, and I prefer the MK-500 with the Big Twin. Even though I run out of headroom with the MK-500 if I boost here and there, it will probably be loud enough for most situations. Good thing is, now I can maintain some G.A.S after all, thought I wouldn't but a new head or pre/power setup would be cool.

I got to play around with EQ settings quite a bit on both heads, and this cab really takes EQ extremely well. Between the mid switch and the attenuator for the tweeter, there is a LOT of ground covered.

And in case I forgot, it is just silly light weight.

It would be cool if Barefaced were distributed in the U.S, and in any case I hope some of those cabs find their way across the pond. I would love to hear some comparisons from fEarful owners - I am sure they are way more similar than different.