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Cab pairing question

Avigdor

Avigdor

Aug 23, 2018
245
737
#1
Hi, I *think* I know what I want, but I cannot really try the combination before buying so here's tapping into your collective wisdom:

I currently play a Fender 200 combo using a Hartke Transporter 410 cab as second speaker out at gigs, which is nice enough but not spectacular. I have recently moved to a Mesa TT800 amp and would like to pair it with a better cab. I like and mostly use clean tones, and the TP cab taught me that I really need the highs in my sound to be happy. (My main player is an Ibanez SR1700 with Nordstrand big singles, just in case).

The Mesa cabs are of course an obvious choice, but getting one in the UK is not that straightforward.

I am now looking at a barefaced super compact T (112 including tweeter) which has power handling up to 600 W RMS at 8 Ohm (Should go very well with the TT's 400 W into 8 Ohm) and with the given sensitivity rating of 97 dB (I trust that's at 1W and 1m, even if the tech specs don't spell it out) I expect a maximum volume around 123 dB, which I believe should be fine, even for the somewhat larger gigs I get to play these days.

A Super twin would be the other option, but seems excessive for my purposes, loud gigs are a bit rare and I'm not that keen on bursting eardrums... And if I DO need more volume, a second cab or even the combo with the Transporter will get me there if PA is not available, I'm sure.

Can you see any fault in this logic? Are there any other considerations I'm missing? Would you rock that combination?
 
#2
Avigdor said:
Hi, I *think* I know what I want, but I cannot really try the combination before buying so here's tapping into your collective wisdom:

I currently play a Fender 200 combo using a Hartke Transporter 410 cab as second speaker out at gigs, which is nice enough but not spectacular. I have recently moved to a Mesa TT800 amp and would like to pair it with a better cab. I like and mostly use clean tones, and the TP cab taught me that I really need the highs in my sound to be happy. (My main player is an Ibanez SR1700 with Nordstrand big singles, just in case).

The Mesa cabs are of course an obvious choice, but getting one in the UK is not that straightforward.

I am now looking at a barefaced super compact T (112 including tweeter) which has power handling up to 600 W RMS at 8 Ohm (Should go very well with the TT's 400 W into 8 Ohm) and with the given sensitivity rating of 97 dB (I trust that's at 1W and 1m, even if the tech specs don't spell it out) I expect a maximum volume around 123 dB, which I believe should be fine, even for the somewhat larger gigs I get to play these days.

A Super twin would be the other option, but seems excessive for my purposes, loud gigs are a bit rare and I'm not that keen on bursting eardrums... And if I DO need more volume, a second cab or even the combo with the Transporter will get me there if PA is not available, I'm sure.

Can you see any fault in this logic? Are there any other considerations I'm missing? Would you rock that combination?
Click to expand...
I have a Super Compact (no tweeter) and I absolutely looooove it. You need the one with a tweeter obviously.
It is loud, I can tell you, and deep, and full…

From what I have read on the Barefaced thread, the purpose of the Super Twin is not so much about getting more volume (it is obvioulsy capable of more volume than you will ever need), but rather a matter of tone: even at a "normal" stage volume, the Super Twin sounds better, because of dispersion, headroom and so on.

So, if you are looking for a small and lightweight cab, the SC should be more than enough for most gigs.

If you don't really care about size and weigh, but you want a one cab solution for any gig, with as much headroom as you will possibily need, the Super Twin is even better, even if you don't always use it at the max of its potential.

I would start with the SC and buy a second one later if you need.
 
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#4
You also might want to look into a big baby 3. I have one with a second one being built as we speak. It will go low, loud and is lightweight! 800 watts, 97dB, max 127bB and 8ohms. If needed, it will give you a little more gusto! It’s 6-7 pounds heavier and around £300 more. It’s a FRFR cabinet. One will handle almost any indoor situation and many outdoor gigs without FOH. I ordered my second one for large outdoor situations! Go to their site and look it up. You can also email Alex who designs them tell him what you’re thinking and he will give you his opinion. If you're in the UK he has a 30 day return policy if you don’t like it.
 
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#5
I had a look at the big baby, but felt that if I go up by £300 I‘d probably then favour the big twin. This is a case where one would love to be able to easily go to a local store and try them out. On the other hand everything I hear is that there really is no ‚wrong‘ choice possible here. I‘ve also reached out to barefaced, thanks for the tip.
 
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#6
Avigdor said:
I had a look at the big baby, but felt that if I go up by £300 I‘d probably then favour the big twin. This is a case where one would love to be able to easily go to a local store and try them out. On the other hand everything I hear is that there really is no ‚wrong‘ choice possible here. I‘ve also reached out to barefaced, thanks for the tip.
Click to expand...

That's right, there's no wrong choice.

We can't try them before buying, but direct sales and on-demand manufacturing enable them to offer handcrafted products at a reasonable price. I'm not sure we could afford these cabs if the price had to include the cost of inventory and distribution margins. We can't have both.
 
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#7
gtirard said:
That's right, there's no wrong choice.

We can't try them before buying, but direct sales and on-demand manufacturing enable them to offer handcrafted products at a reasonable price. I'm not sure we could afford these cabs if the price had to include the cost of inventory and distribution margins. We can't have both.
Click to expand...

Indeed, that's why I really did not want to just order one and rely on returns policies. They're for emergencies, not poor decision making. I have now actually ordered a Super Compact T and am very excited :).
 
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