Greenboy vs. Barefaced vs. Audiokinesis

[Passinwind]

One thing that Duke and I have noticed. Most guys---even ones that insist on "flat" cabs---prefer a bit of an elevated midrange for electric bass. I've always been adamant about a cab being flat, but I've come to prefer a bit elevated midrange---on EB it sounds flat to me, and the actual flat cabs sound a bit dull. Just my two cents.

Agreed, but I much prefer to just get that bump via onboard EQ and/or pickup and string selection. Since I use my cabs at home a lot, and also for EUB, synth, and sometimes vocals, a baked in midrange bump of whatever persuasion is a non starter for me at this point. I think the vast majority of people feel otherwise though. Vive la difference...

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Agreed, but I much prefer to just get that bump via onboard EQ and/or pickup and string selection. Since I use my cabs at home a lot, and also for EUB, synth, and sometimes vocals, a baked in midrange bump of whatever persuasion is a non starter for me at this point. I think the vast majority of people feel otherwise though. Vive la difference...

That makes perfect sense to me, especially in that you're sometimes using your cabinets for vocals.

Best regards!

 

[JimmyM]

One thing that Duke and I have noticed. Most guys---even ones that insist on "flat" cabs---prefer a bit of an elevated midrange for electric bass. I've always been adamant about a cab being flat, but I've come to prefer a bit elevated midrange---on EB it sounds flat to me, and the actual flat cabs sound a bit dull. Just my two cents.

Agreed, but I much prefer to just get that bump via onboard EQ and/or pickup and string selection. Since I use my cabs at home a lot, and also for EUB, synth, and sometimes vocals, a baked in midrange bump of whatever persuasion is a non starter for me at this point. I think the vast majority of people feel otherwise though. Vive la difference...

For me, it all depends where that midrange bump is. Like I don't mind some extra beef in the 100-150 hz range, I like a little extra 500-800 hz if I can't hear my notes but a little goes a long way, and extra 1k-2k adds too much yuck factor for me to ever want to boost it. Honestly, I don't know if I like extra mid content or not, except in the midbass range. That I know I like. But man, those other frequencies can make you sound really boxy if you go overboard with them. I love the sound of a good Precision and I use Geezers, so I must like mids to some degree, but I don't shy away from dialing in a PJ scoop when appropriate, either.

 

[bordinco90]

I've gone through a lot of cabs - right now have an H1203 and MAS109. They are different beasts that do exactly what I want them to do. The only thing I'd change at this point would be to double up on each, though the H1203 stacked on the MAS109 covers any loud gig I'd need.

I've had quite a few conversations with both Mike and Duke (who are both great guys). I was one of the "give me more upper mid edge, less low mid wool" voices as I favor an articulate tone for comping when I need to and hate having a very thick low mids. I know other guys who sound great with the thick low mid thing but it isn't my goal.

I tried a couple of Barefaced cabs and they are nice and have their own thing going on (the 210 takes grind/dirt is a spectacular way). But the H1203 is the best sound I can get in a small 24 lb package, and the MAS109 will carry a big and/or difficult room in amazing ways. Plus I just like the way a 3" paper cone driver sounds in the mids/highs.

Totally ymmv.

How loud does the H1203 get on its own? I play in a 5 piece (Accordion, guitar, keyboard, drums, and bass) zydeco/country band with PA support on 98% of all our gigs, but I do not run my bass through the monitors, just the mains facing the crowd. Would I be able to hear the cab?

 

[nutdog]

How loud does the H1203 get on its own? I play in a 5 piece (Accordion, guitar, keyboard, drums, and bass) zydeco/country band with PA support on 98% of all our gigs, but I do not run my bass through the monitors, just the mains facing the crowd. Would I be able to hear the cab?

Hard question to answer. You're profile shows rumble 210 combo and 210 extension. If your combo alone is adequate then yes. If you need the extension and are really pushing it to be heard then probably not.

 

[bordinco90]

Hard question to answer. You're profile shows rumble 210 combo and 210 extension. If your combo alone is adequate then yes. If you need the extension and are really pushing it to be heard then probably not.

Yeah I previously owned that combo and cab. I currently own a markbass 4x10 with a Little Mark 800 head. It is very loud, but I do not need that much cab. The combo was adequate even without PA support. I bought the extension cab and the Markbass Head and Cab because I thought I was going to be playing constantly without PA support. Now we play with PA support for every gig. I just want to be heard by the band onstage.

 

[Marial]

The 1203 should be sufficient. Well, I know a TC112 would be for me.

 

[bordinco90]

Well Duke emailed me some pics of my Hathor 1203 build. I looks sweet!

I think its going to be awesome! I'm so ready to get it!

 

[Djadja]

How loud does the H1203 get on its own? I play in a 5 piece (Accordion, guitar, keyboard, drums, and bass) zydeco/country band with PA support on 98% of all our gigs, but I do not run my bass through the monitors, just the mains facing the crowd. Would I be able to hear the cab?

Like Marial, I think the single H1203 would be enough. I don't picture a zydeco band as being terribly loud on stage and everything I hear about the H1203 puts it in the category of the best of the 112 cabs out there. I have a single Genzler BA12-3 and find that it is enough for every use I've tried thus far - playing with lower volume church band, singer/songwriters, and two guitar based pop bands both with and without PA support. That isn't to say that an additional cab wouldn't have been fun or added something to the picture... only that it hasn't really been necessary for me.

 

[nutdog]

Also, it matters if you mean stage

or stage

Seriously the 1203 with a decent amp compares favorably to a big 210 of yore and better in some ways.

 

[bordinco90]

This is the biggest stage we play on.

 

[Joebone]

Would love to hear from those with direct experience of the both the fearless f112 and Hathor 1203. I've been a Thunderchild guy for a long time, but am flirting with an f112, largely as my main project is morphing toward more of a rock presentation, away from its original, folklorical orientation and I want more of that voiced thing instead of the studio-flat TC presentation My Thunderchildren are 4-ohm models so I'm concerned about loss of volume for a single 1203 as less wattage is pulled from the amp, and the TC's aren't the most efficient cabinets in America (although that's probably how/why the TC112 delivers such amazing B-string performance)…Thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[edshred]

I've only had experience with the Greenboy F112 out of the cabs you listed in the Op.. IME it won't replace a 4x10 spl wise, it certainly will sound better and sonically it's exactly where I personally want to be (crystal clear, tight deeps lows and totally transparent) I since sold it and got the Greenboy F210 which is a step up Spl wise but still, although it sounds Beautiful, honestly, the nicest thing I've ever heard in all my years, it's still not able to cope in a big-ish loudish band. My advice IME and IMO is if you want to replace a 4x10 do it with a 2x12 or go modular with 2x 112's.

 

[Dave Hill]

My advice IME and IMO is if you want to replace a 4x10 do it with a 2x12 or go modular with 2x 112's.

+1

F212>>>>410

 

[socialleper]

I'm rezzing this thread because I'm wondering if the recent changes in the exchange rates has pushed anyone in one direction or another. With the post Brexit Pound being a little lower, the BF Super Twin is $1149 and the Big Twin is $1449 (it says that includes shipping.) That makes the Big Twin about $150 cheaper than a Greenboy designed F212. Both are still much more expensive than a Hathor 212 or Thunderchild 212, which lacks the tilt back wheels of the BF offerings.
On one hand, I like the price of the BF cabs and that they have put a lot of effort into designing their own stuff. On the other the GBs are local(ish), although I feel it is a little odd that they and AK are using off the self drivers.

 

[CL400Peavey]

I'm rezzing this thread because I'm wondering if the recent changes in the exchange rates has pushed anyone in one direction or another. With the post Brexit Pound being a little lower, the BF Super Twin is $1149 and the Big Twin is $1449 (it says that includes shipping.) That makes the Big Twin about $150 cheaper than a Greenboy designed F212. Both are still much more expensive than a Hathor 212 or Thunderchild 212, which lacks the tilt back wheels of the BF offerings.
On one hand, I like the price of the BF cabs and that they have put a lot of effort into designing their own stuff. On the other the GBs are local(ish), although I feel it is a little odd that they and AK are using off the self drivers.

I can get a base F212 for $1500 and dont have to ship it across the ocean.

You are also comparing stock cabs to custom cabs.

 

[socialleper]

I can get a base F212 for $1500 and dont have to ship it across the ocean.

You are also comparing stock cabs to custom cabs.

The $1600 price was a price quoted to me from JHawk on a run-of-the-mill black F212 with a metal grill. Which builder offered you $1500?
Do you have any feelings about the differences in the drivers? The Eminence Kappalites are nothing to turn your nose up at, but the specs on the 12NX550 drivers are pretty impressive too.

 

[monsterthompson]

...and dont have to ship it across the ocean.

Yeah. That "generally less than a week if it's in stock" shipping time is awful

 

[CL400Peavey]

The $1600 price was a price quoted to me from JHawk on a run-of-the-mill black F212 with a metal grill. Which builder offered you $1500?
Do you have any feelings about the differences in the drivers? The Eminence Kappalites are nothing to turn your nose up at, but the specs on the 12NX550 drivers are pretty impressive too.

Thats the price on Dave Homer's Gigmaster site.

I dont recall seeing any T/S specs for the barefaced drivers. Im sure they are great, but I dont know how they are being compared.

Yeah. That "generally less than a week if it's in stock" shipping time is awful

Right, because it is a stock cab. But it still comes in from another country, and I would be curious who is paying the taxes on the cab.

 

[monsterthompson]

But it still comes in from another country, and I would be curious who is paying the taxes on the cab.

Buyer gets a bill for another $50-100, depending on the cab price.