Is a Barefaced cab the best for light weight / high volume?

[beavis420]

I currently play a GK 700RBii and a Traynor YBA-2A through a GK RBH210 and an Ampeg 410HLF. I like how both heads work with both cabs. The 210 with the 700RBii is my all purpose solution; the 410 comes out when I want the extra lows. The Traynor and the 210 is my setup for old school sounds, but can sound a little bare in the mids with the 410. It all sounds good though.

Anyway, will a Barefaced cab let me sell both my other cabs? They’re both too heavy even though they sound good.

Please tell me about your experiences and give me recommendations!

 

[Jack]

I'm not sure how you'd measure 'the best'. They're up there or thereabouts though. I've had five (although only three distinct models), what specifically do you want to know?

 

[Nebadon2000]

From all the testimonials here and Barefaced own claims Yes

Their 1x12 will cover your 2x10 but they also make a light 2x10

Their 2x12 is fairly light and should out perform your 4x10

But you have option of getting two 2x10's or two 1x12 to cover what you are doing now

The tens have a more 'Classic' tone while 12's are more FRFR/balanced

 

[gtirard]

I currently play a GK 700RBii and a Traynor YBA-2A through a GK RBH210 and an Ampeg 410HLF. I like how both heads work with both cabs. The 210 with the 700RBii is my all purpose solution; the 410 comes out when I want the extra lows. The Traynor and the 210 is my setup for old school sounds, but can sound a little bare in the mids with the 410. It all sounds good though.

Anyway, will a Barefaced cab let me sell both my other cabs? They’re both too heavy even though they sound good.

Please tell me about your experiences and give me recommendations!

I don't know how loud you need to be, but the answer is YES if you are like me.
Barefaced cabs deserve their excellent reputation IMO.

I prefer my Super Compact to any other cab I know, and brand any size and weight.
It's not only very efficient and loud for its size and weight, it's also very detailed and articulate, honest and true to the tone of you instrument and amp. The low end is super deep, but tight and never muddy. Mid and high frequencies are clear but not harsh.

I highly recommend it.

In fact, on paper GR Bass carbon fiber cabs seem to offer an even better power/weight ratio, but in real life it's not important.
I've had a GR Bass 2x10 and a BF Super Compact during a couple of years, and I ended-up selling the GR because I prefered the BF.

 

[beavis420]

I'm not sure how you'd measure 'the best'. They're up there or thereabouts though. I've had five (although only three distinct models), what specifically do you want to know?

I’m thinking of buying one based on hype alone lol. I don’t live somewhere where Barefaced had a big presence so I don’t have the opportunity to try before I buy, and I’ve had no luck scouring the internet for used cabs. I guess that means people who buy them tend to keep them!

I’m hoping to find a one-cab solution that will cover everything from thumpy Motown sounds to slapping. I get occasional calls for jazz gigs, both electric and upright, so I would like something fairly flexible!

I’ve only really used 10” speakers, and I’m tired of lugging heavy gear everywhere lol

 

[beavis420]

From all the testimonials here and Barefaced own claims Yes

Their 1x12 will cover your 2x10 but they also make a light 2x10

Their 2x12 is fairly light and should out perform your 4x10

But you have option of getting two 2x10's or two 1x12 to cover what you are doing now

The tens have a more 'Classic' tone while 12's are more FRFR/balanced

Do you have a Barefaced cab? What do you use it for? Do you like it? Is the hype real?

 

[beavis420]

I don't know how loud you need to be, but the answer is YES if you are like me.
Barefaced cabs deserve their excellent reputation IMO.

I prefer my Super Compact to any other cab I know, and brand any size and weight.
It's not only very efficient and loud for its size and weight, it's also very detailed and articulate, honest and true to the tone of you instrument and amp. The low end is super deep, but tight and never muddy. Mid and high frequencies are clear but not harsh.

I highly recommend it.

In fact, on paper GR Bass carbon fiber cabs seem to offer an even better power/weight ratio, but in real life it's not important.
I've had a GR Bass 2x10 and a BF Super Compact during a couple of years, and I ended-up selling the GR because I prefered the BF.

What made you keep the Barefaced vs the GR?

 

[onda'bass]

My fearless 2x12 is light and loud. I never looked at anything after.

 

[beavis420]

My fearless 2x12 is light and loud. I never looked at anything after.

What kind of music do you play?

 

[gtirard]

What made you keep the Barefaced vs the GR?

They were both lightweight, loud and sounded excellent.

But when I've noticed that each time I had to choose one for a gig or a rehearsal, I always took the Barefaced, so I ended up selling the GR.

The GR sounded very clean, almost "hi-fi". But the Super Compact had the same qualities, plus an extra "je-ne-sais-quoi" in the low end, something that I can only describe as "oh my good this is soooo good". Something you can only understand when you are in front of it, that puts a big smile on your face. Sorry for the poor description.

I've compared these 2 cabs in this thread. In theory the GR had a higher sensitivity, but in real life the Barefaced was equally loud. It was only a difference in the way the 2 companies measure their specs, the English one being super honnest whereas the Italian one was more… "latin"… if you see what I mean .

And the Barerfaced cabs are indestructible, whereas the GR feel more fragile, and in fact the first one I have received had a vibration issue (their customer service was very efficient, but after they have repaired it I felt less confident about it).

A lot of Talkbass members are very happy with their GR Bass cabs though, this is just my personal experience.

 

[onda'bass]

What kind of music do you play?

I play it all from rock to jazz.

 

[beavis420]

So if all of you were looking to replace a GK210, what cab would you recommend? Just farming ideas before I reach out

 

[onda'bass]

Bareface & green boy won’t disappoint. If you don’t want to go that route, Mesa is a solid choice, which we’re not available when I got my f212.

 

[Hamrlik]

As someone who owned a Barefaced Super Twin I found it to be spectacularly underwhelming. Based on user reviews and Barefaced own public specs, it underperformed in terms of sensitivity, off-axis dispersion and low end response. I've owned Greenboy Fearless/Dually, Genz-Benz, GK, Bergantino, Acme, Baer etc. All over those cabs performed perfectly well compared to the BF (although voiced differently). The Fearless are the best cabs I've ever used. The best thing I can say about the Super Twin is that it's crazy light and extremely uncolored (which I liked but you may find very unpleasing).

Given the price point, wait time and overseas proprietary drivers I'd be looking at test driving something by Genzler, Mesa, the newest GK line or Bergantino. You should be able to find something at a local music shop. That's only if you're REALLY sure you need an "upgrade". My experience is the Fearless line outperforms every single cab I've ever played, in every way.

Also a Barefaced 12 is not going to best a really good 212 from a reputable company like the aforementioned.

*Edit- I forgot to mention Audiokinesis. The Thunderchild 112 v3 was an amazing piece of kit. Lightweight, transparent and took a lot of watts. They're about as scarce as Fearless stuff though.

 

[pisces_bass]

“Best” is personal and subjective. Among the best? Absolutely. I have a BF Super Twin and a AK Thunderchild. Both are excellent but very different. I prefer the AK cab for acoustic gigs and small rooms. The Super Twin shines in larger rooms when I can give it enough power to show off. The ST feels stiff and bland at bedroom volume. At gigs it feels huge, deep, and detailed.

I wouldn’t hesitate to try other options though. Berg, Mesa, Genzler all have stellar reputations.

 

[monsterthompson]

will a Barefaced cab

Which one? What’s your budget?
The 10” driver cabs are voiced more like an “traditional” cab and probably a little less efficient then the 12” cabs (output based on size) but I don’t recall the specifics (probably posted on their site). The 12” cabs are FRFR/monitor-like neutral voiced.

I’ve owned a One10, Two10, SM, SC, and BB2. I currently own two BB2 cabs which I ran as a passive PA with a big power amp and a small mixer. For jams with my friends a single BB2 was plenty.

I don’t know if the real world will show the BB2 (now BB3 I believe) can cover your needs if you currently have a 410 doing the job. A Four10 from them will likely outperform your existing 410 in terms of output. A Three10 might be enough.

I found a Two10 and a SC to be pretty comparable but never put them side by side. I wouldn’t expect a SM to cover your needs, but a SC might get close. I think the BB2 has a bigger low end than the SC given the same driver is used but in a bigger box. A BB2 is likely a one cab solution for many users, but sometimes more is more. A 212 from them should be enough for most applications.

I think the 10” drivers sound better if you use no other devices in your chain. The 12” drivers are great if you run voiced preamps or even cab sims.

A lot depends on the band, the amp, the EQ, and the room.

Edit to add - they aren’t the Best but I don’t know what really could win that prize. They’re very good. There are other very good options available. Greenboy designs have been mentioned (I had an unusually bad experience with mine so I’m biased against them). Mesa and Bergantino are very good and easier to find in the US market.

 

[klyph]

I have two BF tweeterless super compacts and they are lifesavers in terms of portability. Since they are also decently efficient, but can also take some power, they can work with a great variety of amps. Have I owned better sounding cabs? Yes. But none that came close in portability. Have I owned more portable cabs? Yes, but none that could make half the noise that the BFs can. I can carry one in each hand and walk a pretty long distance if necessary, and then keep up with a loud drummer outdoors with no PA support. I have enough amp to make them sound okay.
If I wanted to trade some portability for better sound (and wanted to drop some dough) I would probably go with a Mesa 215 (a format I love) or a BF 610 (sealed cabs are great). Those are both still pretty portable, considering what they are, but for the real PITA schleps, nothing really beats the BF SC. I have some gigs where they are literally the best thing. If you like modern sounds, you might get ones with tweeters, but I don’t miss them.

 

[SharpCat]

Barefaced, the hype is real. Other possibilities: Mesa, and if you need to economize, Hartke HL line.

 

[mikeynets]

So if all of you were looking to replace a GK210, what cab would you recommend? Just farming ideas before I reach out

I own a BF One10 and it sounds incredible and gets way louder than a single 10" should. I'm sure a BF Two10 would be a great replacement for your GK210.

I also own and recommend a Revsound 210. Small US builder with lots of customization. It's a cleaner, less colored cab than the Barefaced, but it's not a FRFR. Very light and possibly even more important that the weight is the shape of the box. It's vertically oriented and the previous owner spec'd a recessed top handle which makes moving it easy and ergonomic.

I recently picked up a Mesa 1x15. It's another top tier cab. I can't definitively say it's better than the Revsound 210, but I have been playing through it for the last couple of weeks and it's impressive. It is a little heavier than the 210 and it's also more awkward to move as it's a boxier shape. One handed carry is doable, but not as easy as a taller cab with a top handle.

One thing to note — If you're in the US, the extra import cost of shipping and tariffs on the BF is going add up. And if you are in need of service (highly unlikely) it would be harder to coordinate.

 

[Fan Fret]

Given the price point, wait time and overseas proprietary drivers I'd be looking at test driving something by Genzler, Mesa, the newest GK line or Bergantino. You should be able to find something at a local music shop. That's only if you're REALLY sure you need an "upgrade". My experience is the Fearless line outperforms every single cab I've ever played, in every way.

Not to nitpick, but Barefaced uses USA made Eminence drivers. A couple of the USA based companies you mentioned actually use overseas drivers, made in Italy.