Mesa Subway with Barefaced

[mmbongo]

I don't see why you can't run the SW115 with a Barefaced cab. I've hooked up my two SW115's to my LDS 1212/6/1 and it sounded great. It also peeled paint off the walls, gave anyone walking by a bowel adjustment, and made me feel like the "King Of Bassdom".. I have yet to run the entire rig at a show, but this WILL be the year.

View attachment 2861395

Man that puts into perspective just how tiny the Subway 115's are!

That photo messes with me though, because the top cab looks taller!

 

[gustobassman]

Man that puts into perspective just how tiny the Subway 115's are!

That photo messes with me though, because the top cab looks taller!

Ha! Goofy cell phone camera angle. That happens every time I shoot the stack, lol.

You've got a pair of them, you know how light they are - The bassist after me at my NYE gig had one of those trapezoid shaped GK 410's (RBH series I think?), it weighed more than my entire rig! just love the looks I get when people do the "let me help you with that" - and then realize they weigh hardly anything..

EDIT: @vivaknoxvegas does Barefaced make their specs available to the public? That may help in determining whether or not they would mate well with the Subway line. I don't really know how far that info would take you but it may help..

 

[BassmanPaul]

Uh oh, it's getting chippy in here!

OP, you asked for help, I asked a simple question in post #2. How about answering it!!

 

[MDBass]

I have not played through a Mesa Subway 15, but I don't see how a 8 ohm 400 watt cab could compete with a Barefaced Big Twin II. Better bring 3 of them.

For sheer volume the Subway cab definitely can't compete with the Big Twin; both it and the Big Baby are shockingly loud, especially given their size.

I'm currently doing a boutique cab recording shootout with Barefaced, Fearless, LDS and a few others, I should reach out to Mesa to see if they'd like to get involved

 

[Stu_Bass]

I don't see the single 12" BF cabs having any problem keeping up with the Subway 15. The 2 12" BF cabs would bury it.

 

[mmbongo]

For sheer volume the Subway cab definitely can't compete with the Big Twin; both it and the Big Baby are shockingly loud, especially given their size.

I'm currently doing a boutique cab recording shootout with Barefaced, Fearless, LDS and a few others, I should reach out to Mesa to see if they'd like to get involved

I’d love to see that, and I’ll guarantee you that the Subway 115 is more shockingly loud than those 2x12’s (not saying it’s louder, I’m saying it’s more shocking how loud it is for a tiny one driver cab). I would expect a 2x12 to be insanely loud.

 

[MDBass]

I don't see any of the single 12" BF cabs having any problem keeping up with the Subway 15. The 2 12" BF cabs would bury it.

I’d love to see that, and I’ll guarantee you that the Subway 115 is more shockingly loud than those 2x12’s (not saying it’s louder, I’m saying it’s more shocking how loud it is for a tiny one driver cab). I would expect a 2x12 to be insanely loud.

The Big Baby is just as loud as the LDS 15/6, which is as loud as many/most commercial 410's I've played through; the 212 Big twin is WAY louder than any commercial 212 I've heard, definitely in the 810 decibel range but with much better upper mid clarity and dispersion.

I'm reaching out to a few other manufacturers today about getting a loaner cab for this shootout before or during NAMM, I'll definitely add Mesa to the list

 

[vivaknoxvegas]

By all means @BassmanPaul

Last I had dug into the Barefaced product line they had some different ohm ratings from the standard 8 and 4, IE 12 and maybe another different one. It looks like with some of their newer offerings that they have switchable ohm cabs and some 4 and 8 standard stuff too. I was thinking mixing a 12 ohm and a 8 ohm would be odd and possibly not a good idea, was just checking.

 

[Stu_Bass]

The Big Baby is just as loud as the LDS 15/6, which is as loud as many/most commercial 410's I've played through; the 212 Big twin is WAY louder than any commercial 212 I've heard, definitely in the 810 decibel range but with much better upper mid clarity and dispersion.

I'm reaching out to a few other manufacturers today about getting a loaner cab for this shootout before or during NAMM, I'll definitely add Mesa to the list

I have 2 BB2's. Combined they are as loud as an 810 with more highs and lows plus smoother mids.

 

[gustobassman]

I don't see any of the single 12" BF cabs having any problem keeping up with the Subway 15. The 2 12" BF cabs would bury it.

Using my 1212/6/1 as a reference (I know, it's not a Barefaced cab), the 1212/6/1 is "louder" but I wouldn't say it "buries" the SW115 by any means. The Subway cabs can take some juice and put it out with authority. But, when you are talking about pushing TWO high-end, 12" 450 watt drivers as opposed to ONE high-end, 400 watt 15" driver - you will always be "louder" in that sense. More power handling and more speaker cone area to move sound.

That said I do notice a significant difference in tone between the speakers in the SW115's and the 1212/6/1. The 3012LF's have less of an "edge" to my ears than the SW115 driver. The SW115 can get that pillowy tone, but I can't get the same "bite" with the 1212/6/1 that the SW115 has. I'm not familiar with Barefaced tone - I don't know whether they would be considered "edgy" or "pillowy". Might be something to consider depending on the music you play if trying to mate cab brands. I have to be able to go from punk one night to reggae the next- for me the SW cabs can do that much better than the 1212/6/1.

 

[BassmanPaul]

If you mix an 8Ω and a 12Ω cabinet you’ll get 4.8Ω and it will be perfectly safe with a 4Ω amplifier. The 8Ω cabinet will be a tad louder than the 12Ω all else being equal.

 

[Doug Parent]

I don't see why you can't run the SW115 with a Barefaced cab. I've hooked up my two SW115's to my LDS 1212/6/1 and it sounded great. It also peeled paint off the walls, gave anyone walking by a bowel adjustment, and made me feel like the "King Of Bassdom".. I have yet to run the entire rig at a show, but this WILL be the year.

View attachment 2861395

BOOM!

 

[CalBuzz51]

As a Barefaced 210 owner, I agree that probably you best tone is going to be getting a 2nd SW15. The 10" BF cabs sound great, but you might get mixed results pairing a vented SW15 with a semi-ported BF210.

On the other hand, I'd love to compare the two as well. If you grab a BF you can likely flip it easily. The 210 is the only cab that comes in 12 ohms, but I'd recommend getting the switchable version 12/4 ohms, it would be more flexible and easier to flip if needed.

I have the D800+ and 400+ heads, but my next purchase is going to be another BF 210.

 

[Dp1363]

I have 2 BB2's. Combined they are as loud as an 810 with more highs and lows plus smoother mids.

I have two BB2’s as well. Thunderous, loud and full sounding. I would put them up against a lot of other brands cab configurations. A BB2 is rated at 800 watts RMS.

 

[DrDAV14]

I use a D800 with a Supertwin. Superb lowend output, solid full mids and just enough hi's to cut through. Beautiful pairing in my opinion, and the cab barely weighs 40lbs

 

[57pbass]

You’d need a Big Twin to compete with the Subway 115, and I’d like to hear that shootout myself!

I had the Super Twin paired with the D800.
Amazing results as advertised but not my sound. I really prefer a sealed or rear ported cab. So I sold the ST. Might consider a 2x10 from them??
Quality wise.. top notch..
customer service.. top notch.

 

[roccobass]

As a Barefaced 210 owner, I agree that probably you best tone is going to be getting a 2nd SW15. The 10" BF cabs sound great, but you might get mixed results pairing a vented SW15 with a semi-ported BF210.

On the other hand, I'd love to compare the two as well. If you grab a BF you can likely flip it easily. The 210 is the only cab that comes in 12 ohms, but I'd recommend getting the switchable version 12/4 ohms, it would be more flexible and easier to flip if needed.

I have the D800+ and 400+ heads, but my next purchase is going to be another BF 210.

Good info CB...Thank you, But I was thinking of going the BB2 route paired with a D800+ for just an all round set up as well the ease of it all, weight wise. I see more folks going with the 210. What differences do you hear between the two? Also, does anybody know if the BB2 has a 4-8 switch? Didn’t see it in the manual.

 

[mmbongo]

Good info CB...Thank you, But I was thinking of going the BB2 route paired with a D800+ for just an all round set up as well the ease of it all, weight wise. I see more folks going with the 210. What differences do you hear between the two? Also, does anybody know if the BB2 has a 4-8 switch? Didn’t see it in the manual.

The BF 210 is the only cab with switchable impedance because the 10's are 6 ohm speakers.

 

[roccobass]

The BF 210 is the only cab with switchable impedance because the 10's are 6 ohm speakers.

Rats!..But not a deal killer. Thanks for the send back. Still need to find out the comparison between the BB2 and 210s. Saw a player on talkbass with 2 of the 1-10s and a 2-10. That might be cool. The the BB2 might be a good comp to the AK TC-112 too. I'll have to hit the BF Club here as well as email BF. Mmbongo, what rig do you have? BTW, the head I was going to get was the Mesa D800+.

 

[mmbongo]

I'll have to hit the BF Club here as well as email BF. Mmbongo, what rig do you have? BTW, the head I was going to get was the Mesa D800+.

Here are the cabs I currently have:
Mesa Subway 115
Mesa Subway 112
Audiokinesis Changeling
Barefaced Super Compact
Also various GK cabs.

I also had at one point:
Barefaced One 10
Barefaced Super Midget

So I can kinda give some general impressions on how all of these compare. I love all of the cabs I have for different reasons and just can't seem to let any of them go The only cab I had that I just couldn't make work for me was the BF One 10.