Mesa Subway with Barefaced

[roccobass]

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.

That's a good set of cabs. Due to space considerations I have keep my choices to a few. The ones I have now are:
Markbass Minimark combo
Acoustic Image Corus R combo.

I sold my Genz Benz GB600 head and 2 1-12 cabs last winter, hoping to upgrade. Still hoping.
I was wanting to get one SOLID cabinet. A super 1-12 ( kind of like the BB2) make that work because I'm not really in a LOUD band, per se. (metal, loud blues rock, etc) But still would like the option of power. Not sure if the one cab thing will be sufficient. Dunno. Maybe two Subway 1-12s just to settle the thing. I will still send emails to BB and the BB Club just to make sure before I drop the hammer.

I kind of like the 1-10 cab, but just for my upright. Still going to go Mesa 800 or the plus as far as the head.

 

[J Gold]

I'm only asking out of curiosity and no experience with Subway or Barefaced cabs, but interested in both for my D800+, so I'm not being snippy at all....

Are some of you saying that 1 Subway 115 cab is as loud and defined as the Big Twin 212?

 

[mmbongo]

I'm only asking out of curiosity and no experience with Subway or Barefaced cabs, but interested in both for my D800+, so I'm not being snippy at all....

Are some of you saying that 1 Subway 115 cab is as loud and defined as the Big Twin 212?

I've never used a Big Twin 212, but I can't imagine that being true...keeping in mind that I do have a Subway 115 and a Barefaced Super Compact (1x12).

 

[Funkmabassup]

I've never used a Big Twin 212, but I can't imagine that being true...keeping in mind that I do have a Subway 115 and a Barefaced Super Compact (1x12).

How does the Mesa subway 15 compare too the Barfaced 12s? I had a super-twin (2x12 no tweeter) and hated the flat, characterless tone, it also felt a bit unbalanced with too much power at low notes and weak at higher notes. I ended up prefering almost every 4x10 and some 15s around on the stages I play instead and sold the cab, couldnt get it right with eq either.

Im really interessted in the mesa subway 1x15 these days from everything Ive heard about it, does it have more character and fatten the tone more than the Barefaced did? and how does the mesa 1x15 compare wheen tweeter is off too your super-compact?

 

[mmbongo]

How does the Mesa subway 15 compare too the Barfaced 12s? I had a super-twin (2x12 no tweeter) and hated the flat, characterless tone, it also felt a bit unbalanced with too much power at low notes and weak at higher notes. I ended up prefering almost every 4x10 and some 15s around on the stages I play instead and sold the cab, couldnt get it right with eq either.

Im really interessted in the mesa subway 1x15 these days from everything Ive heard about it, does it have more character and fatten the tone more than the Barefaced did? and how does the mesa 1x15 compare wheen tweeter is off too your super-compact?

Yeah the Barefaced 12's are definitely a more flat, uncolored tone. For reference sake I have a Barefaced Super Compact, Mesa Subway 15's and 12's, and an AudioKinesis Changeling 12T.

So Mesa Subway vs. the BF Super Compact. With EQ's being equal, the Subway 15 definitely has a deeper, thicker bottom end and overall more output. It's also clearer and more open in the mids. Of course the Subway has more highs because it has a tweeter, and I can't really say I've ever compared them with the Subway tweeter all the way off but if I remember correctly the Subway with no tweeter dialed in is pretty dark on top. I normally don't like tweeters, but the tweets in the Subway cabs are pretty subtle...not harsh or ice picky like others I have had. Dialing in just a little bit is all you need. Overall I think the Subway 12 vs. the Super Compact is a better comparison as they are more similar. Overall the Subway 15 is just bigger, deeper, and louder overall. It's just more of everything, while having a snappy midrange that you don't usually get from a 15.

The big advantage of the Super Compact is the size and weight. It's just so easy to move around and it takes EQ really well. I kick in the deep switch on my Mesa Subway D800 to get the low end closer to the Subway cabs and it takes it just fine. It has plenty of highs for me, as I also run a low pass filter set at around 5000hz so I get very little from a tweeter anyway.

To sum up, I think you would like the Subway 15. It's definitely not a flat, uncolored tone like the Super Compact. It gives you some stank!

 

[chris_b]

How does the Mesa subway 15 compare too the Barfaced 12s? I had a super-twin (2x12 no tweeter) and hated the flat, characterless tone, it also felt a bit unbalanced with too much power at low notes and weak at higher notes. I ended up prefering almost every 4x10 and some 15s around on the stages I play instead and sold the cab, couldnt get it right with eq either.

Im really interessted in the mesa subway 1x15 these days from everything Ive heard about it, does it have more character and fatten the tone more than the Barefaced did? and how does the mesa 1x15 compare wheen tweeter is off too your super-compact?

That's not my experience. I use 2 Super Compacts (a modular Super-Twin) and my experience is that this rig is far from "flat" or "characterless". I use Aguilar and Thunderfunk amps and get a great sound, with either amp, on stage and out in the room.

I guess you can get the "character" of your sound from the amp and cab of just the amp, but if your idea of "character" can't be created with a Barefaced cab then you should be looking elsewhere.

 

[Funkmabassup]

[QUOTE="
I guess you can get the "character" of your sound from the amp and cab of just the amp, but if your idea of "character" can't be created with a Barefaced cab then you should be looking elsewhere.[/QUOTE]

Exactly what im doing, I want my cab too sound like a bass-cab, not a big PA monitor. I think even a Behringer 4x10 which I got provided as backline my last gig(used same markbass amp as with the barefaced) sounded alot better ! Not trying to start a war or bash Barefaced here, the Barefaced was out of this world in therms of power and I got nothing for respect for the Brand, just didnt like the sound and wasnt for me. Since alot of these super-cabs are very flat I wondered if the mesas were similar.

 

[BlueSonic]

I run a Subway D800 + with two BB2’s stacked vertically. Best rig I’ve used to date. Great combination.

So, I know your post is several years old now; but, I'm curious to know if you're still running the Subway D800+ with two BB2's stacked vertically, because that's about to be my new setup. Are you? And are you still loving it?

 

[Dp1363]

So, I know your post is several years old now; but, I'm curious to know if you're still running the Subway D800+ with two BB2's stacked vertically, because that's about to be my new setup. Are you? And are you still loving it?

I do, but I use it in mainly for rehearsal now. I run ampless at gigs. Broughton P15 pre amp straight into the PA. I do use my rig at larger gigs such as outside festivals etc.

 

[PatsonGodinho]

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

I have the TT800 (4 and 8 ohms switch) head and a single two10 with 4 and 12 switchable ohms, what should I select on the amp head and cab to get the best out of this combo?

 

[agedhorse]

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

I have the TT800 (4 and 8 ohms switch) head and a single two10 with 4 and 12 switchable ohms, what should I select on the amp head and cab to get the best out of this combo?[/QUOTE]
Since it’s mathematically impossible to switch a cabinet between 4 and 12 ohms, the safest choice for the amp is to set the speakers to the 12 ohm position and set the amp to the 4/8 ohm mode when using 2 cabinets.

If using 1 cabinet, with the cabinet’s switch set to 12 ohms you can use the amp set to 4/8 ohm position but if you set the cabinet to the 4 ohm position, the amp must be set to the 2 ohm position.