• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Mini Rigs of Doom Four

#1,162
1954bassman said:
Steve, the two One10 is plenty loud. I switch the Mesa to the 2 ohm setting as advised by @agedhorse which with the 4 ohm load brings the Mesa down to 600 watts, and overload light never comes on or the input clip. So maybe that will give you a baseline as to how loud my playing situations are.

On top of the portability, the main thing I am liking is the sound I am getting. The Barefaced seem to spread the sound out better than average cabs do. That is, it sounds good throughout the listening area.

I think one thing that makes me really like the sound is the absence of a horn/ tweeter. The top end is so smooth, combined with a very deep bass sound. I have two Schroeder cabs, and demoed several other "super" cabs, and they all sounded great, but were mid-forward and bright. To me the cabinet that sounded more like what I am getting with the BF's was the Genzler BA12-3. Very similar tone, deep bass with a pleasing top end.
Click to expand...

Funny you say that...I was just looking at the Genz and emailing Jeff last night! That thing looks killer and now I'm looking at the Genz head also. Neither were initially on my radar, but both are now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1954bassman
#1,163
image.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stumbo, zbigniew, sevenyearsdown and 3 others
#1,168
Here's my MROD:
- Ashdown ABM500 - bought brand new but desperately cheap at a clearance sale now that the ABM600 has been introduced
- Orange SP210 - bought brand new and also desperately cheap because these are the unloved ginger freckled kids of the cabinet world

I can carry my bass in a gig bag on my back, amp in one hand and cabinet in the other. Sounds great, but only suitable for rehearsals and small gigs.

20160923_132916_2.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stumbo, BassGreaser, Fuzzonaut and 1 other person
#1,169
Jughead6 said:
Here's my MROD:
- Ashdown ABM500 - bought brand new but desperately cheap at a clearance sale now that the ABM600 has been introduced
- Orange SP210 - bought brand new and also desperately cheap because these are the unloved ginger freckled kids of the cabinet world

I can carry my bass in a gig bag on my back, amp in one hand and cabinet in the other. Sounds great, but only suitable for rehearsals and small gigs.

View attachment 955049[/QUOTEn
Nice rig!
How do you like the ABM?
Brent]
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jughead6
#1,170
Jughead6 said:
Here's my MROD:
- Ashdown ABM500 - bought brand new but desperately cheap at a clearance sale now that the ABM600 has been introduced
- Orange SP210 - bought brand new and also desperately cheap because these are the unloved ginger freckled kids of the cabinet world

I can carry my bass in a gig bag on my back, amp in one hand and cabinet in the other. Sounds great, but only suitable for rehearsals and small gigs.

View attachment 955049
Click to expand...

Nice Cioks power supply! Those are great. :thumbsup:
 
#1,171
1954bassman said:
Steve, the two One10 is plenty loud. I switch the Mesa to the 2 ohm setting as advised by @agedhorse which with the 4 ohm load brings the Mesa down to 600 watts, and overload light never comes on or the input clip. So maybe that will give you a baseline as to how loud my playing situations are.

On top of the portability, the main thing I am liking is the sound I am getting. The Barefaced seem to spread the sound out better than average cabs do. That is, it sounds good throughout the listening area.

I think one thing that makes me really like the sound is the absence of a horn/ tweeter. The top end is so smooth, combined with a very deep bass sound. I have two Schroeder cabs, and demoed several other "super" cabs, and they all sounded great, but were mid-forward and bright. To me the cabinet that sounded more like what I am getting with the BF's was the Genzler BA12-3. Very similar tone, deep bass with a pleasing top end.
Click to expand...
Have you run the pair at just 4ohms? I'm wondering what the difference is.
Thanks!
 
#1,173
RobinG said:
Well, this is my first flush at this, and it may stick. I ended up using an Ashly BP41 Pre amp instead of the RPM. It's a little more flexible and matched better with the NU3000. The Ashly had a bit more presence, and the RPM had a low level distortion. I never heard it when I was playing it through a Trace amp, so I'm guessing its a matching of pre amp to amp thing. I have the amp bridged and the cab is 8 OHM's. It's plenty loud enough, and just before the amp clips, the speakers are just starting to break up. The NU3000 has to prove it's self yet, but so far, so good. I'll be playing 2 gigs with it this weekend. I probably add a power conditioner to the rack as well. The up side of using a rack system is that rack case doubles as a gig bag ;-)
Robin
View attachment 939616
Click to expand...

I've played 3 gigs with my Mrod, and I love it! The NU3000 is responsive to dynamics, and the BP41 is a perfect preamp for my playing style. The last gig I was told to turn down..

Robin
 
  • Like
Reactions: ctmullins
#1,174
alaskaleftybass said:
Have you run the pair at just 4ohms? I'm wondering what the difference is.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
No, I went with the advice given by @agedhorse and leave the amp set at 2 ohms. I had the occasion to play really loud last Saturday night at a youth event, and I had plenty of oomph. I think the Mesa still puts out like 600 watts using the 2 ohm setting with a four ohm load.

I honestly think the (2) One10's could handle 800 watts, but why bother when I am getting plenty of great tone and volume using it like I am.
 
  • Like
Reactions: alaskaleftybass
#1,175
I have three mini-ish rigs. The Berg/GK setup pictured below arrived yesterday. The cab is actually a 3x10 with one driver mounted on the back. Also had an Ampeg PF50 and 112 cab arrive last week (I flipped two amp rigs). Third is a pair of Markbass 112's which is the largest of the three but has the smallest stage footprint. I use a Noble pre to tube-ify the Markbass rig.

I'm planning to line them up side by side in the basement on the weekend to compare. Will post an amp family picture after that.

IMG_1324.JPG


IMG_1327.JPG
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Stumbo, 1954bassman and mark beem
#1,178
Jay Corwin said:
Pretty looking cabs, but I have to ask - why rack mount a micro?
Click to expand...

There are several reasons I put the MB500 in a rack. It keeps the amp from being accidentally pulled off the cab. The amp won't get dinged or scratched and stays in minty condition. The speaker cables stay attached to the amp along with a permanently installed power strip with an extension cord in the back of the rack so set up and tear down are really fast. I know it defeats the ultra light weight feature of a five pound micro but the amp, cables, rack shell and soft carry bag weigh only twelve pounds total (plus and the bag has a shoulder strap for easy carry). And I already had the rack when I got the amp.

If I want to go super light just I leave the rack home and toss my MB200 in my gig bag. :thumbsup:

Thanks for the nice comment about the cabs! I really like the look of the wheat color grille cloth. The 210 single cab pic was taken when I first bought the cab used. I ordered the 112 from Avatar and sent the 210 pic so they could match the color and vertical configuration. Eric at Avatar called to say he noticed there were silver screws and the old white logo on the 210 and did I want that on the new cab. He thought black screws and the new white with black background logo would look better. I agreed so he included new screws and a logo for me to put on the 210. Can't say enough good things about Avatar!

(Man, that was a long reply to your simple question :laugh:)
 
#1,179
McG said:
There are several reasons I put the MB500 in a rack. It keeps the amp from being accidentally pulled off the cab. The amp won't get dinged or scratched and stays in minty condition. The speaker cables stay attached to the amp along with a permanently installed power strip with an extension cord in the back of the rack so set up and tear down are really fast. I know it defeats the ultra light weight feature of a five pound micro but the amp, cables, rack shell and soft carry bag weigh only twelve pounds total (plus and the bag has a shoulder strap for easy carry). And I already had the rack when I got the amp.

If I want to go super light just I leave the rack home and toss my MB200 in my gig bag. :thumbsup:

Thanks for the nice comment about the cabs! I really like the look of the wheat color grille cloth. The 210 single cab pic was taken when I first bought the cab used. I ordered the 112 from Avatar and sent the 210 pic so they could match the color and vertical configuration. Eric at Avatar called to say he noticed there were silver screws and the old white logo on the 210 and did I want that on the new cab. He thought black screws and the new white with black background logo would look better. I agreed so he included new screws and a logo for me to put on the 210. Can't say enough good things about Avatar!

(Man, that was a long reply to your simple question :laugh:)
Click to expand...

I never understood guys that just got the stock black grills on those. Man if you can customize it all, make it purdy. Those are purdy. I've often thought of building custom grills for my SVT-210's.
 
  • Like
Reactions: McG
#1,180
Jay Corwin said:
I never understood guys that just got the stock black grills on those. Man if you can customize it all, make it purdy. Those are purdy. I've often thought of building custom grills for my SVT-210's.
Click to expand...

To be honest, when I was considering Avatar I saw a couple of vertical stacks that were black with white piping, the same as my little Ampeg home practice amp. I just assumed that was how they came. Then I played a gig at a music store that had a near new Avatar 210 with tan cloth for sale (the one in my pic). Not only did I fall in love with the sound, I loved the look. I totally agree on making something your own. A cool thing about Avatar is they have a wide selection of coverings and cloth colors.

Customizing your own grills would be easy. The SVT 210s would look cool and unique. Be sure to post pics when you get around to it.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back