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NCD: Barefaced Super Compact

#21
Okay!! First gig of the month down.

This was a rock/jam band with a very heavy handed drummer, 1 guitar player with a blues Jr, a horn player who sat in with us for some songs, and another guitar player who sat in for like 2 or 3 songs.

The guys in the band loved the new cab. It sounded great at rehearsal in my basement and had no problems keeping up.

At the gig, it was the same thing. Great tone that I could hear. Not just boomy bass behind me.

A few people in the crowd said the bass came through really clear tonight, so that's a good sign.

The lack of low end (compared to the Epifani) was no issue either. The bass tone was very full, and still maintained its clarity.

I really thought the cab performed excellently in all areas. My drummer was really hammering away tonight, and at times I was worried that the cab wasn't enough. I dont usually make a point of liatening for this, thiugh, so i think it was just in my head. Plus, you can see from my amp settings that I still had plenty of juice I could have given it.

I'm playing with this band again next Saturday. That'll be with the same drummer, and 2 guitars this time. One with a twin, one with a Laney 112 combo. Last time I played there, I used my 410.

Overall it was a great first gig. Please feel free to ask any specific questions!!

Thanks guys!!

My Rig
IMG_20150606_233606092_zpsiubt14ri.jpg


My pedals
IMG_20150606_233647250_zpsjgwmxuhl.jpg


Sorry for the junky pics. Realized I should take some after I started packing up.
 
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#22
I'm on my second barefaced, a bb2 in my case.

The barefaced cabs are in a league on its own, in my opinion.

It may seem you lack depth compared to other production cabs, but it's no true at all. The fact is that the cabs have a very focused, controlled frequency response in the lows, without humps and valleys as others builders use to use.

Theese cabs sound awesome in a room, without boom and unwanted resonance, but they shine in open air with a tone that, unbelievably, is rather equivalent to the tone i get with studio headphones and recordings.
The quality of the midrange is what sets them apart, full, warm, and musical while remaining very respectful of the tone you push in. Studio monitor clarity and balance but musical, if that makes sense.
 
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#23
Second gig! Bigger room this time. Played with my 700rb ii

Brought a Mic because this venue has PA support. Finished my first set.

Sound guy comes up to me and said that the cab is so loud that he doesn't even have me coming through the PA.

That's never happened here before with my other cabs.

He said the cab was awesome and sounded great out where he was (all the way in the back of the room).

My brother who always says he can't hear me told me he heard me loud and clear and continued to praise the cab.

Up against a Twin, Laney 1x12, very heavy handed drummer, and a sax coming through the PA.

About to start the third set, just wanted to post this. Tomorrow is the outdoor gig!

IMG_20150613_232621446_zpsdvklvjjp.jpg
 
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#25
5StringPocket said:
If your guitarist is so picky about his tone at the expense of everyone else, sounds like he needs a different amp that can give the tone he's after at a lower volume.
Click to expand...
The last gig I did I took a Traynor Darkhorse single 12 with me for the guitar player to use. He cranked it wide open then had to turn down a bit. GREAT GREAT tube saturation. I didn't tell him it was on the 2 watt setting. A perfect match for my SB200H head with 112. Just killer sound. A fellow could mic one of these and be a bass player's dream guitarist for just about any small venue.

OP, NICE CAB!
 
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#26
Thanks guys! Had my outdoor gig today. Absolutely crushed it.

This cab just kills. While I'm extremely happy with this and have no doubts about its capabilities, I've decided to return it and order a Super Twin.

I don't need the extra power that will offer me right now, bud I'd like to have it in case I need it in the future. Plus itll bring the cab closer to my ears, and its cheaper than adding a second super compact.

Still smaller than and lighter than my other cabs and should still be able to lift it with one hand
 
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#29
Congratulations on your purchase. I personally own a generation 2 Big Twin and like someone mentioned in the thread, Barefaced bass cabs are on a league of their own. Make sure to post pics and your first impressions on the super twin.. These small (for the tone & sound they produce) are crazy loud with the long list of pros that I'm sure you are already aware of by now. Note to you and any future potential owners, getting a first BFB cab requires some EQing and fine tuning as they reveal a very even frequency response that we are not used to compared to most mainstream cabs we have owned beore. Also, it is better to not to compare BFB cabs with identical amps settings, but with different settings that will produce an equivalent sound. Then it becomes clear to what extent these cabs shine. It is my humble customer opinion (well, I'm a fan now so I may sound biased :) )
 
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#30
primussucks9126 said:
Thanks guys! Had my outdoor gig today. Absolutely crushed it.

This cab just kills. While I'm extremely happy with this and have no doubts about its capabilities, I've decided to return it and order a Super Twin.

I don't need the extra power that will offer me right now, bud I'd like to have it in case I need it in the future. Plus itll bring the cab closer to my ears, and its cheaper than adding a second super compact.

Still smaller than and lighter than my other cabs and should still be able to lift it with one hand
Click to expand...
apart from the gross expense this was an unsurprising result. I hope someone is getting a wee discount on the trialled cab rather than it being shipped all the way back to UK.
 
#31
Downunderwonder said:
apart from the gross expense this was an unsurprising result. I hope someone is getting a wee discount on the trialled cab rather than it being shipped all the way back to UK.
Click to expand...

Let me be clear; the super Twin purchase is not because this cab didn't deliver. It absolutely did. I am in no way disappointed and it did everything Alex said it would. I cannot speak highly enough of how well this cab met and exceeded my expectations. I had doubts going in, and was very pleasantly surprised.

The super Twin is more of an "I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it" kind of thing. I hope that in the future my gigs get big enough that I'll need to use the full extent of that cab, and I'd rather have it ready than wait to get there.

My only concern about the super Twin is that I won't be using enough wattage to push it the way I'm pushing the super compact right now.

I haven't decided if I'll list it for sale yet. Probably not as I'll get a full refund from
Barefaced ass opposed to taking a hit from selling it second hand.
 
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#32
primussucks9126 said:
My only concern about the super Twin is that I won't be using enough wattage to push it the way I'm pushing the super compact right now.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be worried about "underpowering a cab", it is a myth as far as I know . I'd suggest asking Alex from BFB about your concern to get to the bottom of this.
It is common knowledge that you can get up to a 3 db boost (twice as loud) just by pushing twice the air (without taking in consideration bigger enclosure & port for extra bass).
If your amp is optimal a 4 ohm as opposed to 8 ohm, you should also get an additional (but slight) db bonus by getting its full wattage potential.

Unless you are seeking a cab-generated tone coloration by having one driver closer to its excursion limit as opposed to two which run lower excursion each, it should be a non-issue for you since all but the retro line BFB cabs are transparent.
 
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#34
primussucks9126 said:
Let me be clear; the super Twin purchase is not because this cab didn't deliver. It absolutely did. I am in no way disappointed and it did everything Alex said it would. I cannot speak highly enough of how well this cab met and exceeded my expectations. I had doubts going in, and was very pleasantly surprised.

The super Twin is more of an "I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it" kind of thing. I hope that in the future my gigs get big enough that I'll need to use the full extent of that cab, and I'd rather have it ready than wait to get there.

My only concern about the super Twin is that I won't be using enough wattage to push it the way I'm pushing the super compact right now.

I haven't decided if I'll list it for sale yet. Probably not as I'll get a full refund from
Barefaced ass opposed to taking a hit from selling it second hand.
Click to expand...
I was thinking about suggesting the Super Twin earlier based on what you were doing but you've already taken that step. You should have zero concern about not pushing it "hard enough". "I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it" is valid but I think you'll be very pleased because the sound will be much bigger with more heft and headroom to it. That 4 ohm Super Twin will be a great match for your GK 700RBii. You'll feel it in your chest more and your drummer will too which should help lock in that groove tighter and be fun to play. Let us know how it works out and any difference you notice on the gig.
 
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#35
Well I talked to Alex about a return/exchange. And he suggested I just buy a second Super compact. Didn't really want to go that route because its more expensive. Also don't feel like taking a hit for selling this one on the used market.

I'll be saving for a second Super Compact in the near future.
 
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#36
primussucks9126 said:
Well I talked to Alex about a return/exchange. And he suggested I just buy a second Super compact. Didn't really want to go that route because its more expensive. Also don't feel like taking a hit for selling this one on the used market.

I'll be saving for a second Super Compact in the near future.
Click to expand...

That makes a lot of sense. When the time to expand will come, you will end up with a taller rig than the STwelve, closer to your ear, and more cab real estate (lots of bass) + modularity: depending on the gigs you can either bring both SCs or a single one depending on needs. :)
 

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