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Official Barefaced Bass Cab Club
- Thread starter Stumbo
- Start date
I don't think there's any question that a BB2 will get louder than a SM. IMO, a BB2 can handle just about any gig, while a SM can handle 75%-80% of all situations (the other 20%-25% being really, really loud gigs). These cabs get incredibly loud for their size and weight. TBers talk about being in bands with horns and multiple singers and using a One10 or SM.
If you have the occasion to do really, really loud gigs get the BB2 and you'll never have to worry. If you can get by pumping just 500w the SM should work. If you need 800w-100w use a BB2. All comments just my personal opinion ....
If you have the occasion to do really, really loud gigs get the BB2 and you'll never have to worry. If you can get by pumping just 500w the SM should work. If you need 800w-100w use a BB2. All comments just my personal opinion ....
The volume knob also helps
Usually. There are a few notes that get sympathetic vibrations from the walls, regardless of volume (without being too quiet to be worth it).
But I see your valid point.
Usually. There are a few notes that get sympathetic vibrations from the walls, regardless of volume (without being too quiet to be worth it).
But I see your valid point.
I was just being a little cheeky
My BB2 was making something rattle quite badly in the house (volume not much of an issue as it's a detached house)... it was loud but not THAT loud... it turned out to be an office chair rattling!
I was just being a little cheeky
My BB2 was making something rattle quite badly in the house (volume not much of an issue as it's a detached house)... it was loud but not THAT loud... it turned out to be an office chair rattling!
I figured.
It's always a chuckle when I find the frequency of a door or table or cabinet.
That can be eliminated or enhanced with a labiametric equalizer. A notch filter has been known to work on occasion also.My BB2's rattle the lady parts
Morning all. Been contemplating Barefaced for a while, and even tried out a BB2 a while back. Great cabinet, incredibly powerful.
I currently have 2x Berg CN112 with a Tecamp Puma 900. Use one cab for jazz gigs and two for bigger gigs/functions etc. One cab is a touch light on the B string, two is great and have plenty enough lows. EQ sorts out low boost if I need it, though in many rooms I do not.
(The CNs hold up well at war volume - loud mids and a some pleasing colour to the sound - but I have long respected Alex's work, and wonder if I can get a little more lows out of the SM, whilst still sounding like a 'bass guitar' cabinet.)
I'm interested in a 2* SM stack. Great driver, super light, modular. Anyone have any direct experience comparing a single CN112 sonically with a single SM?
I did try a SM at one point a few years back but can't recall much about it. At a friend's house, not a gig, so not a real test.
Thanks.
I currently have 2x Berg CN112 with a Tecamp Puma 900. Use one cab for jazz gigs and two for bigger gigs/functions etc. One cab is a touch light on the B string, two is great and have plenty enough lows. EQ sorts out low boost if I need it, though in many rooms I do not.
(The CNs hold up well at war volume - loud mids and a some pleasing colour to the sound - but I have long respected Alex's work, and wonder if I can get a little more lows out of the SM, whilst still sounding like a 'bass guitar' cabinet.)
I'm interested in a 2* SM stack. Great driver, super light, modular. Anyone have any direct experience comparing a single CN112 sonically with a single SM?
I did try a SM at one point a few years back but can't recall much about it. At a friend's house, not a gig, so not a real test.
Thanks.
I haven't differently compared those cabs, but I have owned a CN212 since they came out and recently picked up a pair of BB2's.
The CN is awesome but the BB2's are in a different league in regards to low end output. They sound like you're running good FOH support even if you're not.
I'd expect the SM to have a lot more output and low end over the CN112.
The CN is awesome but the BB2's are in a different league in regards to low end output. They sound like you're running good FOH support even if you're not.
I'd expect the SM to have a lot more output and low end over the CN112.
Thanks Dave. The BB2 I tried is about as unvoiced a cab as I have heard. What I mainly would like to know is if The SM as 'textured' in voice as a CN112, or is it more like the BB2?
I've owned the SM and BB2 cabs and I found the voicing to be the same, just louder and more full sounding when stepping up to the BB2. I decided to stick with the SM as it's still very, very loud, has a nice tight sound, and is stupidly small and light for what it does.
Perfect. Thanks Jx. As I already know what a BB2 sounds like (beautiful highs, very clean mids and big down low), that is very helpful.
That said, does anyone find some heads 'too clean' for the BB2 or SM? The Puma I'm playing has paired well in the past with most cabs...
I've owned a SM and have a BB2. They are very similar but not quite identical. The bigger box gives the BB2 extra lows that the SM doesn't quite have, and the tweeter in the SM is a little less refined but still quite nice. If I had it to do over again, I might have gone with two SM cabs instead of one BB2. However, I'm satisfied with my selection. I think a SMx2 stack will be nice.
As for clean heads, I'm sure you could find a pairing you don't like, if you worked at it. I find the bass voice and head voice combined are important. I have a Demeter VTBP M 800D. With my P bass, I like it with my BB2 over my Two10. However, I have other basses that I prefer with the Two10. In some cases, I find a light dirt pedal and/or compression can change things nicely. I'd say the Puma should be really good with the eq and Taste. I've run a Genz Shuttle 9.0 with good results. I did find myself toying with the gain and semi-para mids at times, but nothing radical.
I think you're going to be satisfied
Thanks Monster. Looks like you've been through the range one way and another. I really appreciate your opinions of your experience. I'll start saving up.
The only major question I have now is will Alex do the SM in that lovely tolex they use on the Retro series? It is moe aesthetically pleasing than the paint job on the other cabs, at least to my eyes...
The only major question I have now is will Alex do the SM in that lovely tolex they use on the Retro series? It is moe aesthetically pleasing than the paint job on the other cabs, at least to my eyes...
When you say the BB2 gives extra lows that the SM does not give, do you think this benefits the 5 string player more than a 4 stringer would notice ?I've owned a SM and have a BB2. They are very similar but not quite identical. The bigger box gives the BB2 extra lows that the SM doesn't quite have, and the tweeter in the SM is a little less refined but still quite nice. If I had it to do over again, I might have gone with two SM cabs instead of one BB2. However, I'm satisfied with my selection. I think a SMx2 stack will be nice.
As for clean heads, I'm sure you could find a pairing you don't like, if you worked at it. I find the bass voice and head voice combined are important. I have a Demeter VTBP M 800D. With my P bass, I like it with my BB2 over my Two10. However, I have other basses that I prefer with the Two10. In some cases, I find a light dirt pedal and/or compression can change things nicely. I'd say the Puma should be really good with the eq and Taste. I've run a Genz Shuttle 9.0 with good results. I did find myself toying with the gain and semi-para mids at times, but nothing radical.
I think you're going to be satisfied
I don't play 5 but I do down tune at times. I notice the lows being different even with a standard tuned 4. I'd say "benefit" depends on what you are after. The website mentions lows rolling off at 37Hz vs 30Hz for the cabs, which doesn't seem like a radical difference. I think playing lower and louder, you'd benefit more from the BB2. For more moderate volumes and/or tighter lows, the SM starts being of more interest.
I think the best way to describe the difference in lows is that the SM is tighter. The BB2 is plenty tight, the low end just extends further down the range like when you have a sub.
My Bag End S15D's sounded great with a 5 string and they are about as tight as it gets with a sharp roll off at 50hz.
My Bag End S15D's sounded great with a 5 string and they are about as tight as it gets with a sharp roll off at 50hz.
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I worked out the roll off point (-3dB) of my CN112 to be around 60 Hz or so after I opened up the box, worked out internal volume, etc. Makes sense - I notice the B string on my Modulus just being a little bit lighter than the other strings, and the first harmonic of B is coming down at that point. EQ sorts it if I need it.
If the SM has significant output between 50-60Hz, I'd be very impressed. ?I think you need a BB2 sized box for significant output for that area, even with Alex's driver.
If the SM has significant output between 50-60Hz, I'd be very impressed. ?I think you need a BB2 sized box for significant output for that area, even with Alex's driver.
