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Official Barefaced Bass Cab Club

#2,084
N. Kentucky Bass said:
I'll chip in on this one. I have about six or more years of experience gigging nEarful 15/6 and 12/6 cabs (built to Greenboy specs by LDS except for the ports, which I asked for round tubes instead of the standard shelf ports), and Fearless 110 and 210 cabs built by Jhawk about 3 or 4 years ago. Last fall I bought a pair of Big Baby 2 cabs, which are closer to the Fearless "tone," which is flat and uncolored.

Bottom line: if you are happy with your Fearless cabs, don't bother buying the BB2 cab because you will not experience a dramatic difference in tone. (Sorry Alex!). I cannot comment on other Barefaced cabs because I haven't played them.

On the other hand, there are significant differences in BB2 specifications that could motivate a switch depending on your requirements.

First up is weight: a BB2 weighs 29 pounds. I've owned many cabs and believe me, 29 pounds is a featherweight for the performance of the BB2! A comparable Fearless 115 (in terms of volume potential) weighs about 43-52 pounds depending on wood type and options. That's a huge difference and is very important to me.

Another reason for the weight difference is construction. The BB2 has a sophisticated internal bracing system that I suppose allows for using less wood. It also dispenses with requiring a mid-range driver, so that saves more weight including a reduced size for the crossover assembly.

Cab design is another factor. I needed to find a different option from Fearless because I adopted a new #1 amp, the Reiner Studio 1200, which is about 12" x 12" and cannot fit safely atop a F110 or F210. Keep in mind, the Fearless wedge design is handy, but in my case it was a detriment. I did not want to move around more weight just for the extra space atop the cab.

The other key difference is the rear panel dial that adjusts output of the BB2's horn. The F110 and F210 also had this dial, but to my ear, there was never a dramatic difference irrespective of where the dial was turned. With the BB2, however, there is a dramatic difference in tone. With the horn on full, the BB2 produces a pristine, PA-type clear tone. Dialed off, the BB2 sounds more vintage in tone. In between is a range of useful, musical options -- especially if you're gigging different kinds of basses such as a Jazz vs. P-bass vs. acoustic bass. The BB2's dial also brings out dramatic differences in strings, such as round wounds vs. flat wounds vs. ground wounds vs. black nylon tapewounds. I've played all of the above through the BB2 and it provides much more granular control over tonal variations using the horn volume dial.

Dave Green's cabs are superb. So are Barefaced cabs. You can't go wrong with either brand. Your selection will be more practical if you focus on specific requirements and match those to the respective cabs' specifications.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed comparison. Yeah, the only reason I ordered the Barefaced was to have a feather weight One10. I've got my basses covered (pun intended) with my GB F112s. I was going to buy an F110 from Jhawk but he told me there wasn't much point in that since I've got two 32 lbs. F112s. Apparently the F110 comes in at about 29 lbs and is only a couple inches different in footprint than the F112. I love my F112s. But I've got 3 music projects at the moment and I wanted a super light rehearsal cab to go with my little (but powerful) Puma 900 - which I love.
 
#2,085
Bassheart365 said:
Thanks for the detailed comparison. Yeah, the only reason I ordered the Barefaced was to have a feather weight One10. I've got my basses covered (pun intended) with my GB F112s. I was going to buy an F110 from Jhawk but he told me there wasn't much point in that since I've got two 32 lbs. F112s. Apparently the F110 comes in at about 29 lbs and is only a couple inches different in footprint than the F112. I love my F112s. But I've got 3 music projects at the moment and I wanted a super light rehearsal cab to go with my little (but powerful) Puma 900 - which I love.
Click to expand...

The Puma 900 used to be my main amp; now it's my backup. I also use it as the main amp w/ a Greenboy Audio Crazy8 for "acoustic" gigs requiring low volume. I bet the Puma will go nicely with the One10!
 
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#2,088
N. Kentucky Bass said:
I'll chip in on this one. I have about six or more years of experience gigging nEarful 15/6 and 12/6 cabs (built to Greenboy specs by LDS except for the ports, which I asked for round tubes instead of the standard shelf ports), and Fearless 110 and 210 cabs built by Jhawk about 3 or 4 years ago. Last fall I bought a pair of Big Baby 2 cabs, which are closer to the Fearless "tone," which is flat and uncolored.

Bottom line: if you are happy with your Fearless cabs, don't bother buying the BB2 cab because you will not experience a dramatic difference in tone. (Sorry Alex!). I cannot comment on other Barefaced cabs because I haven't played them.

On the other hand, there are significant differences in BB2 specifications that could motivate a switch depending on your requirements.

First up is weight: a BB2 weighs 29 pounds. I've owned many cabs and believe me, 29 pounds is a featherweight for the performance of the BB2! A comparable Fearless 115 (in terms of volume potential) weighs about 43-52 pounds depending on wood type and options. That's a huge difference and is very important to me.

Another reason for the weight difference is construction. The BB2 has a sophisticated internal bracing system that I suppose allows for using less wood. It also dispenses with requiring a mid-range driver, so that saves more weight including a reduced size for the crossover assembly.

Cab design is another factor. I needed to find a different option from Fearless because I adopted a new #1 amp, the Reiner Studio 1200, which is about 12" x 12" and cannot fit safely atop a F110 or F210. Keep in mind, the Fearless wedge design is handy, but in my case it was a detriment. I did not want to move around more weight just for the extra space atop the cab.

The other key difference is the rear panel dial that adjusts output of the BB2's horn. The F110 and F210 also had this dial, but to my ear, there was never a dramatic difference irrespective of where the dial was turned. With the BB2, however, there is a dramatic difference in tone. With the horn on full, the BB2 produces a pristine, PA-type clear tone. Dialed off, the BB2 sounds more vintage in tone. In between is a range of useful, musical options -- especially if you're gigging different kinds of basses such as a Jazz vs. P-bass vs. acoustic bass. The BB2's dial also brings out dramatic differences in strings, such as round wounds vs. flat wounds vs. ground wounds vs. black nylon tapewounds. I've played all of the above through the BB2 and it provides much more granular control over tonal variations using the horn volume dial.

Dave Green's cabs are superb. So are Barefaced cabs. You can't go wrong with either brand. Your selection will be more practical if you focus on specific requirements and match those to the respective cabs' specifications.
Click to expand...
Really wonderfully helpful and detailed post, thanks Dave!!
 
#2,094
anton72 said:
Strange. I have the same dates estimated delivery but I am in Russia. I wonder if by delivery they mean departure or receipt?
Click to expand...

They shipped to me in the midwest, USA, in one day (just under 24 hours) from Brighton UK. So, it seems plausible that they might be able to deliver to both of you the same day despite the significant difference in geography; they both may arrive "next day".
 
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#2,096
monsterthompson said:
Probably depends on production batching. Occasionally they run thin on inventory for certain products. They are still a small operation and don't warehouse tons of product.
Click to expand...
I think this is the case. All small manufacturers do not carry a lot of inventory (frozen capital) and thus have to phase their production depending on materials stock and consumption.
 
#2,098
N. Kentucky Bass said:
I'll chip in on this one. I have about six or more years of experience gigging nEarful 15/6 and 12/6 cabs (built to Greenboy specs by LDS except for the ports, which I asked for round tubes instead of the standard shelf ports), and Fearless 110 and 210 cabs built by Jhawk about 3 or 4 years ago. Last fall I bought a pair of Big Baby 2 cabs, which are closer to the Fearless "tone," which is flat and uncolored.

Bottom line: if you are happy with your Fearless cabs, don't bother buying the BB2 cab because you will not experience a dramatic difference in tone. (Sorry Alex!). I cannot comment on other Barefaced cabs because I haven't played them.

On the other hand, there are significant differences in BB2 specifications that could motivate a switch depending on your requirements.

First up is weight: a BB2 weighs 29 pounds. I've owned many cabs and believe me, 29 pounds is a featherweight for the performance of the BB2! A comparable Fearless 115 (in terms of volume potential) weighs about 43-52 pounds depending on wood type and options. That's a huge difference and is very important to me.

Another reason for the weight difference is construction. The BB2 has a sophisticated internal bracing system that I suppose allows for using less wood. It also dispenses with requiring a mid-range driver, so that saves more weight including a reduced size for the crossover assembly.

Cab design is another factor. I needed to find a different option from Fearless because I adopted a new #1 amp, the Reiner Studio 1200, which is about 12" x 12" and cannot fit safely atop a F110 or F210. Keep in mind, the Fearless wedge design is handy, but in my case it was a detriment. I did not want to move around more weight just for the extra space atop the cab.

The other key difference is the rear panel dial that adjusts output of the BB2's horn. The F110 and F210 also had this dial, but to my ear, there was never a dramatic difference irrespective of where the dial was turned. With the BB2, however, there is a dramatic difference in tone. With the horn on full, the BB2 produces a pristine, PA-type clear tone. Dialed off, the BB2 sounds more vintage in tone. In between is a range of useful, musical options -- especially if you're gigging different kinds of basses such as a Jazz vs. P-bass vs. acoustic bass. The BB2's dial also brings out dramatic differences in strings, such as round wounds vs. flat wounds vs. ground wounds vs. black nylon tapewounds. I've played all of the above through the BB2 and it provides much more granular control over tonal variations using the horn volume dial.

Dave Green's cabs are superb. So are Barefaced cabs. You can't go wrong with either brand. Your selection will be more practical if you focus on specific requirements and match those to the respective cabs' specifications.
Click to expand...


Can you elaborate a little more on this, as far as tone goes between the fearless and the BB2 ? At first, you seem to be saying there is not much difference in tone between the fearless cab and the BB2. But, in your " significant differences " in BB2 that might motivate a switch, is the " dramatic difference in tone ", using the rear panel dial on the BB2 . Are you saying that you can get different tones by using this dial on the BB2, yet it is not that much different than what you can get with the fearless ?
 
#2,100
jnewmark said:
Can you elaborate a little more on this, as far as tone goes between the fearless and the BB2 ? At first, you seem to be saying there is not much difference in tone between the fearless cab and the BB2. But, in your " significant differences " in BB2 that might motivate a switch, is the " dramatic difference in tone ", using the rear panel dial on the BB2 . Are you saying that you can get different tones by using this dial on the BB2, yet it is not that much different than what you can get with the fearless ?
Click to expand...

Not much more to say. The foundational tone presentation is similar between these cabs. The BB2 is more "adjustable." The Fearless dial basically boosts the mids. That's useful to help you cut through a busy mix. The BB2 dial gradually rolls off the horn, which for me, provides a far more useful range of adjustments depending on requirements of your instrument and how you want to present it in context of the band.
 
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