Official Barefaced Bass Cab Club

[Turn Em Loose]

So I'd love to hear your comparison of the One10 and the Super Midget, and your thoughts thereof.

Me too. Though I ordered another one10 I was thinking about ordering SM instead but I was not sure how good their pairing would be.

Soooo....I'm trying to think of really profoundishy stuff to say about the two cabs. But honestly, it's just what you'd expect.

The SM is clear and precise. After gigging with them all summer a little too clean and precise for my wants/needs. I got a coupla SVT210-AV's to try out from Sweetwater with the hope of A/Bing the Ampegs with a One10 (or two) and things worked out for me.*

Both the SM and One10 have the nice wiiiide bottom that surrounds you like a subwoofer. It's not bottom/bass heavy. But wiiiide. And punchy. (That may not make sense to anybody but me.) I found myself instantly playing with a lighter touch with both the SM and One10. Both react very quickly to any EQ changes. Both are light and both are kinda freakish is that they are so small and produce lots of volume. Of course, the SM goes higher and has more detail up top. I ran the tweet 100% on the SM and it was never harsh or shrill. I DO run flats on all my basses, though.

The SM, when pushed hard, gets a little too mid forward for me when only using one cab. NOT high end/tweeter harsh. I use a Tone Hammer or P15 with electric and the slight tube grit I like came out a little too much for me when only one SM was being used. Two SM's crush, though. You can, literally, hear and feel the bass tone a hundred feet away. Outdoors. No FOH. Literally. Amazing for a 50 lb stack of tiny cabs. On indoor gigs one SM was enough and I preferred one SM when indoors.

*A quick A/B of the Ampeg/One10 in my basement yielded these impressions:
--The One10 is not quite as loud, with the same settings, as one SVT210-AV. But pretty close.
--One10 is more even across all the strings and registers.
--One10 has more bottom and is darker.
--Ampeg has more upper mids. Great for cutting through. I'm wondering if there is insulation in the Ampeg? To me it sounds like there isn't.

Anyway....I'm starting to ramble as the coffee kicks in, so I'll sign off. I am gigging the One10 today with upright. Quiet wallpaper jazz duo with piano. I'm using my teensy AI Clarus. Remind me to give a review of the gig.

EDIT: @Plutonium244, in short, and IMO, if you like your BBII, then the SM is supposed to be the same tone with less bottom. Which could come in handy in a lot of venues. I'd try the SM on the bottom with the tweet off to start when stacking. YMMV, IMO, etc etc.

 

[JxBass]

The One10 adds extra bottom to the SM when paired, IMO.

 

[sratas]

*A quick A/B of the Ampeg/One10 in my basement yielded these impressions:
--The One10 is not quite as loud, with the same settings, as one SVT210-AV. But pretty close.
.

now, THIS surprises me...A LOT. I was used to think of the 210 AV as a medium duty cab, and I used to think that Alex's drivers could cover a lot more...
anyway, great news. I'm intentioned to buy the Ampegs...so...

 

[anton72]

now, THIS surprises me...A LOT. I was used to think of the 210 AV as a medium duty cab, and I used to think that Alex's drivers could cover a lot more...
anyway, great news. I'm intentioned to buy the Ampegs...so...

I supppose one 10" is compared to one 2x10". So Alex's one 10" is as loud as average 2x10" as he stated before.

 

[Plutonium244]

Soooo....I'm trying to think of really profoundishy stuff to say about the two cabs. But honestly, it's just what you'd expect.

The SM is clear and precise. After gigging with them all summer a little too clean and precise for my wants/needs. I got a coupla SVT210-AV's to try out from Sweetwater with the hope of A/Bing the Ampegs with a One10 (or two) and things worked out for me.*

Both the SM and One10 have the nice wiiiide bottom that surrounds you like a subwoofer. It's not bottom/bass heavy. But wiiiide. And punchy. (That may not make sense to anybody but me.) I found myself instantly playing with a lighter touch with both the SM and One10. Both react very quickly to any EQ changes. Both are light and both are kinda freakish is that they are so small and produce lots of volume. Of course, the SM goes higher and has more detail up top. I ran the tweet 100% on the SM and it was never harsh or shrill. I DO run flats on all my basses, though.

The SM, when pushed hard, gets a little too mid forward for me when only using one cab. NOT high end/tweeter harsh. I use a Tone Hammer or P15 with electric and the slight tube grit I like came out a little too much for me when only one SM was being used. Two SM's crush, though. You can, literally, hear and feel the bass tone a hundred feet away. Outdoors. No FOH. Literally. Amazing for a 50 lb stack of tiny cabs. On indoor gigs one SM was enough and I preferred one SM when indoors.

*A quick A/B of the Ampeg/One10 in my basement yielded these impressions:
--The One10 is not quite as loud, with the same settings, as one SVT210-AV. But pretty close.
--One10 is more even across all the strings and registers.
--One10 has more bottom and is darker.
--Ampeg has more upper mids. Great for cutting through. I'm wondering if there is insulation in the Ampeg? To me it sounds like there isn't.

Anyway....I'm starting to ramble as the coffee kicks in, so I'll sign off. I am gigging the One10 today with upright. Quiet wallpaper jazz duo with piano. I'm using my teensy AI Clarus. Remind me to give a review of the gig.

EDIT: @Plutonium244, in short, and IMO, if you like your BBII, then the SM is supposed to be the same tone with less bottom. Which could come in handy in a lot of venues. I'd try the SM on the bottom with the tweet off to start when stacking. YMMV, IMO, etc etc.

Thanks, I appreciate your feedback. I really like the tone of both the BF 12's and the BF 10's, although they are different from each other.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

now, THIS surprises me...A LOT. I was used to think of the 210 AV as a medium duty cab, and I used to think that Alex's drivers could cover a lot more...
anyway, great news. I'm intentioned to buy the Ampegs...so...

Keep in mind this was in my basement at low volume with the same settings. I didn't even come close to pushing either cab.

 

[sratas]

ok...limited test in fact....

 

[Turn Em Loose]

ok...limited test in fact....

Yes. Very limited.

@tombowlus did a great review of the Two10 and did a quick compare/contrast with the Ampeg. It's worth a read if you have not seen it. Maybe he'd chime in and provide a link?

 

[Plutonium244]

I supppose one 10" is compared to one 2x10". So Alex's one 10" is as loud as average 2x10" as he stated before.

First, "slightly quieter at a given volume point on the amp" and " not able to go as loud" are two very different things.

Second, we are comparing a single BF One10 to a Ampeg 2x10.

So, I agree with Anton here, Alex's cabs DO cover a lot more if a single One10 is pretty equal to Ampeg's 2x10 volume "at the same settings" as is the case with Diaper Geni's comparison. "Slightly louder at the same volume point on the amp" means little... it does NOT necessarily mean the One10 can't go as loud as the Ampeg 2x10, it just means you will need your volume knob to be ever so slightly farther to the right to be there. ... if the Ampeg is slightly louder at a given setting, then turn the One10 up a little bit. Now, equal. Unless you run your amp at 100% volume normally, and no one does, I think it's a non-issue IMO.

Also, DG says in his comparison that the One10 is more even across all strings and all registers, and has more bottom end, than the Ampeg... yes, more bottom end on the One10 compared to a 2x10. Those two aspects are way more important to me that a slight volume difference "at a given volume setting on the amp".

To each their own of course, but...not sure why @sratas would take away from all this that the Ampeg is better and that Alex's cabs don't cover as much as he thought... unless sratas misunderstood and thought this was a comparison of the Amepeg with Barefaced's TWO10, which I don't think is the case. Now, of course, it's possible he'd prefer an Ampeg 2x10 to a BF One10 anyway, since people's opinions vary on everything/anything... but without hearing a One10, and hearing only Diaper Geni's comparison, I think it would be a mistake to arrive at that conclusion without personal experience.Just my 2 cents.

That said, there are natural limitations to any single 10" speaker no matter how awesome.

I know buying a BF cab takes, for most people, a leap of faith because you can't sit down and listen to one at your local Guitar Center. Just based on my personal experience, I'd say, don't dismiss the Barefaced and conclude something else is better/louder/whatever, until you've actually tried a Barefaced. I have heard of people who didn't seem to like the Barefaced as well as most do, so obviously there is individual variation... but I would not dismiss the BF and decide Ampeg is better having not heard the BF, or conclude the One10 won't go as loud as an Ampeg 2x10, because that is not what Diaper Geni said.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

That said, there are natural limitations to any single 10" speaker no matter how awesome.

Couple years ago I had a live radio gig. The area where we played was the entry hall to the radio control studio (we do things economically up here in the Mendocino woods...). That room was concrete, narrow and tall. I played a Greenboy Fearless 110 and had PLENTY of power -- a QSC PLX3602 power amp and a Sonic Farm 2di4 preamp. But even though we were just a trio, I couldn't hear myself over the drums and electric guitar. Granted, we were rockin' it up. But hey - how loud do you have to be to have the signal picked up over a microphone or DI? I clearly recall what I was thinking: "Dang, should have brought the Fearless 210!!"

 

[sratas]

plutonium, you didn't understand my thoughts, really.

I own a BB2, it's my only cab at the moment but I was planning to add 2 Ampegs, so those opinion sounded very interesting to me. I have no complaints about my BB2, but somewhat surprised me to know that the Ampeg has more sensitivity or perceived volume at a given wattage tha the single barefaced 10. this has nothing to do with max volume capabilities, the Ampeg is a 200 watts cab but its medium duty drivers can reach their limits far before a super driver like a barefaced. I doubt that the Ampeg can sustain a full blown 300 amp whereas a BB2 or even a one10 could do it without going out of steam. So, if pushed by a 50 amp, maybe the Ampeg sounds louder, and this is surprising, but if really pushed, maybe the one 10 can become louder than the Ampeg. Plutomium, I DID NOT SAY the Ampeg was better, not my words, please don't introduce meanings. Better or worse do not mean anything, I was talking about perceived sensitivity, wich, in turn, ca even be not real. It is sufficient that the Ampeg has a upper mid bump in frequency response that immediately it can sound louder than another flatter cab.

 

[Plutonium244]

plutonium, you didn't understand my thoughts, really.

I own a BB2, it's my only cab at the moment but I was planning to add 2 Ampegs, so those opinion sounded very interesting to me. I have no complaints about my BB2, but somewhat surprised me to know that the Ampeg has more sensitivity or perceived volume at a given wattage tha the single barefaced 10. this has nothing to do with max volume capabilities, the Ampeg is a 200 watts cab but its medium duty drivers can reach their limits far before a super driver like a barefaced. I doubt that the Ampeg can sustain a full blown 300 amp whereas a BB2 or even a one10 could do it without going out of steam. So, if pushed by a 50 amp, maybe the Ampeg sounds louder, and this is surprising, but if really pushed, maybe the one 10 can become louder than the Ampeg. Plutomium, I DID NOT SAY the Ampeg was better, not my words, please don't introduce meanings. Better or worse do not mean anything, I was talking about perceived sensitivity, wich, in turn, ca even be not real. It is sufficient that the Ampeg has a upper mid bump in frequency response that immediately it can sound louder than another flatter cab.

It's entirely possible I did not understand your thoughts, it would certainly not be the first time I've missed the boat in accurately discerning the meaning someone intended. Apologies if I have misconstrued your remarks, and perhaps I did.

Incorrectly I guess to me it appeared that, based on DP's remarks, the fact that the perceived volume at a given amp output was greater with the Ampeg SVT210 than the BF One10, confirmed your intention to buy the Ampegs. When I hear "I thought Alex's cabs could cover a lot more" and in fact they very nearly equal 2 of the more run-of-the-mill 10's in perceived sensitivity and are presumably equal to two such "typical" drivers in total power handling volume, I think it sells the BF short a bit, or perhaps your expectation of what Barefaced could do was higher than what I might have expected, owning one as well as a BF Four10.

But of course for you and your needs, that's for you to say, not me. There are reasons to buy a good quality cab like an Ampeg 210AV or two instead of a Barefaced One10 cab or 2, one being if price is an important driver of the decision, or if weight and size are not pivotal, or if you happen to like their sound profile better. For me, DP's observations wouldn't incline me to dismiss the BF, but if it's great news for you that your previous inclinations to invest in the Ampeg cabs are confirmed, then it's great news. The 210AV's are nice cabs, used to own one.

 

[sratas]

There nothing wrong with the idea of owning barefaced and ampeg. Two very different designs with different goals. I don't want to part with my barefaced at all, but for a number if reasons I happen to desire the ampeg too. My bb2 covers the hi fi wide thing in an awesome way, and I want a voiced cab for vintage tube tones. the Ampeg are cheaper so I can buy 2 of them, do offer that sealed vibe with a healthy low end rolloff (the barefaced are the opposite in this regard, even the one10), is present in the upper mids, is taller, weighs nothing for a 210. As you can see there are reasons that do not imply negative opinions on the barefaced. Honestly, i did think about purchasing a two10, but the price, ohms rating ( 4 and I cannot add another, 12 and my amp gets chocked) and the demos I saw did not catch my love. I'd love to buy at least 2 210, so I can build a 410 with side to side drivers or as a vertical array. I'd love to own my BB2 when I want deep lows and extended response, and that modular 410 for closed cab coloured tones. There is nothing wrong in this desire, i Guess

 

[Plutonium244]

There nothing wrong with the idea of owning barefaced and ampeg. Two very different designs with different goals. I don't want to part with my barefaced at all, but for a number if reasons I happen to desire the ampeg too. My bb2 covers the hi fi wide thing in an awesome way, and I want a voiced cab for vintage tube tones. the Ampeg are cheaper so I can buy 2 of them, do offer that sealed vibe with a healthy low end rolloff (the barefaced are the opposite in this regard, even the one10), is present in the upper mids, is taller, weighs nothing for a 210. As you can see there are reasons that do not imply negative opinions on the barefaced. Honestly, i did think about purchasing a two10, but the price, ohms rating ( 4 and I cannot add another, 12 and my amp gets chocked) and the demos I saw did not catch my love. I'd love to buy at least 2 210, so I can build a 410 with side to side drivers or as a vertical array. I'd love to own my BB2 when I want deep lows and extended response, and that modular 410 for closed cab coloured tones. There is nothing wrong in this desire, i Guess

I agree with all of this.

From the outside looking in it does seem like if Barefaced were to offer an 8 ohm version of the Two10, it would be popular since you could use one independently or a pair of them. I think Alex actually addressed this somewhere back in the mists of time on this thread, but I forget what the reason was that they don't offer one.

 

[alexclaber]

*A quick A/B of the Ampeg/One10 in my basement yielded these impressions:
--The One10 is not quite as loud, with the same settings, as one SVT210-AV. But pretty close.
--One10 is more even across all the strings and registers.
--One10 has more bottom and is darker.
--Ampeg has more upper mids. Great for cutting through. I'm wondering if there is insulation in the Ampeg? To me it sounds like there isn't.

I'll be interested to hear how they compare at more representative levels - when things are quiet the human ear is rather bad at hearing lows and pretty bad at hearing highs, so a more midrangey tone will be louder at low SPL. We spent some time with a 210AV back when our Two10 was quite new and I wouldn't say our 10CR drivers were darker, they have more treble extension and clarity but less midrange.

...offer that sealed vibe with a healthy low end rolloff (the barefaced are the opposite in this regard, even the one10)

Just curious, have you tried one of our 10CR models?

 

[Tim1]

I own a pair of Ampeg 210AVs as well as a Barefaced Four 10. I am currently a few hundred kilometres away from my rig so cannot do a direct side by side comparison, but I can absolutely guarantee that the Four 10 just walks all over the pair of 210AVs in depth, weight, punch and usable volume. By a country mile. And I am a huge fan of the 210AVs and have no intention of selling them but the Four 10 is just that much better. Really. To be fair, of course the Four 10 is considerably more expensive.
Put it this way, I would be hesitant to do a bar gig with my loud blues rock band without PA support using a pair of 210AVs. I would have total confidence in filling a big room with the Four 10 and no FOH backup.

 

[DuexOfHazard]

Dont know much about these cabs but how can you justify spending 1000+ on a 1x12 cab

 

[tombowlus]

Yes. Very limited.

@tombowlus did a great review of the Two10 and did a quick compare/contrast with the Ampeg. It's worth a read if you have not seen it. Maybe he'd chime in and provide a link?

Why thank you! I guess I would just reiterate what I said before. If you like the SVT-210AV, then the Two10 gives you everything that the 210AV does, but with "more of everything."

 

[sratas]

Just curious, have you tried one of our 10CR models?

Nope, living in Italy and at the moment the idea if trying it and eventually having to return it does not appeal me. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of barefaced owners here. I'd like to try the one10, two10, of course.
My opinions are only constructed upon reviews and other opinions of guys who own or have gigged the two cabs, and there is some common sense that the hybrid resonator of your cabs do extend the lows and that the cabs are quite deep compared to others. This aspect is the most important for me as I want a big lowend rolloff, let's say brutal below 60 hz or even a touch above. More, I want a very unbalanced response in the mids and upper mids, a sort of raoucous aggression there and many reviewers say the AVs do offer some of that.

Living in Italy is awesome, but every time I have to purchase bass gear, I have to face the idea of buying unseen unheard, a thing that I hate. Unfortunately, internet, youtube and forums become a resource. The fact is also that I can try the avs by person in a shop, better than nothing.

At the time of my BB2 purchase, I was fond of my choice because I wanted the most pristine, high end hi fi studio monitor like cab. The Bb2 was born for that and I am not disappointed, at all. This cab does justice to your claims and is unbelievable in many ways. One of the best purchases I did in fact. Purchasing a coloured cab is another thing instead, the personality imparted by the cab to my amp and bass has to be experienced, it's not sufficient to have a bump in the lower mids and no tweeter. In fact, I want a true tone changing cab, with a lot of bumps and humps but in a way I like. From the opinions I have not the impression that your 10 cabs are so brutally eq'd. I want a one trick pony, but a soulful one

 

[chris_b]

Why don't you email Alex and discuss this at length?

Then you won't have to rely on the opinions of others any more.