Official Barefaced Bass Cab Club

[Plutonium244]

Is there a consensus here on the length of time/volume that a BF cab needs to break in and fully open up? Is there a different amount of time/volume for a 10" over a 12"?

I guess I can't speak for others so I am not able to speak to consensus, but I'd say maybe 4+ hours of play at a pretty decent volume will do it... if you're playing it at home at lower volumes rather than a gig, it may well take longer. Normally by the time I've played 2 gigs with it, I feel like it's open. YMMV. IME, by the time you quit thinking about it and asking yourself "is it broken in yet?" is when it will be broken in. Pretty much, you'll know.

 

[monsterthompson]

I bought some new and some used. I played at various levels for various times. No conclusive feedback to provide.

 

[Plutonium244]

Hi-fi home stereo speaker manuals (I have a set of Martin Logans) often say 20 hours, FWIW. it just seemed like it really only took about a gig or 2, to me. Sounded good out of the box, then got better.

 

[DWD Bass]

About 2-3 gigs for me

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I used to break in cabs by running MP3s through an amp and into the cab. About 8-10 hours did the trick. Now I use a TalkBass-text-to-speech app and run that hot stream through the cab. The new typical break-in period is about 30 minutes.

 

[John D Harris]

I used to break in cabs by running MP3s through an amp and into the cab. About 8-10 hours did the trick. Now I use a TalkBass-text-to-speech app and run that hot stream through the cab. The new typical break-in period is about 30 minutes.

 

[John D Harris]

Hi-fi home stereo speaker manuals (I have a set of Martin Logans) often say 20 hours, FWIW. it just seemed like it really only took about a gig or 2, to me. Sounded good out of the box, then got better.

Typical gig with bass guitar is more of a work out than what most home audio systems will see (I would think).
Your experience sounds about right for the majority of the drivers out there.
A lot of 'break-in time' depends on the construction & materials used in the driver's moving parts (esp. surround & suspension).

 

[BigEarl]

I used to break in cabs by running MP3s through an amp and into the cab. About 8-10 hours did the trick. Now I use a TalkBass-text-to-speech app and run that hot stream through the cab. The new typical break-in period is about 30 minutes.

Jeeze, I want break it in ...not melt it!

 

[oysteivi]

My Super Twin seemed to settle in after about 3 band rehearsals, which would be ~6 hours of actual bass playing at earplug levels. On the other hand, that may just the time it took me to find the EQ setting I really liked with the new cab.

 

[Tim1]

Yep, three rehearsals did it for my Four 10 too. Not particularly loud ones either. Just suddenly noticed that it had opened up.

 

[peterpalmieri]

I don't often buy new cabinets and I'm not sure I get to concerned with the break in period. But last time I received a new cabinet I played it for a while, flipped on my ditto looper and went out and worked in the yard for the day.

While I'm on ditto looper pedal, I've shared this in other threads. It's the best pedal I rarely use. Another great option is to throw down a set of changes during sound check. Put your bass down and walk the room.

 

[boristhespider7]

While I'm on ditto looper pedal, I've shared this in other threads. It's the best pedal I rarely use. Another great option is to throw down a set of changes during sound check. Put your bass down and walk the room.

What a great idea!
Never like it when others play my bass during soundcheck as it just doesn't give me a realistic idea as they play so different to me (eg. start trying to do bad Mark King impressions on my P bass ). At least i can get an exact idea of my playing

 

[The Deep End]

What a great idea!
Never like it when others play my bass during soundcheck as it just doesn't give me a realistic idea as they play so different to me (eg. start trying to do bad Mark King impressions on my P bass ). At least i can get an exact idea of my playing

+1

 

[BigEarl]

I've been using a Line 6 Relay G10 to wander out into the venue to hear what my rig sounds like.

 

[BigEarl]

I got my One10 and am testing it against one of the Ampeg SVT210AV cabs it is meant to replace. The biggest differences between the two that i can hear is that the One10 seems to produce a very flat response compared to the Ampeg's scooped sound. In fact the Ampeg's level of scoop is quite pronounced considering it it not ported or have a horn/tweeter. I had never really noticed the Ampeg scoop before and what the One10 is producting is gonna take a little getting used to. I will need some significant EQ tweaking to get it to "my sound" but I have no worries about it.

That said, volume aside (and it is LOUD!) I am extremely impressed with the little One10's capability to produce a wide variety of sounds. It definitely is colored as Barefaced said it would be, but it is not as "colored" as, say, an SWR is colored. It appears to be very flexible and is EXACTLY what I was looking for. It just surprises me that a head-to-head comparison between it and the Ampeg produced so much unexpected results between them. For the record I was using an MB200 and MB500 for the initial tests, then added my compressor and BDDI for EQing. I have not yet put it into the context of a full band situation, however, my feeling, from the sounds I am hearing, is that the One10 will have no problem finding a place in the mix.

So, now another question that I think I know the answer to, but i need confirmation. Will adding a second One10 significantly change the sound of the cab? And by "sound" I mean more the feeling of the cab like depth, girth, whatever, and not just volume?

Also, in my many months of research, I never found a good pic to show the size differences between the SVT210AV and the One10, so here is my contribution to that missing link online....

 

[1954bassman]

Answers to sound and tone questions are always subjective. I have two One10's and use a Mess D800.

Comparing one vs two:
Most of the time I only use one and it works and sounds great. Using two raises the bar considerably. I have used one and two in full band settings but mostly two at a time.

For me, two get a full, big amp sound that really works. One works well in overly bassy rooms. I like the tone better when using two, even if not playing that loud. So yes, I am thinking two may add the depth and girth you are speaking of.

 

[JxBass]

In my case, adding a second One10 did not change the "sound", there was just more of it. But to me that's more of a good thing, the One10 has such a great sound. Of course you can dial in more bottom with EQ for extra thunder, but it's still the same low end tone as a single One10. Just my personal experience and impression, and using a different amp may produce different results than my Demeter.

 

[Plutonium244]

I got my One10 and am testing it against one of the Ampeg SVT210AV cabs it is meant to replace. The biggest differences between the two that i can hear is that the One10 seems to produce a very flat response compared to the Ampeg's scooped sound. In fact the Ampeg's level of scoop is quite pronounced considering it it not ported or have a horn/tweeter. I had never really noticed the Ampeg scoop before and what the One10 is producting is gonna take a little getting used to. I will need some significant EQ tweaking to get it to "my sound" but I have no worries about it.

That said, volume aside (and it is LOUD!) I am extremely impressed with the little One10's capability to produce a wide variety of sounds. It definitely is colored as Barefaced said it would be, but it is not as "colored" as, say, an SWR is colored. It appears to be very flexible and is EXACTLY what I was looking for. It just surprises me that a head-to-head comparison between it and the Ampeg produced so much unexpected results between them. For the record I was using an MB200 and MB500 for the initial tests, then added my compressor and BDDI for EQing. I have not yet put it into the context of a full band situation, however, my feeling, from the sounds I am hearing, is that the One10 will have no problem finding a place in the mix.

So, now another question that I think I know the answer to, but i need confirmation. Will adding a second One10 significantly change the sound of the cab? And by "sound" I mean more the feeling of the cab like depth, girth, whatever, and not just volume?

Also, in my many months of research, I never found a good pic to show the size differences between the SVT210AV and the One10, so here is my contribution to that missing link online....

View attachment 1001540 View attachment 1001541

I will second what jxbass just just said about EQ.... don't be shy about dialing it how you want, the One10 can take drastic EQ if that's what you want. I dial in a little extra bass sometimes, or leave it flat if I want a little more mid-forward that will stand out / cut through a mix a bit more. It's very versatile.

I only have a single One10. However, that said, my experience with 1 vs 2 cabs of any kind is that for whatever reason two seem to add a little more low or de-emphasize the mid. Part of that is probably that when I use 2 I am usually going for more volume, and more volume tends to bring out the bass more since it's less pronounced at lower volumes (thus the reason stereos have a "loudness" feature).

Glad you're liking your One10. I will be gigging mine tonight. Or maybe the SM since it's newer to my stable, I dunno-- Iuiet restaurant bar jazzy gig. Anyway, point being, I love the One10, great for smaller gigs and the wife lets me leave it set up with the MB200 on top in the family room without complaint.

 

[BigEarl]

I will definitely be buying a second when I sell more old unused gear. Probably around the first of next year. I will say that this little cab not only met, but exceeded my expectations. The construction is amazing and the quality was well worth the $600 I spent on silver cloth and cover!
BTW, a cover is indispensable! If you order a BF cab without a cover you should have your head examined, they are the best made, perfectly fitted covers I have ever seen!

 

[Plutonium244]

I will definitely be buying a second when I sell more old unused gear. Probably around the first of next year. I will say that this little cab not only met, but exceeded my expectations. The construction is amazing and the quality was well worth the $600 I spent on silver cloth and cover!
BTW, a cover is indispensable! If you order a BF cab without a cover you should have your head examined, they are the best made, perfectly fitted covers I have ever seen!

+1 to the silver grill cloth, love that classic look, and +1 to getting a cover too -- although these days I transport it in a padded LB cajon bag )Meinl makes a nice one too) which can also hold the MB200 or other small amp such as Tonehammer TH350, etc. and has a pouch for speaker and power cables. I highly recommend this, and can provide you info on the bag itself if you are interested. Makes for a one-hand carry of the entire bass rig. I still use the cover I got from BF to protect it if I am leaving it set up at home for a while, just in case the cat gets any stupid ideas. Cover would also be good if you get a 2nd one-- in which case you're not going for one-hand carry anyway, but would want to protect the cabs in transport.

One last "crazy" thing I did with mine is get a "tophat" -- a pole mount receptacle-- put in mine. I have found it useful on occasion, to get it up off the floor to better hear it or reduce floor boom, or for close monitoring situations like an orchestra pit where you just want enough level for YOU to hear. That was an extra $50, I think. Worth it to me.