There's only a few times a year I have to play without PA support. Last night it was one of those times, a small bar. We did not to be ultra loud, they do open mic sessions etc and there's a small stage... the PA is purely for vocals.
Our band is a drummer (brought a smaller kit last night), a sax, a trumpet, and three guitarists that also do vocals. Oh, and me. I always forget the bass player
We play originals, it's an eclectic fusion of ska/reggae/funk with lashes of blues rock at times even, and some pop too, why not. Oh, and a Spanish & Balkanic influence on some songs just because (when you mix 7-8 people with different backgrounds and tastes, you get that)... it's all pretty upbeat and gets people jumping and dancing easily. We're not subdued... let's put it that way. Even our slowish songs keep people at least swaying to the music.
ANYWAY...
I just brought the Two10 and my trusty MarkBass LMIII. And the EBMM SUB, the Stingray is having a day off. Actually, the SUB has the pickup wired in series and I'm enjoying that mighty sound more than the Stingray's parallel pickup right now.
It was GLORIOUS. GLORIOUS I tell you.
I had some issues at one point where my volume seemed to be all over the place and I started to lose volume... it turned out that I was rubbing against the amp behind me (there wasn't much room for the band!) so I quickly noticed that and pushed the head back a bit and it was all good after that :-D
I've owned other Barefaced cabs (Compact and a couple of BigBaby 2) and got to try several others (Midget and SuperMidget... maybe more) but the Retro Two10 just does it for me. It's a little 'dark' sounding when I used it on the floor and it's right behind me, just because my ears are nowhere near the 'sound cone' that the driver that gets the mids out produces, but I know how good it sounds out in front. I've heard it (not last night but some other similar gigs I try to bring the wireless so that I can check for myself the sound levels/balance for the audience)... and I've got so many positive comments while using this cab... It's brilliant. Last night I had someone who has come to see us many times, usually in decent size venues, tell me: "Tonight I have heard you play things on the bass that I never realised you were playing", because as well as a very nice bottom end it has enough clarity even with three guitarists (they do know exactly what to play and how to set their amps 'though).
I love the Two10. I can see it's not for everybody and the BigBaby 2 (for instance) may be more suitable for some other people, which is great... but me, I'm over the moon having found the Two10. So compact, so versatile, powerful, and great sounding. It's one of the very few cabs where I don't feel I am compromising, and that's why it's a keeper.
Previously, my small rig was a couple of two TKS S112 cabs. They're very very light and compact. Crazy light. Like 10Kg each only, with a ceramic driver. Beautiful sound. They sound really good. A bit shy on the bottom end, but they respond well if you boost bass *a little bit*. They cannot handle masses of power, so you do need to be sensible, and the few times I let someone else play through it (using the LMIII or the Streamliner 900) I made sure they understood the limitations. With the Two10 I feel much more relaxed as it seems like it can handle more, it sounds very nearly as good, so much so that we're talking about altering EQ a little bit between the two setups, and I got a much more authoritative low end that doesn't get boomy...
I'm very tempted to get another even if I would only use a pair of them a handful of times a year, because I think that with a pair of those there's just no gig ever where I'll feel I'm wanting anything and my quest will be over (he says
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I was a bit put off by the "Retro" name and "old school" comments... Yeah it can do that sort of sound, but not only that. Seriously, if you're out there looking for cabs, do give these ones a whirl. You might just fall in love too
. I need to just ignore it for a day or two. Yeah right....
