Official Barefaced Bass Cab Club

[John D Harris]

Hi all, I'm in the market for a new cab and so far it seems like a BB2 or an FR800 might be the ticket.

I reckon this so as I play synth bass, much prefer the way both my bass and synth sound through my IEMs than through my amp, and lastly as I'm going to music college in september and I'd like to be able to gig on public transport.

I've considered the FR800 as I have a darkglass VMTD on all the time, and if it can suitably drive the FR800 that'd save me shopping around for a micro head too (currently using an ashdown ABM900, too much of a lead sled to take on a bus).

Any advice would be welcome, especially on the FR800 front!

If I had to public transit, I'd go for the Super Midget & a micro head (Eich T-900 would be nice) as more portable than a BB2 or FR800.

 

[Tim1]

I dont know how you'd have to set up the wiring to make it work... might be tricky to have a workable cab that can be switched over with a 2-position switch. But then, that's whay he is Alex, and I am not. Was kind of hoping that might be more to the fore of their new designs. I know I probably wont buy either the 4 or 12 ohm model and will just sit it out instead, but would almost certainly buy a switchable Two10. It would be a great service to those of us who have a Four10 but sometimes need smaller than that, and sometimes bigger.

I think it would be simply a matter of switching between series and parallel connection of the speakers. The grey area is that I assume from the literature ("to improve dispersion only one has treble output") that Alex has some form of filter so that only one speaker is full range so I am not sure to what extent this would complicate a switching circuit.

 

[monsterthompson]

Hi all, I'm in the market for a new cab and so far it seems like a BB2 or an FR800 might be the ticket.

I reckon this so as I play synth bass, much prefer the way both my bass and synth sound through my IEMs than through my amp, and lastly as I'm going to music college in september and I'd like to be able to gig on public transport.

I've considered the FR800 as I have a darkglass VMTD on all the time, and if it can suitably drive the FR800 that'd save me shopping around for a micro head too (currently using an ashdown ABM900, too much of a lead sled to take on a bus).

Any advice would be welcome, especially on the FR800 front!

I see your attraction to the FR800. I use my BB2 for drum machine and synth. It's pretty darn good at it. I'll say that a super midget would be more portable, but not extend as deep not be as refined in the highs. The BB2 is just over the line, or just at it, for being a little bulky. Nothing a hand cart can't help with.

 

[chris_b]

IMO this 12ohm thing is a real red herring!

The SPL from Barefaced cabs is high enough that a 12 ohm BF cab is probably still louder than most other 8 ohm 210 cabs.

 

[jmlee]

I could use some advice from those of you who are using a OneTen. I got one recently with the intent of using it for low volume upright rehearsals and gigs. I've had a chance to use it on three gigs and a rehearsal so far and my experience seems to run a bit counter to the reviews. While the cab is clear (not quite transparent but close) it seems substantially weaker in the bottom end than I expected: certainly not the "rich, creamy bass" described. Using it with my Clarus SL I've been able to get acceptable results with a some boost (2 o'clock or so) on the bass and low mid controls. Still, it feels more mid-focused than expected. I'm not up to anything like 50 hrs yet, so there's likely still some settling in to be had. That said, though, I'm surprised—I just don't know if I'm surprised enough to return it. Thanks!

 

[lomo]

I could use some advice from those of you who are using a OneTen. I got one recently with the intent of using it for low volume upright rehearsals and gigs. I've had a chance to use it on three gigs and a rehearsal so far and my experience seems to run a bit counter to the reviews. While the cab is clear (not quite transparent but close) it seems substantially weaker in the bottom end than I expected: certainly not the "rich, creamy bass" described. Using it with my Clarus SL I've been able to get acceptable results with a some boost (2 o'clock or so) on the bass and low mid controls. Still, it feels more mid-focused than expected. I'm not up to anything like 50 hrs yet, so there's likely still some settling in to be had. That said, though, I'm surprised—I just don't know if I'm surprised enough to return it. Thanks!

Don't be shy about really turning up the bass, and possibly even cutting a tad of low mids. I don't play upright, but with EB, I tend to eq this cab aggressively with great results.

 

[Stu_Bass]

When's that darned switchable 4ohm/12ohm Two10 supposed to be available?

Not trying to sidetrack the topic of Barefaced cabs but are any of you familiar with Duke's approach to variable impedance offered on some of his Audio Kinesis cabs?
From the website:
The "4/8 ohm" switch works like this: The woofer starts out as a "high 4 ohms woofer" and the switch adds just enough series resistance so that the load the amplifier sees becomes, in effect, an "8 ohms nominal" load. The actual difference in impedance is much less than these numbers imply. When engaged, the switch reduces the efficiency by about 1 dB and reduces the voltage sensitivity by about 2 dB, but in turn you can safely parallel the cab with another 8 ohm cab for a loud gig.

 

[jmlee]

Don't be shy about really turning up the bass, and possibly even cut a tad of low mids. I don't play upright, but with EB, I tend to eq this cab aggressively with great results.

That's really my question: is this cab natively a bit bass-shy? I've already accepted that EQing is necessary for my purposes.

 

[BigEarl]

I could use some advice from those of you who are using a OneTen. I got one recently with the intent of using it for low volume upright rehearsals and gigs. I've had a chance to use it on three gigs and a rehearsal so far and my experience seems to run a bit counter to the reviews. While the cab is clear (not quite transparent but close) it seems substantially weaker in the bottom end than I expected: certainly not the "rich, creamy bass" described. Using it with my Clarus SL I've been able to get acceptable results with a some boost (2 o'clock or so) on the bass and low mid controls. Still, it feels more mid-focused than expected. I'm not up to anything like 50 hrs yet, so there's likely still some settling in to be had. That said, though, I'm surprised—I just don't know if I'm surprised enough to return it. Thanks!

Remember that the Barefaced 10" driver is designed to reproduce a colored tone much like old school Ampeg and Sunn, not a clear high fidelity like the 12"s. That said, I think getting creative with your EQ will be the secret. I've never had AI amps so I'm not sure if there EQ slopes, but I know that I had to get out of my "standard" EQ settings and then the One10 shined. Keep playing with it, make sure the UB pickup is properly placed (it probably is, but worth checking) and maybe borrow another amp just to have a reference. Good luck !

 

[anton72]

Just added new amp to my One10. They sound really good together. And BigEarl absolutely right about playing with EQ to get there with One10.

 

[jmlee]

Remember that the Barefaced 10" driver is designed to reproduce a colored tone much like old school Ampeg and Sunn, not a clear high fidelity like the 12"s. That said, I think getting creative with your EQ will be the secret. I've never had AI amps so I'm not sure if there EQ slopes, but I know that I had to get out of my "standard" EQ settings and then the One10 shined. Keep playing with it, make sure the UB pickup is properly placed (it probably is, but worth checking) and maybe borrow another amp just to have a reference. Good luck !

The Clarus is very uncolored. I've cross-checked the response by playing my P-Bass through a GK head into the OneTen, A/Bing it with one of my Fearless F112s. [I know that's hardly a fair comparison, but the Fearless is pretty close to transparent and very smooth down through the lows.] The conclusion is the same: mid-rich, weak in the low end. I've also looked at the effect of my high pass filters (HPF2 and that in the Clarus) and confirmed the conclusion. I don't mind turning knobs on my amp, but I *am* puzzled by the review text.

 

[lomo]

weak in the low end

It's a tiny cab, so yes, it's tuned higher than most larger cabs, but since it's robust enough to handle bass boost with a tad of mid cut, it produces good bass tone at reasonable volume. If you want a cab that's natively tuned very low, there are other choices. When describing the One 10 I have stated that I boost lows....doesn't seem like a big deal to me, YMMV.

 

[Dave W]

I'm not saying you are, but I would not expect the one10 to have anywhere close to the low end content of an F112.

I would expect it to sound pretty close to an old sealed cab like an 810, but not neccesarily feel the same since it's so small in comparison.

 

[jmlee]

It's a tiny cab, so yes, it's tuned higher than nost larger cabs, but since it's robust enough to handle bass boost with a tad of mid cut, it produces good bass tone at reasonable volume. If you want a cab that's natively tuned very low, there are other choices. When describing the One 10 I have stated that I boost lows....doesn't seem like a big deal to me, YMMV.

Thanks! I just wanted to check in with the community here to make sure that my experience wasn't due to a manufacturing issue on my particular cabinet. [TalkBass is handy to have around, eh?] Looks like I'll be keeping this one. I had a three hour gig using it on Friday and was happy with its performance (EQed appropriately)—and especially happy on load in/out.

 

[jmlee]

Here's the combination. As you can see, a little EQ and good to go. Weighs next to nothing—just the way I likes it!

 

[CalBuzz51]

@jmlee, another issue that might affect bass response is the orientation of the port. Some on this thread have cautioned against port facing the floor when on carpet.

 

[monsterthompson]

jmlee, another issue that might affect bass response is the orientation of the port. Some on this thread have cautioned against port facing the floor when on carpet.

Indeed. Port to the side is a noticeable difference.

 

[jmlee]

jmlee, another issue that might affect bass response is the orientation of the port. Some on this thread have cautioned against port facing the floor when on carpet.

Hehe...I know! The gigs were all on hardwood or marble tiling. The carpet was just in this photo.

 

[tallboybass]

Thanks! I just wanted to check in with the community here to make sure that my experience wasn't due to a manufacturing issue on my particular cabinet. [TalkBass is handy to have around, eh?] Looks like I'll be keeping this one. I had a three hour gig using it on Friday and was happy with its performance (EQed appropriately)—and especially happy on load in/out.

I had a similar experience with the One10 and moved it along. And I am a BF fanboy, my SuperTwin is still killin'!!

 

[DaveAceofBass]

Not trying to sidetrack the topic of Barefaced cabs but are any of you familiar with Duke's approach to variable impedance offered on some of his Audio Kinesis cabs?
From the website:
The "4/8 ohm" switch works like this: The woofer starts out as a "high 4 ohms woofer" and the switch adds just enough series resistance so that the load the amplifier sees becomes, in effect, an "8 ohms nominal" load. The actual difference in impedance is much less than these numbers imply. When engaged, the switch reduces the efficiency by about 1 dB and reduces the voltage sensitivity by about 2 dB, but in turn you can safely parallel the cab with another 8 ohm cab for a loud gig.

Good grief. Remember AccuGroove's AccuSwitch? All that controversy it caused was part of the reason that they went out of business on the first go-around. All those people who thought it wasn't possible, but I'll bet that they did in fact work as described.