Official Barefaced Bass Cab Club

[dave64o]

I've been considering upgrading my amp from a GK MB200 to an MB500 or MB Fusion 500 in hopes of picking up another One10 someday. Would I be in danger of pushing too much power into the single One10 with one of those amps?

IIRC, the Barefaced site says that the One10 can actually take up to 500W if it's clean. If you get an MB500, you'll be putting 350W into it, which should be fine as long as you don't do something silly like try to max the gain, master, and bass on your amp.

I'm between bands so I haven't played my One10 out yet. But I've played my MB200 as well as my MB800 (560W at 8 Ohms) and Mesa D-800 (400W at 8 Ohms) through it and it sounded fine with no sign of distress. I just kept the volume level low and was sensible with the EQ.

FWIW, I also have two MB500's (one was kept at home and one was kept at our practice space) and I also played one of them through the One10 before I bought my MB800 - same great sound and no problems with the cab. But I figured that I don't need the MB500's anymore because a) that band fizzled out and b) I figured my MB800 and D-800 both have volume knobs so I can just turn them down. So I don't have a need for the MB500's and was planning to sell them. But they worked well through the One10 also - and I'm sure an MB500 with TWO One10's would sound fantastic!

 

[mmbongo]

I've been considering upgrading my amp from a GK MB200 to an MB500 or MB Fusion 500 in hopes of picking up another One10 someday. Would I be in danger of pushing too much power into the single One10 with one of those amps?

It all depends on you. You are in control of the volume and EQ knobs. If you crank the gain and volume, then yes you could blow your One 10...or any speaker for that matter.

That being said, I used my Mesa Subway D800 with my One 10 (which is now in the classifieds..wink wink!) without issue. You just have to know what not to do and understand how your amp works.

 

[friskinator]

IIRC, the Barefaced site says that the One10 can actually take up to 500W if it's clean. If you get an MB500, you'll be putting 350W into it, which should be fine as long as you don't do something silly like try to max the gain, master, and bass on your amp.

I'm between bands so I haven't played my One10 out yet. But I've played my MB200 as well as my MB800 (560W at 8 Ohms) and Mesa D-800 (400W at 8 Ohms) through it and it sounded fine with no sign of distress. I just kept the volume level low and was sensible with the EQ.

FWIW, I also have two MB500's (one was kept at home and one was kept at our practice space) and I also played one of them through the One10 before I bought my MB800 - same great sound and no problems with the cab. But I figured that I don't need the MB500's anymore because a) that band fizzled out and b) I figured my MB800 and D-800 both have volume knobs so I can just turn them down. So I don't have a need for the MB500's and was planning to sell them. But they worked well through the One10 also - and I'm sure an MB500 with TWO One10's would sound fantastic!

It all depends on you. You are in control of the volume and EQ knobs. If you crank the gain and volume, then yes you could blow your One 10...or any speaker for that matter.

That being said, I used my Mesa Subway D800 with my One 10 (which is now in the classifieds..wink wink!) without issue. You just have to know what not to do and understand how your amp works.

Yup, that all makes sense. I've never had the volume on the MB200 above halfway with my One10, and the EQ is usually set flat. And I play a passive P.

 

[BigEarl]

I run my One10 stack with either the Quilter or an MB800 with zero problems. Of course you have be wary of any warning signs for speakers topping out, but I have not reached there yet. Just remember, be wise with your volume and aware of your cab(s) and you should be fine.

Oh yeah, and I wouldn't turn on the POG, the overdrive and the envelope filter simultaneously at high volumes. Asking fer trouble there fella!

 

[Dr. Circles]

The DSM (or whatever you decide on) will let you shape the cab performance. Each of these is going to be like a passive PA monitor...

So if I'm using a bass or guitar amp (with an FX loop, if that's relevant), SC, pedals and a DSM Omnicabsim and want my SC to sound like either a different bass cab (e.g., an 810) or a guitar cab (e.g., 112 combo, 412 or just any properly EQd/tuned guitar cab), where would the DSM go in the chain? Or am I misunderstanding and it's really just for recording, headphones and PA mixers?

 

[monsterthompson]

So if I'm using a bass or guitar amp (with an FX loop, if that's relevant), SC, pedals and a DSM Omnicabsim and want my SC to sound like either a different bass cab (e.g., an 810) or a guitar cab (e.g., 112 combo, 412 or just any properly EQd/tuned guitar cab), where would the DSM go in the chain? Or am I misunderstanding and it's really just for recording, headphones and PA mixers?

I tried placing the DSM in my Demeter FX loop, but the signal was too hot and clipped the DSM. I now just run the DSM as the last pedal in my chain. Of course doing this means I need to do the bulk of my EQ shaping early in my chain, and/or use the DSM as an EQ tool.

Other cab sims might work better in the FX loop, or other amps might play nicely with the DSM.

I should've given the caveat that my rig relies on the amp head being clean and transparent, and not significantly voiced

 

[Tim1]

IIRC, the Barefaced site says that the One10 can actually take up to 500W if it's clean. If you get an MB500, you'll be putting 350W into it, which should be fine as long as you don't do something silly like try to max the gain, master, and bass on your amp.

I'm between bands so I haven't played my One10 out yet. But I've played my MB200 as well as my MB800 (560W at 8 Ohms) and Mesa D-800 (400W at 8 Ohms) through it and it sounded fine with no sign of distress. I just kept the volume level low and was sensible with the EQ.

FWIW, I also have two MB500's (one was kept at home and one was kept at our practice space) and I also played one of them through the One10 before I bought my MB800 - same great sound and no problems with the cab. But I figured that I don't need the MB500's anymore because a) that band fizzled out and b) I figured my MB800 and D-800 both have volume knobs so I can just turn them down. So I don't have a need for the MB500's and was planning to sell them. But they worked well through the One10 also - and I'm sure an MB500 with TWO One10's would sound fantastic!

+1 I have played my Mesa D800+ into a single One 10 and while I didn't play it on full volume it went incredibly loud without any audible signs of distress at all.

 

[Dr. Circles]

I tried placing the DSM in my Demeter FX loop, but the signal was too hot and clipped the DSM. I now just run the DSM as the last pedal in my chain. Of course doing this means I need to do the bulk of my EQ shaping early in my chain, and/or use the DSM as an EQ tool.

Other cab sims might work better in the FX loop, or other amps might play nicely with the DSM.

I should've given the caveat that my rig relies on the amp head being clean and transparent, and not significantly voiced

I see. Others have suggested an Empress ParaEQ, as well. How do you think the Empress and DSM would compare if used in the same way (DSM in the pedal chain, as an EQ tool)?

 

[dave64o]

+1 I have played my Mesa D800+ into a single One 10 and while I didn't play it on full volume it went incredibly loud without any audible signs of distress at all.

Yep, that little cabinet can put out a surprisingly high volume level!

And with the D-800, there's an "undocumented feature" you could take advantage of. Since it has 2 Ohm capability, you can flip the 4/8 Ohm - 2 Ohm switch on the back to the 2-Ohm side and that will cut the power at 8-Ohms from 400W down to about 300W. In the Subway megathread, AgedHorse has mentioned a few times that moving the switch to the 2 Ohm setting will cut power to about 3/4 with an 8 Ohm load (i.e. about 300W) and 4 Ohm load (i.e. about 600W). That would help reduce the risk a little bit, at least with a D-800.

 

[Tim1]

Yep, that little cabinet can put out a surprisingly high volume level!

And with the D-800, there's an "undocumented feature" you could take advantage of. Since it has 2 Ohm capability, you can flip the 4/8 Ohm - 2 Ohm switch on the back to the 2-Ohm side and that will cut the power at 8-Ohms from 400W down to about 300W. In the Subway megathread, AgedHorse has mentioned a few times that moving the switch to the 2 Ohm setting will cut power to about 3/4 with an 8 Ohm load (i.e. about 300W) and 4 Ohm load (i.e. about 600W). That would help reduce the risk a little bit, at least with a D-800.

Yep, the 800+ has the same switch. I don't really bother about it though I should I suppose. Use my ears and the volume control.

 

[Ian Trusheim]

Anybody own some Barefaced gear living near Baltimore, Md; or anywhere near DE/MD/PA/VA/D.C.??

I'd love to hear/try some stuff in person. I have a Noble Preamp and Jule Monique I'd gladly bring for sharing

Thanks!!

 

[The Deep End]

Anybody own some Barefaced gear living near Baltimore, Md; or anywhere near DE/MD/PA/VA/D.C.??

I'd love to hear/try some stuff in person. I have a Noble Preamp and Jule Monique I'd gladly bring for sharing

Thanks!!

If you wanna come a bit further up (Manhattan), you'd be welcome to check out my BF's (BB2 + SM)

 

[Dp1363]

Anybody own some Barefaced gear living near Baltimore, Md; or anywhere near DE/MD/PA/VA/D.C.??

I'd love to hear/try some stuff in person. I have a Noble Preamp and Jule Monique I'd gladly bring for sharing

Thanks!!

I'm in southern NJ near Phila.

 

[Pbassmanca]

Yep, that little cabinet can put out a surprisingly high volume level!

And with the D-800, there's an "undocumented feature" you could take advantage of. Since it has 2 Ohm capability, you can flip the 4/8 Ohm - 2 Ohm switch on the back to the 2-Ohm side and that will cut the power at 8-Ohms from 400W down to about 300W. In the Subway megathread, AgedHorse has mentioned a few times that moving the switch to the 2 Ohm setting will cut power to about 3/4 with an 8 Ohm load (i.e. about 300W) and 4 Ohm load (i.e. about 600W). That would help reduce the risk a little bit, at least with a D-800.

The D800 is a great amp. I wonder if that happens on other Mesa amps like the M9 Carbine when you flick to the 2ohm switch with an 8ohm load?

 

[Dr. Circles]

I hadn't really looked at the Two 10 that closely before, but two questions occurred to me as I was:

(1) How do overdrive sounds compare between the Super Compact and the Two 10, particularly with SVT and Streamliner heads?

(2) How much of a difference in volume will there be running a single Two 10 vs a single Super Compact with a Streamliner (4 and 8 ohm outputs)? Would the Two 10 be able to handle a 3 or 4 piece rock band in a small-medium size venue as well as (or pretty close to) the Super Compact?

 

[dave64o]

The D800 is a great amp. I wonder if that happens on other Mesa amps like the M9 Carbine when you flick to the 2ohm switch with an 8ohm load?

I'm not knowledgeable enough about amp design to be able to answer that. However, it seems to make sense to me that you'd see similar behavior (although I suspect the actual amount of power reduction you'd see with a 4 or 8 Ohm cab with the amp impedance set to 2 Ohms might vary, depending on the design of the amp).

But you could either post that in a new thread in this forum or go to one of the Mesa-related megathreads and ask that question. Either agedhorse or MesaBoogie (agedhorse designed the Subway series amps and cabs and MesBoogie is their customer service rep) should be able to answer that for you.

... as well as refute any bad info I might have given you above.

 

[monsterthompson]

I hadn't really looked at the Two 10 that closely before, but two questions occurred to me as I was:

(1) How do overdrive sounds compare between the Super Compact and the Two 10, particularly with SVT and Streamliner heads?

(2) How much of a difference in volume will there be running a single Two 10 vs a single Super Compact with a Streamliner (4 and 8 ohm outputs)? Would the Two 10 be able to handle a 3 or 4 piece rock band in a small-medium size venue as well as (or pretty close to) the Super Compact?

1 - Can't compare with the heads listed. I assume you mean the overdrive sounds being fed into the cab, and not the speaker distortion which the Two10 is intended to generate. My experience with the Two10 is that it sounds lovely with overdrive and distortion. It is a voiced and sounds more like you are playing through a traditional "cab" than the flatter response of the SC. If I had to decide on tone alone, I'd go with the Two10, though the SC is no slouch.

2 - I ran a 4 ohm Two10 with an 800w head, and it was loud enough for my 3 (sometimes 4) piece in jam sessions. We are more indi-rock, but with some punk influences/roots. We were way louder than we needed to be. Both the Two10 and SC were able to get loud enough for my needs, though I cannot say which was actually louder. I don't feel I was pushing my amp any harder with either cab. By contrast, I had a SM which I felt I had to push too hard to get where I wanted (I know Alex and others will say they are equally loud using the same driver, but the low end extension on the SC bested the SM, for me, YMMV). I also had a Hathor 1203, which I felt was similar in output to the SM; close but not enough for my crew. I have zero experience in a venue, with either. Prior to the SC, I did own a F115 which worked for a small/medium venue with another, more industrial band using back tracks (no live drummer). In the same rehearsal space as I play with the SC, the F115 didn't strike me as a significantly louder cab. In fact, they felt pretty comparable, though it was with a different band, bass, and similar wattage but different actual head.

Since the heads you listed don't do 2 ohms, I'd say the 8 ohm SC is a safer bet, as you could add a second one if you needed. However, if tone alone was my goal, then the Two10 would get the nod, assuming the output is loud enough in the 4 ohm (which I think it likely is).

 

[bassdrop]

Yo Ian! I've been rocking a Gen 2 Compact for a few years now. I'll be playing tomorrow night with our buddy KJ at Hemingways in Stevensville if you want to check out how it sounds.

 

[berklee46]

I know it's a long shot, but if anyone is looking to sell one, or a pair of the Super Compact 12" cabs, please let me know.

 

[pbass6811]

Ok, I found a deal on a Mesa Strategy Eight:88. It'll be here tomorrow. I've spent a bunch of time and money lightening my schlep and now I seem to be going backwards...

-I went back to an analog board(from a Fractal FX8)
-Probably going to relegate my beloved D800+ to backup/acoustic show status.
-Started carrying 3 basses to each gig(up from two. They are headless, so they don't take up much space)
-Went from a solid-state, digital guitar combo back to my guitar tube combo(it just sounds WAY better)

I did get a cart, though. That helps a bunch...

The only thing that hasn't/won't change is my use of my Barefaced BTII! Since both the Strategy and the D800+ will do 2 ohms, I'm half tempted to get another BTII, but I really can't think of any time I'd hafta have that. I really feel like the single BTII will even handle most of the outdoor/festival stuff we're doing. I am planning on adding a BB2 for the acoustic shows(even the BTII is way overkill for that gig...).

So, who's using tubes with their Barefaced cabs? Tell me 'bout it...