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Official Barefaced Bass Cab Club

#8,362
socialleper said:
I have a question about "pushing" a Super Twin cab:
Last weekend I took my Super Twin and D800 to practice in a large studio as a dress rehearsal for an upcoming show. I haven't used the ST at super high volumes for a few months. It takes a lot to make these speakers visibly move, but the large room with no PA support was forcing me to push the cab pretty hard. My Gain and Volume were just over 12 o'clock, and my EQ wasn't set to some wild extreme. However, the odor of hot plastic started coming from my cab shortly after I started. I backed everything down and hooked up a second cab to relieve some stress on the cab.
My question is, how common is that? I don't think I was pushing the cab harder than before. Could it be because I haven't used it in a while? And what is that smell anyway? I thought heads were supposed to smoke and cabs just blew out. Plus, the D800 is rated at 800w while the cab is rated much higher than that.
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It's probably just manufacturing residue evaporating - it can happen the first (few) time(s) the voice coils get hot. Should go away fairly soon. If it gets worse in the future then you might be overheating the drivers but it's pretty unlikely with that amp unless you get a perfect storm.
 
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#8,363
alexclaber said:
It's probably just manufacturing residue evaporating - it can happen the first (few) time(s) the voice coils get hot. Should go away fairly soon. If it gets worse in the future then you might be overheating the drivers but it's pretty unlikely with that amp unless you get a perfect storm.
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Thanks for the info. It seemed unlikely that my head would damage that cab, but I wanted to check first. When I see speakers really pumping back and forth, or lights flashing on my head, I tend to get a little nervous.
 
#8,364
socialleper said:
Thanks for the info. It seemed unlikely that my head would damage that cab, but I wanted to check first. When I see speakers really pumping back and forth, or lights flashing on my head, I tend to get a little nervous.
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The speakers can move over an inch peak to peak without damage (they'll start distorting a bit before that) and clip/limit lights often come on with bass rigs because the instrument is so dynamic. If the speakers aren't distorting then you're almost always safe.
 
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#8,365
alexclaber said:
No problems with it - we're just too short of space to sit on a pile of 18" drivers (and plate amps for the LF1400) that we only get through slowly. When we have a bigger factory we can reintroduce it, or if lots of people want to buy them we can do limited runs where you pre-order.
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Thanks for clearing that up Alex. Btw i think my band love that cab a much as me. I turned up with my big twin II to our last reggae gig at a theatre in walthamstow and both the drummer and keyboard player completely independently recalled to me the time it blew a trace elliot rig with 4x10 and (1x15 or could have been 1x18) off the stage, then asked why i didnt bring the dubster as well!!! So first i plan to try the dubster on its own at a future reggae gig and see how that works out.
 
#8,366
jazzyvee said:
Thanks for clearing that up Alex. Btw i think my band love that cab a much as me. I turned up with my big twin II to our last reggae gig at a theatre in walthamstow and both the drummer and keyboard player completely independently recalled to me the time it blew a trace elliot rig with 4x10 and (1x15 or could have been 1x18) off the stage, then asked why i didnt bring the dubster as well!!! So first i plan to try the dubster on its own at a future reggae gig and see how that works out.
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When it comes to reggae, you only have to look at all the great soundsystems to see that MORE IS MORE! ;)
 
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#8,368
Just picked up a One10 and a GK MB Fusion 550 secondhand over here in the UK. I took a break from playing for about a year and a half and wanted to jump back in, but probably don't need anything bigger than a One10 or Two10. Just had to bide my time until I saw something come up.

What a great combination. The EQ section on the Fusion seems to really suit this cab. The mid range is coloured but much less than I had thought it was going to be; reviews seemed to emphasise that aspect a lot. The colouring sounds great to me anyway, with a variety of instruments. I can get distortion from the amp if I want it, or from pushing the cab hard if I want that. I don't really want the latter, but it was interesting to hear.

There is enough bass - not super massive as with the 3012LF cabs or an AER, but plenty enough to be usable. It even handles a low B, which I was nervous about. And it tolerates a little bass boost, which again I didn't expect.

I hear plenty enough treble extension as well - I was a little worried about that as I love tweeters and compression drivers etc, but damned if this little cab doesn't have plenty of treble. Ok, not the very tip top sheen, but more than enough to satisfy. One of the things I couldn't hack about the AER Amp One was the lack of top end - huge walloping bass, but just not quite enough up top to satisfy. This little box miraculously delivers IMO without a tweeter.

I've owned a lot of boutique cabs and amps to be able to compare to - BF BB2, Bergantino cabs, Vanderkley, Acme, Fearless, AER. This is a great cab. Congratulations to @alexclaber, great job. My next jazz gigs and smaller band work look to be a doddle to get set up for now.
 
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#8,370
jazzyvee said:
Agreed but I like being able to hear after gigs. Actually most of the sound systems i've heard in the 70's and early 80's growing up were basically wardrobes with big speakers in so put out as much farting as bottom end. Thankfully things have changed.
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To me the big advantage of all the speakers is the clean bass it provides. I don't like any distortion in my tone at all.
 
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#8,371
E8F35794-B11F-4585-AE39-D60569FB4A8F.jpeg

First gig yesterday evening for my super twin :-) 3h of reggae and dancehall, our longest gig so far. Couldn't be as loud as I wanted on the stage sadly to not pollute the FOH which made it a little tricky to hear me well sadly. On the tune which had more room for the bass the sound was excellent still :-) !
 
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#8,372
Dbaaase said:
View attachment 3232626
First gig yesterday evening for my super twin :) 3h of reggae and dancehall, our longest gig so far. Couldn't be as loud as I wanted on the stage sadly to not pollute the FOH which made it a little tricky to hear me well sadly. On the tune which had more room for the bass the sound was excellent still :) !
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Try raising the cab up off the floor a bit to get it more in line with your ears.
Tim
 
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#8,374
princeout said:
Try raising the cab up off the floor a bit to get it more in line with your ears.
Tim
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As much as I hate hauling extra stands, this is standard practice for me whether I'm playing guitar or bass on the gig. The perceived volume level and clarity is way better. I like having cabs practically at shoulder height, I have found, and at least so the center of the driver is at my waist.
 
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#8,376
Dbaaase said:
What do you usually use to raise it ? I'm quite tall at 1.9m and i'd need to raise it by about 70cm for a "perfect" height. I will have a look by myself at the topic but any advice is welcome:)
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I use an On Stage medium format T-stand, aka a keyboard stand. It's rated for 300 pounds and is about two feet tall at its lowest setting, which is what I use.
 
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