Official Barefaced Bass Cab Club

[ga_edwards]

Super Compact or Two10, that is the question.

Seriously considering upgrading to one of these as a single, do it all cab, but need a little help and advice, and this seems like as good a place as any before I contact Alex (and excuse the lengthy post - wanted to provide as much useful info as possible).

Currently, I use a single 8ohm Markbass 121H traveller cab (the old design) with a Carvin BX700. Running at 8hms, this gives me 300w (head is capable of 500w @ 4 ohms and 700w @ 2ohms. I don't usually have any problems with volume, but I sometimes struggle with getting the depth of tone I desire without it getting flabby or boomy, and without it losing too much depth out front if I play without FOH support. (I bought the Carvin to replace a Markbass LMII for the extra eq options, but still find I'm sometimes fighting with it). FWIW, the Carvin head is relatively 'flat' sounding and doesn't have a baked in mid scoop.

I also don't drive and want something a little lighter, possibly smaller that's more manageable in a taxi!

I play a Yamaha Attitude (hotrod P bass), sometimes pretty much straight via a compressor and sometimes drive into the amp, or occasionally I use both outputs and mix them together for a broader sound when I play with a single guitarist. This bass has a ton of midrange around 500hz which I sometimes have to tame. Generally, however, my tone is somewhere between Duff McKagan and Billy Sheehan - punchy, deep and sometimes with a little grit and not too much top end - quite a classic type of P bass tone. If I use effects, it's drive, chorus and occasional fuzz/synth and octave for a couple of Muse covers we play.

At some point I'm thinking about getting a helix so I can switch between dual output and single output mode easier, rather than having two different pedal boards. I'm also liking the idea of a lower powered head such as the TE Elf for those wedding gigs where I need to reign it in (my carvin rarely goes over 2 on the master volume, making setting the volume a little challenging sometimes).

As a single, do it all cab solution, am I better off with:

• Super Compact, running with my carvin at 300w @ 8ohms - flat tonally giving flexibility and depth at volume
• Two10, running with my Carin at 500 @ 4ohms - vintage coloured which suits most of the music I play, but possibly less flexible and little bigger
• Or if I go Helix, get a powered FRFR PA speaker, such the QSC 12.2 (both my guitarists use a Helix with a Yamaha DXR10)

• Is there much difference in volume, depth and performance between the SC 300w/8ohms and the Two10 500w/4ohms?
• If I get an ELF for lower volume gigs, will it be enough running at 100w/8ohms with the SC, or will it be better with the Two10 @ 200w/ 4ohms
• If I go Helix and use my amp as a power amp, am I better off with the SC, two10 or an FRFR?

I have considered a couple of one10 cabs - one for rehearsal and two for gigs, but ideally, I want to move everything in one hit.

I'll likely email Alex, but would appreciate some real world experience and advice.

 

[mmbongo]

My take is this. With such low power you probably want the more efficient cab, so Super Compact. My experience with the 10" drivers is that they could not handle what I was putting into them but I'm using a Mesa 800 watt amp and Roscoe 5 string basses so that may not be an issue for you. But again, the Super Compact handles everything without straining. I feel it's very easy to make the Super Compact sound like the Two10, but the Two10 cannot do what the Super Compact does. Again, just my thoughts and this is not official!

 

[alexclaber]

My take is this. With such low power you probably want the more efficient cab, so Super Compact.

But this is the wrong way around!

The cab choice should mostly be based on tone - loudness and bottom and pretty easy with Barefaced so they're secondary. And the easiest way to find out which you need is to email us.

 

[friskinator]

Super Compact or Two10, that is the question.

Seriously considering upgrading to one of these as a single, do it all cab, but need a little help and advice, and this seems like as good a place as any before I contact Alex (and excuse the lengthy post - wanted to provide as much useful info as possible).

Currently, I use a single 8ohm Markbass 121H traveller cab (the old design) with a Carvin BX700. Running at 8hms, this gives me 300w (head is capable of 500w @ 4 ohms and 700w @ 2ohms. I don't usually have any problems with volume, but I sometimes struggle with getting the depth of tone I desire without it getting flabby or boomy, and without it losing too much depth out front if I play without FOH support. (I bought the Carvin to replace a Markbass LMII for the extra eq options, but still find I'm sometimes fighting with it). FWIW, the Carvin head is relatively 'flat' sounding and doesn't have a baked in mid scoop.

I also don't drive and want something a little lighter, possibly smaller that's more manageable in a taxi!

I play a Yamaha Attitude (hotrod P bass), sometimes pretty much straight via a compressor and sometimes drive into the amp, or occasionally I use both outputs and mix them together for a broader sound when I play with a single guitarist. This bass has a ton of midrange around 500hz which I sometimes have to tame. Generally, however, my tone is somewhere between Duff McKagan and Billy Sheehan - punchy, deep and sometimes with a little grit and not too much top end - quite a classic type of P bass tone. If I use effects, it's drive, chorus and occasional fuzz/synth and octave for a couple of Muse covers we play.

At some point I'm thinking about getting a helix so I can switch between dual output and single output mode easier, rather than having two different pedal boards. I'm also liking the idea of a lower powered head such as the TE Elf for those wedding gigs where I need to reign it in (my carvin rarely goes over 2 on the master volume, making setting the volume a little challenging sometimes).

As a single, do it all cab solution, am I better off with:

• Super Compact, running with my carvin at 300w @ 8ohms - flat tonally giving flexibility and depth at volume
• Two10, running with my Carin at 500 @ 4ohms - vintage coloured which suits most of the music I play, but possibly less flexible and little bigger
• Or if I go Helix, get a powered FRFR PA speaker, such the QSC 12.2 (both my guitarists use a Helix with a Yamaha DXR10)

• Is there much difference in volume, depth and performance between the SC 300w/8ohms and the Two10 500w/4ohms?
• If I get an ELF for lower volume gigs, will it be enough running at 100w/8ohms with the SC, or will it be better with the Two10 @ 200w/ 4ohms
• If I go Helix and use my amp as a power amp, am I better off with the SC, two10 or an FRFR?

I have considered a couple of one10 cabs - one for rehearsal and two for gigs, but ideally, I want to move everything in one hit.

I'll likely email Alex, but would appreciate some real world experience and advice.

I've never owned a Super Compact, but I've owned a One10 and Two10. I ran both with a GK MB200. The Two10 sounded amazing, and was actually quite loud with the MB200. I believe it's the same wattage at 4 ohms as the Elf, and I never had the volume up more than halfway. You won't be disappointed with the Elf/Two10 pairing if you go that route.

However, the SC is a smaller, lighter cab. With that in mind, it'll likely be my next Barefaced purchase. If so, I'll move up to the GK MB500.

 

[monsterthompson]

Super Compact or Two10, that is the question.

Seriously considering upgrading to one of these as a single, do it all cab, but need a little help and advice, and this seems like as good a place as any before I contact Alex (and excuse the lengthy post - wanted to provide as much useful info as possible).

Currently, I use a single 8ohm Markbass 121H traveller cab (the old design) with a Carvin BX700. Running at 8hms, this gives me 300w (head is capable of 500w @ 4 ohms and 700w @ 2ohms. I don't usually have any problems with volume, but I sometimes struggle with getting the depth of tone I desire without it getting flabby or boomy, and without it losing too much depth out front if I play without FOH support. (I bought the Carvin to replace a Markbass LMII for the extra eq options, but still find I'm sometimes fighting with it). FWIW, the Carvin head is relatively 'flat' sounding and doesn't have a baked in mid scoop.

I also don't drive and want something a little lighter, possibly smaller that's more manageable in a taxi!

I play a Yamaha Attitude (hotrod P bass), sometimes pretty much straight via a compressor and sometimes drive into the amp, or occasionally I use both outputs and mix them together for a broader sound when I play with a single guitarist. This bass has a ton of midrange around 500hz which I sometimes have to tame. Generally, however, my tone is somewhere between Duff McKagan and Billy Sheehan - punchy, deep and sometimes with a little grit and not too much top end - quite a classic type of P bass tone. If I use effects, it's drive, chorus and occasional fuzz/synth and octave for a couple of Muse covers we play.

At some point I'm thinking about getting a helix so I can switch between dual output and single output mode easier, rather than having two different pedal boards. I'm also liking the idea of a lower powered head such as the TE Elf for those wedding gigs where I need to reign it in (my carvin rarely goes over 2 on the master volume, making setting the volume a little challenging sometimes).

As a single, do it all cab solution, am I better off with:

• Super Compact, running with my carvin at 300w @ 8ohms - flat tonally giving flexibility and depth at volume
• Two10, running with my Carin at 500 @ 4ohms - vintage coloured which suits most of the music I play, but possibly less flexible and little bigger
• Or if I go Helix, get a powered FRFR PA speaker, such the QSC 12.2 (both my guitarists use a Helix with a Yamaha DXR10)

• Is there much difference in volume, depth and performance between the SC 300w/8ohms and the Two10 500w/4ohms?
• If I get an ELF for lower volume gigs, will it be enough running at 100w/8ohms with the SC, or will it be better with the Two10 @ 200w/ 4ohms
• If I go Helix and use my amp as a power amp, am I better off with the SC, two10 or an FRFR?

I have considered a couple of one10 cabs - one for rehearsal and two for gigs, but ideally, I want to move everything in one hit.

I'll likely email Alex, but would appreciate some real world experience and advice.

Had both. The 12 Ohm 210 and 8 Ohm SC were able to get comparably loud, though I never pushed them to failure to find the loudest. The SC had more depth if you wanted it. The 210 sounded better just plugged straight in and used for bass guitar, in most settings.

I did find the SC a little boxy sounding before it broke in. I didn't care for it with my Monique rig, so I sold Monique. I found amps with better midrange EQ flexibility made the SC easier to dial in. I really liked it with my Mesa Buster and Demeter VTBP 800.

Each cab is pretty easy to lift and move.

Alex will give you great advice. I don't think there's a clear winner between them.

 

[alexclaber]

I've never owned a Super Compact, but I've owned a One10 and Two10. I ran both with a GK MB200. The Two10 sounded amazing, and was actually quite loud with the MB200. I believe it's the same wattage at 4 ohms as the Elf, and I never had the volume up more than halfway. You won't be disappointed with the Elf/Two10 pairing if you go that route.

However, the SC is a smaller, lighter cab. With that in mind, it'll likely be my next Barefaced purchase. If so, I'll move up to the GK MB500.

As I said before, if you think the 10CR models sound amazing then stick with them. The Super Compact and Two10S are almost identical in cubic size - the latter is a whole 3% bigger. And it's still very light.

 

[Cuzzie]

I echo reaching out to Alex

He wasn't wrong for me or anyone else I know that consulted him

 

[RasGK]

Super Compact or Two10, that is the question.

Instead of the Super Compact, I would recomend you to get a Big Baby II, or if it's too big for your needs, then a Super Midget.
This gives you the advantage that if you decide to go with the Helix later on, this cabs are already flat enough that they can serve you as a FRFR solution for you (paired with a neutral amp) , while the more coloured Two10 and the tweeterless Super Compact wouldn't; and also keep in mind that with these two cabs, you can just dial their horns off so they become pretty close to the Super Compact anyway, so I kind of see it as killing two birds with one stone.

 

[mmbass21]

When I decided to get a Two10s, my #1 question I asked to Alex was how it compated volumewise and dispersion to a BB2 since I already had one. Pulling the quote from my email, "The Two10S and BB2 have similar sonic performance, just different tones."

Now owning both and pushing both I can say that they are very similar even with the Two10s at 12 ohms. I'm using a Mesa WD-800 and each cab is just as loud to me, just different tonal character which completely confirms what Alex told me. I love the Two10s, it's incredible for my tastes. Not the direct comparison to the SC but the SC is very close to what the BB2 can do.

 

[monsterthompson]

Instead of the Super Compact, I would recomend you to get a Big Baby II, or if it's too big for your needs, then a Super Midget.
This gives you the advantage that if you decide to go with the Helix later on, this cabs are already flat enough that they can serve you as a FRFR solution for you (paired with a neutral amp) , while the more coloured Two10 and the tweeterless Super Compact wouldn't; and also keep in mind that with these two cabs, you can just dial their horns off so they become pretty close to the Super Compact anyway, so I kind of see it as killing two birds with one stone.

Based on my experiences with the loud jam vs. single cab with a SM, I'd stick with the bigger box if volume is a concern. The SC definitely kept going at a point where the SM felt like it was struggling for me. I had no such issues with a SC, a BB2 nor a 12 Ohm 210. YMMV.

As for the FRFR, the SC and SM have similar profiles, so I'd expect any cab sim with the Helix would be cutting off the frequencies the SC already rolls off without having a tweeter. The rest of the frequency response would be similar between the SM and SC, though with a fuller, deeper low end on the SC. I haven't tested this, but that's my educated guess. Again, YMMV.

 

[SteveBassJr]

Ok, im just about ready to join this thread.
I should have a bb2 delivered on monday.
Up to this point I have used Aguilar db112's
Markbass 210's, Mesa & Older David Eden cabs.
I have had only one experience with Barefaced (super midget ) other than that, I played through fEarful f 212 once and was Impressed. Thats it for high end cabs.
So Im taking the chance and investing in this cab.
My hope is it will replace everything I have and, be my primary cab.
I mostly do small bar gigs these days and want a one cab solution to cover it all.
Im Looking forward to comparing them with my Markbass and aggie cabs.
I want the true clean tone of what I am putting into it.
I want to hear my tube preamp and broughton pedals thru my Rad engineering power amp, clean and un colored .
Ill report back.

 

[mcnach]

Super Compact or Two10, that is the question.

Seriously considering upgrading to one of these as a single, do it all cab, but need a little help and advice, and this seems like as good a place as any before I contact Alex (and excuse the lengthy post - wanted to provide as much useful info as possible).

Currently, I use a single 8ohm Markbass 121H traveller cab (the old design) with a Carvin BX700. Running at 8hms, this gives me 300w (head is capable of 500w @ 4 ohms and 700w @ 2ohms. I don't usually have any problems with volume, but I sometimes struggle with getting the depth of tone I desire without it getting flabby or boomy, and without it losing too much depth out front if I play without FOH support. (I bought the Carvin to replace a Markbass LMII for the extra eq options, but still find I'm sometimes fighting with it). FWIW, the Carvin head is relatively 'flat' sounding and doesn't have a baked in mid scoop.

I also don't drive and want something a little lighter, possibly smaller that's more manageable in a taxi!

I play a Yamaha Attitude (hotrod P bass), sometimes pretty much straight via a compressor and sometimes drive into the amp, or occasionally I use both outputs and mix them together for a broader sound when I play with a single guitarist. This bass has a ton of midrange around 500hz which I sometimes have to tame. Generally, however, my tone is somewhere between Duff McKagan and Billy Sheehan - punchy, deep and sometimes with a little grit and not too much top end - quite a classic type of P bass tone. If I use effects, it's drive, chorus and occasional fuzz/synth and octave for a couple of Muse covers we play.

At some point I'm thinking about getting a helix so I can switch between dual output and single output mode easier, rather than having two different pedal boards. I'm also liking the idea of a lower powered head such as the TE Elf for those wedding gigs where I need to reign it in (my carvin rarely goes over 2 on the master volume, making setting the volume a little challenging sometimes).

As a single, do it all cab solution, am I better off with:

• Super Compact, running with my carvin at 300w @ 8ohms - flat tonally giving flexibility and depth at volume
• Two10, running with my Carin at 500 @ 4ohms - vintage coloured which suits most of the music I play, but possibly less flexible and little bigger
• Or if I go Helix, get a powered FRFR PA speaker, such the QSC 12.2 (both my guitarists use a Helix with a Yamaha DXR10)

• Is there much difference in volume, depth and performance between the SC 300w/8ohms and the Two10 500w/4ohms?
• If I get an ELF for lower volume gigs, will it be enough running at 100w/8ohms with the SC, or will it be better with the Two10 @ 200w/ 4ohms
• If I go Helix and use my amp as a power amp, am I better off with the SC, two10 or an FRFR?

I have considered a couple of one10 cabs - one for rehearsal and two for gigs, but ideally, I want to move everything in one hit.

I'll likely email Alex, but would appreciate some real world experience and advice.

Hi Greg, this is Jose from UKMG

I'd go with the Two10. I have a pair of them after going on a long quest over a few years that included a pair of BF BB2 (rather similar to the SC, except for the horn and having a bit more low end) and various other brands.

I wouldn't say the Two10 is the loudest small cab out there, but from your description I don't think it would be lacking. I tend to use the pair when I can, stacked vertically, because even if I don't push them for volume they just 'feel' nicer onstage, and transport generally is not a problem with my bands. But I've also used a single one many times, mostly with a MarkBass LMIII but also with the Mesa D800+. As a stage monitor they are brilliant, of course, but I've used a single one in small bars without PA support very effectively. This is for mostly ska/funk/reggae type bands. We're not Motorhead-level loud, but we're not quiet by any means.

That's for volume. What I really like about the Two10, especially compared to the 12" series from Barefaced is the sound. With the BB2 I find I needed to EQ quite carefully in order to get the sound I wanted. It was all too easy to get too boomy, or too edgy a sound. The Two10 has a tighter low end that doesn't get out of control so easily.
I like a strong and punchy low end that retains definition (using mostly a Stingray, sometimes PJ or Precision, but mostly a Stingray), and the Two10 allows me to get there very easily in all kind of venues. Fingerstyle, slap, pick with distortion... it seems to never get too out of control, whilst with the BB2 I had to be rather more careful.
I am also in a RATM tribute kind of band where I use various overdriven sounds, and the Two10 sounds very good with all kinds of dirt pedals. I think it would suit your sound better than a SC or BB2.

The Two10 was marketed as "Retro" initially and still has that 'vintage' label attached to it, which made me ignore it for some time while I 'wasted' my time trying more 'transparent' and wide-range cabs... but when I finally got to try one I was surprised at how versatile it was. I had expected a darker type of cab that would push me into classic old school type of bass, but it can do modern very well too. It rolls off at 6 KHz I believe, which I felt it meant it would lack a lot of top end but it actually doesn't. It gets as bright as I want and then some. Think classic 70s and 80s slap sound... it's all there if you want it. So I don't think you'll find it restrictive.

Portability-wise... I find it very comfy to carry. The BB2 is more 'boxy' even if it was about the same weight, and was less comfortable to carry. The SC is a bit smaller, so it might be better in that respect, but I just find the Two10 better with its more elongated shape. And for long trips, a little foldable hand truck is useful and the cab doesn't overhang which makes navigating through multiple doors very easy.

If you are near Edinburgh in the future, let me know and you can try mine. I don't have any gigs down South until Summer...

I suspect many would disagree, but I don't think a FRFR or otherwise 'transparent' solution is necessarily the best solution. It can work very well in the hands of someone who has taken the time to learn how to get the best out of those systems. The Helix is amazing. I've seen/heard it in action with FRFR PA cabs and it was glorious. However... I know I personally would not get quite as good as result, and I do not *need* that extreme versatility. I like to tweak knobs the least amount possible and just play. I enjoy playing, not studying manuals and adjusting a million things. For that reason, the Two10 works really well for me, better than the BB2, and I think you would probably like it too, from what I know about what you play.

 

[SteveBassJr]

Cool thanks, just ordered one!

Im assuming a bb2 will sit nice on one of these as well?

 

[Dp1363]

Ok, im just about ready to join this thread.
I should have a bb2 delivered on monday.
Up to this point I have used Aguilar db112's
Markbass 210's, Mesa & Older David Eden cabs.
I have had only one experience with Barefaced (super midget ) other than that, I played through fEarful f 212 once and was Impressed. Thats it for high end cabs.
So Im taking the chance and investing in this cab.
My hope is it will replace everything I have and, be my primary cab.
I mostly do small bar gigs these days and want a one cab solution to cover it all.
Im Looking forward to comparing them with my Markbass and aggie cabs.
I want the true clean tone of what I am putting into it.
I want to hear my tube preamp and broughton pedals thru my Rad engineering power amp, clean and un colored .
Ill report back.

I have two and wouldn't use anything else.

 

[mmbass21]

Two10s absolutely killed last night in a small bar using my WD800 and performer PJ. I left it on 12 ohms and had tons of headroom. Switched to 4 ohm just to see and it was wayyyy too much for the bar.
I've got it figured out now, Two10s for my 4 strings and the BB2 when I play with a 5er for the added depth. It's a weird feeling being so happy with my tone for the first time in a very long time.

 

[grimmchaos]

Two10s absolutely killed last night in a small bar using my WD800 and performer PJ. I left it on 12 ohms and had tons of headroom. Switched to 4 ohm just to see and it was wayyyy too much for the bar.
I've got it figured out now, Two10s for my 4 strings and the BB2 when I play with a 5er for the added depth. It's a weird feeling being so happy with my tone for the first time in a very long time.

I love my WD800 with both my Two10, Four10, and both cabs together... I normally have the WD800 set to 2 ohms so I can push the master a little harder. Such a great sounding pair!!

 

[mmbass21]

I love my WD800 with both my Two10, Four10, and both cabs together... I normally have the WD800 set to 2 ohms so I can push the master a little harder. Such a great sounding pair!!

WD is such a perfect pair for BF10s, good with the BB2 too.

 

[ga_edwards]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions chaps (and hi Jose - long time no speak).

I'm still weighing up options, but I'm certain that the SM won't offer me much more than my current cab. The BB2 is certainly an interesting suggestion and is pretty much exactly the same size as my current cab, and could prove helpful if I went down the helix rabbit hole.

That said, at my last gig at the weekend I did a quick tweeter test during soundcheck. I don't particularly favour zingy bright top end, and the most top I get is when I use drive or fuzz. So I tried my usual 'muse' type fuzz, turned the tweeter from full on to full off at far as it would go, and not a lot happened!. My cab's crossover is set at 3.5khz, so I'm thinking I may not miss a tweeter at all.

As such I think a BB2 'might' be overkill and a SC still may be my best bet. As MonsterThompson mentioned, I'd expect any helix amp/cab model to roll off around the tweeter area anyway.

Jose's insights into the two10 are very interesting too. Having a baked in curve that just works sounds great, and could be just what I'm after in certain scenarios. But other scenarios may require different thinking. Sure, a SC may require a little tinkering, but it should be able to get close to the two10's curve?

The curveball is the helix and the concept of FRFR powered speaker I love the idea of rocking up to a gig with minimal gear, a bass and HX stomp in a gig bag and a powered FRFR in one hand. No amp, no bass cab. However, after investigation, I'm still finding it difficult to get my head around the frequency responses of some of these units, even the ones such as the QSC 12.2 that are partly designed for bass guitar. On paper, they don't seem like they should cut the mustard, but I'm reading a number of reports by users that they're the best thing since sliced bread. Can a FRFR that rolls off just above 50hz really do the job for me?

I'm still yet to email Alex but will in time. I need to do some more tweaking with what I have first and decide what to spend my money on first. At the moment I'm leaning toward the HX stomp first and then decide what amp/cab route to go down.

 

[Dave W]

The curveball is the helix and the concept of FRFR powered speaker I love the idea of rocking up to a gig with minimal gear, a bass and HX stomp in a gig bag and a powered FRFR in one hand.

Barefaced FR800

 

[SteveBassJr]

I have joined the club! Very excited to see what this will do. I might just have to retire the Edens.