alexclaber
Commercial User
Yes, covers sorted, just waiting for them to arrive. We've been focusing on the Two10s because a smaller cab is much easier to tolex but now we're working through the Six10s.
Last edited by a moderator:
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Official Barefaced Bass Cab Club
- Thread starter Stumbo
- Start date
Yes, covers sorted, just waiting for them to arrive. We've been focusing on the Two10s because a smaller cab is much easier to tolex but now we're working through the Six10s.
Does that mean that if / when I would be deciding between, say an Orange Terror 500w or 1000w version (or GK or similar) I'd be better off with the 1000W version to "feed my twin"?
Definitely. Always have watts to spare and you sound will be more clear and solid. The genz sm9.2 sounded great but, the bottom end is much better with the big carvin. But, you may need a cab like the twin to notice.
OK good to know. I have a Twin but am looking at upgrading the amp soon. Well, I'm bandless for the foreseeable future so "soon" is debatable 
But I'll be looking at the 1,000W range amps, then.
Perhaps a stupid question but: does it also work at lower volume? The clarity and solidity, I mean.
But I'll be looking at the 1,000W range amps, then.Perhaps a stupid question but: does it also work at lower volume? The clarity and solidity, I mean.
alexclaber
Commercial User
If you never use more than 500W at any point then you won't hear the difference between two otherwise identical amps, one of 500W and one of 1000W power output, assuming the amps can both deliver full power for as long as required for a bass note. That's why we recommend 100-1200W for the Super Twin - it doesn't need much power to get loud but it will take a lot of power and play very very loud indeed.
It's quite common to find a 300W amp and a 600W both equally loud with a cab like the Super Twin but if you're pushing the 300W fairly hard the tone won't stay as solid and forceful as with the 600W amp. Headroom is only a good thing if you need it - in which case it isn't really headroom, it's power you're using!
Thanks Alex and kringle77!
I had a similar discussion with a guitarist a while back and he basically advised the same re: headroom / clean power.
I had a similar discussion with a guitarist a while back and he basically advised the same re: headroom / clean power.
Took my G3 Compact and Midget out last night. Ran my Nash P into my Genz Shuttle 9.0. I was quite happy with the results.
I was playing with some buds of mine who go silly loud for a rock band. Our drummer isn't really a drummer and he just pounds. Guitarist was using a 212 fender combo (back line gear) and keys into a PA.
I tried running the Midget solo, but it just didn't feel right. It wasn't pushing enough low end and the amp's limit light was blinking. It barked loud enough but just had limited woof.
I switched to the Compact solo and it was right on the money with low end. I could probably have run just the Compact all night. Plenty of lows, using the Genz bass boost. They were tight and controlled, not blooming into mud.
The stack together was very articulate. It took EQ well. I cranked the amp's gain to overdrive it and got a useable result. Not metal crazy but very nice for our U2 meets Coldplay meets Misfits slop. The low end was still huge and clear. I could push it toward mud but not into it. I played around with the para mids for some variety. At the end, my buds all complimented my cabs. They've heard me through a variety of gear, and this was their favorite setup yet.
I'm not a slap player, so I can't comment on how it would work for that style. I just play simple stuff with my fingers.
At lower volumes, I think the Midget excels in balanced tone over the Compact. At loud volume, the Compact came to life and evened out. Combined was a very nice result. It makes me think either of the Twin cabs would be wonderful. Not sure how they'd do in a big doom metal outfit, but for a 4 or 5 piece rock gig, they'd be heavenly.
I was playing with some buds of mine who go silly loud for a rock band. Our drummer isn't really a drummer and he just pounds. Guitarist was using a 212 fender combo (back line gear) and keys into a PA.
I tried running the Midget solo, but it just didn't feel right. It wasn't pushing enough low end and the amp's limit light was blinking. It barked loud enough but just had limited woof.
I switched to the Compact solo and it was right on the money with low end. I could probably have run just the Compact all night. Plenty of lows, using the Genz bass boost. They were tight and controlled, not blooming into mud.
The stack together was very articulate. It took EQ well. I cranked the amp's gain to overdrive it and got a useable result. Not metal crazy but very nice for our U2 meets Coldplay meets Misfits slop. The low end was still huge and clear. I could push it toward mud but not into it. I played around with the para mids for some variety. At the end, my buds all complimented my cabs. They've heard me through a variety of gear, and this was their favorite setup yet.
I'm not a slap player, so I can't comment on how it would work for that style. I just play simple stuff with my fingers.
At lower volumes, I think the Midget excels in balanced tone over the Compact. At loud volume, the Compact came to life and evened out. Combined was a very nice result. It makes me think either of the Twin cabs would be wonderful. Not sure how they'd do in a big doom metal outfit, but for a 4 or 5 piece rock gig, they'd be heavenly.
alexclaber
Commercial User
Glad you're liking them! One point for clarity - there is no such thing as a Gen 3 Compact or Midget. The Compact and Midget were discontinued. The cabs you own are the Super Compact and Super Midget - they're completely different models, they're not just updated old versions. Call them the SC and SM if you don't want to type 'Super' each time!
Regarding the Big Twin 2 in doom metal bands - it's great, there are a few customers loving it in that context, one I can think of using a 400W valve amp and another with a 1500W+ power amp. No Super Twins being used in doom bands as far as I know so no data on that - but it's pretty much equally loud, just doesn't go as low.
Mr. Foxen
Commercial User
Wohoo! Now I'm also a proud owner of a Super Twin! 
I was lucky enough to find a "used" one in very good shape. No signs of use whatsoever, hardly even dirt on the wheels... It arrived a couple of days ago and tested it yesterday. (Or well, I had to test it on bedroom levels when it arrived on wednesday, just to be sure the drivers hadn't been removed behind the silver grille.
) I knew the cab was very lightweight, but this felt for sure way lighter than I had expected. Very easy to carry in one hand with one of the side handles. I tried to pull the cab behind me taking advantage of the wheels also, but obviously I was too tall for it being comfortable. Measuring 176cm (5'9"), I could hardly be considered tall though. I had to bow my back and knees a little when pulling it, in order to prevent it from tilting back into standing position, which it otherwise did. It's more convenient to carry the thing instead. @Alex: In future versions of the cab, I'd suggest replacing the handle on top with a telescopic one, like what's used in most trolley bags today. That would be more comfortable and useful. As it is now, the wheels on the back don't really make much sense. I rather carry the cab instead of pulling it behind me.
Anyway... Yesterday I took the cab to our rehearsal room to test it with my recently acquired Markbass F1. The basses I used were my Fender Jazz Bass ('62 IIRC) reissue strung BEAD (roundwounds), and my new Godin A4 fretless in standard tuning (TI flats). I quickly noticed the F1+ST combination will be loud enough for any occasion. I didn't have to turn the master higher than to 9 or 10 o'clock before it was way too loud for this room (25m² = 270sq feet). The windows started rattling with the master at approx. 9 o'clock, and I wasn't too aggressive on the gain knob either... For testing purposes, I pulled the master further up towards 12 o'clock for a while, and it worked just fine. However, I need to test this at a gig or in a larger room before really being able to evaluate the capabilities of the cab and amp at higher volumes. You can't really do it when the volume gets so overwhelming as in this tiny rehearsal room. It all looks and feels very promising though. This combination definitely feels louder and more aggressive than my old Yamaha rig, also 500W as the F1, but put into six 10" speakers instead.
With everything set flat, the sound is quite midrangey compared to the sound I'm used to with my old amp, and perhaps a bit harsh in comparison. I don't really know how broken-in the drivers are though, so the sound might get a bit smoother over time. In the meantime, a bit of eq should solve the issue, if there even is one. I need to test this with the whole band to be able to tell. But first up are the christmas holidays so that has to wait a week or two.. Regarding the sound, I've been looking for a more aggressive tone for some songs, and I easily get that with this setup. Strong enough mids are also needed to avoid getting lost in the mix, as we know, so I'm positive I'll be happy with this new setup.
On a side note, I can't but love what's happened over the last decade with bass equipment. The powerful and ridiculously lightweight digital amps that fit in the gigbag's side pouch, as the F1, and really lightweight and small cabinets with extremely capable drivers, as the Barefaced ones. I want to send a warm Thank You to all who has contributed to this development!
I was lucky enough to find a "used" one in very good shape. No signs of use whatsoever, hardly even dirt on the wheels... It arrived a couple of days ago and tested it yesterday. (Or well, I had to test it on bedroom levels when it arrived on wednesday, just to be sure the drivers hadn't been removed behind the silver grille.
) I knew the cab was very lightweight, but this felt for sure way lighter than I had expected. Very easy to carry in one hand with one of the side handles. I tried to pull the cab behind me taking advantage of the wheels also, but obviously I was too tall for it being comfortable. Measuring 176cm (5'9"), I could hardly be considered tall though. I had to bow my back and knees a little when pulling it, in order to prevent it from tilting back into standing position, which it otherwise did. It's more convenient to carry the thing instead. @Alex: In future versions of the cab, I'd suggest replacing the handle on top with a telescopic one, like what's used in most trolley bags today. That would be more comfortable and useful. As it is now, the wheels on the back don't really make much sense. I rather carry the cab instead of pulling it behind me.Anyway... Yesterday I took the cab to our rehearsal room to test it with my recently acquired Markbass F1. The basses I used were my Fender Jazz Bass ('62 IIRC) reissue strung BEAD (roundwounds), and my new Godin A4 fretless in standard tuning (TI flats). I quickly noticed the F1+ST combination will be loud enough for any occasion. I didn't have to turn the master higher than to 9 or 10 o'clock before it was way too loud for this room (25m² = 270sq feet). The windows started rattling with the master at approx. 9 o'clock, and I wasn't too aggressive on the gain knob either... For testing purposes, I pulled the master further up towards 12 o'clock for a while, and it worked just fine. However, I need to test this at a gig or in a larger room before really being able to evaluate the capabilities of the cab and amp at higher volumes. You can't really do it when the volume gets so overwhelming as in this tiny rehearsal room. It all looks and feels very promising though. This combination definitely feels louder and more aggressive than my old Yamaha rig, also 500W as the F1, but put into six 10" speakers instead.
With everything set flat, the sound is quite midrangey compared to the sound I'm used to with my old amp, and perhaps a bit harsh in comparison. I don't really know how broken-in the drivers are though, so the sound might get a bit smoother over time. In the meantime, a bit of eq should solve the issue, if there even is one. I need to test this with the whole band to be able to tell. But first up are the christmas holidays so that has to wait a week or two.. Regarding the sound, I've been looking for a more aggressive tone for some songs, and I easily get that with this setup. Strong enough mids are also needed to avoid getting lost in the mix, as we know, so I'm positive I'll be happy with this new setup.
On a side note, I can't but love what's happened over the last decade with bass equipment. The powerful and ridiculously lightweight digital amps that fit in the gigbag's side pouch, as the F1, and really lightweight and small cabinets with extremely capable drivers, as the Barefaced ones. I want to send a warm Thank You to all who has contributed to this development!
I noticed that "midrangey" quality at first on my SC. It does seem to have died down over time, or my ears have adjusted. Either way, the sound in a band context is great, which is what matters most, right?
Good score!
Good score!
alexclaber
Commercial User
We won't be changing to a telescopic handle - this is a very high output bass cab and there is no way a handle like that would stay rattle free in the very longterm, even if we could make it work initially (the cab would have to be made bigger as well to fit an airtight sub-enclosure around the handle and all the bracing would have to be changed too). We try to provide options by having both wheels and a top handle and side handles at the balance point. If you're shorter/weaker, then wheel it, if you're taller/stronger then carry it. I'm taller than you and will generally pick a Super Twin up for going a distance but wheel it about for shifting it around a room. You can't make the ergonomics perfect for everyone because everyone is different. The Big Twin 2 is taller and heavier so more people will wheel it about.
If you were to test the frequency response of the Super Twin you'd find it isn't at all midrangey - it just doesn't have any dips in the midrange, whilst most bass cabs do, especially out in the room off-axis. You're just hearing the reality of your bass/hands/amp for the first time! The drivers do smoothen out a bit in the first few hours of high SPL use. Glad you're liking it though!
We won't be changing to a telescopic handle - this is a very high output bass cab and there is no way a handle like that would stay rattle free in the very longterm, even if we could make it work initially (the cab would have to be made bigger as well to fit an airtight sub-enclosure around the handle and all the bracing would have to be changed too). We try to provide options by having both wheels and a top handle and side handles at the balance point. If you're shorter/weaker, then wheel it, if you're taller/stronger then carry it. I'm taller than you and will generally pick a Super Twin up for going a distance but wheel it about for shifting it around a room. You can't make the ergonomics perfect for everyone because everyone is different. The Big Twin 2 is taller and heavier so more people will wheel it about.
If you were to test the frequency response of the Super Twin you'd find it isn't at all midrangey - it just doesn't have any dips in the midrange, whilst most bass cabs do, especially out in the room off-axis. You're just hearing the reality of your bass/hands/amp for the first time! The drivers do smoothen out a bit in the first few hours of high SPL use. Glad you're liking it though!
Finally got the time to answer this.
Thanks for the response! Regarding the handle you're probably right, it's smart to avoid things that might start rattling over time. And sure, I don't have the slightest problem carrying it either. What you say in the second paragraph is certainly true too! Exactly my thoughts as well, just put in other words.
I know that there have been some problems but, It was supposed to take 4 weeks to get a six10 and im at around 15 now. I love my supertwin and have made videos, bragged it up, etc but, what is the situation?
frustrating, i'm sure. still faster than a Peavey MiniMega
