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Official Barefaced Bass Cab Club
- Thread starter Stumbo
- Start date
And for those who still doubt if Barefaced Cabs are the real deal, well, let's reflect on something: TalkBass has an active thread running about a new-to-the-scene boutique cab company - just cabs, nothing else - and the thread is already 630 pages long. All the posts are positive. No one is (or legitimately can, really) throw shade on these small, light beasts.
Alex, a tip of the hat to you.
And when I get to Brighton one day it would be my pleasure to open a tab for you and the crew - adult beverages for all to toast your success. @alexclaber
Well, some may complain about very long waiting time, and sometimes Alex doesn't always answer to emails, probably the price of success
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They are worth it!! Two BB3's at a gig on Friday! They sound great!!
I hear ya. These cabs aren't for those in a hurry. And anyone in a hurry for something usually sets off some flags.
Not for nothing, but my Sadowsky took close to two years, I have a build queued at Tobias for over 12mos… and I know if they aren't answering emails promptly it's because they are making stuff. Roger, Mike, Alex…these folks care about quality.
Sheldon's gents can punch out a custom Dingwall in 6mo-8mos if you ask. That's "long" for many but very short for custom-ordered basses.
The folks familiar with the whole genre of custom builds (in which these are, every order is reviewed) know that 10-12 weeks is actually lightning speed for any builder (basses, cabs, etc.). Factor in his supplier chain, personnel, etc. 10-12 weeks is an incredibly short period.
I appreciate the time they take to make it right.
On the other hand, I'm guessing the folks who would complain about build times might not have ever ordered a custom bass in the past or realized this isn't a Fender assembly line. I would venture to say they would also find something else to complain about too.
I am sure the 'hate mail' folks will jump on me about this post. That's their 'tell' that my opinion hit home with them. I always consider the source. ✌
I waited 6 months for my option 50 (non-returnable, off the beaten path) kiesel to arrive. The wait for the bb3's was only 3-4 months. Mine came in a month or so late last year. Dunno how close to estimates they are running now.
Not mine- but a Barefaced BB3 just popped up o nthe classifieds. If you don't wanna wait.....
For Sale - Barefaced Big Baby 3 w/cover
For Sale - Barefaced Big Baby 3 w/cover
I do plan on getting a second BB3. But for me, the aesthetic is a metal grill with a painted front baffle. Otherwise, I'd jump on that.
Ha, yeah that was fast… imagine that, there must be someone who didn't want to wait, who knew
I saw this about 15 minutes after it was posted and was tempted but passed for the same reason. My BB2 and SuperTwin both have the metal grill and old logo. I don't particularly care for the way the cloth looks or the new logo.
Alex has a limited supply of the old logos, for those who already have a cab and who want to order a new cab that matches their old cab. I'd prefer the old logo, too, about 60/40, but I'm really happy with the customization options available.
So I've been using Baer ML112s for quite some time now. I had a brief stint where I used a Bergantino AE410. I loved that cab. I foolishly sold it cause I didn't have a need for it. I had a pair of ML112's prior to the AE410. So a pair of ML's is what replaced it years ago. However, if I could have found an AE410 before I purchased my last pair of ML112's, we might not be having this discussion. I've had about a decade or more of experience with the Baer cabs. For the most part, 1 has been all I ever needed for rehearsals and gigs. Which, is the appeal. One easy cab to carry in/out. Great. I've never had any tech issues until w them until recently. It could be the voicing of the Demeter amp I bought as in the past I've exclusively used Aguilar TH500/700 amps. I recently started using a Demeter VTB-M-400. This is prob about the same time I noticed I could get the ML to fart out. It would do this at practice, low volume, with the b string. In hindsight, I was prob send a clipped signal and underpowering the cab. I was playing a gig this weekend and had it fart a couple of times, so I played gingerly when I used my b string. Well, it didn't matter cause I melted the voice coil, trashed the main 12" speaker. Maybe I should have been using the pair instead of one. Maybe I should have stuck w the Aguilar. I dunno. I don't abuse my gear. I don't think I was pushing the volume past what the cab should be able to handle. Now I can't trust these cabs. They failed me on a gig.
I'm trying to get out a replacement driver before this weekends gigs. But we'll see. In the meantime, I found an AE410 on reverb and the seller agreed to ship. Hopefully, it will show in time. But then today, like an idiot, I was researching 410 cabs. And I cam across the Barefaced 410T. I ordered one immediately.
I've had other 410s in the past. But I've mainly been 12's ever since the Aguilar GS112 came out. The AE410 was a killer cab, and one of my all time favs. I really liked this cab with the TH500. I do like the ML112's…but again, now that I've been burnt live, I want to go back to a 410. A 410 cab has NEVER let me down. They always perform. They are the workhorses of bass cabs. So, my question to y'all, is how does the BF 410 compare to the Bergantino AE410 and ML112? I have a Demeter VTB-M-400 and Aguilar TH500. I have the 800w demeter on order. I think I'll use the AE410 and ML112 for practice, and the BF for gigs. Oh, I ordered rye black cloth but am now having second thoughts on getting the silver cloth. Your thoughts?
I'm trying to get out a replacement driver before this weekends gigs. But we'll see. In the meantime, I found an AE410 on reverb and the seller agreed to ship. Hopefully, it will show in time. But then today, like an idiot, I was researching 410 cabs. And I cam across the Barefaced 410T. I ordered one immediately.
I've had other 410s in the past. But I've mainly been 12's ever since the Aguilar GS112 came out. The AE410 was a killer cab, and one of my all time favs. I really liked this cab with the TH500. I do like the ML112's…but again, now that I've been burnt live, I want to go back to a 410. A 410 cab has NEVER let me down. They always perform. They are the workhorses of bass cabs. So, my question to y'all, is how does the BF 410 compare to the Bergantino AE410 and ML112? I have a Demeter VTB-M-400 and Aguilar TH500. I have the 800w demeter on order. I think I'll use the AE410 and ML112 for practice, and the BF for gigs. Oh, I ordered rye black cloth but am now having second thoughts on getting the silver cloth. Your thoughts?
I have a few. First, I'm totally with you about not trusting gear that has let me down on stage. I can't stand the thought of using gear at a gig with a known, uncorrected flaw. Second, I'd encourage you to stick with your first choice on the grill fabric. Silver is classic, but it's also passe IMO. I value uniqueness. Third, I think you made a great move going to a BF 410. Tonally, I prefer their 12" cabs, and power handling-wise, few things can touch those 12s. But the BF 10" has roughly half the power handling of the BF 12, and you're getting four of them. Which puts the power handling at roughly the same as the BT3, which is a 1600W cab! So I think you're in good shape moving forward, you won't have to worry about frying a speaker ever again.
My basis for comparison is a bunch of videos Alex did comparing his smaller cabs two 112 cabs and a 210 cab. I concluded that the tone he got from his BB2 was more consistently clear and articulate than the Super Compact, and I liked the sound of the 12 cabs better than the sound of the 10s. Just my preference.
If I could recommend two things, it would be to spend some time listening to the comparison videos with some good headphones, and to contact Alex directly. He's good at asking questions and getting to what's important for you. He makes himself available as a resource for exactly that purpose.
