Official Barefaced Bass Cab Club

[MOSCOWBASS]

I have run an Aggie Tonehammer 350 with it with good results. I am in the process of getting a GK MG Fusion 800 so that I can throw 400 solid watts at 8ohms into the single BB2 I have. God forbid if I should ever part with another $1100 for a second BB2, that amp will be able to deliver 800 into the pair, at 4 ohms.

The GK mbf800 will give you 560 watts into 8 ohms

 

[Plutonium244]

So much for "nobody notices or cares about the bass".

After the first gig with the D800 through 2 Barefaced Super Compacts with one of my bands, the guitarist came over at the end and said the bass sounded great. Very punchy and full.

I also had good comments from the first gig with the other band and 2 guys from the audience.

I'm thinking this is a great combination, and proves to me if you sound good people do notice.

Great combination indeed, can't go wrong with BF cabs.

I haven't tried the D800 but undoubtedly it's a quality amp, I have heard a lot of good stuff about them. I am picking up a GK MB Fusion 800to pair w/ my Big Baby 2, because although the TH350 sounds great through it, 350 doesn't "sound" like it should be enough for a cab that can handle 800W. It's purely psychological I am sure.

 

[soxhats]

GAS'ing hard for a Big Twin 2 (for my Mesa Subway D-800 and Ampeg V4B reissue). I wish I could hide this thread. I wish I hadn't subscribed to it.

 

[Plutonium244]

The GK mbf800 will give you 560 watts into 8 ohms

Thanks! Good to know, and even better. You have a mbf800? If so, how do you like it?

 

[monsterthompson]

I paired a BB2 with a Gramma pad Thursday, and thought it sounded much clearer and tighter than the prior time I'd played in that room without the Gramma pad. Glad to hear it enhanced your Two10 and I think you'll like it with the BB2 also.

Snagged another pad today for my BB2. So nice.

 

[mikeluch]

I just received my BB2 and SM. I have not yet played at rehearsals or at at a gig, but my initial impression is that the Mesa Subway with the deep switch sounds good through the SM and the Genzler Magellan and STL 900 work well well with the BB
This is not to say that that there is a definitive winner at this point, and like I said, I need to play them in a live band setting, break them in and compare the various heads against my CN212
In my space where I have tried them out, my early impression for both the BB and SM is WOW!

 

[Dp1363]

I am running the Mesa D800 with the BB2. It sounds thunderous!

I have another BB2 on order from Barefaced, so I can have a vertical stack, which will give me some additional headroom while running at 4 ohms. Plus, I'll be able to hear my bass closer to ear level.

 

[John D Harris]

I'm sorry but I disagree. More power will only sound more dynamic if you're running out of power with your current amp. If your current amp is only very rarely hitting full power or clipping then more power will make no difference.

I don't know how loud you need to be but the reason we recommend 150-800W for the BB2 is because that's the most useful range of amp power. Most BB2 users are running 250-500W. The reason we recommend 800W* as an upper limit is because there is very little to be gained beyond that point but risk of driver damage increases vastly.

* 800 real watts, not 800 marketing watts!

Yes, real watts matter.
The Markbass F1 in particular seems to have less power at 8ohm than its rating suggest, at least IME.
At 4ohm, I thought it was OK - nice tight, punchy amp.

Alex, I respect your experience & knowledge.
All of the heads I listed were within the recommended range for that cab.
Having the extra watts & abusing the extra watts are two different things.
I suggest everyone ignore my wattage figures & take your cues from Alex.
It is no fun blowing drivers - for anybody.

 

[dave_bass5]

Thanks for the amp suggestions and info.
I wanted to be careful how I worded my question as I realise going from a 300watt@ 8 ohms to 500watt@ 8 ohms isn't going to make a huge difference to the volume.
At the moment I'm loud enough with the master on 11 o'clock, and have a bit more room if needed, but I wanted to try not to push the head too hard.
In the past when I've pushed my F1 to around 1 o'clock it sounds like it's giving up and compressing. This was with my old 1212L cab though.
I'm just hoping i can get the volume I have now, and not be worried about pushing it up a bit more if needed. I really don't need more volume than I have now, but I want cleaner volume if possible if I do have to turn up a bit more.

Part of me also wants to try a new head, something I've not used before. As much as I like MB gear that's really all I've used over the past 10 years (give or take a few weeks with a GK 1001-RBII and a Streamliner 600).The GK Fusion 800 was on my list last year. In fact I got one but it arrived in a poor state and I never got to even plug it in. I do feel I want a bass head and not a power amp, as if I decide to stop using my VTBass I'll still want EQ. Also I've yet to find a power amp that's small and light, and will fit in a laptop bag.

I'm looking at the Bugera heads at the moment. These look pretty good for the money. I didn't like my Streamliner much so I might take a chance on the MosFet version. I real said the advertised watts are a bit of a mystery but I'm guessing it's still going to be louder than my F1, and I like the idea of the compressor.

Back on topic. Had another great gig with the BB2 last night. The only issue was I had the tweeter turned off by mistake. I turned it the wrong way when setting up and didn't notice until after the gig. It sounded good though. Warmer than normal and more usable that I had thought. Tweeter is now back on though, I do love that high end sparkle.

 

[MOSCOWBASS]

Thanks! Good to know, and even better. You have a mbf800? If so, how do you like it?

I have a mb800, like it a lot, plenty of power into the BB2. I watch with interest the D800 and Magellan amps, but they are rated 160 watts less at 8 ohms

 

[Plutonium244]

I have a mb800, like it a lot, plenty of power into the BB2. I watch with interest the D800 and Magellan amps, but they are rated 160 watts less at 8 ohms

I considered the Megallan but they are new enough that I haven't gotten a sense of what owner consensus is about them, and there are none near me to try. Also got a good deal on the mbf800. I like my MB200, but thought that the bit of extra warmth of the fusion version would fit my tastes. Used an Aggie TH350 last night with good results as always with the BB2. Its non-destructive when the clip light comes on per Aggie, they say it can handle that clip all day long with no damage to the cabinet. It's pretty rare that I hit that clip point, so so I think Alex might say the extra watts are not going to be a big help to me, but somehow their presence will be comforting.

 

[monsterthompson]

Back on topic. Had another great gig with the BB2 last night. The only issue was I had the tweeter turned off by mistake. I turned it the wrong way when setting up and didn't notice until after the gig. It sounded good though. Warmer than normal and more usable that I had thought. Tweeter is now back on though, I do love that high end sparkle.

Funny. I've found myself doing the same tweeter setting thing. With some of my settings, it's a very subtle difference between on and off. Early on, I'd even find myself adjusting the dial and wondering if it is doing anything at all, and not sure if it was broken or just some clever practical joke to keep me occupied and pacified. It sounds great either way.

 

[Dave W]

Anybody care to explain the tweeter control? I thought I read a while back that rather than the traditional CW to turn it up and CCW to turn it down, it was the opposite...CCW to turn it up and CW to turn it down.

I'm definitely guilty of turning it both ways and not really noticing much of a difference either way.

 

[monsterthompson]

It's been said that it is like a faucet tap; turn to open and close. Of course, I have levers on my faucets and so many places have gone to motion sensors that I forget what that is like
For me, the easiest way is to put a nasty bit of dirt in your signal and move the dial around. You'll hear the distortion characteristics change, and it will help you figure it out.
Fully CCW should be all on. Fully CW should be all off. Of course, I don't own a clock with hands either. I can't relate to all these terms from the 20th century

 

[MOSCOWBASS]

BB2 hf control, It may be subtle, but I find it makes quite a difference. I currently run it about 12 o'clock, that slight back off from fully on is quite noticable to me

 

[tallboybass]

I love Alex and my BF cab, but it's like someone invented a gas pedal that is full throttle when all the way up and off when stomped to the floor. There will be some adjustment time.

 

[monsterthompson]

I love Alex and my BF cab, but it's like someone invented a gas pedal that is full throttle when all the way up and off when stomped to the floor. There will be some adjustment time.

It's not like others. It really is a crossover control, not a level control.

 

[lomo]

Oh YES, YES, YES!!! Stack of my dreams. I had forgotten how undeniably perfect it is when a stack not only sounds superb but is also about shoulder height.
This is the best I have ever sounded and the most easily I have been able to hear myself. (apologies for double posting here and in the D-880 with other cabs thread).

 

[Plutonium244]

Oh YES, YES, YES!!! Stack of my dreams. I had forgotten how undeniably perfect it is when a stack not only sounds superb but is also about shoulder height.
This is the best I have ever sounded and the most easily I have been able to hear myself. (apologies for double posting here and in the D-880 with other cabs thread).


View attachment 793206

Sorry that I haven't kept up, but which of these BF cabs did you recently get? Or have you had them a while? Is that an SC on the bottom?

 

[monsterthompson]

Sorry that I haven't kept up, but which of these BF cabs did you recently get? Or have you had them a while? Is that an SC on the bottom?

It sure looks like my old SC