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Official Barefaced Bass Cab Club
- Thread starter Stumbo
- Start date
I've been messing with my SM at home. Really love this little thing.
I emailed Barefaced and asked about changing my order for a SC to another SM. The SM has more than enough lows for me and I really like their tweeter/crossover.
This is what I wrote to Barefaced: "It would seem that if I like the sound of the SM that it would be better to have a second SM as opposed to a SC. 1) I like what I hear from the SM and it works for me. I'm primarily an electric player but my upright sounds ridiculous through the SM. 2) From what I understand two, or multiple, of the same cab is better than mixing cabs. 3) Not being able to demo your cabs first hand I should stick with what I know and like."
This seems logical, no? It's hard because of the lack of access to the cabs. But it's a win-win anyway...
I emailed Barefaced and asked about changing my order for a SC to another SM. The SM has more than enough lows for me and I really like their tweeter/crossover.
This is what I wrote to Barefaced: "It would seem that if I like the sound of the SM that it would be better to have a second SM as opposed to a SC. 1) I like what I hear from the SM and it works for me. I'm primarily an electric player but my upright sounds ridiculous through the SM. 2) From what I understand two, or multiple, of the same cab is better than mixing cabs. 3) Not being able to demo your cabs first hand I should stick with what I know and like."
This seems logical, no? It's hard because of the lack of access to the cabs. But it's a win-win anyway...
I agree TDG, and also, 2 x SM = PA!! You could have them put a pole adapter thing in there!
Yup, $50 to have Alex add a "top hat" to a cab. I'd do it... but getting one into the SM already delivered might be problematic. I had one put in my One10, just for the helluvit... another option for elevating the small cab.
Love my BB2. Still think a SM stack could've been a better option (not by a huge margin) for my needs. Having had a SM/SC stack, I'll say there isn't a problem with "mixing" cabs. They work well together. It isn't like mixing brands and driver sizes, like Mesa 115 on an SWR410.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,518
- 19,954
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Just curious, but what do you think that a SM stack would bring to the table that you can't get out of the BB2? And of course this is in the context of your personal preferences, I know. My time with the (wonderful!) FR800 has me itching to try out a BB2 with all of my favorite heads.
Just curious, but what do you think that a SM stack would bring to the table that you can't get out of the BB2? And of course this is in the context of your personal preferences, I know. My time with the (wonderful!) FR800 has me itching to try out a BB2 with all of my favorite heads.
Probably should've expanded on that to begin with. I find myself primarily playing at home. I'm not ripping down walls, but my neighbors are quite tolerant. There's something punchy about the single SM at lower volumes that the BB2 doesn't seem to do. The BB2 has a bigger low end and it is gorgeous at higher volumes, but it can get a tad unruly at practice levels. I've added a Gramma Pad under it and now the bass doesn't quite rattle the walls the way it did before. I've also added a Super Symmetry comp to my chain and the small cab low volume punch of the SM seems to be something I can get out of the BB2 now by dialing in compression. Obviously, the BB2 and an 800w amp isn't a practice rig, so I'm nit picking my driveway cornering while running a Lamborghini.
Based on having a SM&SC stack and the volume of those cabs alone, I think I could've met my volume needs with a SM stack. Factor in the SM stack would get me 800w vs 400w into the BB2.
The BB2 does cover my volume needs when rehearsing with a stupid loud 2-guitar rock/metal act where I run a GB Shuttle 9.0 into it and play synth and sampled sounds via my laptop.
I think the BB2 is a hair on the bulky side for me. Keep in mind that I'm a 40 year old dude who snapped his neck and was paralyzed from the neck down and still suffers partial paralysis. I think the 2 SM haul might work out better in some ways.
Hope that fine tuned my earlier post.
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- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,518
- 19,954
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Ive been having a hard time with my BB2 recently. Its not the cab, at all, but over the past 3 rehearsals ive not got a decent tone other than when standing next to or in front of the cab.
Same room as always, amp EQ flat as always, but ive been using my Jazz bass. Its like the room is sucking all the mid range out of the tone. Its very, very bright, and there is some low end mud, but thats about it. Top end is coming through if i slap or dig in with a pick, but there is no punch at all.
This is about 20ft from the cab, and at gig levels. All i can put it down to is the bass. everything else is the same as always.
I dont love the cab any less, but its a bit soul destroying after such a great start with it.
Same room as always, amp EQ flat as always, but ive been using my Jazz bass. Its like the room is sucking all the mid range out of the tone. Its very, very bright, and there is some low end mud, but thats about it. Top end is coming through if i slap or dig in with a pick, but there is no punch at all.
This is about 20ft from the cab, and at gig levels. All i can put it down to is the bass. everything else is the same as always.
I dont love the cab any less, but its a bit soul destroying after such a great start with it.
Have you tried rolling down the horn crossover? You'll give up some sparkly top but I've found the presence of the mids becomes more evident.
That said, I've had that problem with J basses. Have you tried changing to different strings? If you run stainless, some growly nickels might help.
Thanks. I did adjust the horn both ways but found it didnt help much.
The jazz bass has the same strings on as my P, XL's. The P sounds so much punchier. Its not a big deal if it is just the jazz, as i was only messing about using the Jazz, but it put a downer on the rehearsals.
Back to the P (in fact my new Sandblasted P
at the next rehearsal.
Just picked up a 110 to match my 69er and 810. Here is a thread I started.
@alexclaber nailed another one and he and the whole company have my sincere thanks for how totally cool they have been to me.
NCD: Barefaced Bass 110
@alexclaber nailed another one and he and the whole company have my sincere thanks for how totally cool they have been to me.
NCD: Barefaced Bass 110
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Just put a deposit down for a SM...should arrive in time for my monthly gig in April. Stoked!
Thanks. I did adjust the horn both ways but found it didnt help much.
The jazz bass has the same strings on as my P, XL's. The P sounds so much punchier. Its not a big deal if it is just the jazz, as i was only messing about using the Jazz, but it put a downer on the rehearsals.
Back to the P (in fact my new Sandblasted P
IME, there is a huge difference in the mids going from a P to a J and vice versa.
Boost those mids for the J. If you're running both pickups full on you're getting a little bit of a mid scoop, so try slightly favoring one pickup over the other.
I go back and fourth from a J to a P to a Stingray all the time. I'll typically use one style for a few weeks or months straight and then switch it up. It takes a little while for my ears to get used to the difference in tone, then I fall in love with it and just keep rolling until I feel like switching it up.
I've been thinking about getting a compressor... generally do fine without one, but what got me thinking about it was, just as you describe, when trying out my new MB Fusion 800 at home with the BB2, the sounds gets huge and expansive, which would play well at gig volumes but doesn't seem tight at high volumes when playing alone at home. I think this generally true of using any high-powered set-up alone at home. Mine is a somewhat silly reason since, as you said, this is a gig rig and not a practice rig... but got me thinking about trying compression and seeing if I like it and find it to be generally useful. I've never had one other than built-ins on an amp. Super Symmetry is on my list at this point so thanks for sharing your BB2/Super Symmetry experiences.
A small suggestion for the users who find the cab to have too much bass... EQ the bass down a tiny bit. I'd much rather have more at my disposal than I need, than not enough. Like you, I have started using a Gramma pad and that makes a difference in getting a nice punchy but solid-bottom tone. I have been a 4x10 user until getting the BB2 so I am still adjusting a bit to the sonic differences thereof.
I am still very pleased with how great the low end sounds at all spots in the room, it just seems to fill the room without being muddy. I generally use a Jazz or Jazz-style bass and don't have too much trouble dialing a tone I like. I do use less mid-cut with the BB2 than I do with other cabs, but there's no problem with that-- any and all gear needs to be set appropriately for the combination of gear one is using. I do find throwing the PU balance a bit to the neck gets a pretty good tone out of BB2 for me.
alexclaber
Commercial User
It's the Jazz bass. I'm guessing you have both pickups pretty much up full? Instant midrange suck!
These days I'm mainly playing bass trough my 210, but I think the SS works similarly trough the BB2. I was having the same issue with the 210.
Speaking of 210, I was going to also say to @dave_bass5 that, in addition to EQ'ing the bass itself w/ pickup balance (as Alex suggests) and/or EQ'ing the amp, one could go with a Two10, if that's the tone one likes... I do love my One10 tone, but for me the BB2 does it all. I think I'd also love the Two10 since it'd have the One10 tone but more ability to push it in loud, full-throttle environments.
I will definitely check out the Super Symmetry, thanks monster.
Yeah, I roll my bridge pickup off about 20%, which eliminates the mid suck and fattens the tone. You could also bump the lower-mid and mid frequencies slightly on your amp. That's the key difference of a P-bass; it automatically adds those frequencies, which create the perceived punch and thump. The speaker is simply projecting what you put into it.
Also, is your bass active? If the battery is low, that can affect the tone.
