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TecAmp Puma 900/Barefaced Big Baby 2

H

Hambone 70

Guest
Sep 21, 2012
222
231
#1
Anyone rockin' this combination?

I have budgeted $2000 for an amp/cab setup. I have looked at a Subway setup, Aguilar, etc... all the main players.

But I would like something a little bit different. I would also like to use it as an e-drum monitor, perhaps even as a rehearsal mini-PA. Portability is an issue, too.

Comments appreciated!
 
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#2
Can't comment on the Barefaced cabs, have never heard them, only heard and read about them.
However, I used to gig the Puma 900 for a year, later sold it.
I suppose you've done some research here on TB regarding the Puma.
My 2 cents:
Very clean (as in not dirty/growly), modern, open, transparent and glassy sounding amp with an awesome slap tone.
IMO, you should be aware of that inherent tone. If that's what you want soundwise, the Puma is fantastic.
To me, it sounded so incredibly polite and smooth that I couldn't make it work for me. I like some Jaco / Gary Willis mid-low mid punch with some grind and growl. The Puma isn't designed for that.
However, I used the Puma for monitoring several times (drum computer, mp3s during bass lessons for instance) and it sounded really good.
Weight and form factor are great as well.
 
#3
If you're pretty sure about other uses, you might want to look at a powered Barefaced 1-12.

Barefaced Bass - FR800 high resolution active loudspeaker

Then you could use a pedal preamp or one of the other small preamp/di boxes.
Ampeg makes one, Mesa makes one (based off the D800), Tech 21 has several that would work from the Para Driver DI to the VT Bass DI, & I'm sure there are a bunch of others.
Or just get a dedicated Bass Preamp.
 
#5
caligula said:
Very clean (as in not dirty/growly), modern, open, transparent and glassy sounding amp with an awesome slap tone.
Click to expand...
I suppose all Class D amps will have that glassy, clinical sound. Isn't the only way to add some dirt/growl/bark with some kind of tube/DSP pre-amp?
John D Harris said:
If you're pretty sure about other uses, you might want to look at a powered Barefaced 1-12.
Click to expand...
That is an interesting solution. I don't like the "all your eggs in one basket" approach, though.
 
#6
Hambone 70 said:
I suppose all Class D amps will have that glassy, clinical sound. Isn't the only way to add some dirt/growl/bark with some kind of tube/DSP pre-amp?

[[re: powered Barefaced 12" cab 9FR800]]That is an interesting solution. I don't like the "all your eggs in one basket" approach, though.
Click to expand...

No matter what, for the most part and for most people, two eggs are going to be in one basket. It's only a question of which basket.

A standard amp has the pre-amp and power section in one box; if you want to change the pre-amp, you have to change the power section too. So, is it terribly different to have the power amp and the cab together in one box, and the pre-amp separate, rather than the power amp and pre-amp in one box, and the cab separate?

At least with the power amp in the cab box, you can easily and frequently change the pre-amp section-- which is where most of your amp tone is coming from, not the power stage (except for very loudly-driven all-tube amps where the power stage provides a bit of grit, when really effing loud).

Of course, the above does not apply if you intend to have a separate pre-amp, separate power amp, and unpowered cab. Then truly you have a basket for each egg. Which is deplorable :)

That said, I myself am comfortable with unpowered cabs because that's what I am used to. But the idea of TWO FR800's which can be a 1x bass cab rig, 2x bass cab rig, or a PA, is intriguing to me.

So anyway, one last thought-- I use a GK MB Fusion 800 with the Big Baby 2, Super Midget, etc, and it sounds pretty warm and articulate, what with the 3 AX7 tubes in the pre- section. It's not too glassy, and certainly warmer than a standard MB800.
 
#7
Plutonium244 said:
That said, I myself am comfortable with unpowered cabs because that's what I am used to. But the idea of TWO FR800's which can be a 1x bass cab rig, 2x bass cab rig, or a PA, is intriguing to me.
Click to expand...
True, that.

But how much bass tone is actually derived from 'traditional' bass cab drivers (speaker breakup, etc.) I don't suppose powered PA speakers would do that, especially if they're required to reproduce other full-range sounds, too.
 
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#8
Hambone 70 said:
True, that.

But how much bass tone is actually derived from 'traditional' cab drivers (breakup, etc.) I don't suppose powered PA speakers would do that, especially if they're required to reproduce other full-range sounds, too.
Click to expand...

The FR800 is in a sense a "traditional" bass driver, it's the same 12" as in the Big Baby 2, as undoubtedly you are aware. I don't expect or need "break-up" from my Big Baby 2; I want it to reproduce a signal that is input to it. I can give it some break-up elsewhere in the chain if that's what I want. If you want break-up from your bass driver and not other parts of the signal chain, then, as awesome as the BB2 is-- and it IS awesome-- maybe it (and FR800) isn't what you're looking for. The Barefaced 10's might be more suited, such as Four10 etc.

I am not pushing the FR800 idea necessarily; I have the BB2 and love it. A slightly warmer amp, say one with a tube pre-amp stage, can work great for getting warmth and an almost indiscernible about of edge with sharp attacks-- just how I like it. As I mentioned I use a GK MB Fusion 800, and I don't feel it gives a sterile or glassy performance; but any amp you like that has tubes in the pre- would likely do the same kind of thing. Honestly I think any quality amp will sound awesome with a BB2, and any quality pre-will sound good with an FR800.
 
#9
Hambone 70 said:
I suppose all Class D amps will have that glassy, clinical sound. Isn't the only way to add some dirt/growl/bark with some kind of tube/DSP pre-amp?
Click to expand...

IMO, not really. I have the Aggie TH 500 and the Kustom KXB 500, both are class-D and both sound very (!) different from the Puma 900; esp. the TH 500 is a completely different beast tonewise.
I checked out the Glockenkang Blue Rock and the Fender Rumble 500 (I think) a few weeks ago and they sounded different from the Puma and the other amps I've mentioned.
To me there are considerable differences regarding tone and the Puma is probably the most glassy and transparent ('clinical' is a good word in this context) class-D amp I've ever heard. Great for what it does, but not my cup of tea. For external monitoring, I'd say it's definitely a very good choice.
 
#10
I think it just comes down to what you want to hear. Some like the a grittier/ more tubey sound with some dirt, some like a more clean/ articulate and transparent sound. I prefer the latter myself. It also depends on what kind of music you're playing too. I used hybrid tube/SS amps in the past and was never happy with the sound because it sounded one way at home but totally different when pushed at louder volumes on a gig. Never really was a tube or tube emulator guy.
I use a Puma 900 and am very happy with it, but it may not work for you. I've tried pretty much every amp on the planet during the last 40 years. Started off with a 50 watt Gibson Thor 2x10 in the 70s (my only tube amp ever) after I got my my Acoustic 360 it's been solid state ever since. Your amp should give you the sound you hear in your head IMO.
 
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