Ander87

You do have a very, very fair point, to which I say...: 1. I think we, as a whole and generally, are aprehensive to have a ´big gig´where our gear doesn´t perform 2. We also hope that we will have huge gigs were we have a full stack of sonic blast behind us 3. Whilst the two first points are more ´just love for gear´, the realistic and valid point is that often, the bigger the concert: The stage is bigger, I use my rig as reference to hear / monitor myself, and rely on it more than the actual PA/monitor More dispersion and more factors will affect your tone... You´ll have the PA and whatnot but I´d always want to hear myself properly if that makes sense? ie. if open air the sound will be travelling in more directions and so on... I think so many times our fears and ´needing bigger gear´ can well be unfunded, but I wouldn´t totally discard it. Your rig is often very good monitor for your bandmates too if you´re short of monitors around the stage too... I do think just the BB2 will do me good for all I am realistically planning to do with it, but I´ll admit I´m teased to have 2x BB2´s same as I haven´t deleted fully from my mind the thought of the BT2... Ander.

Thank you for this Mudpup! Yep, I think my heart wanted/wants the Big Twin II but the brain wants the Big Baby II. I was very averse to going modular but like I've read in posts about this conversation, it is good to turn up to a knife fight with a gun (BB2), but not a bazooka (BT2)...! And when the time is right I can add another one for large gigs and outdoor festivals... ... venues don't always let me use my DG210N especially for short sets as opener etc, it'd fosters me off massively to not be able to use the BT2 just because it's bigger yet - throwing more money at it and depending on house gear... Nobody would go against me using the BB2 being a tad smaller than the Darkglass. I was also concerned about projection - whilst I'm sure the BT2 has better projection, I need to remember the BB2 is just 5cm/2" shorter than my Darkglass 2x10 and I can hear myself okay with it at 250w, I should not have a problem with my Eich's 600w on a BB2. Also the Eich makes more sense if I go modular... 1 cab and 600w for most gigs, big big ones 2 cabs and 900w...

Thank you my friend - I've been fighting the concept of 2 cabs but hey, I may just have to in the future... It does seem that for most medium sized pub gigs we have (50 to 200 folk) I should be grand with a single BB2... ... And, when the bigger gig comes, I'll consider a 2nd BB2 to essentially make a Big Twin II both tweetered... It just came to me that for a regular sized SUV, I can probably fit 2 BB2's easier than a single BT2 forcing tilting angling or potentially having to bring down seats etc... Also, well, the BB2 is on a silver cloth grill which I fancy more 🥰 although I should know that's not the biggest factor!!! I'll keep you guys posted...! Ander.

Well, to reopen the debate, update and spice things up... Turns out the seller of the Big Twin II does have a Big Baby II, both gen 3, and is happy to sell me either. This has now become one of those Big Twin II vs Big Baby II threads, welcome! I have used the search button extensibly and I know I'll have the answer once I try them both end of this week, but thoughts are more than welcome! I've read from folk that have had a play with a BB2 in a hangar with no PA, but I guess the pros are: 1. Portability (a BB2 will fit so easily on my car, easier than my current DG210n!) 2. Being so small I won't have trouble in using it for every gig as opposed to the 'use the house amp, your amp is too big' situations... 3. Weight is less important in that I drive 90% of the times I'm bringing a cab... but yes, we're looking at 22kg vs 12kg (cloth version BB2 vs grill BT2); it will be handy in one way or another, my bandmates won't need to help me load/unload and I won't have to pass by the venue to unload before looking for a parking spot... Cons... 1. Of course it won't look as deadly as the BT2 which offers cons to the portability and usability mentioned before ('oh, sorry, too big an amp, use the house amp') 2. How's the dispersion of a 1x12? Especially against my experience with 2x10s... I know Barefaced mention the BB2 competes with 2x12s and 4x10s which sounds plenty especially as I'd be shooting 600w vs 250w, but it is still a 1x12... I wouldn't want to hear myself less than a 2x10 being that low/little? With my amp I'd be running the BB2 @ 8ohm, 600w, or BT2 @ 4ohm, 900w... This is coming from a 500w amp @ 8ohm hence 250w out of the 2x10 cab where I would at most reach 5/10 volume... I of course do not want to discard the BT2, I'm drooling for an authoritative stack like that and the confidence that I won't be ever needing any other cab, but the reality is I would be using PA out of the DI in 95% of gigs, the occasional 5% without PA will be for the neosoul/Rnb stuff ala Sofar Sounds / NPR Tiny Desk, the BB2 @ 600w should warrant enough on that end without a PA... Thoughts? Best, Ander.

Hmmmm....! Yep I had a look at the data that I could understand and the articles from Barefaced... I know myself and I won't be lugging more than one 2x12, I wanted a one cab solution - I'm really playing it safe as the DG 210 is fantastic, but since I'm selling the amp thought I'd refresh the cab.... Freq range, sensibility etc seems like Barefaced beats on all ends for that...

Thank you!! I ended up going for an Eich T900. I had very good memory of it, I had it a couple years ago and loved how portable it is and super super clear and responsive - this suits me considering I'm using the HX Effects for all the colouring (effects, Ampeg/Sansamp/Darkglass drives...). I like Aguilar but had the feeling Eich would always give me a 'blanker' canvas to paint on. On that note, I love the look of those royal purple Aguilars but haven't seen even regular 2x12's second hand.... and that's a hurting £1100 cheapest I've found...! I've seen a Barefaced Big Twin II and I'll be going for it. It is a 900w behemoth at 4ohm alongside the Eich, but a 'better than FRFR' cab that I can even throw IR's through from the HX Effects - that way I can either colour or not or change my cabs setup or just use it without IR's/cabsims with the Big Twin II... after all it can even be used as a PA with that 30hz-20khz range... and I was offered it second hand which saves me a good pinch, £825 for a £1310 cab with cover.... I can't be more pleased! Now I'm just doing maths to see if I can fit it in the boot of the CX-5 comfortably alongside the bass Best, Ander.

Ooooooft!!! It’s such a beauty!

show us!!

Yep! noticed this! they have the AT212 slim on sale, pretty attractive! No porting though, and I have had a mediocre experience with too small enclosures. Not saying that's the case of GR at all, but my DB Elbee cab, 2x10, was farting out bassy notes with an ultra clean Eich T900 working at 600w / 8ohm. Even at 'slightly pushed' home volume levels, it would behave quite okay and sound nice and sweet but still, the moment you'd EQ bass/lo-mids over 2pm on the amp it's start distorting a bit... They're fantastic weight and I am shocked we live in a world where a 2x12 can rate 900w and weight 12.9kg. Tempting, very, but I think I've less likelihood to fail / more chances to success and not move/trade/deal gear back and forth with Barefaced. Or, at least for longer Best, Ander.

Hey Dan! Totally considered this actually. Having said that, I was too teased into the features and fame I’ve read about Barefaced to warrant giving them a try. Also it’s 500w at 8ohm where my amp delivers 600w. I’m 95% it’d be more than fine but I guess I want to play it safe and not feel like I’m overwhelming the cab on the long run. I think I’m too intrigued by the praise received by the BF BT2 to ignore this chance, Thinking about it I could always downgrade to a super twin or other amps. things I would’ve wanted to try or consider, the matching Eich 1210 and bergantinos essentially… but a good deal on a Big Twin is something I better not miss on…! Will report on it once I pull the trigger. Best, Ander.

I would first think whether you want a clean sound to colour over with effects/pedals, or to the contrary get a ‘coloured’ amp. if you get a coloured amp and add pedals and distortions etc to it it may happen that you find it too overcoloured so to speak. my take, and going to the point, if you want a coloured amp, Aguilar has great quality. Also Darkglass comes with an awful lot of options and bells and whistles. (I’m selling the newest one/sold out in warranty but that’s another talk I guess 😉). if you want a solid canvas, clean with lots of headroom… Eich T500 should do you well. I got the T900 again just a couple days ago and it’s my reference for that kind of sound. Best, Ander.

I assumed so and typed along that…!

Ah cheers Dan, definitely my angle!! I have darkglass b7k, ampeg, sansamp preamps on the HX effects which is all I’d need, then add chorus reverb delay octaver where and if appropriate… all the colour I would want from the HX Effects, layered over a reliable/responsive/big headroom sound courtesy of the Eich/cab.

Ah, indeed I've noticed these - specially the 2nd hand AT 212 Slim, 900w @ 4ohm. Experiences on this? I had a tiny enclosure DB Elbee bass with my past Eich T900 and despite the spec handling it (2x10, 600w and 8ohm) it was 'farting out' / distorting when the bass was boosted - I know this is not the same, but for the price I am seeing on this GR AT212 I can get the Big Twin II. My point is I am not sure that the smallest, non ported enclosure is best to push out such high SPL/wattage. As it stands, I guess I could do with a Big Baby 2 at 600w but I am more inclined to have a 2 driver design, more height to hear myself, more dispersion etc... For the price of the good quality 2x12 I've found at 8ohm, I might as well get the 4ohm versions at 2x12 too etc - even if I don't go past 10 o'clock on that volume... Not a problem since it's not a valve amp. So...: * GR AT212 Slim - carbon line * Barefaced Super Twin - I've been offered the Super Twelve T, that'd save me some £200 against the one below... * Barefaced Big Twin II gen3 - probs what I'd consider top and best of my options I would of course be open to an Eich 1210 if 2nd hand... And weight wise, the lower the better of course but I find up to 22kg reasonable, I drive to 'near venue' 90% of the time and from there my good band mates lend me a hand and/or I use a small trolley.

Ah! Looks stunning! I am nonetheless looking into a slim/portable amp to take to rehearsals, and a one cab solution for gigs/festivals/everything. Just gone for the Eich T900 which I used to put in my gigbag, that'll be something I'm looking forward to having again. With that in mind, only the cab dilemma to solve as above Thanks!

Hey Dan, thank you...! You have very valid points and similar to what I thought in terms of taste of the Aguilars etc. Having the Darkglass all flat, in all honesty, feels like a waste of a great amp! Rather invest in having what I don't use. Funny enough, I have found a great deal on an Eich T900 about same price as the T500 and couldn't resist pulling the trigger on it - I've had this amp before and always have loved the huge headroom I could pull out of it and the ease to dial the EQ in. That means, I'm just open to cabs, which funny enough is more of a headache! I have either 600w at 8ohm or 900w on 4ohm. Both overkill for my use but rather have too much than too little, and I know the Eich is a base bass tone I can rely on for my taste. With that in mind and looking around, seems like I have a Big Baby T available that'd do the 8ohm/600w thing, or go overboard with a Big Twin II @ 900w/4ohm; the second is definitely overkill but I'm very tempted/leaning towards this... I fail the principle of trying the Barefaced amps (I've not done so before) but having found these 2nd hand I would not be losing money as these have great reputation. Having said that, I guess I'm opening the debate of 600w/1x12+ vs a 900w/2x10/12 etc and what cab would I want.... Judging from the blurb from Barefaced page and their customers / reviews here, seems like these guys would offer punch and crisp highs / definition on a 12" format. PS I'm living in Northampton but pass by London here and there, would defo pop in for a try on my return in early January!. Ander.

Hey guys, So I play punk rock and neosoul in two bands. I have a Darkglass DG210N and a Microtubes 500v2. Fancy piece of kit with cab sim, compressor, EQ, different distortions, etc. I introduced a HX Effects recently and find myself using the compressor, distortion and effects built in there, making my DG rig redundant in many ways. I thought I'd simplify my amplifier rig with a different setting since... Amp wise: * Attracted to coming back to Eich with a T-500. I had a T-900 and loved the headroom - it was pretty sterile but lots of quality and punch/body - I don't mind that it's that 'clean' since I'd be using the HX effects for the Ampeg and Darkglass B7k built in etc etc * Potentially Aguilar, either TH500 or AG700... I know these amps are much more coloured, and I don't need the drive circuit, but this amp seems very well suited to my genres? Cab wise: * Tecamp 212, Aguilar SL212, 210, Barefaced Two10s or 2nd hand Barefaced.... Could an Eich 1210 be the answer? I feel pretty troubled there; I've always played 2x10s but I kinda feel I could do with more bass and body as in my bands bass drives the bands, but I don't want to miss on definition since I have pretty melodic parts and phrases too. I would want to run my gigs with one cab alone, we often play small venues but have also done festivals and Scala etc so either 250w @ 8ohm with a great great cab, or my inclination to play safe, a 4 ohm cab so I can squeeze the full 500w of these amps It interests me that it doesn't distort and takes well pedals and reproduces frequencies well. Thoughts? Ander. PS: trying to ignore how bloody cool the Royal Purple SL 212/210 from Aguilar would look with my purple bass.... I really am trying.