ukbassboy

Two amps - Genz Benz Shuttlemax 12.0 (1200w) and MB Nano Mk2 and two cabs Barefaced Big One and Barefaced Big Baby 2.  Gives me three options:

1) Nano + BB2 for small pub gigs. 

2) GB + Big One for functions. 

3) GB + Big One and BB2 for outside gigs. 

We use iems and have a decent PA too, but the rest of the band still prefer lots of sound on stage with the PA just filling in. 

7 hours ago, MacDaddy said:

 

Yup, can't imagine anyone doing that!

 

 

 

 

Just because you're doing it, doesn't mean there is sense to it 😉😂

Well, there's one choice, get a better amp... 

This is not very helpful at all as a comment, but I remember seeing someone in here a little while back who had found a bag that fitted the One10 very nicely, so it had straps etc on too. Sorry I can't be more helpful than that, but they looked pretty useful! 

Edit: this is the thread with the bags! Cajon bags from Amazon by the sounds of it? 

On 26/05/2023 at 18:30, BassmanPaul said:

It's very unlikely to be class A!  Too inefficient for a bass amp.

Anything other than Class D would also go massively against what Barefaced stand for - Small, light, loud. No sense buying a One10 and paring it up with an amp as big and heavy! 

20 hours ago, Downunderwonder said:

BF had one and dropped it when it didn't sell enough to warrant the inventory costs.

I think I read somewhere that the power amp manufacturer stopped making the amp he was using, so if true that probably helped the decision.

On 27/05/2023 at 18:21, Dan Dare said:

Make your own. If you're using Speakons (which you should be - Bigguy2017 is correct above), you don't even need to be able to solder. If you can strip insulation with a sharp blade and use a screwdriver, you're good to go and you'll save yourself some cash.

I'm with you - I made some new speakon (by far the better connector) cables recently and it was super easy. Nice to be able to fettle the length yourself and get them exactly how you want them. 

This guy's video was very helpful... 

I know it's got a few dings in the paint, but even so this is a fantastic price for one of these. Seen some asking for £700 recently, but suspect they've settled for a little lower. This won't be around long and if I hadn't of bought a BB2 last month I'd already be on my way down the A3 to you! 

4 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Just a helpful suggestion.

Maybe add a bit more detail if you can.

i.e.    dimensions, weight, watts. etc

It would save people having to do a search to get all the specs.

I'm not up to speed with Barefaced cabs but i hear great things about them.

Seems like a good price for a Barefaced 2x12 cab to be fair.

GLWTS

Dave

To be fair, BF don't have that many models of cabs that someone looking for one probably knows roughly which one they want based on size etc. 

2 hours ago, Sparky Mark said:

Minor errors in specs shown above. Power amp is 500 watts not 1500 watts. Horn amp is 50 watts not 250 watts. 

Dammit, thought I'd finally found a power amp to challenge my Barefaced cab 😉

I don't want a Stingray, but I have a Bongo 5HH is discontinued Desert Gold without a single mark on it I'd consider parting with for the right price. 

I'd just learn to play a 5 string properly...

2 hours ago, BassmanPaul said:

I think BFM said all that needed saying in his post above.

 

Funny, I was just thinking everyone seems to be missing the point of the OPs post about having a rig that is good for bass and sax. How does "a combo intended for acoustic guitar" meet that intent? Or have I missed read the OPs question entirely? 

I've not experience with sax, but I'd imagine you want something pretty flat to retain the tone of the sax. In terms of a cab something like a Barefaced Big Baby 2 or 3 offers loads of output, is pretty much full range flat response and is very light and compact. I'm sure it with do a fab job of both bass and sax with the right head. 

There's someone in the market place selling a Genz Benz Shuttlemax 12.2 and GB 2x12 speaker for something like £650. If was after an instant one stop function band setup I'd jump at that. I've been using the Shuttlemax 12.0 for 15 ish years and it is superb. Small, light, ridiculous amounts of power and flexibility (1200w if you have two 4ohm speakers!) and separate tube and mosfet channels. I run my Stomp into that and when required run a pre-eq DI out to PA. My speaker is a Barefaced which is also superb, but you pay big money for those used - the GB that comes in that rig isnt quite as light as a BF, but will likely be all the speaker you'll ever need for a function band. 

Of course, there are all sorts of options, but having done functions for years the key traits I'd be looking for a small, light and simple. 

Trust me, lifting heavy gear doesn't get any better with time - the lightest gear is generally more expensive, but imho worth it. I've got a Mark Bass Nano 2 which kicks out 300w at 1.4kg and, as the name suggests, is tiny. That is great for small pubs and practices so when something bigger is required I have a Genz Benz Shuttlemax 12.0 which gives me 1200w (provided I have two cabinets) and weighs 3kgs. It really is incredible what they can do size vs weight vs power wise these days!

I see the recommendation above about about an FRFR - I have a Line 6 Helix Stomp so looked at that route, but ultimately decided there weren't enough advantages over just getting a small used bass head and bass cabinet. It might have been tempted if the Barefaced FR800 still existed though!  

If you want more power than you'll ever need for little money then a there's a Bugera Veyron in the marketplace for like £170 delivered. Claims to put out 2000w but that is peak, realistically it's going to give you around 700w which is still huge! It's not a high end brand that people will gush at, but those that have tried them seem pretty impressed, and they are pretty small and light (in comparison to most things, not so much the Elf). 

Another option for cheap, small form-factor power is the Harley Benton B800 - that has the same 800w Icepower Class D power amp that many of the big brands are using but at a fraction of the price. 

Both options will give you more power than you'll likely ever need - if you need more, then you probably need a PA. The only question is whether you can dial in a tone you like. You could probably try the likes of a used Bugera Veyron and shift it on for the same price, so very low risk to have a play and see what you think. 

Which cabinet to go for is a bigger minefield IMHO! 

16 hours ago, TheGreek said:

Have a look at the previous Yamaha range - TRB rather than TRBx, BB or BBG5s, Lakland Skyline and Sire range. All good value basses and all lots of bass for your buck. I also like my Squire Dimension which for some reason have become available for next to nothing. Again, a lot of bass for you buck.

 

Check out YT for "The Floating Thumb" technique - will significantly help with bumm notes. I stumbled with 5ers till I learned this.

Completely agree with this. I own a few 5s and the Yamaha TRB is by far the best. I played a TRBX605 and TRB1005 in the Yamaha store in London the other day and both were great; if anything I preferred the cheaper 605. 

I'd keep an eye out on here, FB and eBay for a good used Yamaha TRB or TRB ii. They are old basses now so I'd want to see one in person to make sure frets etc aren't overly worn, but they are superbly manufactured basses with a versatile preamp which sounds like it will hit the sort of sounds the OP is after. A good TRB may well be the best/last bass they ever have to buy! And if not, well they are going up in value now, so shouldnt lose out at all if they have to move it on. 

Shame the price is firm, I'd totally have given you £794 😉

Quite impressive these if you like the form factor. They put out 140w at 8ohm vs my 300w Mark Bass Nano 2 which only puts out 150w at 8ohm. If you are mostly running into an 8ohm cab then these are probably a little better output wise than some of the other micro options. 

I'm listening to the Alfredo Rodriguez trio, saw them on a FB add of all places and have been really enjoying it. Very chilled jazz with some great bass playing. The slightly odd thing about this is my normal muscial norm is Tool... 

Hard to see from the pics, what is the fretboard made of? Ive got a 5pii with an ebony board which I love. 

This is an absolutely stunning bass - I barely know what to do with 5 strings let alone 7 so it's not for me, but so much gorgeous bass for the money! 

Gone already. 

1 hour ago, agedhorse said:

Surrey Amps in the UK are qualified to troubleshoot and repair Genz Benz products, I can provide factory support and parts directly to them.

Super useful to know - less than a mile away! Not that I'm hoping my amp needs them any time soon...