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[b][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]NCD - Barefaced Two10: UPDATE[/font][/b] [font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][url="http://barefacedbass.com/product-range/retro-two10.htm"]http://barefacedbass...retro-two10.htm[/url][/font][list] [*][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][b]Dimensions:[/b] 15" X 24" X 13" (38cm X 61cm X 33cm)[/font] [*][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][b]Weight:[/b] 28lbs (13kg)[/font] [*][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][b]Sensitivity[/b]: 98db[/font] [*][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][b]Usable Frequency Range:[/b] 30Hz - 6kHz[/font] [*][b]Drivers:[/b][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif] 10CR250 10" X 2[/font] [*][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][b]Amp Power:[/b] 100-500W RMS (safe up to 800W with clean sounds)[/font] [*][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][b]Output:[/b] -125db[/font] [*][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][b]Impedance:[/b] 4 ohms[/font] [*][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][b]Price:[/b] £519 + shipping + cloth grille = £588[/font] [/list] [b]UPDATE:[/b] I've now given the cab a good gigging and my impressions are thus:[list] [*]It go very loud [*]Dispersion is superb, bass can be heard everywhere on stage and in the room [*]It's very light and portable and the build quality is excellent [*]The 4-ohm version is the perfect one-cab gigging solution - for me [*]Baked-in tone is lush, almost 'vintage' - but with fast attack, clarity and articulation [*]Handles huge amounts of power without farting - big lows on tap if you want them [*]Perfect for my thing, which is a P Bass strung with La Bella Flats [*]Barefaced customer service second to none [/list] I play with a drummer who can get loud (too loud), but so far it has not been deemed necessary to go FOH with the bass. I can be clearly heard in the mix at all positions in the room. This using a 500W @ 4ohms Markbass SA450 with the master set no higher than the 10 o'clock position. So I've had it a while, gigged with it for a while and in conclusion - I don't have cab GAS... at the moment. If for some insane reason I needed to get louder (why??) I'd buy another Two10 and an Ampeg V-4B 100W valve amp. Now that would make your nose bleed. Recommended.

[quote name='Bbiigg Kev' timestamp='1486896948' post='3235280'] There is no reason to accept sub standard performance, unless your doing his Mrs [/quote] Not even then.

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1486736700' post='3234234'] Anyone who thinks class D amps lack heft clearly haven't tried one of these little beauties. [/quote] Quite. I thought the whole 'preamp valves run at high voltage' speil was pure marketing, but no. Mr Gallien has something there. Most 'hybrid' amps with a valve in the pre are no such thing - they are solid-state amps that happen to have a valve in them for marketing purposes. Same with many so-called 'valve preamp pedals'. I don't include the Noble, though - I believe that also runs its valve at high voltage.

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' timestamp='1486727708' post='3234133'] ...the ADI-21 (the brown acoustic equivalent to the BDI) really warms up an electric upright bass... [/quote] Is it really brown, or..? [quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' timestamp='1486727708' post='3234133'] ...anyone actually ever had a behringer pedal's housing disintegrate underfoot? [/quote] No, but if you get them wet they do take a while to dry out.

[quote name='chrisd783' timestamp='1486724090' post='3234077'] ...the casings are made from what appears to be compressed toilet paper... is that really an issue? [/quote] Not at all - the BDI-21 is like a Swiss Army Knife. You can use it to warm up your tone, go DI through the desk if you're amp fails and if you get taken short at a venue with poor facilities you can wipe your arse with it as well.

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1486724913' post='3234087'] I couldn't be happier with it [BB2] both bands were equally impressed & amazed with how good it sounds. [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]My amplifier is GK MB Fusion 800.[/font][/color] [/quote] I'm not surprised you're happy with your BB2, but let's not forget the role of your Fusion in all this - that is one hell of an amp!

[quote name='rmorris' timestamp='1486720153' post='3234036'] With DRIVE reduced they do a great job imho. [/quote] +1 Definitely. I find subtle settings work best. The overall effect of the unit on your signal depends on the relative positions of the Level and Blend controls. Having everything whacked up to 11 isn't going to work too well...

[quote name='JoeEvans' timestamp='1481067883' post='3189533'] Does anyone else get that kind of random but really specific obsession...? [/quote] Ha, ha! Basschat is the HOME of the random but really specific obsession!

Sounds like a slapback echo to me. Perfect for that Dick Dale sound, as you demonstrated...

[quote name='Lee-Man' timestamp='1486570617' post='3232889'] Neither, its Hurley being a kickass player. Great musician. [/quote] Exactly the point I made at the end of post #23. But it can't hurt to be recorded well, I'm sure.

Definitely an advocate here. Works best for me using fairly subtle settings and easy on the Blend control. Warms up a solid-state amp very nicely. The price is a bit of a red herring, the BDI stands on its own merits and competes on its own terms. However at £25 there's really no reason not to have one permanently in your gig bag.

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1486556966' post='3232713'] ...there is nothing special or magic about having multiple drivers, multiple cabs or even both. Conversely there is nothing intrinsically limiting about having "only a 112" - if its loud enough to do the job then you not missing out on any magic by not using more speakers/cabs. [/quote] I also find that two 112 cabs (for example) make the sound somehow 'bigger', even at a comparable volume level. However I'm prepared to accept that this may be because the top cab is now nearer my ear-holes and can be heard better, or at least differently.

Schroeder also make some very good cabs. They tend to have something of a Marmite reputation and can be a little quirky, but if one happens to suit your purpose then nothing else will come close. I still miss mine, especially the 1212L, which I stupidly sold. Difficult to try though, unless you can find someone in your area who would be willing to let you have a go.

Other brands are available... good cabs are also made by Markbass, Bergantino, and on and on. I like Markbass cabs very much too... when a Barefaced isn't available. But don't read too much into the specs and certainly don't take them as gospel - what counts is how a cab performs in the real world. Having said that, Barefaced specs tend to be a little less, er... [i]cavalier with the truth [/i]than some brands can be...

Stand by for lots of pro and anti opinions and suggestions. The best thing you can do is try one. Personally I like barefaced cabs a lot. Some people don't. But then some people have actually tried them and others haven't. Good luck.

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1486229827' post='3230220'] I think knot! [/quote] I tree what you did there.

Shoreline Gold. That is all.

Having said that, this example does sound very good. But is that down to the Noble, or the £1m SSL desk..? [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhCp3xLoZXQ&feature=youtu.be&list=PLf4nAblUKdMyh2_D4JjSkCWxzUDF01Yzl[/media]

[quote name='Kevsy71' timestamp='1486416210' post='3231650'] [url="https://soundcloud.com/the_expandables/sets/noble-preamp-clips"]https://soundcloud.c...le-preamp-clips[/url] [/quote] Thanks for taking the time to record these clips - very interesting. The problem I have - at least as far as warm, clean sounds go - is that I seem to be able to reproduce much of what any external pre-amp can do with the existing pre in my SA450. I'm not saying I'd easily be able to match the Noble (and the Noble certainly sounds spiffy in isolation) but when all's said and done - and played and recorded and mixed - is it really worth the considerable outlay..? Having bought, tried and then sold many preamps and sound-shapers over the years, I suspect that in the end, how a bass sounds is ultimately down to the skill, technique and feel of the player.

I've been looking at the Noble, too. Or a PF50-T. What to do? Be good to hear some sound clips recorded in this parish. The Noble clips sound excellent, but you'd expect that really.

[quote name='Cosmodog' timestamp='1486150627' post='3229717'] Arrived on Wednesday. No.195 [/quote] Nice. It's a looker. And I can imagine how it sounds.