If you took only 1 cab for a heavy rock gig...

[peteb]

15 hours ago, Bassy said:

I'm looking for a compact cab that could compete with 2 guitars and a heavy hitting drummer. Small clubs, pubs.

Is there a light, one cab solution, or is it x2 cabs, or 4x10, 2x12? i.e. would a Mesa subway 15 be enough? I need a cab that is clear enough if I'm DI'd for FOH, or no DI and still fill the room with low end.

 

I would say that a 1x15 would not be enough for a loud hard rock gig. The ideal would be a 4x10 (or even a 6X10), but a good 2x12 would work as well. 

 

[Bassy]

My previous cabs have been mesa boogie deisel 4x10 x2 - amazing sound but 50kg!

Eden D210XLT x2 - again excellent sound, but I can't keep lifting these monster cabs.

So I'm looking for a replacement. I've never played a 12 inch speaker?

[BigRedX]

Strange how people still think that the size of the individual speakers is the most important factor in how a cab will sound.

 

While the combined driver areas in all your cabs plus the x-max of those drivers will be important in the maximum loudness achievable, the "sound" of a cab is more influenced by its design - overall size/volume, port size and design, rigidity etc.

[Rodders]

Barefaced Super Twin 2x12 (18Kg with tilt back wheels) always worked for me playing Classic/Heavy Rock in pubs and clubs, they also do a tweeter version now too if needed. 

Now I have a 1x12 4ohm Schroeder playing stuff that is not so heavy, the Super Twin doesn't get much action but I will always hang on to it.  

[stevie]

20 hours ago, Beedster said:

I guess a lot of this comes down to what the OP sees as compact, not sure all the suggestions would meet my definition 🙂

 

I wouldn't call a 2x12 or a 4x10 a compact cab either.

 

I can confirm, however, that an LFSys Monaco will have no problem meeting the OP's needs - "a compact cab that can compete with 2 guitars and a heavy hitting drummer in small clubs, pubs". Especially with an 800W amp. In fact, I guarantee it.

[moley6knipe]

22 hours ago, Bassy said:

My amp is a Gallien Krueger legacy 800. It's a very nice amp with the GK eq from the 800rb. 800w, it's a bit overkill (and not just Lemmy).

The Barefaced BB2 works VERY nicely with a GK - I’m using an RB into mine. Once you’ve heard a BF 12” you won’t care that they don’t offer a 15, they’re outstanding cabs 

[moley6knipe]

@Bassy - if you’re anywhere near south Lincolnshire you’re welcome round mine to try it out!

[Bassy]

12 minutes ago, moley6knipe said:

@Bassy - if you’re anywhere near south Lincolnshire you’re welcome round mine to try it out!

Thanks for the offer, but I'm in London.

I'm getting more and more interested on the BF cabs.

[nikon F]

if you can get to north kent ive got a barefaced compact  ( 1x15 ) you can have a go on. depends on where you are in Londinion tho i suppose. 

 

 

11 hours ago, Bassy said:

Thanks for the offer, but I'm in London.

I'm getting more and more interested on the BF cabs.

 

[Bassy]

I've had a look at the BF videos over the last few days. I play alt-rock/punk with a P bass/plectrum, GK legacy 800 & lots of pedals - overdrive, synth, wha - so I have a fairly bright, overdriven sound.

The BF Two10 or the Super Compact sound like they have a low mid boost that I like. The SC sounded clearer, is that because of the tweeter? The big baby sounded a bit too flat frequency for me.

I'm thinking of 2 SCs or 2 Two10s - anyone playing these in a loud band? I'm not sure what cab type would replace a mesa boogie 4x10? This cab was clear with tons of low end.

[tauzero]

29 minutes ago, Bassy said:

I've had a look at the BF videos over the last few days. I play alt-rock/punk with a P bass/plectrum, GK legacy 800 & lots of pedals - overdrive, synth, wha - so I have a fairly bright, overdriven sound.

The BF Two10 or the Super Compact sound like they have a low mid boost that I like. The SC sounded clearer, is that because of the tweeter? The big baby sounded a bit too flat frequency for me.

I'm thinking of 2 SCs or 2 Two10s - anyone playing these in a loud band? I'm not sure what cab type would replace a mesa boogie 4x10? This cab was clear with tons of low end.

 

The BB2 I had had plenty of top end - the tweeter is adjustable. The BB3 also has a variable tweeter. And Alex has moved the BB handle to the top of the cab for the BB3 and made it recessed which would make it an easier carry than the BB2.

[Lozz196]

1 hour ago, Bassy said:

I've had a look at the BF videos over the last few days. I play alt-rock/punk with a P bass/plectrum, GK legacy 800 & lots of pedals - overdrive, synth, wha - so I have a fairly bright, overdriven sound.

The BF Two10 or the Super Compact sound like they have a low mid boost that I like. The SC sounded clearer, is that because of the tweeter? The big baby sounded a bit too flat frequency for me.

I'm thinking of 2 SCs or 2 Two10s - anyone playing these in a loud band? I'm not sure what cab type would replace a mesa boogie 4x10? This cab was clear with tons of low end.

I`ve had the 10s (Two10 & Six10) range from Barefaced and found the top end that I wanted to be just out of reach, they did seems to have that low-mid/hi-bass boost though. However with the 12s (Super Compact/Mini) the overall sound is clearer even without engaging the tweeter, they`re a much flatter response cab, and the top end is very clear indeed.

 

From the description of the sound of the Mesa 410 I`d think Super Compacts if wanting two cabs, maybe even BB3s as @tauzero suggests, they have even more low end to them.

[JPJ]

Really depends on where the gig is. Smaller gigs the best single cab I had was a Schroeder 21012 (a 2x10 + 1x12 on a slanted baffle).

For bigger gigs the best cab I’ve owned was the SWR Goliath Snr 6x10. That thing could rock hard all night and still come back for more.

[chris_b]

Any cab I use for extra loud, "heavy" gigs will have multiple drivers.

 

As I favour Barefaced 12" drivers my choice would probably be a BB3.

 

Blow the guitarists clean off the stage.

[Marvin]

Schroeder 1212L if you can find one. They're not very big, have a small footprint and loud. Size wise I'd say they're smaller than a Fender Rumble 210, not by much but smaller.

[WinterMute]

I ran a BF Big Twin T for years with a very heavy hitting drummer and a guitarist that was attempting to induce continental drift with his tone...

 

It never failed to compete, often effortlessly, and was frequently complimented for its clarity and punch in rehearsals and gigs.

 

If I ever go back to playing live it'll be with a BT3 and some monstrous power amp fronted by a Quad Cortex.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

On 18/12/2024 at 05:38, BigRedX said:

While the combined driver areas in all your cabs plus the x-max of those drivers will be important in the maximum loudness achievable, the "sound" of a cab is more influenced by its design - overall size/volume, port size and design, rigidity etc.

Every bass player should have Hoffman's Iron Law figuratively tattooed in their mind's eye. Whatever your guitar'd players are using you need twice that, unless by some miracle yours have volume controls that they don't always set to eleven. Your strings are neither the same length or diameter as guitar strings. The same physics that cause that also apply to your speakers.

[ossyrocks]

On 24/12/2024 at 10:22, Bassy said:

I've had a look at the BF videos over the last few days. I play alt-rock/punk with a P bass/plectrum, GK legacy 800 & lots of pedals - overdrive, synth, wha - so I have a fairly bright, overdriven sound.

The BF Two10 or the Super Compact sound like they have a low mid boost that I like. The SC sounded clearer, is that because of the tweeter? The big baby sounded a bit too flat frequency for me.

I'm thinking of 2 SCs or 2 Two10s - anyone playing these in a loud band? I'm not sure what cab type would replace a mesa boogie 4x10? This cab was clear with tons of low end.

 

There's lots of info here already, and I'm a bit late joining in. But since you've asked a specific question.

 

I've had quite a few BF cabs, One10's, Two10's, SCs and a Three10.

 

I also run GK amps (RB's) and often a P bass. I ran a pair of SCs for a while. I got them thinking they would be a bigger version of the 10, they are not.

BF 10 and 12 cabs are really very different from each other.

The 12s are almost full range and have a very clear hifi quality across all frequencies from deep lows up to the highs, and mine didn't have tweeters either.

The 10's on the other hand are an old school sound, round, warm, full, but less very low end and less top. To me, they are perfect, and reproduce the sound I hear in my head when I'm thinking about bass tone.

I now run a BF 3x10 and am very happy.

Rob

Edited December 29, 2024 by ossyrocks

[alexa3020]

On 18/12/2024 at 09:23, cetera said:

I use my GK's with a Genz Benz NX 2x12 cab. 600W, 4 ohms, reasonably lightweight and holds it's own easily in any rock band I've ever played in (and there have been quite a few). AB'd it with some friends and a Barefaced Big Twin and all agreed that it sounded better than the BF.

Look out for a used one (will be under £450 so a bargain).

I have the Genz Benz NX 2x12 and they blow the BF210/410 (Ive owned these) away imo - they are in a different league. That said, I would presume they NX range are more similar to the BF12 range (which ive never used) - so maybe not a fair comparison.

I picked mine up for £350 2nd hand which is so much cheaper than equivalent BF.

I think it would work in any band  situation

Edited December 29, 2024 by alexa3020