BF Super Twin - Downsizing

[nancyraygun]

Hello all... at the moment I am rocking a BF Super Twin and Fender Rumble head... I love the sound but the cab is completely overkill. Has anyone on here downsized to a Super Compact (BB3 is a bit out of my price range) with success? I play in loudish rock bands, but every gig has PA cover.

 

I'm also considering the Fender Rumble 800 combo - i'm guessing this would be a mid point between the SC and ST...?

 

Cheers all...

[nancyraygun]

loudish = 1 guitar with a 2x12 30w valve amp.
completely overkill = if I can get something with slightly less output at reduced weight (my back is knackered) then happy days

[JapanAxe]

I don’t think you’ll save much weight downsizing from the Super Twin. The cloth front version only weighs 17kg plus as you know it has wheels on it. But I’d suggest the Two 10 (13kg - cloth front, no tweeter) as long as you don’t give it more than 500W.

[chris_b]

If your back is knackered I'd switch to 2 BF 112 cabs. My back is shot so I usually gig a Super Compact with a Super Midget. On very loud gigs I use a BB2 and SM.

 

I believe there are a few BF cabs in the classifieds.

 

I also use a folding trolley when I can't park close to the gig.

 

How bout getting a trolley for the ST? It might move around easier than on its own little wheels.

 

 

[Dan Dare]

6 hours ago, nancyraygun said:

I love the sound but the cab is completely overkill.

 

If this is the case, beware of disappearing down the rabbit hole (not to mention spending lots of money) of trying to replicate what you already have and are happy with. Your ST with the volume down for smaller jobs will still sound great and it gives you the option, should you ever need it, to push it for bigger occasions without strain. A Super Compact is a nice cab, but it won't shift air the way a ST can. The laws of physics, Jim.

 

A ST is pretty compact for a big sounding cab, anyway. Far better (and cheaper, by the time you've taken the hit on selling your old cab and bought a new replacement)) to take Chris's advice above and get a decent trolley.

Edited January 15 by Dan Dare

[Lozz196]

There’s a BB3 for sale on here at the moment. 

Edited January 15 by Lozz196

[Downunderwonder]

A SuperTwin is probably an easier shift than BB3. Roll tilt and shove vs pick up?

[JGSpector]

Yes. I had a SuperTwin which i absolutely loved but it was just too much for most of the stuff i do. i downsized to a BB3, which i use on its own for 80% of what I do and it's more than capable. It''s also a ridiculously easy one hand lift, whether it is easier than the tilt and role of the SuperTwin I suspect is down to personal preference but it suits me very well. I've just taken delivery of a SuperMini (no tweeter version) last Friday so I now have the fully modular flexibility I wanted/need. I used the SuperMini last night at my covers band rehearsal (loud rock with loud drummer, 2 loud guitarists vocals and little old me) and it absolutely blew me away as it was plenty loud enough even with my GK 700RB II only running into an 8 ohm load. The SuperMini is well worth considering as an option too as it's even smaller than the SuperCompact. It doesn't give quite as deep lows as the SuperCompact but they do feel more tight and focused from the SuperMini I think. 

 

As other people have said as well, a Barefaced 210 would be worth considering too as they are very portable and are just as loud as a single BF SM or SC

[Stofferson]

Last year I switched from 2 x two10s to 2 x super compact.

Only real difference is the super compacts are more honest, different sizes/shapes, similar output though, one can hold up in a loud rehearsal, plus they stack taller than the two10s unless you do them super vertical!

 

if you like the sound of the Supertwin but want something smaller then the super compact is the one.

 

 

[Tradfusion]

I use a single Supercompact for 90% of my gigs, most are with a regular pub covers band and not that loud, but some dep gigs are with a very loud rock covers band (Lizzy, Rory Gallagher etc) whose regular bass player uses a 4x10 + 1x15 stack. Naturally I have nowhere near the overall volume as that wall of speakers but my little SC does remarkably well considering what its replacing. My head is a Quilter BB800 and it packs a real punch with the Supercompact. For the pub gigs I fill in on I am getting away with it so far and have had no complaints about not being heard etc. You might be pleasantly surprised with what a single SC can do but trying one on a gig would be the safest option if that were possible... 

[BluRay]

I play in a fairly loud rock band and have 2 supercompacts. I often just use one of them (with a 500w orange amp), and it copes brilliantly. No issues with stage volume alongside a hard hitting drummer. Both together are insanely loud (and look cool!) so it’s good to have that option too. 😀

[Beedster]

On 15/01/2025 at 17:29, nancyraygun said:

Hello all... at the moment I am rocking a BF Super Twin and Fender Rumble head... I love the sound but the cab is completely overkill. Has anyone on here downsized to a Super Compact (BB3 is a bit out of my price range) with success? I play in loudish rock bands, but every gig has PA cover.

 

I'm also considering the Fender Rumble 800 combo - i'm guessing this would be a mid point between the SC and ST...?

 

Cheers all...

In what way is the cab overkill? Weight, dimensions, volume? 

[JohnDaBass]

On 15/01/2025 at 17:29, nancyraygun said:

Hello all... at the moment I am rocking a BF Super Twin and Fender Rumble head... I love the sound but the cab is completely overkill. Has anyone on here downsized to a Super Compact (BB3 is a bit out of my price range) with success? I play in loudish rock bands, but every gig has PA cover.

 

I'm also considering the Fender Rumble 800 combo - i'm guessing this would be a mid point between the SC and ST...?

 

Cheers all...

If you love your current rig and have sufficient budget just buy a Fender Rumble 800 combo. It's a very flexible, convenient combo producing a great range of tones and volumes. And when required just roll out your current Super Twin rig.

[chris_b]

I don't understand the "overkill" thinking when deciding whether to use 1 or 2 Barefaced 112 cabs. We're not talking a 2 x 412 stack or 810 fridge.

 

For 99% of my gigs I'll use both SC and SM cabs. I see no downsides in using both. IMO 2 sound better than 1, 2 can be heard better on stage and if you got 'em use 'em!

[Beedster]

17 minutes ago, chris_b said:

I don't understand the "overkill" thinking when deciding whether to use 1 or 2 Barefaced 112 cabs. We're not talking a 2 x 412 stack or 810 fridge.

 

For 99% of my gigs I'll use both SC and SM cabs. I see no downsides in using both. IMO 2 sound better than 1, 2 can be heard better on stage and if you got 'em use 'em!

 

Agreed, as far as I'm concerned the only thing that a bassist should ever worry about is underkill, nothing worse than seeing some poor sod clipping the hell out of a 100w Carlsbro combo provided by the venue  

[andytoad]

45 minutes ago, Beedster said:

 

Agreed, as far as I'm concerned the only thing that a bassist should ever worry about is underkill, nothing worse than seeing some poor sod clipping the hell out of a 100w Carlsbro combo provided by the venue  

Carlsbro Commando. Remember those?!😁

[Beedster]

2 minutes ago, andytoad said:

Carlsbro Commando. Remember those?!😁

 

It was a different form of heft  

[Lozz196]

It was heft by commando mode, you never noticed it was there.

[Beedster]

2 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

It was heft by commando mode, you never noticed it was there.

 

Until you had to carry it to the van