Barefaced Big Baby 3 vs Super Twin T

T

Turbocharbo

Feb 16, 2005
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Ottawa, Ontario
#1
Hey folks

Aside from the obvious, how do these two compare? My heads are 4ohms so the Super Twin T seems to be the logical choice however it's not a big deal to run a 4ohm head with an 8ohm cab.

I can't seem to make up my mind between these two. Anyone regret getting either?

Thanks!
 
#2
Turbocharbo said:
Hey folks

Aside from the obvious, how do these two compare? My heads are 4ohms so the Super Twin T seems to be the logical choice however it's not a big deal to run a 4ohm head with an 8ohm cab.

I can't seem to make up my mind between these two. Anyone regret getting either?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I would ask to Alex if I were you.
 
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#6
As a Super Twin user, I’d take the ST-T for the second driver. I’m sure the BB3 sounds great, but in a medium to loud live situation I want more speakers. I have a great 112 cab that I use for acoustic combo gigs. In bigger/louder situations the extra oomph of the Super Twin outweighs the extended frequency range of the BBE for me.

Now, if you’re considering a Big Twin, that’s a different discussion.
 
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#8
Turbocharbo said:
GK 800RB
Click to expand...

Hmm. Not a whole lot of power there. Normally I would agree with @abarson to get an 8 ohm cab so you can add another one but if you want a single cab I would definitely get a 4 ohm. Even better might be two 8 ohm 112's though so you have some modularity and two smaller cabs would be easier to transport than one large cab.
 
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#9
Unless you always play in lower-volume situations I would recommend the SuperTwinT over the BB3. I have a SuperTwin and two BB2s. My SuperTwin is much fuller, louder and robust than a single BB2 (or BB3) would be on its own. The tweeter option on the new SuperTwin seems like a great idea, I added a BB2 to my SuperTwin to provide a bit of air and more deep lows but may not have needed it with a SuperTwinT. I am finding that the two BB2s make for a slightly more compatible stack, I usually have to turn down the SuperTwin in relation to the BB2. But if you are only goin to get one Barefaced 12" cab the SuperTwin or a Big Twin can't be beat. My SuperTwin is actually easier to move than the BB2 and the built in wheels work well on most surfaces.
 
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#10
I have a BB3 and a regular Super Twin (non-T), and agree with @StephenR. Between those two cabs, if I had to pick only one, I’d go with the Super Twin T—especially if I had a somewhat moderately powered amp.

That said, as Alex has probably mentioned if you’ve corresponded with him, a lot depends on what your sonic goals are. If your top priority is a very full-ranged cab, the BB3 is exceptional. However, IME the ST is extremely musical and definitely bigger sounding, given the same amp. I’m fortunate in that I have both and can choose which cab I want to use depending on the application/room.
 
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#11
Thank you all for your responses!

For a bit of context, I've been using a Markbass CMD102P for the past 15 years of my professional career. It's been an amazing combo for BG, DB (plucked and bowed) and synth bass. Not once has anyone complained that I wasn't loud enough. As far as I understand it that combo is a 300W head coupled with a 400W cab @ 8ohm. The main reasons I'm moving on from that combo are:

1. it's too thick, it doesn't fit in my trunk
2. I don't find it sounds deep enough
3. I've never found the EQ musical sounding, it's just meh
4. it's time for a change

That being said, do you guys still think I'll be underwhelmed by the BB3 if I use a proper powered head? I agree that the GK 800RB is slightly under powered but it will have to do for now until I put the funds together to buy a proper modern light weight head. I'm all ears if you folks have one to recommend!

The Super Twin T sounds like a great option but it's much more expensive (CAD to GBP exchange isn't great). It's also larger and heavier but comes with wheels.

What about the new Three10T? I wasn't super into the sound demos when they compared it to the Super Twin T but I could be swayed in thinking differently. It sure is a good looking cab.
 
#12
Turbocharbo said:
What about the new Three10T? I wasn't super into the sound demos when they compared it to the Super Twin T but I could be swayed in thinking differently. It sure is a good looking cab.
Click to expand...

If you're in Ottawa and wanna try out a barefaced 410 hit me up. I've had one of pretty much every speaker they've made and the 10s just work the best for me from the current range (the old 15 Compact was my favourite).
 
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#13
My single 12 cab is an Audiokinesis TC and it can get quite loud. Stage volume, and being heard by my band mates isn’t a problem. The Super Twin gets loud enough with less power and sounds fuller, deeper, and richer, which I understand are benefits of the second driver. I would expect a BB3 would provide plenty of volume and be a fine choice if you have limitations on storage/transport space. Comparing weight, the ST does a lot for 40lbs, particularly when you factor in the wheels.
 
#14
Turbocharbo said:
Thank you all for your responses!

For a bit of context, I've been using a Markbass CMD102P for the past 15 years of my professional career. It's been an amazing combo for BG, DB (plucked and bowed) and synth bass. Not once has anyone complained that I wasn't loud enough. As far as I understand it that combo is a 300W head coupled with a 400W cab @ 8ohm. The main reasons I'm moving on from that combo are:

.
Click to expand...

I owned that same combo at one point. I presently use a Little Mark III with a Barefaced Super Midget and it sounds better that combo ever did. If portability is an issue now the BBIII may not be the right answer. You might want to check out the Barefaced Super 3rdT. This cab with the same head you have now will surprise you. Weighs less than the BBIII, more compact, and less money.

Super Compact / Super Compact T – Barefaced Audio
 
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#15
Low Class said:
I owned that same combo at one point. I presently use a Little Mark III with a Barefaced Super Midget and it sounds better that combo ever did. If portability is an issue now the BBIII may not be the right answer. You might want to check out the Barefaced Super 3rdT. This cab with the same head you have now will surprise you. Weighs less than the BBIII, more compact, and less money.

Super Compact / Super Compact T – Barefaced Audio
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input. It's not so much that portability is an issue, it's just that the CMD102P didn't fit in my trunk! As far as I know most Barfaced cabs will fit.
 
#16
Turbocharbo said:
Thanks for your input. It's not so much that portability is an issue, it's just that the CMD102P didn't fit in my trunk! As far as I know most Barefaced cabs will fit.
Click to expand...

Although I don't play DB, I have played a ton of jazz combo and big band gigs. Form factor, footprint, weight, and having something that will cover just about anything else would be my criteria. That's why I suggested the Super 3rdT. It would be a big step up from what you have in many ways.
 
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#17
Don't underestimate the spread and ability of a single Big Baby to fill a room when driven by an amp with sufficient power. The key is, ime, to use a head with plenty of output into 8 ohms. The super twin can sound louder with the same amp simply because the head is seeing 4 ohms. Not doubting the obvious, that more speakers is more speakers, but the sheer big room filling ability of a single bf 12 when driven with plenty of watts is really quite astonishing. Bergantino Forte Hp delivers 600 watts into 8 ohms and is a good match. There is a certain magic in Alex's cabs which allows them to fill a room evenly with sound.
 
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#18
Tim1 said:
Don't underestimate the spread and ability of a single Big Baby to fill a room when driven by an amp with sufficient power. The key is, ime, to use a head with plenty of output into 8 ohms. The super twin can sound louder with the same amp simply because the head is seeing 4 ohms. Not doubting the obvious, that more speakers is more speakers, but the sheer big room filling ability of a single bf 12 when driven with plenty of watts is really quite astonishing. Bergantino Forte Hp delivers 600 watts into 8 ohms and is a good match. There is a certain magic in Alex's cabs which allows them to fill a room evenly with sound.
Click to expand...

Those are all great points, thanks Tim.
 
#20
rapidfirerob said:
Have you given any thought to 10 inch Barefaced cabs? They are colored, but sound incredible,
as all Barefaced cabs do. It would save some room.
Click to expand...

I’ve been reluctantly looking at their 10" cabs. I understand that their 10s are different from other manufacturers but I’m still not convinced it’s the sound I’m looking for. One of the reasons I got rid of my MB 2x10 is that I started to find it was lacking deep lows.

Even though these guys’ playing style doesn’t match mine and the mic they used probably isn’t full range, I still can hear deeper lows on the ST. Also, the Three10 seems honkier sounding, like I would expect a 10" driver to sound:



I will say though, the Three10 is their best looking cab. Call me old school but I’m not a huge fan of the look of the front side port on their cabs.
 
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