Looking for small tiny but loud bass cab, stuck between some...

[Barticus]

I kinda collect 212s ‘cos it’s my preferred cab config these days. I currently have a DG212, a Mesa Subway 212 and a GR Bass AT212 Slim. All three are excellent! But I was thinking of adding a Barefaced Big Twin 3 to give me yet another option, although I haven’t had the chance to try one out yet. Just wondering about the details of why you prefer the GR over the Barefaced? You say tone and size (and I also presume the incredibly low weight). I love my GR cab for the same reasons, but I still think I’d like to try the BT3. Any further details you can throw in would be interesting to read.

By the way, like you I have a Mesa head (TT800 in my case), plus other options, including the GR Pure Amp 800.

EDIT And to the OP, my choice in your position would be a 212 (of course) or maybe two 112s.

I like having a tweeter for that extra definition, when compared side by side I definitely missed it. So this particular cab is not a fit for me, but seems to be for many others.

I don’t play loud on stage since I always have really good front of house support and use 6-driver IEMs. So at lower volumes, I want to hear clean, clear definition and all the percussive notes coming from my right hand. The GRs give me that, so for me, no need to keep looking. And to your point the weight is a factor… the lighter the better.

I also have an SL212 but it stays in my recording studio, not crazy about the tone from it in comparison, so maybe I’ll set that one free too

It’s funny, I see all these comments about ‘my cab beats the competition and wins’ and really, it comes down to what sound preferences you have and desire to hear. I often find when I follow the mass consensus on TB and buy something for that reason, it may not be something that works well for me. So as they say YMMV or it might be best to try in person.

 

[Kevorargh]

RevSound 210 for the win - small and weighs 30 lbs.

 

[BassyBill]

I like having a tweeter for that extra definition, when compared side by side I definitely missed it. So this particular cab is not a fit for me, but seems to be for many others.

I don’t play loud on stage since I always have really good front of house support and use 6-driver IEMs. So at lower volumes, I want to hear clean, clear definition and all the percussive notes coming from my right hand. The GRs give me that, so for me, no need to keep looking. And to your point the weight is a factor… the lighter the better.

I also have an SL212 but it stays in my recording studio, not crazy about the tone from it in comparison, so maybe I’ll set that one free too

It’s funny, I see all these comments about ‘my cab beats the competition and wins’ and really, it comes down to what sound preferences you have and desire to hear. I often find when I follow the mass consensus on TB and buy something for that reason, it may not be something that works well for me. So as they say YMMV or it might be best to try in person.

Great post, thank you.

SPL is perhaps more important for me, mainly because I like to have a rig working about 50% max so there is always loads of clean headroom over and above what I’m actually using. That’s one of my main reasons for wanting to try the Big Twin - although my AT212 can go very, very LOUD without really breaking sweat. As I’m sure you know.

 

[dave64o]

What styes do you guys mostly play? I feel like with a PA/FOH it doesn't matter too much, Blues can get loud but sometimes it is calm, Shoegaze is a whole another story.
Also do you find the 2x12 really that big? I feel like it doesn't really seem that big especially for the sound it is offering! I am thinking the Big Baby 3 now but honestly they all are amazing looking! Thanks as always for Barefaced info, can't wait to join the cult- I mean club!

My band plays classic rock, blues rock, and blues with some occasional pop-leaning songs and some ballads. We're a five piece with guitar, drums, keys, bass, and lead vocals (keys player and I also do vocals). Our overall volume level leans loud but we can do a quieter set or two if we need to.

I decided on the Big Baby's thinking I wanted a transparent cabinet that would reproduce the tone of my bass itself when I go direct or let the tone of my drive pedals come through when I use my pedal board.

FWIW, I use the pedal board about 75% of the time, depending on a variety of factors. If i didn't sometimes use a pedal board then i would have gone with a pair of Two10s instead of a pair of Big Baby's. But I don't think I could have gone wrong either way because I own and like both 12 series cabs and 10 series cabs. They have different design goals and both meet their goals very well.