Barefaced Bass

Handmade in the UK, ultra lightweight, fantastic tone and super high output...

So you came to Barefaced because you heard that we make the loudest and lightest yet toneful cabs you can buy. You want a punchy cab with good bottom and top. You read in the Why Barefaced section that you're probably best off with the Compact. So now you're wondering why on earth you're looking at a 1x15" cab? Surely that can't be any good, no-one uses fifteens any more!?

Newsflash!

Almost every rule of thumb you've ever heard about cabs is wrong.

Tens don't have a sound. Nor do twelves. Nor do fifteens. You don't need to have tens to get the top and a fifteen on the bottom to get bottom. The only thing you can say for sure about the size of a speaker is that it'll tell you how big it looks! That's it.

But I want a 4 ohm cab!

Unless your amp is totally weedy (like well under 200W into 8 ohms) then you don't need a 4 ohm cab - this 8 ohm cab is so sensitive that it'll play seriously loud with only a handful of watts. Your amp will have an easy time driving this load and if you need more loudness for bigger or outdoor gigs you can easily add a second cab.

Watts aren't what you hear - you hear dB SPL and these speakers give out lots of dB SPL for every watt that goes in. And even better than that, the more watts you put in, the more dB you get out - sadly this is rarely the case with most cabs because their speakers can't move enough air.

What about a tweeter?

Tweeters have two purposes - to get that 'Marcus Miller' sparkly top end when you're slapping or to try to add clarity to a muddy cab. If you want that 'Marcus Miller' top end then this is not the cab for you. But if you just want a nice clear sound, with some treble bite when you pop a note and enough brightness to always hear the details of your playing then this cab does all that without all the downsides of a separate tweeter.

Can I add 4x10" at a later stage?

You can if you want but we wouldn't recommend it due to all sorts of technical reasons - see our FAQ. If you want to add punch, top-end and more loudness then a Midget T will do a fine job at a fraction of the size and weight of a 4x10" whilst also being designed specifically to work with the Compact. If you want more of the same then add another Compact - a dual Compact stack sounds essentially identical to the Vintage.

But is this just hype?

No bass cab is a panacea, everyone's needs are different. Whenever something new and exciting comes along the enthusiasm of happy owners could easily be misinterpreted as 'Emperor's New Clothes Syndrome', especially amongst the more cynical. The Compact is not the right cab for everyone otherwise we wouldn't make other models and if you're the kind of bassist that relies on speaker distortion to get their tone then you're unlikely to be happy with the Barefaced stable's low THD. If you're curious then get in touch and we will give you honest answers to your specific needs - and we may even tell you to just stick with your current cab!

Ready to travel - one-hand carry!

Why is this so light?

• lightweight neodymium magnet speaker
• dual density plywood cabinet

Why is this so loud?

• high sensitivity speaker to get as much sound from every watt as possible
• carefully designed cabinet for the best balance of loudness and depth
• high power handling ability to allow you to continue to get more and more sound output as you apply more and more power

Why does it sound so good?

• advanced 15" speaker with lightweight cone giving remarkably flat response across the critical sound spectrum
• very stiff and strong cabinet with cunning bracing to reduce unwanted vibrations and distortions
• cabinet/speaker design that ensures the speaker operates with much lower THD than other similarly sized models
• attention to details such as the damping of internal reflections, reduction of floor reflections, sizing and tuning of the ports to ensure low noise

What else do I need to know?

• hardwearing textured coating which is tougher than tolex finishes yet can be easily touched up if badly damaged
• metal corners for further protection and a classy look
• rubber feet on the base to help this lightweight grip the floor and on the side for protection when on the move
• single strap handle on one side - the Compact is so light and slim that you can easily carry it in one hand
• powder coated steel grill to protect the speaker from the roughest of knocks
• airtight Speakon jack positioned to maximise access and panel integrity