From benjamin.kuris@compaq.com Mon Jun 11 19:40:00 2001
Subject:Re: Barbetta

I play through 2 Barbetta Sona 31Cs and a homebrewed portable leslie
(710 electronics, 8" dual cone speaker, 2-speed foam baffle, and a
cheapo active x-over in a 6 space SKB rack). I run organ bass
straight from the x-over into the barbetta, mic the leslie w/the
barbetta's mic input and also patch in a wurly. I slave my 2nd
barbetta using the 1/4" line out and still have a balanced output for
the PA.

The 31Cs sound great at med. volume but get nasty "note specific"
cabinet resonances when pushed in the lower octaves w/organ bass.
I've also had mine go into thermal shut down when I tried to compete
w/a 60 watt Mesa Boogie. Probably saved my hearing though...

Some things I've done to solve the shortcomings on my barbettas are:
Ground lift (my barbettas are very touchy about power and the 60hz
hum killed the bass response), fiber fill in the cabinets, dynamat.
Given the power in such a little volume, you need to pay attention as
things tend to work themselves loose.

For the weight and w/assistance from a house PA, these amps are great
and I did get some support from Tony Barbetta via email. I'm not
sure I would replace them if given an option though.

Interesting note is that my bandmates really like the sound, and when
I heard them from 10 ft away, I was much happier w/the sound too.

-Ben