Acoustic B200/B115 vs GK MB115

[5string5fingers]

Ok so I'm breaking down and getting an amp I can use for small gigs and playing with a band and I'm down to two different amps. The Acoustic B200H amp head with the B115 1x15 http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....age?sku=483494 and the GK MB115 combo http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....age?sku=483494 both have the same wattage,speaker size,and same price. Which would you go for? I'm leaning towards the GK just because its a 1x15 that only weighs 35 lbs and helps with portability. But the acoustic rig,allows expansion.

Also if anyone else has another amp set up at the same price level let me know.

[tallboybass]

Acoustic stack: ~140w - 86 lbs. (that's an 8 ohm cab)
MB115: 200w - 35 lbs.

[5string5fingers]

Originally Posted by tallboybass

Acoustic stack: ~140w - 86 lbs. (that's an 8 ohm cab)
MB115: 200w - 35 lbs.

Didn't realize it was 8 ohms. Thanks for pointing that out!

[dabbler]

I have an Acoustic B200H, and B115 and B410 cabs. I happened to have bought the B115 cab first, but IF you were going to go Acoustic (I realize weight considerations will likely make you go the other way) I would recommend getting the 410 cab. It is a better all-around cab than the 115, IMO.

[Bting]

For a differing opinion

I went B200h and Avatar cabs for the flexibility of changing cabs or heads any time as needed.
Some days, I think I should have went with the Combo, some days not.
Also the scarcity of the Combo's factored in. I think the MB115 is delayed until the 28th IIRC

You dont have to stick with Acoustic cabs. It's a 4Ohm head, so if you do go off the reservation, remember to get an 8Ohm cab for future expansion.

[5port]

I have the Acoustic B115. In its stock configuration (at medium volume) it has a warm tone, very much a vintage tone. Try to turn it up to rock gig levels and it farts out (esp on the B and E).

Installed a 3015 and I'm happy.

Go with the GK. How can you argue with 200W and 33 Lbs?

[Steve_64068]

Agree with the previous posters. I've been an Acoustic user for nearly 35-years. Quality is reasonable considering their low price. I'm using various configurations of B200H & B600H with B115 & B410 cabs. The B410 certainly has better punch... but, the B115 low-end is useful as well. So, it probably depends on what style you're playing. If Motown or other 60's-70's... you can get away with the B115. Frankly... if you go with Acoustic, the B200H & B410 setup (sold as combo) isn't that expensive. Then save up for the B115 to round-out the bottom end and double the wattage. Just my two cents...

[5string5fingers]

My real and only real concern is, would I be able to get vintage tone out of the GK? Or am I stuck with the modern hifi sound of the amp?

[JMac4strngr]

I have yet to try out either amp, but I would go with the head and cab set up..... Gives you the option to expand, whereas if you buy the combo it is what it is until you sell it and get something bigger. For the price point you could probably pick up a decent used rig, and end up better equipped.

[SurferJoe46]

I got the B-450 and added the B-410, the B-115 and later on a B-810. It will run two cabs with 8 Ohms each for a grand total of 2.67 Ohms, which is .67 Ohms over the lowest limit of that amp.

I later decided to get the B600H - which is the same amp in the B-450 anyway, but the variables are a little better.

I can go with just the B-810 and the B-600H or almost any combination of the gear I have.

If I had it all to do over, I'd just get the B-600H and add whatever cabs as I felt they are needed.

Quite frankly, the Acoustic amps and combos are very powerful, quite inexpensive and have some nice tones and lots of power. They are heavy though.

I realize that they may not be up to what a professional road-running artist might use, but they are more than sufficient for me and many other people.

[5string5fingers]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

I got the B-450 and added the B-410, the B-115 and later on a B-810. It will run two cabs with 8 Ohms each for a grand total of 2.67 Ohms, which is .67 Ohms over the lowest limit of that amp.

I later decided to get the B600H - which is the same amp in the B-450 anyway, but the variables are a little better.

I can go with just the B-810 and the B-600H or almost any combination of the gear I have.

If I had it all to do over, I'd just get the B-600H and add whatever cabs as I felt they are needed.

Quite frankly, the Acoustic amps and combos are very powerful, quite inexpensive and have some nice tones and lots of power. They are heavy though.

I realize that they may not be up to what a professional road-running artist might use, but they are more than sufficient for me and many other people.

Thanks...although this didn't help me much. All of the things you talked about are out of my budget..

[M0ses]

I vote for the GK, simply because of Acoustic's Notch knob, which is a 100% dealbreaker every time for me, since you can't switch it off (except for the 600 watt version) and it makes tone suck.

[SurferJoe46]

Originally Posted by 5string5fingers

Thanks...although this didn't help me much. All of the things you talked about are out of my budget..

Then I'd suggest the B-450, which is where I started.

I've seen them at GC for $549.99 on manager's specials once in a while.

That gets you 2-10s and a horn and a full 600 Watt head in the same cab.

[5string5fingers]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Then I'd suggest the B-450, which is where I started.

I've seen them at GC for $549.99 on manager's specials once in a while.

That gets you 2-10s and a horn and a full 600 Watt head in the same cab.

Thats still 150 dollars over what I'm looking at.

[5string5fingers]

Now I'm also looking at these.http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....Amp?sku=485036 unfortunately I know nothing about ashdown,and those combos. Also wonder if it would be loud enough to jam with a 5 piece band.

I really like the MB115 but I have practice with a new band soon and can't wait several weeks to get one.

[SurferJoe46]

Originally Posted by 5string5fingers

Now I'm also looking at these.http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....Amp?sku=485036 unfortunately I know nothing about ashdown,and those combos. Also wonder if it would be loud enough to jam with a 5 piece band.

180 Watts, a 12 inch driver and cat fur covering. Hmm..

Usually in a group the size you speak of - you need 300 Watts as a minimum and several 10s or a 15 to be heard.

A 12-er is somewhere in that 'tain't' zone.

* 180W RMS
* 12" Ashdown BlueLine driver
* Fan-cooled, fast-transient power stage
* Active/passive instrument inputs
* VU-style LED input meter
* 5-band EQ
* Bright/Deep switches
* FX loop
* Front-panel direct output
* Tuner/line out
* Subharmonic generator
* Extension cab output
* Scuff-proof carpet covering
* Reinforced corners
* Sturdy metal grille

I has a lot of toys and gimmicks, but it might serve you as a good practice amp, since the general consensus is the magical 300 Watt barrier that you need to get to, to be a viable bass player - at least to be heard anyway.

[5string5fingers]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

180 Watts, a 12 inch driver and cat fur covering. Hmm..

Usually in a group the size you speak of - you need 300 Watts as a minimum and several 10s or a 15 to be heard.

A 12-er is somewhere in that 'tain't' zone.



I has a lot of toys and gimmicks, but it might serve you as a good practice amp, since the general consensus is the magical 300 Watt barrier that you need to get to, to be a viable bass player - at least to be heard anyway.

Well really I'm only worried about the drummer. The two guitarist have smaller amps,not marshalls. If i need 300w to be heard I guess i'll just have to go unheard.

I have such an untrained ear for amps and how loud what wattage is because the only big amp i've ever owned was my old silvertone 200BXL which has 2 15s and 2 12s powered by a 4 ohm 100 watt head,but the thing was loud as heck and half volume I could easily hear myself over a loud drummer.

[SurferJoe46]

Originally Posted by 5string5fingers

Well really I'm only worried about the drummer. The two guitarist have smaller amps,not marshalls. If i need 300w to be heard I guess i'll just have to go unheard.

I have such an untrained ear for amps and how loud what wattage is because the only big amp i've ever owned was my old silvertone 200BXL which has 2 15s and 2 12s powered by a 4 ohm 100 watt head,but the thing was loud as heck and half volume I could easily hear myself over a loud drummer.

Here's where the wheels fall off the "Watts" concept.

Guitars don't need all the Wattage that a bass does. They are higher freqs and they seem to cover their spectrum of notes with a lot less Wattage.

Now a bass - requires a lot of air motion to be 'felt and heard' - much more so than a guitar.

This is where the square-inches area of the physical speaker cones comes into play - you need radiating surfaces that are compliant with the notes you are hitting and then you need the power to move that cone boldly and repeatedly for your bass to be heard.

If you don't flap your socks with the notes, then you aren't getting to the audience and just a single 12 isn't likely to cut it either unless you issue everyone in the audience their own personal 12-inch driver to listen to.

Of course that's just not my opinion, although there may be some dissenters here. However I don't want to invoke visions of a Chamber Music String Quartet as a comparison.

But if you give a guy - ANY guy - some sticks and things to hit with those sticks (eg: a drummer) - you'll find that you are really going bear hunting with a switch (a very SHORT switch!).

In the end of course, you can very well do as you see fit.

I hate to see you pop $$ for a smaller amp/combo at only 180 Watts (if their rating can be believed anyway) plus a dinky single 12-inch driver.

[5string5fingers]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Here's where the wheels fall off the "Watts" concept.

Guitars don't need all the Wattage that a bass does. They are higher freqs and they seem to cover their spectrum of notes with a lot less Wattage.

Now a bass - requires a lot of air motion to be 'felt and heard' - much more so than a guitar.

This is where the square-inches area of the physical speaker cones comes into play - you need radiating surfaces that are compliant with the notes you are hitting and then you need the power to move that cone boldly and repeatedly for your bass to be heard.

If you don't flap your socks with the notes, then you aren't getting to the audience and just a single 12 isn't likely to cut it either unless you issue everyone in the audience their own personal 12-inch driver to listen to.

Of course that's just not my opinion, although there may be some dissenters here. However I don't want to invoke visions of a Chamber Music String Quartet as a comparison.

But if you give a guy - ANY guy - some sticks and things to hit with those sticks (eg: a drummer) - you'll find that you are really going bear hunting with a switch (a very SHORT switch!).

In the end of course, you can very well do as you see fit.

I hate to see you pop $$ for a smaller amp/combo at only 180 Watts (if their rating can be believed anyway) plus a dinky single 12-inch driver.

So I guess thats why my old amp was so loud because of the surface area it had to move air?

Acoustic b200 seem more realistic?

[SurferJoe46]

Originally Posted by 5string5fingers

So I guess thats why my old amp was so loud because of the surface area it had to move air?

Acoustic b200 seem more realistic?

All those drivers on your old system certainly helped a lot.

Actually though - ONE DRIVER COULD DO IT ALL!



I think it's already been mentioned, but the B-200 has a Notch Filter that cannot be disabled. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it just is always 'there' and kinda changes the tone of the notes - adding a certain faint 'chorus' or plastic-y effect that I can either use and don't use by choice on my B-450.

The B-200 is a good head and certainly one that can be expanded with more cabs, all the way down to 4 Ohms for a final load. (is that right? 4 Ohms? I thought it was more like 2 Ohms - but I'm not too sure right now).

If you can swing it, I'd try to get the coin for the B-600H and add a B-410 now and a B-115 later. It's all good and very expandable too.

If you're not gonna professionally gig this outfit and fly all around the world or take it on a tour bus, it will serve you nicely. They are fairly heavy though, like I said.

I get mine to BBQs and back yard parties and can fill a 40-acre pasture with the volume I can generate. So the B-600H is a very high powered head, fer sure. I can also be heard all over town - the mountains hold to sounds nicely!