Which Gallien Krueger MB for my needs?

[Seathal]

So I've been reading a handful of reviews about Gallien Krueger's MB series of amps and I've got to admit they're the most juicy option for me right now.

I'll sum up what I want to achieve:

I've got a 4 member band with mid-loud drummer (who has a tendency for mixing electronic and acoustic drum-sets), keyboardist and guitarist. We play rock and alternative rock, we try to keep stage volume down but sometimes it's not all that possible.

I want a small, lightwight, reliable amp system (I don't want to be hauling a friggin fullstack around city since I use public transport most of the times) that delivers serious and shapable tone and power. My intentions are to double (and maybe triplify) the bass signal for a dry/wet or a dry/wetA/wetB configuration since I use a handful of effects and modulation.

So here comes the dilema:
- Should I get an MB210 rated at 300W and ensure I'm gonna be heard at any gigs or would a MB115 at 200W be enough for now (we ain't playing at large venues for now) and expand to a second MB115 and run a dry/wet config from that on?
- Would a 15" cone produce a heavily wet, fuzzed-out and distorted sound?
- Would a MB112 be suitable for running the effects as a woofier MB115 runs the clean tone?
- Would the MB115 and MB210 work well together letting the 15 handle the low clean signal as the 210 drives the wet signal?
- Or would a well-EQ'd MB210 cabinet do the trick the trick for now and then mix it with a second MB115 or add a second MB210 (as the most expensive option?).

To sump up:

Option A) Getting an MB115 now (risk of not having enough power from the start) and another MB115 later and run a wet/dry of 400W overall. No expansion cabs.
Option B) Getting an MB115 now (risk of not having enough power from the start) and another MB112 later and run a wet/dry of 400W overall. No expansion cabs.
Option C) Forgetting about bi-amping all together for now. Getting an MB210 and an expansion cabinet if needed.
Option D) Getting the MB210 and get another MB115 or MB210 in the future if needed (for wet/dry amping) for 700/1000W overall.

I'm a student and don't get much income but I could afford an MB210 in a couple or three months. But an MB115 would still be gentler on the budget and maybe more adequate to what I'm going after. What do you think?

[jackajesusfreak]

I've got 2 MB115s. I keep one at 2 different locations as our praise band plays once a week in both locations.
We have drums, lead, rhythm, bass, and vocalists.
I use the one on Tuesday nights as a monitor as we run through a system.
I use the one on Sunday morning as a stand alone amp. I run the Master at 12 and the gain at about 10 and have plenty of punch.
We also played outside at a block party and I had plenty of punch.
I would think the MB115 would be plenty for what you are doing.
The plus about getting the MB210 is that you would definitely have plenty of punch and with the 210 you can link another cab to it.
But since you mentioned financial concerns, I would get the MB115.
Jack

[Seathal]

Originally Posted by jackajesusfreak

I've got 2 MB115s. I keep one at 2 different locations as our praise band plays ... I would get the MB115.
Jack

Thank you very much for all the input. So 200W is well enough for small sized gigs?

I'm a bit worried, not as much for the punch. But for the loudness and the air moved. As you said I could get the MB115 first and then, if things go well and I need more punch and power I could go for bi-amping with an MB210, but then my previous question still remains.

Still I'm very glad you've got such positive feedback with your Gallien Krueger!

[Govier966]

I would get a mb 115 and add another one later if necessary. btw im putting 200 watts into my mbe 212 and its plenty loud.

[jackajesusfreak]

Originally Posted by Seathal

Thank you very much for all the input. So 200W is well enough for small sized gigs?

I'm a bit worried, not as much for the punch. But for the loudness and the air moved. As you said I could get the MB115 first and then, if things go well and I need more punch and power I could go for bi-amping with an MB210, but then my previous question still remains.

Still I'm very glad you've got such positive feedback with your Gallien Krueger!

I was concerned at first about going outside for the block party and almost bought the MB210. I really couldn't afford the extra 200 bucks so I bought the second MB115 and have no regrets. Plenty of loudness to EQ with the band. Great amplifiers and you can't beat the weight, or lack thereof!!

[jackajesusfreak]

Originally Posted by Govier966

I would get a mb 115 and add another one later if necessary. btw im putting 200 watts into my mbe 212 and its plenty loud.

Glad to see GK finally got the 112s up and running. I wanted the 112 back when I got the 115 but needed an amp and couldn't wait. No regrets because I really do like the 115s.

[Seathal]

Thank you all for all the input.

Maybe I'll go for the MB115 first, If I see I don't have enough power in the first gigs I may return it within 30 days and get the MB210. Any ways I can expand it later to any other amp combination.

Now a question persists: If I mix, for instance, a 200W MB115 with a 300W MB210 would a wet/dry configuration (mainly wet being mids and highs and dry being lows) work well? Would you send the wet (mid/high) to the 300WMB210 and the dry (lows) to the 200W MB115? Or would I be better with two 15"s despite the speaker size or a 15" and a 12"?

[Blankandson]

I like having two identical combos, like the two MB115s mentioned above. If you needed more power at either location, just take one to the second location and you have two combos side by side.

[Nedmundo]

Do you play venues with decent PA systems? If so, you could run dry through the PA (perhaps via a pedal with a DI that's pre-effects in your chain), and have your stage combo for the effects. In general, I think an MB115 will be fine for you in smallish venues. It's a sweet amp. Two of them would be fantastic.

[lowendblues]

I was searching for NAMM info and found this article. Very interesting reading. About halfway down, read about the new "powered" cabinets.

http://www.notreble.com/buzz/2011/01...2011-releases/

[Seathal]

Anyone knows if I'll get good results driving a "wet" (fuzzed, synthesized and dirtied out sound) through 2x10 and the clean through 1x15?

Will 200W be enough for the clean signal?

Will 300W be too much for the fuzz one?

[Seathal]

Maybe I can also go with an MB112&MB115 combination for wet/dry amping. Any comments on how either of these perform in small/medium gigs?