Gallien Krueger MB210 + 210??

DiegoRR · #1 04-10-2011, 12:39 PM

Hey everyone! I've been looking into GK combos. There are alot of mixed reviews. I hear some people mention that the 210 is "boomy", which is what I stay away from the most. Would an MB210 along with an mbe210 extension cab have more definition? (as opposed to adding a mbe115) I dont know if someone has had any experience with that. Obviously, the weight factor is what attracted me to the MB combos. Funny enough, the specs on the mb210 ressemble the markbass cmd102p a bit, specially the 4ohm 500 w/extension cab feature... the question is: the the quality of GK's combos compare to Marbass'?
Knowledgeable insight would be appreciated.

puremusic · #2 04-10-2011, 02:57 PM

Apparently the boomy sound that is being referred to is from the way the combo amp is voiced those who use 1 or 2 210MBE cabs with any other amp have reported a less boomy sound on here. I myself have a 210MB and a 115MBE and I like the sound and it works for me that is why I got it. If you take a little time and become familiar with the bass, boost and low mid controls you will be happy I hope this helps.

armybass · #3 04-10-2011, 03:38 PM

The boom is cleared up by adjusting the EQ. Adding the the extra cab will give you more volume though.

philter25 · #4 04-10-2011, 05:11 PM

Ive had the MB210 combo and have gigged with it over the past year. If you set the EQ, you can get rid of the boomyness.

Set the bass down to 10:00 with the treble at noon, add a little high mid and tweak the low mid to your preference. I have mine around 11-2:00 depending on the room.

I dont have a problem getting the cab to sound flat to my ears.

DiegoRR · #5 04-11-2011, 09:20 AM

glad to hear this. Looking into this combo.

GRAHAM SG1 · #6 04-11-2011, 01:13 PM

I agree with all comments, I use an MB210 with an MBE115 and it sounds perfect for me, as others say, the boomyness is dramatically reduced if you keep the bass EQ low and compensate with the low mid .
I have had mine about a year and it has been gigged and played a lot, it has been 100% reliable .
My back does not complain

lowendblues · #7 04-15-2011, 12:25 PM

As far as "Boominess" goes, I think its more to do with how the GK amps are notched, not so much the cab.

I always have to roll back the bass and boost the highs on any GK amp I've owned, regardless of cabinet being used.

lowendblues · #8 04-24-2011, 08:15 AM

Question regarding the extension cab for the MB210. Can you use any extension cab, or do you have to use GK's MBE cabs????

I know that GK's speakon wiring is a little "unique", and would like to know if I could use any 8 ohm cab, as long as it has a speakon jack.

Hippos Melas · #9 04-24-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendblues

As far as "Boominess" goes, I think its more to do with how the GK amps are notched, not so much the cab.

I always have to roll back the bass and boost the highs on any GK amp I've owned, regardless of cabinet being used.

+1

I played through the exact stack the OP is looking to buy at a friend's gig a few weeks ago. It sounded to me that when all of the amp's EQ knobs were at noon, the bass was already at +3 dB. If you roll down the bass a bit and toss in a little low mids, the boominess goes away. IMO/IME/YMMV, etc...

philter25 · #10 04-24-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hippos Melas

+1

I played through the exact stack the OP is looking to buy at a friend's gig a few weeks ago. It sounded to me that when all of the amp's EQ knobs were at noon, the bass was already at +3 dB. If you roll down the bass a bit and toss in a little low mids, the boominess goes away. IMO/IME/YMMV, etc...

Thats exactly how I set mine up. Bass around 9-10:00, low mids around 1-2:00, high mids around 12-1:00, and treble at noon.

philter25 · #11 04-24-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendblues

Question regarding the extension cab for the MB210. Can you use any extension cab, or do you have to use GK's MBE cabs????

I know that GK's speakon wiring is a little "unique", and would like to know if I could use any 8 ohm cab, as long as it has a speakon jack.

Any 8 ohm extension cab will work.

Stev187 · #12 01-10-2012, 09:00 PM

There are lots of MB210 threads I could add this to, but I'll pick this one. I have an MB210 that has been my son's amp for band class (he's 10). It's a perfect amp for Dad--easy to load in, etc. When I play it at home, I've been a little concerned that it's too boomy (a word used in this thread).

Well, tonight I actually played through it myself at an audition in a band setting. My EQ settings from home sounded like crap in the band context, and after one song I played with the EQ and found a perfect tone. Not boomy at all. Perfect. This little monster rocks. Loud drummer and guitarist with a Fender 2x10 half stack. Master volume at about 11 o'clock and the gain at about 7 o'clock. The thing was a dream.

Audition went pretty well (we'll see what these guys say), but for me the big hit of the night was this MB210. I know it's not hi-fi or anything, but it's the perfect band practice, small gig, leave-it-in-the-trunk-overnight combo amp. I got it very reasonably on local CL and the thing just rocks.

Wanted to add that to an MB210 thread. In my experience, it wasn't boomy at all in the band context. I play a Jazz bass, so I welcome the added bottom end.

--Steve

UPDATE: Wow. Right after I hit POST REPLY here I got an e-mail from the drummer offering me the gig. Now I have to figure out if I want it... Still, great amp!