GK MB210 combo with GK MBE 115 cabinet

GRAHAM SG1 · #1 01-06-2011, 06:42 AM

Just thought I would post my thoughts on the above .
I had my first band rehearsal with my MB 210/MBE 115 set-up last night since taking on a second guitarist (loud player), the MB 210 alone was starting to struggle for head room but the addition of the 115 has almost blown the roof off the building

The additional power is fantastic and the tone is excellent, I had my gain on quarter, boost on half and master on half as opposed to everything on three quarters !!
I would recommend this set-up to any MB 210 owners, especially the brits who cannot get an MBE 210 !
It also looks really cool

SpectorDetector · #2 01-06-2011, 07:01 AM

Cool, thanks for the feedback. I was always going to get the 15 until I kept reading things on these boards about how more 10's were a better way to go.

GRAHAM SG1 · #3 01-06-2011, 12:29 PM

I am glad I got the MBE 115, it sounds really good and gives a bigger speaker area than the 2x10 cab does, it really brings out the tone in the MB210 .
I know some dont like a 2x10 with a 1x15 which is fair enough but I am judging this by how good it sounds, I know nothing about the theory behind it all but I do know what sounds good to me and my band

puremusic · #4 01-06-2011, 02:29 PM

It's good to read your report on the Mb 2x10 and MBE 115 and it only makes my decision harder. I have used my Mb 2x10 to power a Hartke 410 XL cab because it's the only 8 ohm extension cab that I have and it sound great but defeats the purpose of lightweight neo and it doesn't look as good as a Mbe 2x10, 115 or a 4x10 cab would under the combo. I am looking for the most bottom possible since I play 5 strings only. I know the bottom is subjective to each person but I am looking to find the one with the lowest usable frequency. Do you have any comments Graham about the 115 perceptive lows thanks.

GRAHAM SG1 · #5 01-06-2011, 02:53 PM

I dont think I can offer advice on your query, perhaps GK themselves could give you some info, they are helpful, IMO the cab responds well to lows, I used an Ibanez BTB770 4 string last night and turned the active bass EQ to max to hear it and it sounded as low as I can imagine, it really did rumble

The MB210 does seem to have a large amount of bass hence some of the posts regarding the boomyness, I have the bass`s amp EQ down to 1/4 from zero and the bass is still very strong so maybe a 5 string would be too much, sorry I cant be more help .

sandmangeck · #6 05-26-2011, 11:27 PM

Are you still digging the cab setup? I am trying to choose between adding a 115 or a 210

SpruceApple · #7 06-05-2011, 07:28 PM

Today I started a 30 day trial of an MB210, 210mbe and 115mbe. The 15 has more mids and the 10's are deeper. I like both tones so far, goons be hard to decide which cab to return.

GroovinOnFunk · #8 06-18-2011, 08:48 PM

i'm also trying to decide what to add to my MB210. Keep the feedback coming. I have a G&L L2000 which naturally has a lot of highs to it. Need some bottom and some thump.

theworldismad · #9 06-18-2011, 09:59 PM

I've been trying to decide between this rig and the new ampeg portaflex. I've heard that the GK MB cabs have issues with buzzy speakers, and I was just wondering if any of the MB owners here could give me feedback on that issue.

Govier966 · #10 06-18-2011, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theworldismad

I've been trying to decide between this rig and the new ampeg portaflex. I've heard that the GK MB cabs have issues with buzzy speakers, and I was just wondering if any of the MB owners here could give me feedback on that issue.

I thought my 212 mbe had that problem but it was actually strain being put on the horn because i had the boost knob up.

GroovinOnFunk · #11 06-23-2011, 01:06 PM

... so now how's the setup working for you all?

GRAHAM SG1 · #12 06-23-2011, 01:28 PM

I am still very pleased with my MB210/MBE115 rig, its perfect for our band, blues to loud classic rock covers, its is great for all we do and plenty loud enough

scottfeldstein · #13 06-23-2011, 03:11 PM

I ordered the 210MBE cab to go with the MB210 combo because common wisdom indicates that matching cabs are more better together than mis-matched ones. Also, as I really liked the sound of the combo by itself (I just wanted more of it), I figured another 210 cab would be the best solution. It just arrived today and I'll be taking it to a very loud rehearsal tomorrow night to test it at volume.

scottfeldstein · #14 06-23-2011, 10:46 PM

Folks here might find this thread informative:

Add 210MBE or 115MBE to my new GK MB210?

GRAHAM SG1 · #15 06-24-2011, 03:09 AM

My decision to go for the MBE115 was purely down to availability, as far as I know the MBE210 4ohm is still not available to us UK players, a bad failing by GK or lack of demand-I dont know which ?
Having said that, the MBE115 offers something different to the MBE210, having two 210s give more of the same whereas a 15" must add a different tone to the overall sound, whatever, I am happy with my rig

GroovinOnFunk · #16 07-13-2011, 09:23 AM

common sense or not, there seems to be a fair number of people that pair their mb210 with the 115 and a fair number that pair it with the 210. I'm honestly leaning towards the 115, but am still uncertain. I know a decent amount about basses. But nothing about amps unfortunately

Russell L · #17 07-13-2011, 10:02 AM

This is a bit different, but, I added a 115 to my 112 combo, and it sounds awesome. (My rig = Markbass CMD 121H combo + Markbass Traveler 151P cab). My idea has been to eventually be running two 151P cabs with a separate head. But, now, hearing what you guys are saying, I wonder if a 210 might not be a bad idea.

I don't know all the audio theory stuff either. But, my ears know what sounds good. So far, I don't hear any of the gremlins they say can come out when mismatching speakers. No notes seem phased out, nor do any seem to be accentuated, at least not beyond the way some notes seem to ring more than others anyway. How much better it would sound with matching speakers, I have no idea, and I wonder if I could even hear the difference. Maybe I could, but I dunno. Sounds great as is, though.

Now, what to buy next?

GroovinOnFunk · #18 07-21-2011, 12:28 PM

Did you find that the 210 is not as loud as the 115 (in other words, is there a volume difference between the cabs you are using)

Can you still hear the 210s clearly over the 115? I'm very close to pulling the trigger on a 115 despite all of the people saying to just match my mb210 with the 210mbe. Was looking for one last bit of advice before buying it.

The 115 doesn't overpower the 210 too much?

Mike M. · #19 07-21-2011, 01:47 PM

I have the MB 115 combo amp (really like it) and have wondered how it would all work out if I added an MB 210 combo amp to it.

Yeah...for as long as I've been playing I never got into the whole "theory" thing either. Either it sounds good or it doesn't. That's all I know.

Marko5657 · #20 07-21-2011, 01:59 PM

Two different speakers reproducing the same signal… I can’t imagine an advantage.

Each speaker will sound different… different tone, different dispersion, different throw- the combination of which can’t help but sound one way in one spot and differently somewhere else in the room… how does one EQ such a mess? I just see inconsistencies and less ability to control.

And it is not reasonable to automatically assume that 210+ 115 is louder or deeper than 4x10s. Don’t get sucked into the “diameter” thing.

Trust your ears if ya want, but your ears can’t do an A/B test to see which combination you’d really prefer, and your ears can’t hear but from where your standing.

I’ll embrace the laws of physics first, then go to my ears, kinda like having a well-tuned car, then trusting my ability to drive.