GK MB212 Anyone ever added stuffing in cab?

[shawshank72]

Interested in knowing if it made a big enough difference to try doing.

[garagebassman]

I did try it ( am still trying it) with the 212MBE (MB500)
I had the MB212 for a few months, then wanted the
separate(s) cab.
I first thought the low end was far less pronounced with the 8 ohm cab and MB500, and the mids were much more present vs the combo version. there was a few months in between , so not a true a/b.

in any case, with 1-2 inches stapled inside top bottom, sides and back, I seem to notice a bit less "harshness" in some upper mids, (although I like them "in your face" anyway), maybe a bit more "evenness" overall, but have only had a couple of gigs since adding the lining

could be worth a try. but I don't know if the amp needs any cooling space in the combo set up ?

[IvanMike]

Every thanksgiving. I prefer mine with oysters, but you can get away with the sausage as well....


Ohhhh batting....Haven't tried that in that cab. Look up in the amps faq - i think there may be some non brand specific threads re: use of batting in various cabs and the effects, materials, etc.

[vince a]

GK factory is 30 miles up the road . . . my MB212 has been back there once already. I asked a tech about stuffing it with batting, etc. They told me not to do it! I didn't ask why . . . I still may do it . . . however, all the batting will do is make the speakers think that they are in a yet, even bigger box (cabinet). do we really want that???? It may boom more than it already does now . . .

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by vince a

GK factory is 30 miles up the road . . . my MB212 has been back there once already. I asked a tech about stuffing it with batting, etc. They told me not to do it! I didn't ask why . . . I still may do it . . . however, all the batting will do is make the speakers think that they are in a yet, even bigger box (cabinet). do we really want that???? It may boom more than it already does now . . .

Do a search, this topic has been addressed more than a few times. Boom, BTW, is made worse by a cab that's not lined. And you always line a ported cab, only stuff a sealed cab.

[bgavin]

Link to 2512 Unlined Chart

The above is RTA taken of a 2512 in half space, ground plane measurement.
It details the ragged response caused by bare internal walls.

As noted above, your cabs should always be lined.
The RTA shows why.

Link to Boom Chart

Boom is a result of a too-big driver in a too-small box.
Note the hump centered at 125 Hz, and steep rolloff below.
This is the boom classic signature.

Advice to the OP: spend more time in rehearsal, less time worrying about getting stuffed...

[Yerf Dog]

I assume the GK engineers know more about it than I do.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by Yerf Dog

I assume the GK engineers know more about it than I do.

I don't. The necessity of cabinet damping has been well known to the loudspeaker engineering community since the 1940s. IMO leaving it out isn't a valid engineering decision, it's a cost-cutting measure.

[Musicman20]

On the topic of stuffing etc, I checked my TC cabs and they indeed have a layer of some sort of foam inside them. The DB212 (Aguilar) has quite a lot as well.

This is just when I take a look through the port (s).

[will33]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

I don't. The necessity of cabinet damping has been well known to the loudspeaker engineering community since the 1940s. IMO leaving it out isn't a valid engineering decision, it's a cost-cutting measure.

And a pinche one at that. When you can do it yourself for $10 in 20min. at retail, imagine how cheap it must be at bulk wholesale done during the build process. What, $4 and 90 seconds labor? Cost to performance ratio pretty good there and they still skip it.

[blmeier7]

I lined my MB115 GK combo with the damping foam that has the self-adhesive backing. I was expecting a substantial difference in tightening up the looser low end that this cab tends to have at higher volumes. The outcome was a very minimal taming of the low end boom. I'd really have to A/B two MB115's side by side, one stock and the other with foam damping, to be able to tell a difference. If I was going to do it over again I would just leave my MB115 stock...there wasn't a big enough difference to warrant the effort involved.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by blmeier7

I lined my MB115 GK combo with the damping foam that has the self-adhesive backing.

I don't recommend that stuff. It's much more expensive than other materials that work just as well, if not better. As for taming boom, boom is caused by a cab that's too small and/or poorly tuned. If that's the case lining or stuffing it can help, but if it ain't broke it can't fix it. But helping reduce boom is not the main reason for damping a cab; smoothing the midrange response is.

[ulynch]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

I don't. The necessity of cabinet damping has been well known to the loudspeaker engineering community since the 1940s. IMO leaving it out isn't a valid engineering decision, it's a cost-cutting measure.

It always seems this discussion is predicated on the assumption that some specific attribute is optimal and preferred. (i.e., "ragged response" is "bad".) Maybe from a technical sound reproduction standpoint, it is, but what if people simply prefer the sound of this or that cab unlined, ragged midrange response and all? How do we know that isn't exactly the goal of the GK 212MBE cab? Maybe it just sounds better to most of its users when it's unlined, even if its sound reproduction is technically imperfect. ::shrug::

- D

[will33]

Listen to your rig someplace other than 5 ft. in front of it and you'll appreciate the difference.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by ulynch

but what if people simply prefer the sound of this or that cab unlined, ragged midrange response and all?

AFAIK G-C etc. don't have lined versus unlined versions to try, so how would one know?
If cab damping wasn't beneficial then no one would do it.

[tallboybass]

Originally Posted by ulynch

It always seems this discussion is predicated on the assumption that some specific attribute is optimal and preferred. (i.e., "ragged response" is "bad".) Maybe from a technical sound reproduction standpoint, it is, but what if people simply prefer the sound of this or that cab unlined, ragged midrange response and all? How do we know that isn't exactly the goal of the GK 212MBE cab? Maybe it just sounds better to most of its users when it's unlined, even if its sound reproduction is technically imperfect. ::shrug::

- D

I agree, thanks for wording it much better than I could have. My MB212s sound so good to me, I wouldn't want to change a thing. If "ragged midrange response" is wrong, I don't wanna be right.

[lowendgenerator]

Does my GK 410 Neo have a lining? If not, should I line it, and what material do you suggest I use? It can be a bit unruly in the mids at gig volume.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by lowendgenerator

Does my GK 410 Neo have a lining? If not, should I line it, and what material do you suggest I use? It can be a bit unruly in the mids at gig volume.

GK 410MBE Mods

[lowendgenerator]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

GK 410MBE Mods

Great thread Bill. Answered all of my questions. Thank you Bill.