GK MB212 Combo

Petros-J · #1 07-11-2011, 04:21 AM

I really dig this combo.
Will this 500W - 2 x 12" baby be enough for live and touring... even for recording?
Enlighten me plz.

rodl2005 · #2 07-11-2011, 05:41 AM

I haven't used it, but in answer to your questions, it should be fine for all those applications. 500w & 2x12" drivers = heaps of headroom.
Should be great. Congrats!

craig.p · #3 07-11-2011, 05:49 AM

There are so many variables, no one can give you an answer. You need to specify music type, what other amps you're competing with, how loud you guys play, whether you have mains support for your bass, whether the other band members need to be able to hear you, audience sizes, on and on.

However, you did say "touring." Personally, I'd never bring a combo on a tour. Too much potential for damage. I'd recommend you locate a separate GK cab of roughly similar size/sound as the MB212, and run a separate GK head. That way you can have the head travel in a padded case, packed in the same area of the van/trailer where the other electronics are located. Also, on stage you'll be able to pad the head off the cab, to keep vibration down. Third, your spare can be just a head -- cheaper than bringing a spare combo.

Regarding recording, just about anything will work. Actually, the smaller the better. Even nothing at all will work just fine, and that happens to be my own personal preference.

Bassmunnky · #4 07-11-2011, 07:48 AM

What kind of touring?

Clubs?
Festival Stages?

I "tour" all the time....I've never had to supply an amp for a backline for 1000+ venue gigs, there's usually a Fridge on the stage. So the 212 or 115 is all I really need. My days of needing to fill a club with bass were over 10 years ago..Your experience may be different.

For Clubs...it's perfect...what's the LAST thing you want to do at 2am? (hint - Lift a 110lb amp)

philter25 · #5 07-11-2011, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig.p

There are so many variables, no one can give you an answer. You need to specify music type, what other amps you're competing with, how loud you guys play, whether you have mains support for your bass, whether the other band members need to be able to hear you, audience sizes, on and on.

However, you did say "touring." Personally, I'd never bring a combo on a tour. Too much potential for damage. I'd recommend you locate a separate GK cab of roughly similar size/sound as the MB212, and run a separate GK head. That way you can have the head travel in a padded case, packed in the same area of the van/trailer where the other electronics are located. Also, on stage you'll be able to pad the head off the cab, to keep vibration down. Third, your spare can be just a head -- cheaper than bringing a spare combo.

Regarding recording, just about anything will work. Actually, the smaller the better. Even nothing at all will work just fine, and that happens to be my own personal preference.

+1.

And to add, I dont know what you mean by "touring", but I dont think a lightweight combo would fit the bill. The MB210 worked perfectly for me because I gig in a city and lightweight, loud, and small footprints are very very important. I was picking it up, I was carrying it, and it went in and out of my car. But if I was touring, I would worry about the strength of a lightweight combo being thrown around or mishandled and would want something more robust to put in a case for safety reasons.

vince a · #6 08-09-2011, 08:21 PM

I use mine for band practice and for church every Sunday morning . . . it will not handle a gig by itself, yet supported with a PA . . . it's OK! It's not my gigging rig!

BTW . . . the only way I can make it sound decent is to turn all four EQ knobs fully counter-clockwise . . . other than that, it resonates terribly at volume! This is the second one I have had!