GK MB500 good cab Match for it??

johnnybass01 · #1 03-24-2011, 04:47 PM

Well I let my GK MB212 go and am getting the MB500 head and am having a hard time in trying to figure out what I should pair it with.these are a couple of options I came up with.
2 MBE115 400 watt 8 ohm cabs
1 MBE410 800 watt 4 ohm cab
1 MBE210 8 ohm & 1 MBE 115 400 watt 8 ohm cabs
1 Carvin ls1503 3 way cab

Any suggestions would be good. I am trying to stay away from 12's

I have always really liked 15 inch speakers , and usually play through the board with no live amp at all and really like the way i sound through the house 3 way system...

milklounge · #2 03-24-2011, 06:26 PM

Always liked the GK & SWR combination. I have a pre Fender Goliath 210, and it sounds fantastic with my MB500 and 1001RB. My other cab is an Epifani T310, sounds sweet too.

dukeisdog · #3 03-24-2011, 06:33 PM

How about the new avatar 15/3. Great cabs, and are about the same price new as the others. I'd say that you should get an 8ohm cab to start off, incase you decide you need another cab down the road.

johnnybass01 · #4 03-24-2011, 06:48 PM

I am leaning more towards GK because I like it.

milklounge · #5 03-24-2011, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnybass01

I am leaning more towards GK I have a pricing deal .

Than I would go for the 210+115 combination, because you said you like 15s and have three very different setups to chose from. 410 are just a pain in the a.. to carry around. I'm really happy not having such a big cab.

johnnybass01 · #6 03-24-2011, 07:03 PM

That might be the way to go, three different options ,I like that . The mb212 I had just didn't fit well for me , I tried a mb210 and it seemed a little overworked with a 5 string. I was almost thinking of getting the mb210 and a mbe115

fenderhutz · #7 03-24-2011, 07:04 PM

2 Avatar 210's stacked vertical.

Just my .02 though

The 210 and 115 setup baffles me, unless you want a loud wall of mush. It's what I like to call to two eye'd loudmouth setup. It's functional, but I haven't heard one that sounded great.

johnnybass01 · #8 03-24-2011, 07:06 PM

The mbe 410 only weighs 45 pounds though

fenderhutz · #9 03-24-2011, 07:12 PM

You still get the floor response from cabs being on the floor and they are high enough to actually hear yourself. It might take two trips but most 210 cabs are easier to carry than any 410 (minus Basson RIP).

milklounge · #10 03-24-2011, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnybass01

The mbe 410 only weighs 45 pounds though

My first cab was a 410, though it was not as light as current Neo cabs, I would not go for such a big single cab anymore. When I sold it I bought a 210 SWR Goliath Jr. & a 115 Son of Bertha because I thought I'd need that many speakers :-) . In fact, in the 4 years I owned these two cabs, I may have used them not more than 5 times together, because it wasn't necessary. In the end I liked it to chose a certain cab for a the gig. I still have the 210, but sold the 115.

jeff7bass · #11 03-24-2011, 07:24 PM

Avatar TB153. End of thread.

johnnybass01 · #12 03-24-2011, 07:27 PM

The only problem with the tb153 is availability seems they are always out

jeff7bass · #13 03-24-2011, 08:04 PM

Can't you borrow a cab for a while? It's worth waiting for, IMO, because of the quality within the price range.
The Carvin LS1503 will sound great up to a certain volume/bass level but it won't handle what the TB153 will. If you were going to look at Carvin, consider the BRX10.4 first. That cab's a winner.
Look at LDS too. They build very good stuff in a somewhat affordable price range. I'm assuming a certain price range based on the cabs in your list. IMO, it's worth a few bucks more if the quality is "significantly" better.
Too bad Dr. Bass bit the big one. His cabs were real nice for the price.

mam1862 · #14 03-24-2011, 08:06 PM

I use the MB Fusion with an Avatar TB153. Great cab. I got an 8 ohm and had it it in a few weeks from ordering. The 4 ohm units are what's backed up. Get one you won't be disappointed.

johnnybass01 · #15 03-24-2011, 08:09 PM

I think I might just get the 410 mbe for now and wait for a tb 153 I won't loose any money on the 410 that's for sure

andysvec · #16 03-24-2011, 08:19 PM

I've tried lots of cabs with my mb500 (neo212, neo210, neo412, my old trace 410, 210, and 115) and I ended up going with a GK NEO115. I usually run the bass around 2:00 and everything else straight up, and I love it. Nice fat tone at all volumes. My gigs I usually have very little PA support but I'm really happy with this combo, and I run it at all volume levels.

I had studioslips make me a clamshell cover for it too, so if anyone needs one they now have exact measurements for this cab

johnnybass01 · #17 03-24-2011, 08:35 PM

Andysvec you might be right on the money there for me personally at least. I have played so many gigs in my past most of which i can't remember , but there is one gig that has always stuck out in my head for so many years now. I had a gig at the troubadour and picked up this amp two days before from guitar center used, anyway there was a problem with the head and it blew out my 410 cab so I was screwed. but after yelling at guitar center they agreed to let me borrow , a head and a cab . all they had was a fender head about 350 watts at 4 ohms , and they had a single 15 cab , i think it was a ev tl606 but it had an aluminum hartke driver in it. The sound i had that night I remember to this day , and i have never went back to the 15" speaker and don't really know why, I got stuck in the 212 cabs and have never really been happy..

andysvec · #18 03-24-2011, 08:40 PM

I gigged a 212 cab with this head for a few months, and never really got the bottom that I wanted. Even had bandmates telling me they heard me but couldn't 'feel' it. I've been dabbling with a single 15 cab and horn for years off and on but am sold with the neo115 and this head, using this combo for all my gigs now and am satisfied.

*edit* - my favorite rig is the 2001rb and neo412, but I am too old and too lazy to cart this around, only use it at a few select clubs when I have a steady gig and can store it there

shoot-r · #19 03-26-2011, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnybass01

Well I let my GK MB212 go and am getting the MB500 head and am having a hard time in trying to figure out what I should pair it with.these are a couple of options I came up with.
2 MBE115 400 watt 8 ohm cabs
1 MBE410 800 watt 4 ohm cab
1 MBE210 8 ohm & 1 MBE 115 400 watt 8 ohm cabs
1 Carvin ls1503 3 way cab

Any suggestions would be good. I am trying to stay away from 12's

I have always really liked 15 inch speakers , and usually play through the board with no live amp at all and really like the way i sound through the house 3 way system...

There's two reasons I've been using GK heads since 1984.
Their reliability, and their ability to sound great through just about "every" bass cabinet available.
My old GK 800 sounded great into a Ampeg SVT 810 for 26 years and later into Eden cabs for a couple of years.
About a year ago I went micro with a GK MB2-500 head into two Avatar Neo 210's stacked as a vertical 410.
LOVE this head even more than the 800, feel the same about the Avatar cabinets!
I'd recommend what has already been said, check out Avatar.
Great sounding cabinets with top of the line componets, very well built, and at reasonable prices.
Since you like 15" speakers, The Avatar 153 maybe just what you're looking for.
www.avatarspeakers.com

tombowlus · #20 03-26-2011, 01:02 PM

I would recommend that you try out the GK Neo series. I am very impressed with the lineup, particularly the Neo112-II and Neo212-II. The GK MB500 (and MB Fusion) also pair up well with the fEarful cabs, and I dig it with my Bergantino AE112's, too.