GK MBE 4x10 paired with Ampeg PF500 and I am impressed

Blah114 · #1 11-07-2011, 09:07 AM

I am really impressed with the PF500.. but fyi.. I paired it with a 4 ohms GK cab.. a really cheap cab.. MBE4x10.. I got that cab new for $399.00. It blows away anything AMpeg I've heard.. for the weight I mean.. I had never tried GK cabs or heads.. the PF500 with this cabinet sounds like an SVT CL.. but with more midrange.. it's very.. Hartkeish.. but with Ampeg grit.. I thought I'd share with you. It sounds more modern than Ampeg (cab), but retains every ounce of Ampeg classic grit that ppl love.

I wish the PF500 had more power, as I have to turn the volume up above noon without a PA, but the amp does not clip, either, at this setting.

I am really impressed with my latest setup.. The GK cabinet is cheap in construction, but for the price and weight (40 lbs), cannot be beaten. I got the cab from zzsounds. I turn the GK horn off.

I am renewing my sponsored supporting membership.. just have paypal issues.. (not my own.. paypal is a pain).

My lightweight rig weighs about 53 lbs total.. and I can carry it in one trip.. I highly recommend pairing these two together..for those that are wondering "why post this?" .. 1) there are like 10,000 PF500 posts.. 2) there are hardly any GK MBE posts, that I could find.. no one seems to be using these cabs.. and that stuns me..

jeff7bass · #2 11-07-2011, 09:26 AM

I could see the two working well together. The mid emphasis of the GK and the old school tone of the Ampeg combining for modern/punchy/warm tones…
One great player around here (Chicago area) plays a GK 2001RB head through a pair a Eden 410’s and his sound is MINT. The two complement each other. You never know what's gonna work!

rpsands · #3 11-07-2011, 09:30 AM

Don't ever worry about where your knobs are set. Worry about clipping. Where the knob is set has very little to do with the actual power being sent to speakers or how hard the amp is working. The input signal and your gain staging prior to input etc. are much more important.

TC.65 · #4 11-07-2011, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff7bass

I could see the two working well together. The mid emphasis of the GK and the old school tone of the Ampeg combining for modern/punchy/warm tones…
One great player around here (Chicago area) plays a GK 2001RB head through a pair a Eden 410’s and his sound is MINT. The two complement each other. You never know what's gonna work!

This is exactly why I am looking to pair my Streamliner with either G-K or SWR cabs.

**DougD** · #5 11-07-2011, 09:37 AM

If you think that sounds good, you should try the GK Neo Line and a Markbass LMIII. Sounds like they were made for each other

. Only problem is the GK Neo line only comes in 8ohms now

JimmyM · #6 11-07-2011, 09:56 AM

Personally, I'll stick with the Ampeg cabs, but it's all good.

TC.65 · #7 11-07-2011, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougD

If you think that sounds good, you should try the GK Neo Line and a Markbass LMIII. Sounds like they were made for each other

. Only problem is the GK Neo line only comes in 8ohms now

You can special order the G-K neo 410 and 212 at 4 ohms

Blah114 · #8 11-07-2011, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Personally, I'll stick with the Ampeg cabs, but it's all good.

I would have too.. but.. Ampeg's lightweight 4x10 is around $1000.. I agree and I love ampeg.. I even have a PR410.. but weighs as much as a Volkswagen..

Blah114 · #9 11-07-2011, 11:10 AM

as for gain.. agreed. I drive the gain up around noon.. it NEVER clips.. any farther than noon, it starts to clip. I wish the PF500 had more headroom, but it's $399.. you cannot beat it. I told a guy I was using an SVT CL one show.. and he thought I was.. from afar. when I told him it was a new PF500.. he did not believe me. the soundman could not discern whether I was using a PF500 or SVT CL.. I have both pieces of gear.. the SVT CL does sound better.. but it weighs a lot more.. and it's a pain to get into small areas in clubs.

**DougD** · #10 11-07-2011, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TC.65

You can special order the G-K neo 410 and 212 at 4 ohms

Not any more. They stopped doing that. Says so right on their website, and RMC audio's site. Too bad too, I sure would like a 4 ohm Neo 212.

Blah114 · #11 11-07-2011, 12:15 PM

why not just go MBE? My cabinet is made in China, though, and I do not care for that.. but it's cheap.. and light. Id id not know it was made in china until I bought it. I heard one at a music store, but they sold out.. so ordered one online. I am not sure the type of drivers, either.. I just know it sounds good.

Blah114 · #12 11-07-2011, 12:16 PM

I figure we cannot go wrong with GK, Ampeg, hartke, or the myriads of other cabs that have been around for years.. since I am in cover bands.. I think the GK introduces a modern versatility I'd been previously missing.. but in the end, it just sounds great..

TC.65 · #13 11-07-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougD

Not any more. They stopped doing that. Says so right on their website, and RMC audio's site. Too bad too, I sure would like a 4 ohm Neo 212.

I was on rmcaudio website earlier looking at the G-K 410 neo and under product features it said impedance 8 ohms 4 ohms special order. That's what I was going by.

ulynch · #14 11-07-2011, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blah114

why not just go MBE? My cabinet is made in China, though, and I do not care for that.. but it's cheap.. and light. Id id not know it was made in china until I bought it. I heard one at a music store, but they sold out.. so ordered one online. I am not sure the type of drivers, either.. I just know it sounds good.

Bob G dropped in to a MBE series thread a year or so ago and said that the drivers used in GK's MBE line are the same drivers used in their NEO line.

The differences include a better tweeter with adjustable pad and the GK bi-amp system, slightly different size boxes, thicker plywood, and nicer handles. That's pretty much it from what I've heard.

For the cost conscious, the MBE series is a real sleeper.

- D

TylerSteiz · #15 11-07-2011, 12:56 PM

Thanks for posting this because I've been thinking about pairing this cab with my PF500 for a while now. Probably gonna get it when money permits

Blah114 · #16 11-07-2011, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerSteiz

Thanks for posting this because I've been thinking about pairing this cab with my PF500 for a while now. Probably gonna get it when money permits

some have told me I should have bought two 8 ohms 4x10 cabs.. fyi.. but I'd rather have full power at 4 ohms.. also, I'd rather have the option of using my SVT CL and not have funky power problems.. my Bergantino 8 ohms cabinets have caused very strange issues with the SVT CL.. but that's another discussion altogether.

Blah114 · #17 11-07-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ulynch

Bob G dropped in to a MBE series thread a year or so ago and said that the drivers used in GK's MBE line are the same drivers used in their NEO line.

The differences include a better tweeter with adjustable pad and the GK bi-amp system, slightly different size boxes, thicker plywood, and nicer handles. That's pretty much it from what I've heard.

For the cost conscious, the MBE series is a real sleeper.

- D

I too find indeed the MBE to be a sleeper.. even on MF's site (MFriend).. there are 3 reviews only.. I am stunned there are not 100s of reviews.. I am glad to hear about the drivers.. the cab seems very cheaply made, for sure.. but I might be wrong.. time will tell.

ulynch · #18 11-07-2011, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blah114

the cab seems very cheaply made, for sure.. but I might be wrong.. time will tell.

Thin plywood, cheap handle (and on the wrong side, IMO), cheap on/off switch for the tweet, maybe some glue runs inside, no parallel out, and it's un-damped. But it's adequately braced (my 212 at least), has a sturdy metal grill, and locking corners for stacking. It's stood up to a year of thrice-weekly loading/unloading with no problems. It has what I need, but little of the extras that don't mean much to me.

- DL

lfbassguy · #19 11-07-2011, 04:11 PM

I have a mbe 1x15. Honestly, I love it. It has been a trooper. I push it pretty hard and it holds up. Sounds really good too. I also wondered why you don't hear more about these cabs.

Blah114 · #20 11-08-2011, 11:16 AM

I cannot argue it seems to be a best buy. I much prefer to have Ampeg cabinets, but they are heavy.. I have to say I am really intrigued by GK altogether.. I have seen a few top bassists in my area playing via GK heads as well.. and their sound is really modern.. Hartke is similar. Comically, I tried to review my GK cab on Mfriend.. and the site keeps erroring out.. so I think that is why there are hardly any GK cabinet reviews. I would love a Bergantino or Epifani lightweight 4x10... but it's just not happening at their prices. I get you get what you pay for.. but I think the GK 4x10 is a best-buy.. I really do. I have received many compliments on my cabinet.. again, I grabbed the 4 ohms version for a reason.. I wanted to get full 600-800 watts from the cab without adding anything else. it's quite funny to carry this with one hand (although admitedly awkwardly) and have it sit with 4-7 piece band without PA. I find the lower notes register separately and precisely.. without compression... when using this cabinet. each note is heard, but there is no low-end loss. This is what I was missing with my 12s.. but other 4x10s were not as punchy as this one.