GK Neo 115 III vs MarkBass 151P

Tunaman · #1 02-22-2011, 08:04 AM

Going to pull the trigger TODAY

GK Neo III 115 for $382 on sale at GC today

I could offer GC $400 for the Markbass 151p which I think they would accept.

Thoughts?
I have a 310, so a 210 is redundant, a 212 is just as cumbersome to move & 112 is too small.

Can you get by in a loud practice with the 115? I'd only use it for small gigs so I think my biggest test would be a loud practice.

SEE POST #19 FOR REVIEW !!!!

KJung · #2 02-22-2011, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tunaman

Going to pull the trigger TODAY

GK Neo III 115 for $382 on sale at GC today

I could offer GC $400 for the Markbass 151p which I think they would accept.

Thoughts?
I have a 310, so a 210 is redundant, a 212 is just as cumbersome to move & 112 is too small.

Can you get by in a loud practice with the 115? I'd only use it for small gigs so I think my biggest test would be a loud practice.

Haven't heard the GK Neo III, but that series of GK cabs gets good reviews on this site.

While I dig some of the Markbass cabs, the 'P' cabs with that cheap piezo tweeter are not my thing. Those tweeters have been known to blow when you put some power into them, and they sound a bit clanky and harsh. The Markbass cabs with the higher quality compression driver are quite nice, but I would personally stay away from the ones with the tweeter type listed as 'piezo'.

IMO!

Tunaman · #3 02-22-2011, 08:19 AM

Ken you're a big help. I think $382 is very reasonable, portable & loud enough... as for the tone it would be a practice unit primarily that gets moved often. I'd use the 310 NYC for shows.
Thanks for the info on the tweeter!

DavePlaysBass · #4 02-22-2011, 09:27 AM

I like the balanced tone, B string handling, descent tweeter, and schelpability of the GK Neo 115-III. I have not played the Markbass. I got mine for the same price from RMC audio. I think they are a great value.

Tunaman · #5 02-22-2011, 09:31 AM

You have the GK? Do you feel comfortable playing with it in a loud practice without blowing it out? Does it have trouble at higher volumes with the tone breaking up?

**JxBass** · #6 02-22-2011, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

While I dig some of the Markbass cabs, the 'P' cabs with that cheap piezo tweeter are not my thing. Those tweeters have been known to blow when you put some power into them, and they sound a bit clanky and harsh. The Markbass cabs with the higher quality compression driver are quite nice, but I would personally stay away from the ones with the tweeter type listed as 'piezo'.

IMO!

Totally agree. I got rid of both may CMD 121P and 151P combos for exactly that reason. Pairing the LMII/III with a different cab is much more pleasing.

Tunaman · #7 02-22-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JxBass

Totally agree. I got rid of both may CMD 121P and 151P combos for exactly that reason. Pairing the LMII/III with a different cab is much more pleasing.

Portland ME representing... I love Gilbert's Chowder House. I grew up in ME near there.

You ever try the GK 115 yourself? You must have passed on the GK for the MB initially

odin70 · #8 02-22-2011, 09:51 AM

GK,s custumers service is terrible. Because of my bad experience with that company i will avoid all GK products in the future.

Tunaman · #9 02-22-2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odin70

GK,s custumers service is terrible. Because of my bad experience with that company i will avoid all GK products in the future.

I've owned GK products in the past & know this isn't true overall. I've heard questionable stuff from every company as well though including MB.

It happens though.

odin70 · #10 02-22-2011, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tunaman

I've owned GK products in the past & know this isn't true overall. I've heard questionable stuff from every company as well though including MB.

It happens though.

Good for you. My experience is not that good. Even the service center i use warned me abut GK. I quote: they are very very slow when it comes to delivering parts. It will take a long. I think its only fair to let people know this as long as GK dont even care to answer my mails about my parts...

DavePlaysBass · #11 02-22-2011, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tunaman

You have the GK? Do you feel comfortable playing with it in a loud practice without blowing it out? Does it have trouble at higher volumes with the tone breaking up?

I have had no issues playing with drums and loud tube guitar amps. I can't say we were breaking any dB level records though.

DavePlaysBass · #12 02-22-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odin70

GK,s custumers service is terrible. Because of my bad experience with that company i will avoid all GK products in the future.

Have you called them on the phone. I have received call backs the same day. And you can always PM Bob Gallien from within TB. His handle is Rag.

Tunaman · #13 02-22-2011, 11:35 AM

ORDERED! Thanks for all the help out there. 382... Gift cards got it down to 325.

Should be able to stand on its own for small gigs, practice... and 1 trip!

Too much for 1 hand? We'll see.

DavePlaysBass · #14 02-22-2011, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tunaman

ORDERED! Should be able to stand on its own for small gigs, practice... and 1 trip!

Too much for 1 hand? We'll see.

Cool. Looking forward to hearing what you make of it.

I carry it up and down the stairs in one hand in front of my legs. But if you are thinking bass in the right, cab in the left, you should probably be thinking a 112. The weight is not bad on the 115 but its dimensions are bigger which is why I think I like it.

Tunaman · #15 02-26-2011, 05:37 PM

Thanks Dave...
My SL900 is on order as well. Review coming.
GK Neo 115 vs Epifani 310
Then 115 with SL 900 vs Eden Nav

I figure if I ask people for answers all the time, its nice to repay the favor with reviews of my own.

audiomitch · #16 02-26-2011, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odin70

Good for you. My experience is not that good. Even the service center i use warned me abut GK. I quote: they are very very slow when it comes to delivering parts. It will take a long. I think its only fair to let people know this as long as GK dont even care to answer my mails about my parts...

Could it have anything to do with you being in Norway? I ordered some parts straight off their site and it was delivered within a week.

CDweller · #17 02-27-2011, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiomitch

Could it have anything to do with you being in Norway? I ordered some parts straight off their site and it was delivered within a week.

this- unfortunate, but the logistics of delivering components to a country outside of the U.S. are a significant hurdle.

maches · #18 02-27-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiomitch

Could it have anything to do with you being in Norway? I ordered some parts straight off their site and it was delivered within a week.

I also ordered some knobs to replace missing ones on my GK 400rb and received them within a week. Had a question about a cab I bought and received a response on this site from the president of the company an hour later and an email the next day from the customer service dept. I would call that pretty good customer service.

Tunaman · #19 03-27-2011, 05:46 PM

Finally grabbed my GK Neo 115 III cab

I'm liking it with the Genz Benz Streamliner, didn't have time to run it with the Eden Navigator to see if its just the Streamliner that makes this cab very gigable.

I thought the Neo 115 could bring a lot of the tones my Epifani NYC 310 could. Surprisingly its about the same dimensions which had I known I would have gotten another cab (GK 112 or MB 115tp), but with 40 lbs vs my 310 @ 68 lbs I can move it with 1 hand, have the Streamliner over the shoulder in a laptop bag & haul the bass with the other. 1 trip is big as we have to load & fire up quick before church starts. A 115 is certainly big enough for most gigs & earplug loud practices where I feel a 112 wouldn't. Yeah its bigger dimension wise but 1 handed is easy when needed. I've been away from 15s for so long feels great to be back & liking them... my old Peavey TKO & SWR Triad were my last attempts.

I really want to test the GK Neo 115 with the Eden & vs. the Neo 210. I know for a fact that I didn't like the GK 1001RB with the Neo 210, lacked tight warm natural low end.

I'll report back to if the GK Neo 115 III sucks with other amps like the Neo 210 does. It could be the Streamliner making GK NEO cabs awesome... sometimes you put hi-fi cab plus hi-fi amp & hi fi Stingray 5 together & its way too much. A nice tube amp like the Streamliner can bring the balance the Neo series 10" needs?

Great job GK. I've always had fantastic luck with GK & loved my GK 1001RB for many years with my SWR 610.

Next review with the Eden Navigator.

__________________

**JxBass** · #20 03-27-2011, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tunaman

Portland ME representing... I love Gilbert's Chowder House. I grew up in ME near there.

You ever try the GK 115 yourself? You must have passed on the GK for the MB initially

Oops, sorry just saw your post. Obviously it's too late to offer any insight and it looks like you've got a great setup.

For what it's worth I have owned GK, not the NEO 115 but the MB150S with the extension cab, a great little combo. I didn't pass on GK in favor of Markbass, MB came later .... another step in the ongoing "evolution". I'm sure there was some stuff in between too