GK Neo 412 Thoughts, Share yours too!

Tunaman · #1 04-24-2011, 06:49 PM

So I had a monster Craigslist score, 5 minutes from my house someone sells a GK NEO 412 MINT for $200. Best deal ever, didn't need it but couldn't pass it up.

Here are my thoughts:
Great tone, strong in the mids, punchy like 10"s. I like it better than an Eden 610xlt I had which was way too mid present. I'd imagine its very similar to the SWR 610 which I had for years & loved. Sold that only because I wasn't playing big gigs anymore. The specs show that the 412 doesn't have that much low end freq response just like the SWR 610 but it can get nice tight lows. I don't have a 5 string but I had the lows boosted & it handled it with ease.

I still prefer my Epifani 310 NYC cabs which are more even, have a little less tone coloring. (I personally like my cabs not to color my tone, my amp & bass can do that & adding a 3rd variable makes life tougher) I have a GK NEO 115 III and I think the tone is fairly similar. I again am NOT a fan of GK heads with GK cabs... IMHO its overkill. The GK amps have tons of GK "Grind". I much prefer the NEO series with a non-hi-fi amp like the Streamliner 900 or Eden Navigator vs the 1001RB. If you own both a GK amp & a GK cab & aren't satisfied with your tone you'd probably be better off changing the amp & not the cab. The Streamliner 900 tube tone with the little bit of GK grind of the NEO series gives you tons of tones you'll love again IMO. My test bass of a Sterling HH really brings the grind out if I want it but it can be tamed by cutting my mids.

Verdict: I would NOT buy this cab new. I really like the tone and I'm going to keep it happily but this thing is NOT portable. At 99 lbs it doesn't act lightweight especially with no side handles. Its very awkward to move & you will need 2 people often. At the price point of $900 I can find MANY alternatives that are more portable or build a great modular set with 115, 212, 210 or 410s GK Neos. You're also close to high end 410 cabs like Epifani, Genz, Bergantino etc.

A great cab overall though, loud as hell, can take anything you throw at it, mids that still cut but don't honk. Pair up with the right amp & have help to move it & you'd enjoy it.

ExurKun · #2 04-24-2011, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tunaman

So I had a monster Craigslist score, 5 minutes from my house someone sells a GK NEO 412 MINT for $200. Best deal ever, didn't need it but couldn't pass it up.

Calaverasgrande · #3 04-24-2011, 07:06 PM

I missed a pair of those last year. I think it was $300 each? I like the idea of those and have tried the 2x12 from the same line but have yet to audition the 4x12 in person.
true that the list price is sufficiently high that it gets me thinking of picking up Mesa or Aggie cabs instead. Sure they are more, pricey, but not that much more.

Tunaman · #4 04-24-2011, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calaverasgrande

I missed a pair of those last year. I think it was $300 each? I like the idea of those and have tried the 2x12 from the same line but have yet to audition the 4x12 in person.
true that the list price is sufficiently high that it gets me thinking of picking up Mesa or Aggie cabs instead. Sure they are more, pricey, but not that much more.

I like the tone, but you're right, price & portability would make me look elsewhere too. No side handles, its hard to move.

GK NEO 410 & 115 is priced close enough to go that route. Sadly as I look at prices its amazing how expensive things got but a Markbass & SWR 610 is near $1200, Epifani $1500 Berg AE410 $1200. $900 for the 412 seems reasonable for a cab that can do pretty much what they can.

Tunaman · #5 04-27-2011, 06:29 AM

Played my P bass through the GK NEO 412 today with the Streamliner 900. Great tone wow. Much more "Vintage" round warm tones in the mids & upper mids than the rest of the NEO series for sure. Noticeably better than my Neo 115 which is surprisingly hi-fi. I like the GK Neo 115 too, its like a 210. I thought the Neo 210 was too grindy & hi-fi.

Great tone from the 412.

treekiller · #6 04-27-2011, 06:51 AM

I love mine!!! I use a Fusion 550 head and play a P-Bass strung with Chromes, tonally it is very complimentary. Thanks to the tube pre, the Fusion head is a bit different critter than most G-K heads. It has more warmth but can get the G-K "growl" if ya want it. I wouldn't necessarily compare it to an SVT(nothing can!!!), but it isn't bad either.

I hafta disagree a little bit about the portability, it isn't any worse than using a handcart(which we use to move our PA subs, etc.). Yeah, it sure helps to have 2 guys to lift it into the truck but it isn't any worse than an 8-10 cab.

It does everything I need it to and given me nothing to complain about, which is pretty much what you want from your rig isn't it???

NicJimBass · #7 04-27-2011, 07:00 AM

I had one for about a year, and I loved most everything about it. Granted, I've been a huge GK fan ever since I started playing (my first real amp was a 400RB-III), but I really dug the tone, size and weight of this cab. I was coming from an Ampeg 810, which was huge and heavy, and, while it was loud, there was no clarity... just mud. Once I got the 412, it was like night and day... all the volume, more clarity, and moving the 412 around, even solo, was WAY easier that the 810. If I had a gig that required it, I would get another in a heartbeat.

Tunaman · #8 04-27-2011, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicJimBass

I had one for about a year, and I loved most everything about it. Granted, I've been a huge GK fan ever since I started playing (my first real amp was a 400RB-III), but I really dug the tone, size and weight of this cab. I was coming from an Ampeg 810, which was huge and heavy, and, while it was loud, there was no clarity... just mud. Once I got the 412, it was like night and day... all the volume, more clarity, and moving the 412 around, even solo, was WAY easier that the 810. If I had a gig that required it, I would get another in a heartbeat.

Great review & a great call. Mud with no clarity sucks & the 412 can take a dark bass & a dark amp like the P & the Streamliner & still have great hi-fi tones when wanted. If I played through my Sterling H & Eden Navigator i'd imagine it would be very versatile tonally & something I'll do soon.

Tight lows & warm mids or hi-fi mids as your amp, bass & EQ desires.

Tunaman · #9 04-27-2011, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treekiller

It does everything I need it to and given me nothing to complain about

No side handles is something to complain about for sure.

treekiller · #10 04-27-2011, 08:00 AM

That hasn't been a problem for me. I use the handle to tilt it back and roll it out on the casters, just like a handcart.

treekiller · #11 04-27-2011, 08:00 AM

You could put side handles on it if you wanted to.

hyp.spec · #12 04-27-2011, 08:35 AM

I'll give you $200 for it!

jelwood · #13 04-27-2011, 03:01 PM

I am totally jealous of this 200 dollar score. But...no pics, no cab.

Also I have a neo 412 paired with a 2000rb and I have been GAS free for over a year, ever since I got it.

ataunton · #14 04-27-2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calaverasgrande

I missed a pair of those last year. I think it was $300 each? I like the idea of those and have tried the 2x12 from the same line but have yet to audition the 4x12 in person.
true that the list price is sufficiently high that it gets me thinking of picking up Mesa or Aggie cabs instead. Sure they are more, pricey, but not that much more.

Were they in LA?

Calaverasgrande · #15 04-27-2011, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ataunton

Were they in LA?

Nope, SF Peninsula. I think San Mateo?

Tunaman · #16 04-29-2011, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treekiller

You could put side handles on it if you wanted to.

Very true but this cab is going to find a destination & stay there, its not portable. I'll use my Epifani 310\610 for big gigs & my GK Neo 115 for small gigs OR leave the 412 at church for gigs

Its not going to move often!