MB210 combo or Hartke HyDrive 210C ???

tryin2figritout · #1 02-08-2011, 12:24 PM

I would greatly appreciate your opinion:

I've narrowed my search to the GK MB 210 combo and the Hartke HyDrive 210C.

I like the idea of the kick back design of the Hartke for smaller stages where I'm standing right in front of my amp. Having the speakers pointing up rather than at the back of my knees seems to make sense.

I have also heard not great things about Hartke in the past.

I've heard really great things about the MB 210. Is there any good way to tilt it back without bringing a block of wood to every gig?

Is the MB 210 that much better? They seem to be about the same price.

Thoughts?

Thanks

MysterMunky · #2 02-08-2011, 12:31 PM

I picked up a Hydrive 5210c a couple of months ago and I couldn't be happier. Pro gear at a reasonable price! I upgraded from a Kickback combo. I find that the Hydrive has more warmth and retains that Hartke clarity. And this thing is LOUD!

Sorry, no experience with the GK.

BackToTheGroove · #3 02-08-2011, 12:44 PM

Have a look at the TC Electronic BG500-210. I went through a big amp hunt this summer and looked at both of what's mentioned above. And they were both really tempting. I was sticking to a budget as well, but these are all very close. The BG500-210 is really high quality, sounds pro and is way louder than I'd ever be able to use. You'll love whichever you choose really, they are all great amps.

tryin2figritout · #4 02-08-2011, 01:26 PM

Thanks for your opinions!

I've never heard of the TC Electronic, but it sounds like a nice combo worth checking out. I did a quick look at the spec's. It's weighing in at around 70 lbs which might be more than I'd like to carry up and down my stairs.

Thanks!

tdub0199 · #5 02-08-2011, 01:27 PM

GK MB210!!!

Kael · #6 02-08-2011, 01:36 PM

My admittedly brief and only in the music store experience with the mb210 left me thinking that the mb210 has got to be one of the tubbiest combos out there. Try as hard as I could, I could not get a tight bridge J burp without rolling the bass knob WAY back. At that point it was tighter but still sounded.... synthetic, fake, etc. That was probably due to the massive EQ that had to be used to tame the boominess. Sounded like the cab in that combo was just not up to snuff. Too bad as it did belt out some volume and was shockingly light.

Never touched that hartke combo but I'll say it again. Hartke unnecessarily gets a bad rap around here.

The mb115 sounded much better but it will not drive an extension cab.

slapfunk987 · #7 02-25-2011, 11:02 PM

Go with the Hartke 210C... It's probly the best combo I have ever played through. And I've played and tried alot including the MB210. Nothing will at all match the clarity of the Hartke 210C or the volume. Only thing though, if you plan to usethe Bass Attack Overdrive, its not exactly the best thing. If you want to really get that grunge sound you have to max out the harmonics, effects and stuff and doing that makes it hiss. But I dont play rock, I play funk. And I believe its cheaper than GK at $529 on sweetwater.com. Price matched mine at Sam Ash.

GRAHAM SG1 · #8 02-27-2011, 06:06 AM

Dont tilt the MB210, it will walk about all over the place because its so light, when I first got mine it kept turning round to face the wall

now I have the ext cab it stays in one place !

armybass · #9 02-27-2011, 06:16 AM

I have found from much discussion in this forum that by rolling the bass back and bumping the low mid on the MB210 I get the desired J tone I am looking for and greatly reduce the boominess.

GRAHAM SG1 · #10 02-27-2011, 06:27 AM

You are right armybass, just turn back the bass, keep the boost below half and you have a boom free zone

Remguy · #11 02-27-2011, 06:45 AM

What about an amp stand that tilts back? Don't know if the amps you mentioned are too big for that, but my guitarists use them with their 2x10 Fender amps, approx. 50 lbs. Helped a lot keeping volume levels reasonable at rehearsals and everyone could hear themselves (what a concept!).

rhopper · #12 02-27-2011, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remguy

What about an amp stand that tilts back? Don't know if the amps you mentioned are too big for that, but my guitarists use them with their 2x10 Fender amps, approx. 50 lbs. Helped a lot keeping volume levels reasonable at rehearsals and everyone could hear themselves (what a concept!).

I would suggest the same. We use these all the time.

Also, I prefer the GK.

famstd · #13 02-27-2011, 10:27 AM

I just started using the Hartke HyDrive LH5210C. It's really good. A very solid well made amp. The neodymium speakers and the HF horn sound great. More simple settings for sound control. A cut off switch for the horn is there too. The LH500 onboard head can be used to power external cabs. 350 Watts @ 8 ohms, 500 watts @ 4 ohms. This is a for real 350 watts as rated.

woody357 · #14 03-10-2011, 08:59 AM

I had a chance to use a MB210 the other day, and at low volume it was great, but give it a little juice it started to fart. I had to roll back the bass to keep up with the band, and we were playing behind three singers at a rehearsal.