Tonal differences between G-K Neo 212 and a pair of Neo 112s?

**HeavyDuty** · #1 08-05-2011, 10:35 PM

I'm still struggling with whether to go with a G-K Neo 212 or a pair of G-K Neo 112s for my new MB500. My back would sure appreciate the lighter weight of the 112 cabs, but getting a 212 would leave the door open for a second identical cab down the road. (I've pretty much ruled out MBE cabs.)

What are the tonal differences between a pair of the Neo 112s vs. a Neo 212? Would one handle the low B better than the other?

woundround · #2 08-05-2011, 10:51 PM

well i have 2 single 12 s and am happy,I was thinkin about goin for a 212 and a 112 or 2X 212 but have decided to stick with the singles they are great handle the low b well, easy to shuttle and are loud together, you would get more volume with 2 X212 s but if i gotta get that loud it ll go thru front of house, I think if anything the single 12 s are slightly more focused sounding...covers what i need w a 700 rb 11, tho thinkin of tryin an Ampeg Vr thru them or somethin warmer. Cheers

Slowgypsy · #3 08-06-2011, 05:10 AM

I run a GK RB700-II into either 2 GK Neo 212's or 112's. I use the 212's when I'm doing a outdoor thing and just need to push more air. But I mostly run a pair of 112's. I find the sound of the 112's to be tighter, snappier, punchier, more focused. The 212's have just the slightest hint of woof or boom. They are excellent cabs, and lately for small bar/pub venues I'm using a single 212 and MB200 with great success. But I much prefer the tightness of the 112's when I need to crank up the volume for larger spaces. And my back prefers it too.

ljazz · #4 08-06-2011, 05:42 AM

I can't answer for the mb500, but with the 700rbII, I'm loving having one of each config..... a 112 and a 212. It gives me a bunch of versatility. Certainly more versatility than two of either cab. For me, it's about controlling how much growl I can get. I go with as little cabinet as I can, while trying to stay at 8ohms. That way, I can push the head a little bit without blowing everyone else of the stage. For situations where I need a bit more, I use the 212, which is 8 ohms, and the head is only pushing 320 watts, instead of the full 480. If I ran 2 112's, I'd be running at the 480, forcing me come down on the volume a touch, and not pushing the head into growl territory. For larger stages I'll use both the 112 and the 212...... I can still push a bit because I'm only driving the 3 speakers with the 2 cabs instead of 4 (if I was running 2 212's).

scottfeldstein · #5 08-06-2011, 07:48 AM

I can't answer the OP question, but I'm still interested in the discussion. I have the MB500 and I have a Neo 212-II on order (Tuesday!). But I'm still fretting over a second cab to go with it. Right now my obvious choices seem to be a) the 210MBE cab I have sitting around, b) a Neo 115-III, or c) a second Neo 212-II.

I ordered the 212 without ever having laid ears on it, that's how well it was recommended to me by some folks here on TB. I was looking for a sweet intersection between loud, fat, light and inexpensive. My 210 cabs weren't cutting it on volume and tone, so I'm making the change.

Anyway, if the OP wants to know how the 212 compares to my 210 MBE when plugged into the MB500... I'll be in a position to test that out on Tuesday night.

**HeavyDuty** · #6 08-06-2011, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woundround

well i have 2 single 12 s and am happy,I was thinkin about goin for a 212 and a 112 or 2X 212 but have decided to stick with the singles they are great handle the low b well, easy to shuttle and are loud together, you would get more volume with 2 X212 s but if i gotta get that loud it ll go thru front of house, I think if anything the single 12 s are slightly more focused sounding...covers what i need w a 700 rb 11, tho thinkin of tryin an Ampeg Vr thru them or somethin warmer. Cheers

Good to hear they handle the low B well!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slowgypsy

I run a GK RB700-II into either 2 GK Neo 212's or 112's. I use the 212's when I'm doing a outdoor thing and just need to push more air. But I mostly run a pair of 112's. I find the sound of the 112's to be tighter, snappier, punchier, more focused. The 212's have just the slightest hint of woof or boom. They are excellent cabs, and lately for small bar/pub venues I'm using a single 212 and MB200 with great success. But I much prefer the tightness of the 112's when I need to crank up the volume for larger spaces. And my back prefers it too.

That's exactly the kind of response I was hoping to get - someone that owns both. Based on your descriptions, I'm thinking the pair of 112s might be more appropriate for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljazz

I can't answer for the mb500, but with the 700rbII, I'm loving having one of each config..... a 112 and a 212. It gives me a bunch of versatility. Certainly more versatility than two of either cab. For me, it's about controlling how much growl I can get. I go with as little cabinet as I can, while trying to stay at 8ohms. That way, I can push the head a little bit without blowing everyone else of the stage. For situations where I need a bit more, I use the 212, which is 8 ohms, and the head is only pushing 320 watts, instead of the full 480. If I ran 2 112's, I'd be running at the 480, forcing me come down on the volume a touch, and not pushing the head into growl territory. For larger stages I'll use both the 112 and the 212...... I can still push a bit because I'm only driving the 3 speakers with the 2 cabs instead of 4 (if I was running 2 212's).

That's something I hadn't considered - one of each. You're finding them to be complementary?

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

I can't answer the OP question, but I'm still interested in the discussion. I have the MB500 and I have a Neo 212-II on order (Tuesday!). But I'm still fretting over a second cab to go with it. Right now my obvious choices seem to be a) the 210MBE cab I have sitting around, b) a Neo 115-III, or c) a second Neo 212-II.

I ordered the 212 without ever having laid ears on it, that's how well it was recommended to me by some folks here on TB. I was looking for a sweet intersection between loud, fat, light and inexpensive. My 210 cabs weren't cutting it on volume and tone, so I'm making the change.

Anyway, if the OP wants to know how the 212 compares to my 210 MBE when plugged into the MB500... I'll be in a position to test that out on Tuesday night.

I just can't bring myself to order one like you did without hearing them first - I'm a wimp! I'm very much looking forward to hearing how it works out for you...

negativeions24 · #7 08-06-2011, 09:14 AM

I've owned a 212 and a 112 (usually stacked), and there's definitely a difference in sound from each. Personally, I prefer the sounds from the 212...a touch warmer and rounder. I prefer the 212's low B ability. The 112 is perhaps more antiseptic and burpy.
If it was my call, I'd get the 212 and make it 4 ohm. However, the 112 is super portable and may very well trump the little difference in sound.

scottfeldstein · #8 08-17-2011, 09:11 AM

I reviewed the Neo 212-II.

Neo 212-II - Bass Gear Reviews at TalkBass.com

jeff7bass · #9 08-17-2011, 10:53 AM

I’d rather have two 12” cabs than a single 212 for the sonic reason’s Slowgypsy stated plus the added benefit of still having a functioning cab if one of them blows.
Ampeg’s big SVT 810 has four 2x10 compartments built-in for the same “sonic” reason. Less distortion and more focused sound is the result. Cost more though, just like two single 12’s.
Now if I was in a loud band who played very big venues, I would start with a 212 and stack a second 212 on it when needed. That would be rare for most people but not for some.

scottfeldstein · #10 08-17-2011, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff7bass

Now if I was in a loud band who played very big venues, I would start with a 212 and stack a second 212 on it when needed. That would be rare for most people but not for some.

Oh, I don't know. I don't think it's that rare to want/need that kind of cabinetry. I used to play in a 70s/80s rock band--drums, bass, keys, guitar, sax--and I would have been pushing a single 2x12 cab too hard to get the tone/volume I wanted on stage. I mean, you can always turn it down. Or, as you point out, just bring one cab to rehearsal or for use with a quieter band. One doesn't have to play metal in large halls to need a couple of 2x12 cabs. In fact, that kind of setup would be inadequate for that scenario.

Tunaman · #11 08-17-2011, 11:42 AM

I love the tone of my 412 GK NEO but alas its a biznatch to move

jeff7bass · #12 08-17-2011, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

Oh, I don't know. I don't think it's that rare to want/need that kind of cabinetry. I used to play in a 70s/80s rock band--drums, bass, keys, guitar, sax--and I would have been pushing a single 2x12 cab too hard to get the tone/volume I wanted on stage. I mean, you can always turn it down. Or, as you point out, just bring one cab to rehearsal or for use with a quieter band. One doesn't have to play metal in large halls to need a couple of 2x12 cabs. In fact, that kind of setup would be inadequate for that scenario.

Not from what I’ve experienced, especially lately. Two quality 12” cabs with say, 250w into each of them will provide more stage volume than many sound men will tolerate.
I’m not talking festival gigs, but even those has plenty of monitor support and most of my friends in “fest” bands have been shrinking their rigs. It simply isn’t necessary to have a ton of stage volume anymore. If you have a ton of stage volume, it’s a chore for the sound guy to make your band sound good because he has to deal with all the noise.
Getting back to the dual single 12’s vs. a single 212, you should be able to hear yourself better with a pair a single 12’s because of the added punch/focus due to the isolation of the speakers, which eliminates a form a distortion or “boominess”. I have two single DB 12” cabs with a Carvin BX1200 and it gets stupid loud, especially in bridge mode. You should be ridding your tone of boominess once things get loud anyway with less BASS and more MIDS (to cut thru mix). Like Bob Gallien said, the bass guitar is actually a mid-range instrument!!

scottfeldstein · #13 08-17-2011, 04:52 PM

I hear and acknowledge. However... Ever since I started playing bass in the mid 80s I've experienced many situations where I didn't have enough rig to get the volume/tone I needed. The other musicians could not hear me. I could not hear myself. I was in constant fear of damaging my equipment from pushing it too hard. This didn't end until I built an 18 + 2x10 rig and powered it with 400w. That rig is long since gone, as I took a long break from music. Now that I'm back into it--and older--I feel the desire to have small, light weight gear. But, as my recent experience with a 2x10 combo + 2x10 extension cab have proven, it's not worth going back to the times when your Peavey 15" combo couldn't cut it in the basement metal bands of my earliest days.

I want to have a 1 cab rig that can cut it in a coffee house or rehearsal for a quiet band. And the flexibility of a 2 cab rig that can cut it in a loud rock band on a moderate stage. Some guys would say get two 4x10 cabs. That doesn't seem necessary to me now that high quality 2x12 cabs like GKs Neo ones are on the market.

I used to work for a sound company. Drive a truck full of PA gear and set up live sound reinforcement for gigging bands. I know what it is to have your hands tied by too much stage volume. But I can always turn down if they request it.