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Acoustic B200/B115 vs GK MB115

All those drivers on your old system certainly helped a lot.

Actually though - ONE DRIVER COULD DO IT ALL!

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I think it's already been mentioned, but the B-200 has a Notch Filter that cannot be disabled. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it just is always 'there' and kinda changes the tone of the notes - adding a certain faint 'chorus' or plastic-y effect that I can either use and don't use by choice on my B-450.

The B-200 is a good head and certainly one that can be expanded with more cabs, all the way down to 4 Ohms for a final load. (is that right? 4 Ohms? I thought it was more like 2 Ohms - but I'm not too sure right now).

If you can swing it, I'd try to get the coin for the B-600H and add a B-410 now and a B-115 later. It's all good and very expandable too.

If you're not gonna professionally gig this outfit and fly all around the world or take it on a tour bus, it will serve you nicely. They are fairly heavy though, like I said.

I get mine to BBQs and back yard parties and can fill a 40-acre pasture with the volume I can generate. So the B-600H is a very high powered head, fer sure. I can also be heard all over town - the mountains hold to sounds nicely! :eek:

I was also thinking that maybe i should spend an extra 100 and go for something like the new peavey TNT or TKO. TNT has 600W RMS through a 15 inch and TKO is 400W RMS through a 15 as well. Don't understand what the difference between them is,other than wattage. They're the same price.

Weight is not a huge problem for me after owning that old rig. Head was like 35 lbs,and the cab was probably closer to 100
 
I was also thinking that maybe i should spend an extra 100 and go for something like the new peavey TNT or TKO. TNT has 600W RMS through a 15 inch and TKO is 400W RMS through a 15 as well. Don't understand what the difference between them is,other than wattage. They're the same price.

Weight is not a huge problem for me after owning that old rig. Head was like 35 lbs,and the cab was probably closer to 100

I know it causes a lot of grief on the site, and especially when someone makes such a flagrant statement as I will now: the 15 will provide all the lows you can use, but it isn't gonna pump raw air for you as well as a 410.

There - I said it!

Don't get me wrong - but you cannot expect a large cone like that 15 to be able to handle all the nuances and crisp tones that you will generate as well as the bunch of 10s can.

It's an awesome speaker - the 15 and I heartily endorse using one in pretty much any venue - but adding a flock of 10s is just killer for punch and sounds just - er, gooder!

Had I the chance to do it all over again (that "20/20 hindsight thing) I would buy the B-600H and a B-410 first. You'll kick some serious butt with that.

Add the B-115 later when you want to groove-sound ala Motown or kewl jazz, and you'll be in Bass Valhalla!

Either way - I think any combo is good to a point - but you'll pine for a separate head later on - been there!

An olde street racer's saying: "You cannot beat cubic horsepower" (Wattage).
 
I know it causes a lot of grief on the site, and especially when someone makes such a flagrant statement as I will now: the 15 will provide all the lows you can use, but it isn't gonna pump raw air for you as well as a 410.

There - I said it!

Don't get me wrong - but you cannot expect a large cone like that 15 to be able to handle all the nuances and crisp tones that you will generate as well as the bunch of 10s can.

It's an awesome speaker - the 15 and I heartily endorse using one in pretty much any venue - but adding a flock of 10s is just killer for punch and sounds just - er, gooder!

Had I the chance to do it all over again (that "20/20 hindsight thing) I would buy the B-600H and a B-410 first. You'll kick some serious butt with that.

Add the B-115 later when you want to groove-sound ala Motown or kewl jazz, and you'll be in Bass Valhalla!

Either way - I think any combo is good to a point - but you'll pine for a separate head later on - been there!

An olde street racer's saying: "You cannot beat cubic horsepower" (Wattage).

Agree, agree! Of course I said something similar in a very much more abbreviated version. But on that racer's saying. Around my way it was, "There's no replacement for displacement", and the total cone area of all the speakers in a cab are analogous to engine displacement in this analogy. Having both a 115 and a 410 is a good place to be, but if you can only have one... 410 for sure!

(and the smaller speakers do a better job at the nuance stuff and upper freqs, and punch)
 
Does that not have the notch switch? And you were just talking about a 1x15 not being enough?

It does NOT have a switch for the Notch Filter - but that's not a deal killer to me. You cannot disable the Notch Filter as there is NO switch for that purpose. What it IS, is adjustable though for the area of freqs you want to attenuate.

Yes - the 15 is not really enough, but it is a great start. Ya gotta get some more cone area to really get the sounds out there.

I was just posting to show you the package price with the thoughts that as soon as possible, you'd add a B-410 to the mix.

I typically just use my B-450 and a B-115 to do most gigs - that's 2-10s and a fat 15 plus two horns.

Let me define: "GIGS' to you as I do them.

I do NOT play for money. I am retired and play for my own satisfaction.

I DO play some studio stuff for a friend and some BBQs and backyard private parties - that's about it.

What I cannot quantify/qualify is the overall sound of a B-200H, as I don't own one but have heard and talked to persons who have them and they like them a lot.

The Notch Filter on my B-450 Combo and my B-600H (both the same amps) have a switchable Notch Filter and I can live with it ON or OFF.

I just like to have a switch to turn it OFF/ON as my need for it or not. I can hear and feel a difference when it's ON - but I can pan to the higher freq attenuation area and it's transparent then.

What bassist actually likes HIGHS anyway!?!
 
It does NOT have a switch for the Notch Filter - but that's not a deal killer to me. You cannot disable the Notch Filter as there is NO switch for that purpose. What it IS, is adjustable though for the area of freqs you want to attenuate.

Yes - the 15 is not really enough, but it is a great start. Ya gotta get some more cone area to really get the sounds out there.

I was just posting to show you the package price with the thoughts that as soon as possible, you'd add a B-410 to the mix.

I typically just use my B-450 and a B-115 to do most gigs - that's 2-10s and a fat 15 plus two horns.

Let me define: "GIGS' to you as I do them.

I do NOT play for money. I am retired and play for my own satisfaction.

I DO play some studio stuff for a friend and some BBQs and backyard private parties - that's about it.

What I cannot quantify/qualify is the overall sound of a B-200H, as I don't own one but have heard and talked to persons who have them and they like them a lot.

The Notch Filter on my B-450 Combo and my B-600H (both the same amps) have a switchable Notch Filter and I can live with it ON or OFF.

I just like to have a switch to turn it OFF/ON as my need for it or not. I can hear and feel a difference when it's ON - but I can pan to the higher freq attenuation area and it's transparent then.

What bassist actually likes HIGHS anyway!?!

OK. Then I will more than likely go for that half stack and then later go after the 4x10 down the road. I think it'll be a while before we get a drummer,even longer before/if we ever do have any gigs so I'll have some time. So that alone will be way way more than enough.
 
OK. Then I will more than likely go for that half stack and then later go after the 4x10 down the road. I think it'll be a while before we get a drummer,even longer before/if we ever do have any gigs so I'll have some time. So that alone will be way way more than enough.

Now - THAT'S a plan!

For small gigs and things that don't require moving lots of air, I can just use the B-600H and the B-115. The sound is pure Motown!

So far I haven't barked the driver in the 115 at all, but I see it's a possibility with my bigger amp and with lots of lows dialed in.

Are you going pro or is this just for kicks and giggles?

BTW: I'd stay out of the Acoustic Neos for a while. They are tempting since they are smaller and weigh a little less - but I like my amps/cabs BIG and dominating the stage!

Besides I haven't heard any GREAT reports on them yet. It may take a while since many people are kinda hinky on buying them at the mo.

If you buy a pedal for the Standby (you'll love that) you gotta let me know, since there are some ground-rules about what the am,p will or will not accept and the factory is either blond-dumb or belligerent over you asking questions.
 
Now - THAT'S a plan!

For small gigs and things that don't require moving lots of air, I can just use the B-600H and the B-115. The sound is pure Motown!

So far I haven't barked the driver in the 115 at all, but I see it's a possibility with my bigger amp and with lots of lows dialed in.

Are you going pro or is this just for kicks and giggles?

BTW: I'd stay out of the Acoustic Neos for a while. They are tempting since they are smaller and weigh a little less - but I like my amps/cabs BIG and dominating the stage!

Besides I haven't heard any GREAT reports on them yet. It may take a while since many people are kinda hinky on buying them at the mo.

If you buy a pedal for the Standby (you'll love that) you gotta let me know, since there are some ground-rules about what the am,p will or will not accept and the factory is either blond-dumb or belligerent over you asking questions.

Haha no Im not going pro. Music is just a passion and a hobby but I have my focuses on my career in the automotive collision repair industry. I think if I had to make music for a living I'd hate it. I could be in a jam band for the rest of my life and love it.

Good to hear the 15 gives that fat punchy low end. That what Im looking for. While I love the sound of aggressive heavy rock tones, I usually don't find myself using them in a band setting. I go more towards thick and heavy tones that fill the room.
 
Ok. So final question. Musicians friend has both the B200H head and the 4x10 cab used. I can get the both for 62 dollars more than the 1x15. You think it's worth the 62 dollars more to get the 4x10 than the 1x15?

That works for me too.

Make sure you get a good road test on it or a very good return policy and warranty.

The 410 will get you a lot of air pushing.

I think the 115 is under $200.00.

Wow! I just looked and the B-115 is $175.00!
 
So I just realized something. So the head is rated for 200w 4 ohms and the cabs are 8 ohm,so does that mean i'm only going to be pushing 100 watts at 8 ohms?

Two 8 Ohm cabs will equal 4 Ohms. They are somewhat subtractive in formula.

But take two Ohm readings and when you add them in a parallel wiring mode, they get halved. t's a little more complex than that in unmatched Ohm'd cabs, but you will be OK as you stated the question.

You will be at 4 Ohms if you jack in two 8 Ohm cabs unless something really odd in the cab wiring has been done.

F'rinstance, an 8 Ohm and a 4 Ohm will equal about 6 Ohms.

<edit> I screwed my math up a little here - sorry.

It's more like 2.6 Ohms with the odd cabs you asked about
 
Two 8 Ohm cabs will equal 4 Ohms. They are somewhat subtractive in formula.

But take two Ohm readings and when you add them in a parallel wiring mode, they get halved. t's a little more complex than that in unmatched Ohm'd cabs, but you will be OK as you stated the question.

You will be at 4 Ohms if you jack in two 8 Ohm cabs unless something really odd in the cab wiring has been done.

F'rinstance, an 8 Ohm and a 4 Ohm will equal about 6 Ohms.

So what does the head push with only one cab?
 
So what does the head push with only one cab?

Yes, you will likely be in the neighborhood of 100W (the manual probably will give you the exact number). However, I have a Crate 1-15 bass cab, which is 4ohms, and the sound from my Acoustic B200H when connected to the Acoustic B410 is still more powerful than when connected to the 4 ohm Crate 1-15. Go figure.