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Am I the only one unimpressed with the GK MB combos?

IntrepidCellist

IntrepidCellist

Sep 10, 2009
1,869
77
Manhattan
#1
Yes, they're light. Yes, they are loud. Yes, they are affordable.

But I don't get the hype. Even with the bass knob almost all the way down (especially on the MB210) it's just mud and thump. No clarity, no "punch," just a little bit of clank and a lot of lows in the "mud" region.

And this is with several basses in several stores, and I've tried the 115, 210, and 212 models, and have similar complaints across the board.

After trying them several times and being unimpressed I spent about an hour and a half with my Dingwall and an active Schecter 5er at GC with an MB210 and MB212 last week and I just could not get anything usable out of them, no matter how I tweaked the EQ/boost/whatever, or what I did with my VT Bass out front (on, off, clean, dirty, whatever.)

I'm genuinely curious why there is so much love for these. Am I missing something? Is there some "magic tone button" that takes all the emphasis out of the mud region of the frequency spectrum?

It's a moot point now as I've ordered something else, but I'm curious.
 
#2
The 115 sounds a lot better to me than the 210 to me. Haven't seen the 212 yet.

I would suggest you try bypassing the internal preamp on them. They're still super cheap for powered cabs. Something like a VT bass maybe.
 
#3
I'm in the market... Bought the Carvin BR515N and have been waiting a while for it to ship... May get a refund and get a MB212

Looking at your current gear, all the Eden stuff is GREAT...

I use SWR 2x10's and a GK1001RB regularly and am in the market for a "different" sound, just because I'm finding that the super clean and tight bass sound isn't what everybody wants on their gig... I started learning how to play with a pick too!! (condemn me now)

ALSO I'm tired of dragging ~120lbs of gear through Pittsburgh streets to places where you have to take the service elevator, that's through the narrow entrance, on the no-parking side of the building, to the 42nd floor, just to be ignored by the drunken guests...

A muddy sound for people who don't necessarily care about the band, I don't have a problem with... Now, if I was playing a theater with Chick Corea, I'd drag out the heavy gear...

Maybe I have a jaded opinion...
 
#4
Playing my 5502 and upright through a MB-210, I haven't had issues with muddy sounds. It's been pretty punchy and warm. Only exception: not necessarily liking the response I'm getting when playing D or lower on the B string.

The volume has been perfect for the small clubs/restaurants that I've played with jazz groups. But not at all sure that the 210 would be loud enough to contend with a medium-loud jam-style band.

I'm pretty sure that matching it with a suitable ext cab would solve that problem. But I've decided to punt and go with a 212. For now.
 
#5
I don't know what the problem you're having with GK is, but I've never had it. I think you truly are one of a small number of people who don't like the new GK. That's fine. You don't have to like it.
 
#6
IntrepidCellist said:
Yes, they're light. Yes, they are loud. Yes, they are affordable.

But I don't get the hype. Even with the bass knob almost all the way down (especially on the MB210) it's just mud and thump. No clarity, no "punch," just a little bit of clank and a lot of lows in the "mud" region.

And this is with several basses in several stores, and I've tried the 115, 210, and 212 models, and have similar complaints across the board.

After trying them several times and being unimpressed I spent about an hour and a half with my Dingwall and an active Schecter 5er at GC with an MB210 and MB212 last week and I just could not get anything usable out of them, no matter how I tweaked the EQ/boost/whatever, or what I did with my VT Bass out front (on, off, clean, dirty, whatever.)

I'm genuinely curious why there is so much love for these. Am I missing something? Is there some "magic tone button" that takes all the emphasis out of the mud region of the frequency spectrum?

It's a moot point now as I've ordered something else, but I'm curious.
Click to expand...
This one's easy....."it's not your deal". Don't buy one and don't even worry about it. I banged my head against the MarkBass thing for quite a while before realizing....I don't like the way they sound. They are VERY popular here on TB but they doesn't work for me. No harm in realizing that's true for you with the GK combos and moving on.
 
#9
62bass said:
I don't know what the problem you're having with GK is, but I've never had it. I think you truly are one of a small number of people who don't like the new GK. That's fine. You don't have to like it.
Click to expand...

Honestly I've found the opinions split closer to 50/50 as far as the tone of the MB210. Almost everyone I've asked who likes it is going for a bass heavy warm sound and not a snarly rock sound.

I'm not convinced you can get any mids to speak of out of the amp without a pedal assist.
 
#10
rpsands said:
Honestly I've found the opinions split closer to 50/50 as far as the tone of the MB210. Almost everyone I've asked who likes it is going for a bass heavy warm sound and not a snarly rock sound.

I'm not convinced you can get any mids to speak of out of the amp without a pedal assist.
Click to expand...

I dig mine, and I'm not into bass heavy sounds. I'm into a grindy P sound, or a Jaco bridge pickup sound and both I can do fine with this amp. It's not the be all and end all of amps but I find it perfectly useable.
 
#11
More info on these please. Im in the market for a smallish combo for practicing and small gigs and These GKs are looking particularly tasty. This thread is the first Ive heard anyone say something bad about them.
 
#13
rovito said:
I have to agree with the OP. Had my MB212 for three gigs and had to send it back. FWIW I sent back my Mesa M6 Carbine for the same reason. Every Amp I have tried I try with 12s gets the boot.
Click to expand...

If you can't get clear mids out of an M6 the problem is either with your cab(s), eq or bass, my friend;) As has been posted countless times before, driver size is not the sole (or even main) determining factor in tone-the whole box design has to be considered. There are clear, middy 15s and muddy 410s out there for sure.

(sorry for the derail).
 
#14
lomo said:
If you can't get clear mids out of an M6 the problem is either with your cab(s), eq or bass, my friend;) As has been posted countless times before, driver size is not the sole (or even main) determining factor in tone-the whole box design has to be considered. There are clear, middy 15s and muddy 410s out there for sure.

(sorry for the derail).
Click to expand...
IMO no derail, driver size is immaterial. It's which driver you use and what you do with it that counts.
 
#15
Been pretty happy with the 212, I wasn't able to try it in the store, but it sounded good durings gigs and it gets compliments after the show. i think it is a strong buy for a 500 watt combo amp that weighs 37 pounds.
 

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