Well, my TC112AFv2 (8 ohm) arrived!
I've been trying it out with my Streamliner 900, as well as the GK MB800 and GK MB Fusion 800 I have 'borrowed' from Thomann. Test basses - Celinder J Update (ash/maple) with Greengrove preamp (the birghtest bass I own, and has 'the' Marcus tone), Celinder Classic J (alder/Braz RW; with John East J-Retro), custom Precision bass (alder/braz RW; with John East P-retro). All 4 strings. I used a looper at various points to record lines, then walked around the room to listen to it. Big caveat: Currently, this is all moderate volume stuff at home.
Comparator cab has been the Bergantino CN112.
I have a lot of thoughts from home testing, and will need to take it to rehearsal next week to play with a drummer and a loud guitarist who uses 2x12 cabs + effects. That gets pretty loud. The CN112 can struggle a little in that scenario and I had been contemplating adding another CN112 previously.
I have had some surprises along the way.
The GK MB800, when set flat according to the settings in BGM (contour off, etc), had less treble content than the GK MB Fusion 800. Through both cabs. (The switch for the TC was in the position allowing full range sound, and tweeter for the CN was at the neutral midway point.) To get the same amount of treble content the MB Fusion 800 had at about 11 o'clock, I had to crank the MB800 treble to about 4 o'clock. That was a surprise, and not in keeping with what I have read in the GK threads. Wasn't sure if I got a duff MB800?? - it sounds ok otherwise to me...
The tubes in the Fusion do add a lot of 'harmonic content'. Perhaps that adds to the perception of increased treble.
I don't like where the MB800 Fusion puts the bass control (40 Hz) - and the 'deep' boost at 30 Hz is asking for trouble, I think, in a live environment. I preferred the MB800 bass control at 60 Hz - it seemed a more effective boost, if a boost was needed. Perhaps the 40Hz centre on the Fusion would be better for cutting e.g. problematic bass out of a room.
The Fusion and the Streamliner sound to me in the same tone universe, somewhat contrary to other opinions I have read. I could definitely tweak them to sound like each other; neither did the clean GK MB800 thing - the tubes always seemed to add a little 'something'.
(Do I need a hearing test?)
I thought the match of the Streamliner or the Fusion with the TC112AFv2 was merely ok. If I didn't have any other heads, I could make them both work. I know others are fans of the Fusion with the TC112, but I suppose we all have different hands.
The mid grind switch on the TC does not add a huge amount of grind to my ears. I think lovers of 'voiced' cabs should try the Hathors.
The TC is beautifully even, and has more native bass than the CN112. The CN112 I think has more focus in the low mids, and less content in the upper mids. A voicing I like. Both take EQ well, and the CN112 can be EQ'd to have a solid low end. The port plugs for the TC make for interesting re-tuning of the cab, and I can see that being useful.
The CN112 I perceive as much louder with the various amps if I keep the gain/volume knobs the same when I swap between the cabs. Not surprising, and easily remedied by turning up the gain.
The CN112 sounds good with each head I tried - due to its own strong voicing, I assume. The TC112 sounded best to me with the GK MB800. I'm with Steve Rolfeca that the GK MB 800 is a great match with the TC. The TC112 + GK MB800 combo could be tweaked close to the sound of the CN112 + Streamliner combo.
I'm going to send the Fusion back, and probably keep the MB800. The Streamliner I already own, and will keep, as it has a role with some cabs (and a phenomenal sounding preamp/DI), though I think I will not pair it with the TC112AFv2.
I hope that lot is of use to others too.
