Gallien Krueger Club. GK Rules !

[Kro]

Glad the gig went well anyway Kro. It was obviously one of those nights when talent carried the day in spite of equipment!

Thanks Al, it was a pretty good time - you know you're in for a treat when you walk into a club and the majority of females in the establishment are wearing those springy four-leaf clover headbands - those girls aren't messing around.

Anyways, talent wise - I probably have more in common with that mutt of a speaker cab than my personal gear, but like I said, I certainly can't complain!

 

[Wicked G]

Well I decided to go back last week to GC and try out that NEO 112 again to see if it would still give me the same impression. Yeah it did. So I bought it.

Now I kinda wish I could use it with the 700rb II, but I cant since the 700rb II can only run at 4 ohms and the NEO 410 is 4 ohms by itself. Oh well, it sounds great with the Genzler and TC. Much, much better than I had originally anticipated.

I have to admit though, that the NEO 112 alone does sound very honky, but placed on top of the NEO 410 and they both compliment each other very well. I wonder if 2 NEO 112 cabs couple together and give a little bit more low end or if they just produce even more mid range? Curious as 2 or 3 of these cabs stacked together could be pretty cool and super easy to transport.

Anyway, now I need to decide if I should paint the NEO 112's grill black also or go back to my other silver grill on the NEO 410 for now? The silver does look pretty cool with the 700rb II. Hmm?

 

[Al Kraft]

I wonder if 2 NEO 112 cabs couple together and give a little bit more low end or if they just produce even more mid range?

Two Neo 112 II's are plenty fat and will make you think you've got entirely differently voiced cabs than using just one. To be fair though, I've fund this to be the case with many single 112's.

 

[Wicked G]

Thanks Al. I kind of would like to check out how 2 or 3 of these cabs stacked together would sound? Plus transporting them would be a breeze. They are so light I could carry 1 in each hand. No way I could do that with any of my other cabs.

 

[Al Kraft]

Thanks Al. I kind of would like to check out how 2 or 3 of these cabs stacked together would sound? Plus transporting them would be a breeze. They are so light I could carry 1 in each hand. No way I could do that with any of my other cabs.

I almost always use them two at a time. IIRC Chef was also using two Neo 112's (or at least a Neo 212) for quite a while as his regular rig. I would imagine three would be thunderous.

Tom Bowlus has confirmed that Bob Gallien actually said it was okay to use the Neo 212 and Neo 112 as a big rig (odd paring I know). Obviously one would need to keep an eye on not pushing that 112 too hard.

 

[Mohawk]

I almost always use them two at a time. IIRC Chef was also using two Neo 112's (or at least a Neo 212) for quite a while as his regular rig. I would imagine three would be thunderous.

Tom Bowlus has confirmed that Bob Gallien actually said it was okay to use the Neo 212 and Neo 112 as a big rig (odd paring I know). Obviously one would need to keep an eye on not pushing that 112 too too hard.

I've been known to stack the 112s also. This was an outdoor gig, about 1k attending, where I had planned to use the 412 but it was going to be hard to lift onto the stage. So I just used the two 112s stacked. Sounded great and even with the isolator underneath you could feel the stage vibrating underfoot. The GK tone was tight and solid and an easy match for the 2 Marshall guitarists and loud drummer!

 

[Al Kraft]

So I just used the two 112s stacked. Sounded great and even with the isolator underneath you could feel the stage vibrating underfoot. The GK tone was tight and solid and an easy match for the 2 Marshall guitarists and loud drummer!

I was very surprised the first time I used two together at how much more sound I got...like 1+1 sort of equaled 3. And like you said, the clarity and tightness was still there, plus I got a big scale-up in fullness and punch in the low end.

 

[Kro]

I have to admit though, that the NEO 112 alone does sound very honky, but placed on top of the NEO 410 and they both compliment each other very well. I wonder if 2 NEO 112 cabs couple together and give a little bit more low end or if they just produce even more mid range?

I'll be the lone, cautious, and unpopular dissenting opinion here - one of my early attempts to downsize my rig involved me purchasing a single Neo 112-ii and bringing it to a rehearsal. I was super excited as it was my first modern lightweight neo cab, and I admittedly had unrealistic expectations for it. Not nearly enough volume for my needs, and what was there did sound mid-forward and a bit honky to my ears.

I figured I just needed more speakers! The speakers will couple giving me the low-end boost I need, and if that doesn't take care of it, then I should be able to safely boost more lows with EQ at-volume with the pair than I would with the single! So I ordered a second one.

I got a slight boost in the lows, but not quite as much as I was hoping for, and at-volume I still wasn't able to EQ them for the tone I had in my head without them being on the verge of farting out.

Before I gave them up, I did play a handful of shows with them, and I do recall at least one room where I thought they sounded fantastic with my 700RB-i. Oddly enough, the one specific occasion that comes to mind was a smallish NYC venue where I was actually carrying the room, so I don't know what that tells you, but more often than not I wasn't thrilled with them for my personal style.

Anyways, I guess that's all a very long-winded way of saying "try before you buy" - especially given your thoughts on the single 112 you have in your possession as a standalone.

 

[Wicked G]

Thanks for the information everyone. And yeah I am not worried of pushing the 112 as it is only 8 ohms and 410 is 4 ohms. So the 410 should see about 2/3 of the power.

I'll be the lone, cautious, and unpopular dissenting opinion here - one of my early attempts to downsize my rig involved me purchasing a single Neo 112-ii and bringing it to a rehearsal. I was super excited as it was my first modern lightweight neo cab, and I admittedly had unrealistic expectations for it. Not nearly enough volume for my needs, and what was there did sound mid-forward and a bit honky to my ears.

I figured I just needed more speakers! The speakers will couple giving me the low-end boost I need, and if that doesn't take care of it, then I should be able to safely boost more lows with EQ at-volume with the pair than I would with the single! So I ordered a second one.

I got a slight boost in the lows, but not quite as much as I was hoping for, and at-volume I still wasn't able to EQ them for the tone I had in my head without them being on the verge of farting out.

Before I gave them up, I did play a handful of shows with them, and I do recall at least one room where I thought they sounded fantastic with my 700RB-i. Oddly enough, the one specific occasion that comes to mind was a smallish NYC venue where I was actually carrying the room, so I don't know what that tells you, but more often than not I wasn't thrilled with them for my personal style.

Anyways, I guess that's all a very long-winded way of saying "try before you buy" - especially given your thoughts on the single 112 you have in your possession as a standalone.

Thanks Kro. I really don't see myself blowing the money on another one without hopefully being able to try a second one first, if I can find someone who has one. I do find it very midrangey and honky as a standalone and I am in no hurry to replace the 410 at this particular time as that cab sounds great to my ears.

Edit:
BTW Kro, how do you EQ your GK? That would give me some sort of idea on how much low end and mids you use as compared to what I use. Of course all things are not always equal, but still this could be helpful. Thanks.

 

[mgauge]

I absolutely love my mb212 combo

 

[Kro]

BTW Kro, how do you EQ your GK? That would give me some sort of idea on how much low end and mids you use as compared to what I use. Of course all things are not always equal, but still this could be helpful. Thanks.

Amp-wise, lately I’ve been running my 1001RB-ii pre in 5-string mode, presence and contour off, with the EQ relatively flat. The only EQ knob that I really find myself turning much is Treble, and I usually have it between 0 (centered) and -2 by the notches on the faceplate, depending on my mood and how bright the cab is that I have it hooked up to (my Fearless is amazing at dispersing highs and high-mids).

Before the amp, my Stingray 5 almost always has its EQ centered, and the only other thing that I have between the two is my VTDI, which is set relatively neutral as well – I just let it do its own thing as far as speaker sim and drive are concerned – it’s also only at around 50% blend.

I actually don’t think I’m all that much of a low-end junkie, but I just couldn’t get those Neo 112-iis to do what I wanted at the volumes I needed without them threatening flatulence. When I was running them, I used to run my amp in 4-string mode only, and never boosted lows even though I wanted to with those cabs specifically to compensate for their baked in tone. I would just bump up low-mids a notch to compensate a little and roll with it. Some rooms it sounded great, and in others it felt like a compromise.

 

[Al Kraft]

I'll be the lone, cautious, and unpopular dissenting opinion here - one of my early attempts to downsize my rig involved me purchasing a single Neo 112-ii and bringing it to a rehearsal. I was super excited as it was my first modern lightweight neo cab, and I admittedly had unrealistic expectations for it. Not nearly enough volume for my needs, and what was there did sound mid-forward and a bit honky to my ears.

I figured I just needed more speakers! The speakers will couple giving me the low-end boost I need, and if that doesn't take care of it, then I should be able to safely boost more lows with EQ at-volume with the pair than I would with the single! So I ordered a second one.

I got a slight boost in the lows, but not quite as much as I was hoping for, and at-volume I still wasn't able to EQ them for the tone I had in my head without them being on the verge of farting out.

Before I gave them up, I did play a handful of shows with them, and I do recall at least one room where I thought they sounded fantastic with my 700RB-i. Oddly enough, the one specific occasion that comes to mind was a smallish NYC venue where I was actually carrying the room, so I don't know what that tells you, but more often than not I wasn't thrilled with them for my personal style.

Anyways, I guess that's all a very long-winded way of saying "try before you buy" - especially given your thoughts on the single 112 you have in your possession as a standalone.

Just a little back story that I was using the Neo 112 II's and my first experience mirrored your's exactly Kro. Turns out that I had two factory-new cabinets that were actually wired out of phase. The two cabs together were louder, but the bass was actually worse - for what turned out to be obvious reasons.

Not sure if that was your situation or not, but when I drive my two (replacement) cabs with an MB500 or Mesa Carbine M3 they really put out! On the other hand, we may have just proven that mileage does indeed vary!

 

[Kro]

Turns out that I had two factory-new cabinets that were actually wired out of phase.

There's an old thread somewhere on this forum of me basically asking users to "help me get along with my Neo 112-iis", and the phase thing was something that was thrown out as a potential cause. I don't know how I had never heard of it until then, but that was the exact moment that I learned what the 9v battery test was, checked out my cabs, and found both were wired in-kind - no issue. :/

I actually started off by using my MB2-500 with them, which I find to be an amp with a good bit of bottom to it, and then switched back to my 700RB-i in part because I was able to run it in 4-string mode - with the hopes of having it play nicer with the cabs.

It's highly likely that it was just a volume thing, and that I was already asking too much of them to then ask them to do even more as far as lows were concerned. I know lots of people like them a lot.

 

[Al Kraft]

There's an old thread somewhere on this forum of me basically asking users to "help me get along with my Neo 112-iis", and the phase thing was something that was thrown out as a potential cause. I don't know how I had never heard of it until then, but that was the exact moment that I learned what the 9v battery test was, checked out my cabs, and found both were wired in-kind - no issue. :/

I actually started off by using my MB2-500 with them, which I find to be an amp with a good bit of bottom to it, and then switched back to my 700RB-i in part because I was able to run it in 4-string mode - with the hopes of having it play nicer with the cabs.

It's highly like that it was just a volume thing, and that I was already asking too much of them to then ask them to do even more as far as lows were concerned. I know lots of people like them a lot.

A truly surprising result with those cabs based on my own experience. However, you're a very credible voice IMO (especially in the GK realm) and I don't doubt for minute that those cabs didn't work in your case.

I do find I'm more comfortable with mine when using a HPF if I'm pushing them volume-wise. Additionally, I'm only a 4 string player and IIRC you're a MM 5 string guy. Based on your experience I'm going to be sure to add those 4 string and HPF caveats when sharing my perspective with those cabs from now on.

 

[svtb15]

I tried my friends Neo 112s and i thought they were honky sounding..
He lined the inside with Cotton Denim fill and it cleaned them up A LOT from he said. I have not played them since.. But i trust him

 

[Mohawk]

There's an old thread somewhere on this forum of me basically asking users to "help me get along with my Neo 112-iis", and the phase thing was something that was thrown out as a potential cause. I don't know how I had never heard of it until then, but that was the exact moment that I learned what the 9v battery test was, checked out my cabs, and found both were wired in-kind - no issue. :/

I actually started off by using my MB2-500 with them, which I find to be an amp with a good bit of bottom to it, and then switched back to my 700RB-i in part because I was able to run it in 4-string mode - with the hopes of having it play nicer with the cabs.

It's highly likely that it was just a volume thing, and that I was already asking too much of them to then ask them to do even more as far as lows were concerned. I know lots of people like them a lot.

I was just going to mention the 9V battery test but you beat me to out Kro. I do like more mid and ruin with the GK flat EQ, which is bass and treble around 10oclock and the mids around 2 oclock. Also the 412 has a bit more bottom to my ear and the 410s that I sold were a little too much bottom and scooped for me. YMMV as we always say.

 

[Wicked G]

Amp-wise, lately I’ve been running my 1001RB-ii pre in 5-string mode, presence and contour off, with the EQ relatively flat. The only EQ knob that I really find myself turning much is Treble, and I usually have it between 0 (centered) and -2 by the notches on the faceplate, depending on my mood and how bright the cab is that I have it hooked up to (my Fearless is amazing at dispersing highs and high-mids).

Before the amp, my Stingray 5 almost always has its EQ centered, and the only other thing that I have between the two is my VTDI, which is set relatively neutral as well – I just let it do its own thing as far as speaker sim and drive are concerned – it’s also only at around 50% blend.

I actually don’t think I’m all that much of a low-end junkie, but I just couldn’t get those Neo 112-iis to do what I wanted at the volumes I needed without them threatening flatulence. When I was running them, I used to run my amp in 4-string mode only, and never boosted lows even though I wanted to with those cabs specifically to compensate for their baked in tone. I would just bump up low-mids a notch to compensate a little and roll with it. Some rooms it sounded great, and in others it felt like a compromise.

Thanks Kro, that does help. I pretty much run my EQ with the Gain at about 11:00, Contour off, Presence off, Treble at about 10:00, Hi Mid at about 1:00, Low Mid at about 1:00 and Bass at about 11:00 and the Boost is now at 12:00 with the NEO 410.

Although I pretty much run the EQ on my bass flat with a bass boost of about 3/4 to full depending on the bass. The Sterling RAY 34 basses, for example, are full on bass with the mids and treble dropped to about 1/3 as they are pretty aggressive basses.

I agree the MB500 had boatloads of low end and I would have to reel it back with the NEO 410 cabinet. So I pretty much agree with you and svtb15 that the NEO 112 is very honky and I would not have purchased it as a stand alone cab, but man does it sound sweet sitting atop the NEO 410.

One more thing I didn't mention but thought I should, trying the 112 at home with the 410 not only gave me the mids that the 410 was lacking, but also coupled with the 410 gave me even more low end which was not expected. Normally I would think that would be too much bass, but it actually sounds really, really nice hence why I was wondering if 2 NEO 112's would also give more low end as well.

Anyway only time will tell since I don't know anyone with a 112 for me to try at the moment. But I'm definitely stoked to try the rig on my gig this coming weekend. Not sure if the Magellan 800 or RH750 will get the job, but I still wonder how the 700rb II would sound with this set up if they were both 8 ohms. Hmm.

 

[tombowlus]

I almost always use them two at a time. IIRC Chef was also using two Neo 112's (or at least a Neo 212) for quite a while as his regular rig. I would imagine three would be thunderous.

Tom Bowlus has confirmed that Bob Gallien actually said it was okay to use the Neo 212 and Neo 112 as a big rig (odd paring I know). Obviously one would need to keep an eye on not pushing that 112 too hard.

True story!

 

[southpaw723]

Anyone have any experience using a 400rb with a new fender rumble 410?

 

[blizzard]

New rig day - sort of.

I've had my 700RB II in storage for 7 years or so... During that time my cab went missing.

Spent the last few weeks looking at cabs and came home with a SWR Henry Jr 4x8 (the store has a good deal on it).

Also the guy at the store seemed and to be amazed at how good the 700RB sounded with everything flat, using a P bass.

The GK sounds just as good as I remembered. When I was looking for cabs I also tried a Ampeg SVT3 and could not get a tone I liked.