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Gallien-Krueger MB2-500

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#662
zac2944 said:
I own a 1212R (not the L neo version) and have used it on a few gigs with the MB2-500. I use that rig on a 14 piece disco/funk gig. The 1212 smashes through a mix like Thor's hammer. Paired with the MB2-500 it is no exception. I do find the 1212 tone a bit obtrusive and fatiguing for smaller more intimate gigs though. If you play loud gigs and need to cut, this is a fantastic rig and I'm sure the 1212L will be very similar. If you play in a smaller band that doesn't get very loud and you want a more supportive tone, the 1212L might not be best for you. By comparison I find the more open tone and deeper low end of my ZL210 more pleasing when soloed or in a more sparse stage mix.

To me the 1212R and MB2-500 sounds just like my GK 1001RB-II and the 1212R, except I find that the MB2-500 can get more of the GK signature growl from the boost than the 1001 can. It reminds me of the old 400RBs.

I don't see why the 1212L and MB2-500 won't play nice together. The GK will give you that fast and growly "GK Sound", while the 1212L will give you a very in-your-face cutting tone with a low-mid hump. If you like a more pillowy smooth and deep tone, you might want to look at another cab. You can turn off the GK growl and keep it very clean which makes it fairly versatile.

Hope that helps.
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+1 on everything you said. I did use the 1212L / MB2-500 combo on a small coffee house type gig a few days ago (drums / guitar/ vocals) and it performed wonderfully. But totally agree that it really shines in a louder setting. Wish I was still in my top 40 cover band!
 
#664
zac2944 said:
Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

it does... sorta :smug: i like having low end. and i hear that the schroeders have more of a mid hump - which i know is what helps cut through the mix better. wish i could find someone around here that sold them (or had one) so i could play through one and hear it myself.

zac, i think your description was very helpful and let me know that it's not what i'm used to. so now i have to figure out if it'd be worth it for me to give it a try to see if i would like it.

thanks
 
#665
tallboybass said:
FYI, I took my MB²-500 back to GC, that big boost at 20hz killed the deal for me.:crying:If they redo the EQ and make the low boost a defeatable option I'd love to have one in the future.
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DOH!

You musta' missed the post where Bob Gallien said they'd apply the update for free to any current amps. Oh well. :)
 
#667
2968989126_3b513dbaba.jpg


this thing couldnt beat my current Ampeg SVT IMHO
 
#668
dean owens said:
it does... sorta :smug: i like having low end. and i hear that the schroeders have more of a mid hump - which i know is what helps cut through the mix better. wish i could find someone around here that sold them (or had one) so i could play through one and hear it myself.
Click to expand...

It's not that they don't have low end, they do and you can EQ in more. It is just that they don't have the really deep stuff. I've done some frequency response testing of the 1212R and you can easily see the mid-bass hump around 100Hz-200Hz, but then the response really starts to roll off around 80Hz. Most other cabs are going to have strong bass down to 50Hz-60Hz. The difference is slight, but you can hear it.

That said, the 1212 takes to EQ pretty well. If you can roll back the mid-bass area by 5dB and add a pit around 40Hz the 1212 can be made to sound a lot more smooth and deep.

Hopefully you'll get the chance to try one. If not, you could always pick up one used and sell it if you don't like it. As long as you get a good deal you won't be out much more than shipping.
 
#670
tallboybass said:
FYI, I took my MB²-500 back to GC, that big boost at 20hz killed the deal for me.:crying:If they redo the EQ and make the low boost a defeatable option I'd love to have one in the future.
Click to expand...

This got me thinking (which can be dangerous).

Went to usspeaker.com to confirm this. 'Most' 10" 12" 15" speakers only go down to 50-45 or 40hz right?
If the speakers are producing 20hz, it would be slight and maybe -10db at that range.
By designing a cab, you can get down to 'maybe' 35-40hz if you're lucky.
So why worry about the MB2-500 producing tone at 20hz?

Enlighten me, wise ones!



Mike
 
#671
keyboardguy said:
This got me thinking (which can be dangerous).

Went to usspeaker.com to confirm this. 'Most' 10" 12" 15" speakers only go down to 50-45 or 40hz right?
If the speakers are producing 20hz, it would be slight and maybe -10db at that range.
By designing a cab, you can get down to 'maybe' 35-40hz if you're lucky.
So why worry about the MB2-500 producing tone at 20hz?

Enlighten me, wise ones!



Mike
Click to expand...

You lose headroom and speaker control of the frequencies below the tuning of the cabinet (ported). If you see the woofers moving like crazy, they're prolly trying to reproduce below their capability. It sucks juice from the amp and makes the sound less focused. It may also destroy your woofers eventually.
 
#674
dean owens said:
Washishimi,

i see your signature reads

GK MB2-500 :: Schroeder 1212L

i'm looking at getting a mb2-500 (especially if i can get someone to go in on this deal with me - can't believe no one has jumped on it yet) and i'm trying to think of what cab to go with it. the three on my list are the gk neo 112, dr. bass 112, and a schroeder 1212 (or something like it).

just curious what sort of music you play and how you think the two go together.
Click to expand...

do a search back, and you'll see my post.

great combo w/ one another! nice, thick, fat, sound. friend who's mostly urban gospel loves is w/ his fodera nyc 5. admittedly, i thought it lacked that low low depth, but that fat, thickness was pretty sweet.
 
#675
keyboardguy said:
This got me thinking (which can be dangerous).

Went to usspeaker.com to confirm this. 'Most' 10" 12" 15" speakers only go down to 50-45 or 40hz right?
If the speakers are producing 20hz, it would be slight and maybe -10db at that range.
By designing a cab, you can get down to 'maybe' 35-40hz if you're lucky.
So why worry about the MB2-500 producing tone at 20hz?

Enlighten me, wise ones!



Mike
Click to expand...

you dont, cause i dunno what tallboy is talking about.
 
#676
Vic said:
DOH!

You musta' missed the post where Bob Gallien said they'd apply the update for free to any current amps. Oh well. :)
Click to expand...
No, I didn't. It looks like the update is: adding back some upper mids and re-EQing a little.

My main problem with the MB² is the fact that the "string bass" button from the 1001 and 700RBs is built into the 500 in the ON position. I definitely want to try the new batch when they come out however.

rag said:
The change will only adjust the flat setting base line. Nothing you can't get with the small EQ adjustments that have already been discussed. The idea is to make it so the starting sound is closer to what people expect from GK with the EQ flat. After reading all your posts I decided to make this change. Our next run will not be in stores until mid November. Any one who wants this adjustment will be accomodated free of charge.
Click to expand...
 
#677
jokerjkny said:
you dont, cause i dunno what tallboy is talking about.
Click to expand...
Here's what I'm talking about:

B String said:
After posting my opinion that the low end on the MB2 sounded
like the "string bass" option from the 1001rb and 700rb, was
used in this amp, I called GK to ask. They confirmed that this
was true. Sort of like the "string bass" option on, without the
on/off switch. According to the 1001/700rb manual, there is
a +11db boost at about 20hz, which is giving this head a
pretty wide low end. This is great for smaller or bass shy
boxes like my Berg HT112. (sounds amazing) Not as good for
boxes with lots o lows.
Click to expand...
 
#678
tallboybass said:
...I definitely want to try the new batch when they come out however.
Click to expand...

When will the new batch come out? Any info on that?:eyebrow:

I'm considering the pros/cons of the MB2​ vs. 1001RB-II, and the MB2​ looks super advantageous for me because I pay huge amounts for shipping (overseas):bawl:.

But on the other hand, unlike the 1001RB-II, MB2​ is too young, and its possible that some more bug fixes will be needed in time. I can't afford the shipping costs for bug fixes. I seriously need a high wattage GK head, and very confused between these two.
 
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