In my experience, GK has a pretty good idea about what speakers to use. Just buy replacements from them and don't push the amp beyond its capabilities.
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(Gasp) changing speakers in GK mb210
- Thread starter 4stringabuser
- Start date
Use your extension cab. It's worth the extra trip out to the car.
Also, will help getting the combo closer to the player's ears. This may help the speakers' longevity. This may also be a good time to get an HPF.
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If you're not using an HPF, that might be something to consider as well. IME it's proven to make a world of difference on 4x10, 2x15, or 1x12 setups ... not sure about 2x10 but imagine it would make a huge difference. Maybe it'll help attain desired (perceived) volume with less power delivery to speakers?... worth a shot. I know there are critics of HPF's, but I'm on side with proponents IF the freq threshold is carefully selected so you don't lose low end feel.
That's kind of the wrong way to think about it. You're already looking at something in the neighborhood of $450 in replacement drivers, including the pair that you've just damaged, and the next pair. And then another $225 or so for the inevitable NEXT pair (in what, 6 months or so?). So when you amortize the cost of the MB212 (not necessarily my first recommendation, I would just go for the NEO 212 and use your PF 800 with it and go easy on the volume and bass). So assuming you WILL blow the next pair, you're looking at a minimum of about $675 or so to continue to use the 210 as you have been.
So, is that really better than just buying the right gear and/or just bringing the extension cab you already have? I guess if you really just don't care and have money to blow, that's fine, but being a New Yorker from a hippie college town, I also consider the environmental impact and blasting through sets of speakers and tossing them in the trash is not very planet friendly.
Anyway, now that you've finally given us more info about what else you have (why do people always try to withhold most of the important information in these threads?), I would ask, how often do you use the full ampeg rig with the 2 heavy 4x10s? Those cabs are not light, and honestly, I can't imagine needing both of them for most situations. Maybe you need to open up your thinking and bring one of them for the gigs you're trying to scrape by with the 210, OR (what I would do), scrap the Ampeg cabs, and get something like a pair of the NEO 212s (unless you are hooked on the sealed cab sound, which based on your frequent use of the GK seems unlikely). Sell the combo as is for cheap for someone else to rehab, unless you want to keep to use for gigs where it truly is enough. For somewhat bigger gigs than that, take a single NEO 212 and the PF. For bigger gigs, take the pair of 212s and the PF, or your pre/power amp rig. That should have you covered for pretty much everything, with minimal net spending (I would guess less than $500, basically the difference between getting 2 NEO 212s vs what you can get for the 2 Ampeg cabs, minus whatever you can get for the combo if you sell it). And if you sell the combo, you also don't have a use for the 1x15 any more really, unless you want that to take over the current role of the combo (but again, keeping it strictly to appropriate gigs and not beating it lifeless all the time).
I mean, I'm not nostradamus, but I imagine it feels better to carry TWO THINGS into the gig and come out unscathed on the other side, than to be in the middle of a spirited rendition of Wagon Wheel and suddenly your bass sounds like industrial machinery having a bad day (and then shelling out a couple hundred bucks every so often for new speakers). Maybe that's just me.
But the whole premise of this thread reminds me of this classic Futurama scene. Bender then figures out how to duplicate himself to handle the additional tasks, and then the duplicates duplicate themselves in an exponential frenzy that sucks up all the matter in the universe (or something like that).
Best piece of a bass gear I have bought in a long time. I play in a fairly loud band and it is more than enough for stage volume + carrying a SMALL room at moderate commune with no FOH support.
I'm always in the PA anyway so this is pretty much all I need.
About that fire.... haha, thanks for the read guys.
Several questions, so i'll try and address them from memory, since the phone web version of tb is not the most user friendly.
-i do have the matching 1x15 ext cab (which btw is a pretty great cab in its own), but carrying it defeats the idea of loading in in one shot from where i am parked. In truth, it is a pretty formidable rig with both cabs.
-mb212 would be great--- a good buddy has one, and i dont disagree it would get it done.... but, i already own an almost valueless (with blown speakers) mb210 that ive had since around 2013. Also, the speakers arent blown out completely, but there is noise, so they are not usable. If i could find an mb212 for the price of the 2 drivers, id guess id be a fool to pass on it.
-my big rig is ampeg... i have 2 410he cabs as well as a 115e loaded with an emi 3015LF, which was a HUGE upgrade over stock, and one of the motivators for considering this with the mb210 in the first place. Large volume and LF increase, and lighter weight to boot. Currently have a pf800 and a separates rig powered by a crown xti2000. The pf gets the call most of the time. Ive owned tens of amps over the years from all of the major mfrs.
-the problem woth an amp that is ALMOST enough that you tend to push it to get it to be enough. Yes, i 100% realize this can be asking a lot of a 210 combo, or really any amp in this scenario.
-i am not really a gambler, so it looks like the $225ish for originals is probably the best answer again.
-i have been playing over 30 years, 2/3 of that professionally, and half of it as my only employ. I am certainly no kind of star nor will i ever be, but in no way am i inexperienced... for the record. I have certainly hit my 10,000 hours
I paid $400 US for a used MB212 in perfect shape from a fellow TB member. Poke around, they're out there.
I may have missed it, but I don't think you mentioned whether the drivers were thermally overloaded (voice coils cooked) or mechanically overloaded (or both). It makes a difference on potential replacements.
Also, would you say that you frequently play with the bass boosted? How would you characterize the bass tone you usually adjust for: fat, tight, hifi, etc. Would you say that your tone was mid-dominant, bottom heavy, scooped, etc.?
Obviously, you are asking a lot from a pair of 10's, so drivers meeting your needs will be somewhat costly. Are you willing and able to pay $300 to $500 for a pair?
The suggestion to use an HPF is a good one - probably critical to your success, no matter how much you spend on drivers.
Also, would you say that you frequently play with the bass boosted? How would you characterize the bass tone you usually adjust for: fat, tight, hifi, etc. Would you say that your tone was mid-dominant, bottom heavy, scooped, etc.?
Obviously, you are asking a lot from a pair of 10's, so drivers meeting your needs will be somewhat costly. Are you willing and able to pay $300 to $500 for a pair?
The suggestion to use an HPF is a good one - probably critical to your success, no matter how much you spend on drivers.
Oh omega... thanks for your insight.
So.... i traded a dinosaur trace elliot head (actually very good sounding lead-sled head, even with 5 lbs of blacklight bolted to the front) and a very ho hum avatar 4x10 of the era for the mb210 and the 15" ext cab. I think i did alright, even if this will be the 3rd set of 10s in 6 or 7 years--- i feel the value is still there. I do, in fact, use the pf800 with the gk 15 sometimes, and it works fine, its just nice to have the combo form factor.
When i am on big stages, the heavy ampeg cabs you dont like do actually sound fantastic to me---- the difference here is they arrive on a truck or a trailer, and at worst there's a handtruck on the receiving end. Had a gk 810 neo and prefer these, popular opinion notwithstanding. However, I definitely do play events (in general, i am not talking bars) where a handtruck ain't happening, and occasionally i may even have to cart my gear on a bus or down a sidewalk, stairs, or loooong hallway (or a combination of those) due to inadequate or nonexistent parking. Sometimes, even a gigbag and a combo are a pain.
Astro, i am going to guess excursion got them, but i am not certain of that--- hard to say since they arent burned out, but there is definitely a rub. I have decided to go back with the gk drivers though.
But to answer, my tone depends on the gig. I tread between barky stingray and thumpy P-bass depending on whats called for. I am sure ive been guilty of pushing more low end than the combo wanted
So.... i traded a dinosaur trace elliot head (actually very good sounding lead-sled head, even with 5 lbs of blacklight bolted to the front) and a very ho hum avatar 4x10 of the era for the mb210 and the 15" ext cab. I think i did alright, even if this will be the 3rd set of 10s in 6 or 7 years--- i feel the value is still there. I do, in fact, use the pf800 with the gk 15 sometimes, and it works fine, its just nice to have the combo form factor.
When i am on big stages, the heavy ampeg cabs you dont like do actually sound fantastic to me---- the difference here is they arrive on a truck or a trailer, and at worst there's a handtruck on the receiving end. Had a gk 810 neo and prefer these, popular opinion notwithstanding. However, I definitely do play events (in general, i am not talking bars) where a handtruck ain't happening, and occasionally i may even have to cart my gear on a bus or down a sidewalk, stairs, or loooong hallway (or a combination of those) due to inadequate or nonexistent parking. Sometimes, even a gigbag and a combo are a pain.
Astro, i am going to guess excursion got them, but i am not certain of that--- hard to say since they arent burned out, but there is definitely a rub. I have decided to go back with the gk drivers though.
But to answer, my tone depends on the gig. I tread between barky stingray and thumpy P-bass depending on whats called for. I am sure ive been guilty of pushing more low end than the combo wanted
For 'thumpy P-bass', 'there is no replacement for displacement'. You have to move a lot of air. Since you have blown two pair of decent 10 inch drivers it's likely that a 210 (even a 'super' 210) is not going to work out. Something similar to the GK 212 combo is much more likely to be adequate. For 'that barky stingray tone', there are a few 10 inch drivers that would have a good chance of working out for you.
Thought I'd mention that I saw on FB that GK has come out with their Legacy line of 800-watt combos in various configurations. Haven't seen size/weight specs yet, but they look a lot like the MB line.
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