Double Bass GK 200MB

[Kevinlee]

I just recently aquired a Gk 200mb, and I'm thinking about possibly swapping out the stock speaker with a 4ohm speaker, so it could run at it's full potential power wise. Any thoughts on this being a good idea/bad idea?

Thanks
Kevinlee

 

[Bob Gollihur]

The only potential fault in swapping speakers is if you are not able to score a replacement with the same or similar characteristics. The performance of drivers is strongly affected by the cabinet, and unless you get a driver suited to the small cabinet.

 

[Kevinlee]

Yea I thought about this, but I've already got a 4ohm 12 on it's way that I going to use in another cab. I guess the best thing to do is just stick it in there and see how it sounds. I can always put the gk 12 back.

Thanks
Kevinlee

 

[mje]

As Bob suggests, the chance that a random speaker is going to work in the 200MB is essentially nil. This is a highly overdamped system that requires a speaker with unusual characteristics. I would be willing to bet that your replacement will produce much less bass. And given past experience with the 200MB, I will assure you that your amp will buzz and resonate something awful once you reassemble it ;-)

The speaker in there is already optimum for the cabinet; you're not going to get any more sound out of it. Changing the load on the amp to 4 ohms will only increase the power output by 3dB; even if you found a speaker that worked as well as the original, you'd only be increasing the output marginally.

 

[Kevinlee]

Hmmm, sounds like an exercise in futility. I think I will just leave it be. Thanks for the advice. One more question. If I were to use this as a stage monitor for the opposite side of the stage, running an iamp 600 w/1x12 as my main amp, could I run the di out of the iamp into the effects return of the gk to give me a powered monitor that I can control level wise with the di gain?

 

[Rvl]

I would add another cabinet.
I did.....even used it with a 2x15 cab.
Usually with a a 4x10 or a 1x15.

Records nicely with the direct out.

I sold that amp and I regret it to this day.

 

[Kevinlee]

The reason I'm thinking about using it with the iamp is, I'm really happy with the iamp tone overall, so I thought by bypassing the preamp section of the GK I could just use the power section for that speaker. The main reason I got the GK was for smaller gigs where I probably wouldn't need two cabs. But I just was thinking of other way's to incorporate it into the mix to sort of justify it's purchase.

Kevinlee

 

[B String]

I put an Eminence (carvin) speaker in my
200mb. Yes it was a bitch getting it back
together with no buzzing, but I think it
sounds better with the new speaker. I do
have to turn up the bass a bit more, but
the speaker has so much more range now.
Stock speaker 80-2k, eminence 50-5k. Same
weight, more "modern" sound. I'm happy.

 

[Klotzbassman]

Hmmm, sounds like an exercise in futility. I think I will just leave it be. Thanks for the advice. One more question. If I were to use this as a stage monitor for the opposite side of the stage, running an iamp 600 w/1x12 as my main amp, could I run the di out of the iamp into the effects return of the gk to give me a powered monitor that I can control level wise with the di gain?

I just replaced the tired flapping original GK 200 MB speaker with a Gauss Bass subwoofer rated around 200 watts, possibly between 4-7 ohms,, I know it sound's strange. But, It kicks butt in every frequency range. Even the highs are better than my other 200 MB ever was. The magnet has a larger diameter, and it has accordion pleat surround as opposed to foam. It was a morning experiment which so far exceeds my expectations. As long as you're careful to make certain there is no physical interferences between the sp magnet and the power transformer in the bottom of the cabinet, and put every screw and insulation back where it came out of, You should be good to go. The Gauss is actually about 3/8" shallower than the old GK sp. so I had to make up a rubber shim to make up the difference for securing the magnet pressure from the back of the cabinet. Be patient, anything is possible. If You listen to someone who cannot be patient to see to it that it goes back together...well... you may get rattles...It went together at the factory.. you can duplicate their' assembly.
Just remember, the Front (or back, I forgot which), has three small screws which hold it securely to the bottom or Top( forgot which), these have to come out so you can slightly open up the cabinet to allow the speaker to come out the side, and the new speaker to go back in, prop up the opening with the Rubber that goes between the speaker magnet and back panel,, and it's a piece of cake. Good Luck!
Robert Gallien built his company going against tradition,, you can do it!

 

[B String]

I put an Eminence (carvin) speaker in my
200mb. Yes it was a bitch getting it back
together with no buzzing, but I think it
sounds better with the new speaker. I do
have to turn up the bass a bit more, but
the speaker has so much more range now.
Stock speaker 80-2k, eminence 50-5k. Same
weight, more "modern" sound. I'm happy.

This is an old post, so I will update.... Yes, the speaker fit and worked, but after a few gigs I realized it was just a bit off. It sounded better than the old speaker, but that was because it was it was old and crappy. GK has those speakers made specifically for that small sealed box. Virtually no other speaker is going to work well in that application.

 

[Ric Vice]

The original driver in the 200MB was made by Pyle, which did most of it's buisness manufacturing woofers for automobile systems.

It was custom made for the 200MB box. I think the reason Rich Gallien chose Pyle was that they had lots of experience building

bass speakers that fit in small tight spaces and worked in a sealed box configuaration. I could be wront though,

Ric

 

[B String]

The original driver in the 200MB was made by Pyle, which did most of it's buisness manufacturing woofers for automobile systems.

It was custom made for the 200MB box. I think the reason Rich Gallien chose Pyle was that they had lots of experience building

bass speakers that fit in small tight spaces and worked in a sealed box configuaration. I could be wront though,

Ric

That actually makes sense. Pyle was doing a good amount of musical speakers for smaller companies at that time. GK could have just given them the specs and had them made in bulk.
I used to live near the SWR facility. I had a number of their boxes at the time. I needed a new 10 in speaker so I just went over there. They had rows of raw 10's, but not one for my box. The explanation was that every speaker was made for a specific box and application. I had to wait a few days for the 10 in that worked in my combo. Again, my point is GK has a very specific speaker that works in that combo.

 

[Fretless55]

Such a great double duty combo amp!

I’m so happy to see the true believers keeping these lunchboxes going!

 

[gerry grable]

That actually makes sense. Pyle was doing a good amount of musical speakers for smaller companies at that time. GK could have just given them the specs and had them made in bulk.
I used to live near the SWR facility. I had a number of their boxes at the time. I needed a new 10 in speaker so I just went over there. They had rows of raw 10's, but not one for my box. The explanation was that every speaker was made for a specific box and application. I had to wait a few days for the 10 in that worked in my combo. Again, my point is GK has a very specific speaker that works in that combo.

I wish they still made the little GK amp. I played one for over 30 years before it became impractical to repair and I junked it. I did have the speaker replaced once with a stock replacement, I assume? Played great as ever.
The one thing that didn't work on the amp was the Chorus. For some reason it stopped working, but it didn't matter since I never used it anyway. I never bothered to get it fixed.