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GK Combo Shootout...MB210 vs. MB212
- Thread starter tallboybass
- Start date
Cool, thanks guys!
Took a few months. I ordered it, then tried one at GC, had some doubts because of hiss, but ultimately kept the order.
yeah, sorry to scare you Kim, i thought you were talking about something else. your amp isn't missing any screws. you're all set
So Ive played both, here are my thoughts:
I had the MB212 for 3 days, then it blew a speaker, so I didnt play it enough to fully break it in, but I thought it sounded great while it worked. The bottom end was pretty phat, not very tight. Mids and highs were clean and the tweeter was very quiet. I didnt like the tweeter so I kept it off. It was loud, but felt just a tad weak for a 500 watt amp, although I was playing it through the active input so Im sure that sucked a lot of tone.
I was going to return the MB212 for another 212, but they were backordered until mid May so I returned it for a MB210, which I got a few days ago.
The MB210 has a little tighter punch, the bass wasnt as phat out of the box. Ive played it for about 4-5 hours now and I just had to turn down the bass on the EQ a tad as it sounded a little bassier after I played through it. My bass is about 10:00, with the mids between 1-2:00 and the treble is at 12:00. The tweeter is a tad louder on the MB210, which probably just varies from amp to amp as Im guessing its the same exact tweeter. I played through the passive input jack and didnt need to put the master or gain past 10:00.
Overall, both had very good sound but the 210 sounded a little tighter whereas the 212 sounded a little phatter. I would recommend people play both of them if they are looking to choose between the two. EQ-wise, you can get a very similar sound out of both as long as you take your time and slightly tweak the EQ. I found the EQ to have good range. I think the 210 is a little noisier than the 212, although again I think that might vary amp to amp. When I had the 212 on mid volume with just my bass plugged in, it was dead silent. The 210 has a very slight hiss to it. Both were overall very quiet, but the 212 was a little quieter, but again, I dont know if that varies model to model, or amp to amp.
Tonewise, I think my ampeg BA115hpt is a little warmer. The 210 and 212 sounded a little flatter or emptier compared to the BA115hpt, although they both got much louder. But the sansamp negates that and makes them all sound equal.
My only negatives are the ones that have been listed already.... the inability to easily disconnect the DI output and the hissy tweeter. I wish the tweeter had a level control on it like my ampeg does. But for the price, nothings comparable to the MB series in terms or portability and power.
Im sticking with the 210 (unless it breaks) because I think its the best of both worlds. For practices and smaller venues, all I need is the 210. When we play larger places, I'll pick up the 210 MBE when it comes out and get my volume boost from an extra cab. And for really small places, I just run the samsamp DI into the PA. I think the decision might come down to peoples budget.
The 210 by itself is the smallest volumewise, but its only 599. The 212 is louder, but its 699, and the 210 with a 210 cab will be even louder, but its 599 + the price of the extension cab.
If you are space limited, and want 500 watts, the 212 is a good choice. If you can barely afford one, then the 210 is a good choice. If you have a larger budget, and want the flexibility and the max volume, then the 210 with a 210 cab is a good choice.
I dont think you can go wrong.
I plug my sansamp in before both amps so while there is a slight difference in sound, its a moot point because with the sansamp I get the same exact sound Im looking for from either amp.
I had the MB212 for 3 days, then it blew a speaker, so I didnt play it enough to fully break it in, but I thought it sounded great while it worked. The bottom end was pretty phat, not very tight. Mids and highs were clean and the tweeter was very quiet. I didnt like the tweeter so I kept it off. It was loud, but felt just a tad weak for a 500 watt amp, although I was playing it through the active input so Im sure that sucked a lot of tone.
I was going to return the MB212 for another 212, but they were backordered until mid May so I returned it for a MB210, which I got a few days ago.
The MB210 has a little tighter punch, the bass wasnt as phat out of the box. Ive played it for about 4-5 hours now and I just had to turn down the bass on the EQ a tad as it sounded a little bassier after I played through it. My bass is about 10:00, with the mids between 1-2:00 and the treble is at 12:00. The tweeter is a tad louder on the MB210, which probably just varies from amp to amp as Im guessing its the same exact tweeter. I played through the passive input jack and didnt need to put the master or gain past 10:00.
Overall, both had very good sound but the 210 sounded a little tighter whereas the 212 sounded a little phatter. I would recommend people play both of them if they are looking to choose between the two. EQ-wise, you can get a very similar sound out of both as long as you take your time and slightly tweak the EQ. I found the EQ to have good range. I think the 210 is a little noisier than the 212, although again I think that might vary amp to amp. When I had the 212 on mid volume with just my bass plugged in, it was dead silent. The 210 has a very slight hiss to it. Both were overall very quiet, but the 212 was a little quieter, but again, I dont know if that varies model to model, or amp to amp.
Tonewise, I think my ampeg BA115hpt is a little warmer. The 210 and 212 sounded a little flatter or emptier compared to the BA115hpt, although they both got much louder. But the sansamp negates that and makes them all sound equal.
My only negatives are the ones that have been listed already.... the inability to easily disconnect the DI output and the hissy tweeter. I wish the tweeter had a level control on it like my ampeg does. But for the price, nothings comparable to the MB series in terms or portability and power.
Im sticking with the 210 (unless it breaks) because I think its the best of both worlds. For practices and smaller venues, all I need is the 210. When we play larger places, I'll pick up the 210 MBE when it comes out and get my volume boost from an extra cab. And for really small places, I just run the samsamp DI into the PA. I think the decision might come down to peoples budget.
The 210 by itself is the smallest volumewise, but its only 599. The 212 is louder, but its 699, and the 210 with a 210 cab will be even louder, but its 599 + the price of the extension cab.
If you are space limited, and want 500 watts, the 212 is a good choice. If you can barely afford one, then the 210 is a good choice. If you have a larger budget, and want the flexibility and the max volume, then the 210 with a 210 cab is a good choice.
I dont think you can go wrong.
I plug my sansamp in before both amps so while there is a slight difference in sound, its a moot point because with the sansamp I get the same exact sound Im looking for from either amp.
Thanks philter25 for sharing your thoughts on these great amps!
I totally agree with you ..... "I don't think you can go wrong" either way.
I just got home from another gig with the MB212...mine is fully broken in now, and it just amazes me every time I plug into it. It carves such a beautiful piece out of the mix....supportive lows, defined lower mids, grindy (if you want it that way) upper mids and sweet highs. There's nothing to complain about for me...38 pounds and able to do loud gigs. It's scary to say but...I think I'm done.
hmm
No doubt the MB210 is a great choice too...the extension cab option makes it SO versatile. I have to say, with both amps broken in the MB212 actually sounds tighter "to me" than the MB210. I can run the 212 'flat' and it sounds great, whereas the MB210 has to have the lows rolled off to get that same kind of sound. It doesn't make sense to me, and it's totally IMO, but there it is. Noise just isn't a factor on mine either. The only thing to complain about is that DI idiosyncrasy, and if you use your 1/4" plug to unlatch the mic cord it's a non-issue.
I could be very happy with either amp, but the MB212 delivers more of the tone I'm looking for and for some reason makes my B string 'come alive' more than the MB210. With lightweight casters it has a perfect 'schleppability factor' as well.
Thank you Bob Gallien for improving our lives tremendously!!!
I totally agree with you ..... "I don't think you can go wrong" either way.
I just got home from another gig with the MB212...mine is fully broken in now, and it just amazes me every time I plug into it. It carves such a beautiful piece out of the mix....supportive lows, defined lower mids, grindy (if you want it that way) upper mids and sweet highs. There's nothing to complain about for me...38 pounds and able to do loud gigs. It's scary to say but...I think I'm done.
hmmNo doubt the MB210 is a great choice too...the extension cab option makes it SO versatile. I have to say, with both amps broken in the MB212 actually sounds tighter "to me" than the MB210. I can run the 212 'flat' and it sounds great, whereas the MB210 has to have the lows rolled off to get that same kind of sound. It doesn't make sense to me, and it's totally IMO, but there it is. Noise just isn't a factor on mine either. The only thing to complain about is that DI idiosyncrasy, and if you use your 1/4" plug to unlatch the mic cord it's a non-issue.
I could be very happy with either amp, but the MB212 delivers more of the tone I'm looking for and for some reason makes my B string 'come alive' more than the MB210. With lightweight casters it has a perfect 'schleppability factor' as well.
Thank you Bob Gallien for improving our lives tremendously!!!
I got a shipping notice on Sat. It should be here by mid week. Glad I kept the order. If it sounds as good as I hope it will, I will likely order a second one to run in stereo.
- Mar 24, 2003
- 809
- 2,523
- Disclosures
- Robert A. Gallien, President Gallien-Krueger
butchblack
Life is short. Do good. Find and do what you love.
This may be a dumb question but is there any reason you could not have a male/female XLR cable hooked up when you weren't using the DI? If there is no problem then a simple solution for those who use the DI often would be to connect a short (1 ft maybe) male/female XLR cable and leave it on. Someone like myself who almost never uses a DI can deal with the bit of hassle needed to unplug it.
woohoo! I'm excited for you man. you should spend all your free time playing bass and get nice and comfortable with that amp. use some previously tested EQs if you can't dial up the right sound. but yeah, it's an awesome amp. you'll be so happy when you get it
Not dumb as far as I can tell, the DI should be buffered so it would not be noise inducing if unused.
Guys, the DI thing isn't a big deal. 
You should try it ahead of time so you'll know what you're dealing with. It takes no more time to poke the cable latch with the tip of the cord that's already in your hand, than operating any other DI. Heck, my finger fits in there so it really isn't a problem for me.
You should try it ahead of time so you'll know what you're dealing with. It takes no more time to poke the cable latch with the tip of the cord that's already in your hand, than operating any other DI. Heck, my finger fits in there so it really isn't a problem for me.
Guys, the DI thing isn't a big deal.
+1
--Bomb
Mr.Bomb, I was wondering how much bigger and louder TWO MB210's sound than one?
....and have you compared the two MB210's to one MB210 with an extension cab?
....and have you compared the two MB210's to one MB210 with an extension cab?
Hey hey:
I haven't pushed them when I use both. Basically that's what I like about using two: the headroom.
Last gig I ran both, going into the active jack (from my pedal board), didn't go much past noon on either gain or either master, all EQs on 1 or 2 o'clock, and I had a very satisfying presence in our mix - and that was outdoors.
When I rehearse using just one, I can get to where I want to be in the mix, but I crank it more. It still sounds good, and I still have yet to push it too far. I just don't like to crank my amps.
Based on my experience, I would say that if I were to crank both, it would be quite big and loud indeed.
--Bomb
p.s. I have played one combo with an Avatar 210 in the house before - i.e., not very loud. Sounded great, tho.
Yeah, for me, if the MB210 + 115 isn't loud enough I need to join a different death-metal group! 
(j/k I'm OLD.)
(j/k I'm OLD.)
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