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GK Combo Shootout...MB210 vs. MB212
- Thread starter tallboybass
- Start date
I jjust received my MB212, and took her out of the box. Haven't plugged her in yet, but looked over the manual. Two things trouble me:
1) The amp in general seems very, very fragile! I know it's lightweight, but it looks as if any type of "bump" could put a hole in it. I've never had a concern in the past with loading & unloading amps in cars, but I'm a little nervousr about moving this around. The enclosure seems as if it's 1/8" thick! Suggestions?
2) I've always set my Gain until it just starts to clip, back it off, and then use the Master to adjust volume. The Manual recommends setting the Master to 3 o'clock, then using the Gain to adjust volume. This just doesn't seem right, can someone make me understand why it suggests this?
I will want a cover for it, I saw some suggestions, has anyone picked up a LeCover for this model? I just don't feel like shelling out $130 for a cover.
Getting ready to plug her in...
1) The amp in general seems very, very fragile! I know it's lightweight, but it looks as if any type of "bump" could put a hole in it. I've never had a concern in the past with loading & unloading amps in cars, but I'm a little nervousr about moving this around. The enclosure seems as if it's 1/8" thick! Suggestions?
2) I've always set my Gain until it just starts to clip, back it off, and then use the Master to adjust volume. The Manual recommends setting the Master to 3 o'clock, then using the Gain to adjust volume. This just doesn't seem right, can someone make me understand why it suggests this?
I will want a cover for it, I saw some suggestions, has anyone picked up a LeCover for this model? I just don't feel like shelling out $130 for a cover.
Getting ready to plug her in...
yea i sort of have the same problem
theres a slightly noticable difference if you mess with the EQ but the horn doesnt really seem to do anything....
1) It's not fragile.
2) I'd recommend starting with gain, boost and EQ at noon and controlling volume with the master, but I'm not GK.
3) LeCover made me a cover and it's just fine....and for WAY less than $130.
The MBX cabinets are starting to appear. I was in the GC in Little Rock today and they had a 115 MBX on the sales floor.
Try a few slap and pluck riffs.
I dont notice much of a difference for regular playing, but I hear it when I slap.
I cant explain why GK suggests this, but I agree with you. I set my gain level, and then control volume with the master knob also....... only my gain hasnt gotten past noon ever.
I think both ways are perfectly fine and are probably preference to what type of sound you want at any given level.
Well, for me, it's official...if California law would allow it I would marry this amp. (But it won't so we're just living in sin!)
I've done more than a dozen gigs with the MB212 in rooms of all sizes AND outdoors, and styles ranging from mellow jazz and blues to raging rock and it's the best rig I've ever played, regardless of size, weight, or cost.
I have one and only one issue with it...back up. When I was hauling around a 410 cab I would bring 2 heads so I always had a backup in case the amp went down.
Does anyone know if it would be possible or practical to power the cab alone with a different head? It doesn't have a jack for it, but maybe you could unscrew it and lift it off to access the speaker connection...?
That way I could bring my tiny Carvin BX500 and use it in case the GK head ever died at a gig.
Just wondering...
As it is now I would have to haul another head AND a cab to have a backup unit, not very attractive to me.
I've done more than a dozen gigs with the MB212 in rooms of all sizes AND outdoors, and styles ranging from mellow jazz and blues to raging rock and it's the best rig I've ever played, regardless of size, weight, or cost.
I have one and only one issue with it...back up. When I was hauling around a 410 cab I would bring 2 heads so I always had a backup in case the amp went down.
Does anyone know if it would be possible or practical to power the cab alone with a different head? It doesn't have a jack for it, but maybe you could unscrew it and lift it off to access the speaker connection...?
That way I could bring my tiny Carvin BX500 and use it in case the GK head ever died at a gig.
Just wondering...
As it is now I would have to haul another head AND a cab to have a backup unit, not very attractive to me.
Hell no...I'm expecting another back-order email any day now. The last one said the 8th of August.
Yay!! It's always good to hear from someone who loves it as much as I do! (although marriage is out of the question...)
As far as a backup amp is concerned....we've 'kind of' discussed that here. Pretty sure it would be possible to wire in a switch and a jack to enable using it as just a cab. That, and a better DI would make it about perfect for me.
Gotta agree here. Its not fragile at all, granted I haven't tried to see how far I can throw it and if it will actually survive the toss. The tolex cover seems a little more prone to scuffs than I'm used to but no big deal.
- Mar 24, 2003
- 809
- 2,523
- Disclosures
- Robert A. Gallien, President Gallien-Krueger
If I knew it was going to take this long from the start it would be one thing. But I was told by the dumb ass at Guitar Center it would be shipped within 2 weeks from the time I ordered it.
If I knew it wasn't going to be available right away from the start I would have by-passed the MB210 and went with another amp.
If I knew it wasn't going to be available right away from the start I would have by-passed the MB210 and went with another amp.
Well, I did my first gig with my MB212, and all I can say is wow!!! My bandmates couldn't believe it. We were outside, at a 40th high school reunion, and this thing killed! I pretty much had boost & all tone controls at 12:00, gain around 10:00, and master a bit up, didn't have contour engaged. I was happy, happy, happy with the sound. I still can't believe that sound was coming out of that box!
However...it is fragile, IMHO. While we were setting up, another cabinet "bumped" into the side of this, and left an indentation in the actual side, not just the tolex. That wouldn't have happened on any other cabinet I've had. I ordered a padded cover, but it hasn't come in yet. So you do have to be careful with this, you can't bump it around.
But beautiful tone! I was using a Carvin B80o head and an Epi UL310 cabinet, this will now take their place.
