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GK Combo Shootout...MB210 vs. MB212

#582
mello_bedwetter said:
I had no problem with the combo itself. It was only when I got the ext cab and hooked it up. The whole thing sounded lethargic. If I unhooked the ext cab and used the combo, the combo kicked.
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That sounds like a classic case of a cabinet being out of phase. OR, the polarity of your speaker cable is reversed.

This is common knowledge, but a re-post wouldn't hurt. The easiest way to check if this is the case. Plug a KNOWN good polarity speaker cable into the cabinet. Then take the other plug, (1/4") and touch the tip to the + of a 9v battery while touching the - of the battery to the sleeve. (long part of plug) Do not hold it there more than a second or two at most! The speaker cone should move out. If it moves in, the cabinet is wired out of phase and the leads need to be reversed.
 
#584
SpectorDetector said:
So the phase issue is on the extension out jack?
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Yes... You can see wiring for change here:
MB210.jpg
 
#585
Question for Tallboybass:

Some months back you mentioned an MB212 problem with a resonance on the E on the 7th fret of the A string. I confess I haven't read all 20 pages of this thread to find out if you resolved that!

Is it still a problem?? Was it the combo itself, or something else?

Thanks,

pw (Montréal)
 
#587
I answered your PM but will post it here too:

Hi, it wasn't really a huge problem and it could have been the room I was playing in. Definitely not a deal killer at ALL! If you've read the threads on adding damping material and bracing to the GK MB combos, you'll know that it might help in that regard.
 
#588
tallboybass said:
I answered your PM but will post it here too:

Hi, it wasn't really a huge problem and it could have been the room I was playing in. Definitely not a deal killer at ALL! If you've read the threads on adding damping material and bracing to the GK MB combos, you'll know that it might help in that regard.
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Thanks Tallboy.

Every individual has a different threshold for annoyance. Personally, pitch-specific resonance drives me bananas! I'd be carrying around a fully parametric EQ in no time flat -- which would defeat the convenience of having a combo. Might as well set up a micro head on a cab, as set up an EQ on a combo.

Wait: I just noticed you said that in the past tense: So you mean you only got it on one occasion? If so, that's totally normal -- different rooms/stages have all sorts of resonances. I'm only worried about any _consistent_, always-present wolf notes (ones that originate in the amp, not the bass).

Thanks,

- pw
 
#590
philter25 said:
So how many people are having this problem? Is there a serial number range where its been occuring? Im debating on getting another cabinet and I havent plugged in the MB210 into another cab yet, but Im curious if mine will have the same problem. Maybe its off to GC this weekend.
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You wouldn't know it until you try it. I think by now GK must have inform their poeple at their plant.
 
#591
tallboybass said:
Don't know about spiders, my guess is 'no'.

The mouse problem is going to be aided with some D-Con. We'll see how that works out. I hate killin' the little things but they are like the WORST roommate you've ever had!
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I am just catching up with the various mb210/212 threads. Anyway, you might also try one of those ultrasonic pest repellers. They are cheap and do work. Where I live, we have lots of insects and small mammals that want to move in, but the ultrasonic repellers keep them from coming in (or staying if they do).

OK--back to the topic.
 
#592
boynamedsuse said:
I am just catching up with the various mb210/212 threads. Anyway, you might also try one of those ultrasonic pest repellers. They are cheap and do work. Where I live, we have lots of insects and small mammals that want to move in, but the ultrasonic repellers keep them from coming in (or staying if they do).

OK--back to the topic.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that! I really wondered if those worked.

For you speaker phase problem folks....I always keep a well-marked 'reverse polarity' speaker cord for just such things.
 
#593
johnnybass01 said:
I just wanted to add that I have been checking out these three combos for a while the mb212 in particular , My last stage rig was a gibson gb440 head with a dr bass 2x12 4 ohm cab and i loved it, I wasn't doing much gigging so I sold it and picked up a nemesis n15 combo , I recently got into a working casino band here in reno nv and for the ocasional outdoor gig was looking for something bigger..I picked a mb212 on special order from guitar center. Well when it arrived i was totally impressed with the weight and sound that this thing can produce , I messed around with it for a couple days just alone and it was great . So I had a low volume rehersal at my home in the garage , and for the first hour it sounded great then it started to develop this distortion if you weren't attacking the string , which just kept getting worse , I kinda lost it got P**sed and took it back to guitar center and picked up an acoustic b450 combo , anyway I took this thing home without even trying it , talk about dissapointment , I was really bummed...The b450 just sounded bad to me , couldn't handle the b string on my sterling hh at all. Well what do I do ?? i got online and sent an e-mail to support at gallien krueger, letting them know what happened with the mb212 , I didn't think I would even get a response , but in no more than 15 minutes i had one from Jason Finley .So I opted to give him a call and let him know what was up..He said they had a very limited incident with a couple of bad speakers , that were doing exactly what I had described, I was in a pinch because I only have this weekend off and am booked every weekend through next june . He pulled some strings and I should have my new mb212 by tuesday, I am talking only 2 days .. this is incredible customer service , I am sold on GK !!!!!!!!!!!!
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Hey man same thing happened with my mb212 combo, and Jason from GK is awesome, he sent me another brand new mb 212 problem is the 2nd amp has the same problem, sounds amazing in the begining but ultimatly starts distorting and horrendous popping noises. I was wondering how your 2nd MB 212 is holding up if at all? :eyebrow:
 
#595
I have 2 MB115s. Our church has 4 campuses and we play at one campus every Tuesday night at a 12 Step service, and we also play at another campus every Sunday morning at a contemporary service. I keep one at each location. The Tuesday night service I use the GK as a monitor. The Sunday morning service I use it stand alone. Smaller sanctuary so no problem with it pulling the load.

However, we are doing an outside gig for a block party the church is having. I just wondered if it would be worth the upgrade to a 210 or 212? Would I be getting more bang for my buck?
 
#596
So far I love the sound, especially with the contour button. It makes a nice warm fat sound. I have a PJ Yamaha BB500 with big flats and a Tobias JJ knock off with half wounds and they both sound great, finger style, slap and pick, with the amp. It reminds me of what my bass sounds like when played back through the mains at a recording studio. I like that. I like the amp much better than my SWR 350 basic redface (FS, BTW). Still not sure if I should up to a MB212, but a few gigs should sort that out. Got a jazz gig tonight with a loud tenor player so this should be a good test. No rattles so far, except in the surrounding furniture...
 
#597
I finally pulled the trigger on an MB210 as well and have been playing it for a little over a week. The first thing I noticed was the remarkable clarity. I could hear each string and its tonal nuances as I went up and down the neck. My gear budget is small and I never thought I could afford tone this good. :hyper:
 
#598
The MB210 is a very good amp, I challenge friends to pick it up and they almost throw it across the room, nobody can believe its so light :D
It is a fantastic amp for what it is, there are threads on here about improving it with bracing and lining etc so the potential for a great amp is there .
I mainly play a Gibson SG which does not suit the MB210 100%, my Precision and Ibanez sound great through it but the SG is too boomy, shame as I love the SG and intend to use it as my main bass so I am looking to get a GK MB500 and MBE 410 cab as I believe there will be more tonal range to suit my SG .
Glad you like the MB210 though, its a great amp IMHO .
 
#599
For you speaker phase problem folks....I always keep a well-marked 'reverse polarity' speaker cord for just such things.[/QUOTE]
Hi Tallboy! Thanks for all the info regarding these combos; I have an MB210, and I haven't added an external cab to it yet due to all the reports of the ext. jack being wired wrong. But, I gotta ask; If it was found to be wired wrong, wouldn't just using a reverse polarity cable fix the problem? Certainly easier than sending a combo back to GK. . .
Would there be any issues with this as a long term/permanent solution?
Just planning for my 500W future. . .
Thanks!
Brian
 
#600
baldy McBalders said:
If it was found to be wired wrong, wouldn't just using a reverse polarity cable fix the problem? Certainly easier than sending a combo back to GK. . .
Would there be any issues with this as a long term/permanent solution?
Just planning for my 500W future. . .
Thanks!
Brian
Click to expand...
Yes, it would work just fine, no long-term issues except not being able to use just any old speaker cable.
 

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