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GK Combo Shootout...MB210 vs. MB212
- Thread starter tallboybass
- Start date
I ordered a GK MB212 from my local guitar center in Fayetteville, Ga. last Saturday and it was delivered via UPS today. I would have ordered it online but I wanted to trade in an Ampeg BA210SP that was collecting dust to knock down the GK's $700 price tag. I'm a big GK fan and used to own an older GK 210 kickback combo (not the mb series) years ago and loved it, but it was so freaking heavy. I am thoroughly impressed with its output and would highly recommend spending the extra $100 to get the MB 212 over the MB210. I demoed the MB210 in store and the 350W max it runs through the 2 10s isn't enough for my cover band's stage volume (insert two competitive volume hungry guitarists here lol). Don't get me wrong though. The MB210 sounded great but for another $100 bucks you're not going to have to lug around an ext cab when you wanna utilize all the headroom that the 210 offers. At another 3 inches taller and 7 lbs heavier the MB212 delivers the goods over it's older and slightly smaller brother
What you've got there is a more expensive and slightly more inconvenient MB212, but I know some folks like separates.
Both those combos (MB210 and MB212) sound great, but to me the 212 is really a one size fits all self-contained solution...the 210 needs the extension cab to get everything it has to offer.
My amp replaced a 410 setup and I have yet to play a gig (dozens of them since I received it) that it can't handle easily, including outdoors and some pretty large halls.
And the convenience of the setup and teardown has really endeared it to me: I carry it in with one hand, my bass in the other, plug in a power cord, plug in a guitar cord, and it's showtime!
A big AMEN to everything you've said! I did get the MBE410 cab "just in case" but doubt I'll really have any need to use it.
Has anyone tried running a 212 cabinet with the MB210 combo ? everyone seems to run either 1-15 or 2 more 10s.
I bought the Mb210 and really wanted it to be enough power - I love the sound it has and how big it sounds. Nice, clean, full. Congrats, GK- the MB line is a winner in my book. Great for jazz gigs. But for a band with a couple of guitar players, it needs an extension cabinet to produce enough sound. With my so called blues band- I am pushing the MB210 right up to its fart out point. So it makes no sense to me to get an extension cabinet when the MB212 will do what I need in one box for a few pounds (Lbs.) and dollars more.
I have a Barefaced Compact enroute and am seriously thinking of getting a gk mb210 to pair it with. That should be plenty loud for my band.
A rig like that should be pretty portable, loud and full sounding.
Any reason to steer away from the mb210?
A rig like that should be pretty portable, loud and full sounding.
Any reason to steer away from the mb210?
if it were me, I'd skip the barefaced cab since you probably paid about $850 for it if it is new, and get a pair of the MB212's. 4-12's and 1000 watts (!), for a total of 72 lbs., for list of $1400 USD. Now that will be loud.
OR, you can get a GK matching extension cabinet for the 210 for around $300 US.
With an extension, the 210 will be great, without, it may fart out if you get it up too loud... but a 210 with an extension is louder than the 212, so you may get by with the MB212.
OR, you can get a GK matching extension cabinet for the 210 for around $300 US.
With an extension, the 210 will be great, without, it may fart out if you get it up too loud... but a 210 with an extension is louder than the 212, so you may get by with the MB212.
^ Yeah, that's how much I paid for the Compact. However, aside from the gk stuff there really isnt anything else out there that's beyond a 112 at 30LBS. The Compact is reportedly 26LBS for a Kappa 3015 equipped 115. That is crazy light. But.... you're right the gk 210 combo + extension 210 would be pretty much the same weight and alot cheaper. However, tone is the big question mark.
I am running an MB210 with an MBE115 and it sounds superb, the amp (210) seems to be less boomy now with the extension cab, being larger the 115 is the dominant part of the rig so maybe it has taken some of the boominess out and there is definitely a clarity to the sound .
I have also stuck some accoustic egg crate 40mm foam to the back wall and amp shelf of the amp which seems to have improved the tone generally .
I like the idea of the MB212 with its complete 500 Watts, but the MB210 gives a choice and adding the 115 gives a total speaker area of 333 square inches against the 212s 226 !
I have also stuck some accoustic egg crate 40mm foam to the back wall and amp shelf of the amp which seems to have improved the tone generally .
I like the idea of the MB212 with its complete 500 Watts, but the MB210 gives a choice and adding the 115 gives a total speaker area of 333 square inches against the 212s 226 !
Tone tends to be subjective. I suspect that we will never have a consensus here regarding what has better tone than something else.
Regarding the reported boominess of the MB210 (and perhaps the MBE210), there does seem to be a slight peak somewhere around 120 Hz with that combo that people might report as boomy. Chances are the response in that frequency range will vary depending on placement and the room. I keep mine off the floor and that may help, since I do not find it to be boomy. YMMV and all that.
I wonder if certain pick ups and basses can add to the boominess, mine definitely was boomy when I played my SG through it, more than my Precision .
You confirmed that it was a factor for you, so it makes sense that it would be a factor for others as well.
>tallboy : I would like it if it were alot louder than the 212, how much louder do you think the 410+ext is? IYO would it be a better main rig, carry in/out not withstanding.
I'm still condidering combo/ext , combo , or Pre-PowerAmp-cab.
