although I hear that GK is taking steps to address that. About all the cabinet QC issues I have read about, (and mine) were easy to fix, usually just a bit of glue. But GK is quick to respond and hassle free, if you have a problem.
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GK Combo Shootout...MB210 vs. MB212
- Thread starter tallboybass
- Start date
- Jul 20, 2005
- 881
- 76
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Samuel Shen Basses, NS Design, D'Addario Strings
I have been putting my MB 212 through it's paces with electric bass and upright bass, and it kicks serious butt. I had a grill screw rattling, but a screwdriver fixed that. Big bottom end, great punch, clear sound. Best tone I've ever had on electric bass, and the perfect match for upright bass (we have a loud stage volume, so the 500w is perfect).
buffalobillh..do you need a pre-amp with the upright or is the amp inpedence matched with the bass pickup?
I ended up returning my MB210 because it couldn't handle enough low end. It farted out with the bass turned up more than half. Does the MB212 seem to handle the low end better?
- Jul 20, 2005
- 881
- 76
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Samuel Shen Basses, NS Design, D'Addario Strings
Without looking at the impedance, I can't give you the numbers, but I have no need for a preamp. A while back I substituted a ELH line boost instead of a preamp so I could put it with my tuner and EQ (mostly for my NS bass) in a small pedal board for convenience. I do not have to turn on the boost at all, although I do sometimes. Last night, we played a hall that seats about 1000. Big, vacuous room with an open stage. I ran the line boost last night on about 3, and the master about 3, gain less than half way, treble off, high mids 2, low mids 3, bass 3, boost 3, and it was smoking loud. We run through a PA, but no bass in the monitors (for feedback concerns). All the guys heard me very well. The guitar player said the rumble felt good on his feet through the stage. LOL We are a loud band on stage for our style of music. Not only could I easily drown out everyone if I wanted, I could do it with great tone and power to spare.
I have tried my Fishman BII preamp with it, and the amp has more than plenty of room to go with out. I doubt I'll ever max this amp out - it is loud, and it projects. I should add that I use a K&K Bass Max p/u which has pretty high output. Your mileage may vary.
I have tried my Fishman BII preamp with it, and the amp has more than plenty of room to go with out. I doubt I'll ever max this amp out - it is loud, and it projects. I should add that I use a K&K Bass Max p/u which has pretty high output. Your mileage may vary.
I had the same experience. the 210 works best with ext. speakers, but I settled on the 212, because it handled lows better, much more sound coming out of it, and I think it is more articulate. I have a 5 string, and I play jazz and blues R&B with 2 guitar players with Rivera amps, if that'll help.
The 2x12 has a MASSIVE bass response. I have owned one for several months. It is the only amp I have ever owned where I have to turn down the bass knob.
I'm happy with mine, but I had to go through 3 to get one that wasn't damaged.
John
I'm happy with mine, but I had to go through 3 to get one that wasn't damaged.
John
I'm assuming that it wasn't all shipping damage. I see a lot of players liking the sound of their MB212 but poor quality control is unacceptable. Better to pay a little more and have it right the 1st time.
5SP, I bought a new one and a used one, both have been flawless. Maybe I'm just lucky, or maybe we only hear about the bad ones?
I don't know of any other combo that hits all these points...500w, 2-12s, LOUD!, 38lbs., at ANY price. But add the price in there and it gets even more difficult.
I don't know of any other combo that hits all these points...500w, 2-12s, LOUD!, 38lbs., at ANY price. But add the price in there and it gets even more difficult.
Dustin, I don't think I ever got my MB210 to fart out when I had it. Maybe yours was defective? (can't imagine turning the 'bass' control UP though...mine had tons of low end)
Same here Tallboy. My MB210 hasn't farted out at all. The only problem I had with it was the phasing issue when adding the 210MBE. GK took care of that though. I use the combo by itself at times and it does fine. I have to admit I like the sound and power of it more when I have the ext cab hooked up though...it really moves the air.
I got the 410MBE a few weeks ago. I was going to use it with the combo but never have tried it. There are a few guys on here that say it wouldn't match well, one being a 2x10 and the other a 4x10. I've been using the 4x10 with a Peavey Tour 450 and it sounds good. Seems like a nice cab.
I have that problem, my speaker farts out with the bass up about halfway. I've heard of countless other people having that same problem. It's not that big of a deal seeing as how I plan on adding a 210mbe extension anyways (it's why I went with the 210 in the first place). But yeah, I only really use the single 210 when I'm practicing by myself, at rehearsal I plan on using the fullstack. I don't think it's a QC issue. If you don't want to deal with an extension I recommend the 212.
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
I've never played the 210 combo by itself at great volume, nor would I try. It's for practice, very quiet groups or small coffee houses. Which is precisely why it can drive another cab.
I've had it driving the 210MBE for a few weeks now and I haven't heard any "farting" until I have the Master at 3/4, the Gain at 1/2 and the Boost at 1/2. Flat EQ. I find this is just about the practical limit of this setup. And it's loud. It's not 1000w driving a monster 8x10 cab, but it's loud.
If you intend to play loud, don't get the 210 combo and expect it to handle it all by itself. Get the 212. Or better yet, get a solid extension cab for the 210 combo. Try a 4x10 cab. I'm thinking of going that route myself in the near future.
I've had it driving the 210MBE for a few weeks now and I haven't heard any "farting" until I have the Master at 3/4, the Gain at 1/2 and the Boost at 1/2. Flat EQ. I find this is just about the practical limit of this setup. And it's loud. It's not 1000w driving a monster 8x10 cab, but it's loud.
If you intend to play loud, don't get the 210 combo and expect it to handle it all by itself. Get the 212. Or better yet, get a solid extension cab for the 210 combo. Try a 4x10 cab. I'm thinking of going that route myself in the near future.
No reason not to try it....unless it's 4 ohms. If you think about it, whatever cab you hook up will reduce the wattage going to the 2-10s of the combo from 375 to 250. A 410 will give you more sound per watt....give it a go and report back. Please?
No reason not to try it....unless it's 4 ohms. If you think about it, whatever cab you hook up will reduce the wattage going to the 2-10s of the combo from 375 to 250. A 410 will give you more sound per watt....give it a go and report back. Please?
The 4x10 is an 8 ohm also just like the 210MBE. The MB210 plus the 410MBE will give me 500 total, right?
I was going to try the 210MBE and 410MBE with the Tour 450 also. I didn't have a clue about the "imbalance" of the 2x10 and 4x10 when I ordered the 4x10. It's still good to use with the Tour by itself though...it kicks.
That's more of a theoretical imbalance. I don't think you can really hurt the combo by putting less power into the speakers. Yes, the MB210 will get 250 watts and the MBE410 will get 250 watts. Just keep the limiter on to keep the power amp from clipping.
But don't do it if you feel uncomfortable with it....
I tried the 410mbe and 210mbe and it sounded great to me.
with the 210 my fuzz factory is really really noisy and loud, and super hot
with the 410 i didnt get a chance to break the speakers in to those freqs yet.
but with the vt bass pedal set to fat tube tone, and the fuzz factory going its pretty much Electric Wizard tone.
also my ears were sore from the volume so yea its loud, and 4 more 10 inch speakers is a pretty good mix if you ask me.
with the 210 my fuzz factory is really really noisy and loud, and super hot
with the 410 i didnt get a chance to break the speakers in to those freqs yet.
but with the vt bass pedal set to fat tube tone, and the fuzz factory going its pretty much Electric Wizard tone.
also my ears were sore from the volume so yea its loud, and 4 more 10 inch speakers is a pretty good mix if you ask me.
That's what I like to hear. I'll have to try it. I think I'll try the 210MBE and 410MBE with the Tour 450 too. Thanks for the input.
I got that farting speaker sound with my MB210 when I turned it up. It sounded like the speakers simply couldn't handle the volume. Turns out, it was caused by the bottom speaker wires vibrating against the port. I rotated the bottom speaker to move the wires away from the port and that fixed the problem. No more farting speaker sound at high volume. I was surprised to find that that was what was causing the problem.
