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GK Combo Shootout...MB210 vs. MB212

#761
Hahaha said:
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.
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Damn! You are lucky you have opened the cab to observe that!
 
#762
Summary time: We're almost 1 1/2 years down the line from when I started this thread. The MB212 has been my "go-to" amp for all that time. Mainly for my casino gig which is piano, bass, drums, but also for an outdoor gig, a LOUD bar gig, lots of informal jams around the house which are LOUD as well. The MB212 has never so much as even 'hiccupped' during all these varied events. The bar gig was so loud that I felt like I was pushing it harder than I would like, but it got the job done.

I love the tone also, my Lakland JO5 sounds phenomenal to me, as do all the basses I've played through it. The casters I added make it ultra-portable, as I'm semi-handicapped and can't walk with more than about 20 pounds in my hands.

One recent development has been that I tried using the 'contour' button. For pick-playing, it can really give you a nice sound, and makes the combo sound huge! I used to have an 800RB and back then I used the contour pretty much all the time. It just sucks all the mids out and leaves you with a very scooped sound....don't care for it with finger-style playing.

I have since purchased another MB212 to stack for loud gigs, or for a stereo rig which can be cool for certain effects.

Thank you Bob Gallien for solving, in my opinion, almost all (the DI isn't very good) the problems associated with loud, light combos, at an affordable price!
 
#763
and, outside of a cab rattle (the front to back brace was loose - a bit of glue and the rattle went away), the MB212 has been a near dream, through two plays, a blues rock band, some New Orleans funk, and a lot of jazz, from soft to maybe louder than it should go.
Thanks again, GK
 
#764
No more problems with my MB212 after the first one was replaced.Plenty of bottom, good tone, and I have been using the contour sound from day 1. It is just right for me. Plenty loud for every gig I have played. I love this amp!!
 
#765
I have had the MB210 for about six weeks now. I had originally selected it over the MB212 because of the ability to add an ext cab, i.e., scalability depending the needs of any given situation, but most of the time only needing the combo for personal practice and band rehearsals.

I did discover, however, the low B string causing some farting at higher volumes during my first full band rehearsal with this thing. I figured it was too much for the 10s.

So, my brain has been hurting over reading all the threads I could stand here and on other websites on this topic. I was exploring adding the MBE115 or swapping out for an MB212. Then I discovered all I had to do was dial back the bass on the EQ and voila - no more farting, but still plenty of low end. Problem solved.

Also, I think I won't need an extension for bigger gigs because bigger gigs require PA support. Cranking up the volume of everyone's amps will be more difficult to achieve a nice live sound mix than handling that with a decent PA and sound guy.

MB210 is more than enough, plenty of volume - it rattles windows and pictures off shelves and walls. If your band is drowning you out during rehearsal, then they need to turn down or you'll all go deaf!

I hope this helps someone having a similar experience with the low B through the MB210.
 
#766
mikedw said:
I have had the MB210 for about six weeks now. I had originally selected it over the MB212 because of the ability to add an ext cab, i.e., scalability depending the needs of any given situation, but most of the time only needing the combo for personal practice and band rehearsals.

I did discover, however, the low B string causing some farting at higher volumes during my first full band rehearsal with this thing. I figured it was too much for the 10s.

So, my brain has been hurting over reading all the threads I could stand here and on other websites on this topic. I was exploring adding the MBE115 or swapping out for an MB212. Then I discovered all I had to do was dial back the bass on the EQ and voila - no more farting, but still plenty of low end. Problem solved.

Also, I think I won't need an extension for bigger gigs because bigger gigs require PA support. Cranking up the volume of everyone's amps will be more difficult to achieve a nice live sound mix than handling that with a decent PA and sound guy.

MB210 is more than enough, plenty of volume - it rattles windows and pictures off shelves and walls. If your band is drowning you out during rehearsal, then they need to turn down or you'll all go deaf!

I hope this helps someone having a similar experience with the low B through the MB210.
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I totally agree and add that adding an MBE115 makes a big difference to the sound of the MB210 .
The only thing I would say is that I think the MB210 is a bit basic in its EQ and features, my TC BH500 has much better sound and features, I got the head with two 12" cabs for less money than the MB210 and MBE115 !
 
#767
Im a bit inexperienced about cabs so please inform me

1st question: Will MB210+MBE150 (2x10 + 1x15) produce more volume than MB210+MBE210 (4x10)? cause im planning to do some gigs with this GK combo.

2nd question: which combination will produce a more *growly/punchy* tone

If this helps im playing with a (BEAD) precision bass and lots of effects

KP
 
#769
Petros-J said:
Im a bit inexperienced about cabs so please inform me

1st question: Will MB210+MBE150 (2x10 + 1x15) produce more volume than MB210+MBE210 (4x10)? cause im planning to do some gigs with this GK combo.

2nd question: which combination will produce a more *growly/punchy* tone

If this helps im playing with a (BEAD) precision bass and lots of effects

KP
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1) No about the same.
2) Overall the 2 210s will sound better together, but you might like the sound of the miss-matched cabs. In other words you would have to try both and decide for yourself ;)
 
#770
jfh2424 said:
I agree, dialing back the bass is important. It is such a bassy amp...I play with mine at 9 oclock, makes all the difference in the world.

John
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Agreed! Just yesterday I turned the bass on my MB210 *all the way* down, and it still sounded phat, and I sensed that I could have cranked it louder that way. I will try at my first opportunity. (I was at home.)

Is that why ppl don't like the 210? 'Cause you should turn the bass down if you want to crank it? I have always felt like, What's wrong with boomy? I'm in it for the boom, baby! :bassist: And since I rock a pair of these I might go with one boomy and one cutting. We'll see. Nice to have the option.

But, yeah, Tallboy, man: Two 212s? Winning! :bassist:

--Bomb :bassist:
 
#774
I found the MB210 to have too much bass, yes it does improve greatly with a much reduced bass EQ along with increased low mid EQ to compensate, but it still turned muddy at high volumes, fortunately the high volumes were above what I would normally play so not a problem for me, those who like to play VERY loud would have a problem .
 
#777
jfh2424 said:
I play with mine on the bass at 9 oclock.
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Actually, so do I. But part of that is because I play it very loudly and I need the headroom. You're right, though. It still sounds very full at that EQ setting.

When I think Reggae, however, I think chest-thumping lows with no other frequencies. If you think of it this way, too, you might want to rely on the subs of a good PA system for that. No rig I know is going to do that for you. At least not one you can move in your average car.
 
#778
scottfeldstein said:
Actually, so do I. But part of that is because I play it very loudly and I need the headroom. You're right, though. It still sounds very full at that EQ setting.

When I think Reggae, however, I think chest-thumping lows with no other frequencies. If you think of it this way, too, you might want to rely on the subs of a good PA system for that. No rig I know is going to do that for you. At least not one you can move in your average car.
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I don't, really... though I am fond of using octavers and lowpass filters for various things...

From personal experience I wouldn't try to carry much of a reggae show with just a 2x12 without PA support (or at least a powered sub). I'm not crazy, I just look it. If it'd do on its own for a smallish bar gig doing roots stuff, though, that would be fine.
 

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