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GK MB112 or TC Electronic BG250 ?

J

joao2013

Apr 11, 2013
12
0
#1
Hi! I'm divided between these two amps.

Which would you recommend? I play a bit of everything so I need a versatile amp :)
The GK has a lot of good reviews, but the TC has an 15" driver + some cool features (tube drive emulation + some effects built in).

One very nice thing about both of them: lightness!

Which would you choose? :)

The amps:
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#2
It is a hard choice, I am not into the toys (bells and whistles). Have you played both? The MB112 maybe harder to play local to you as they are a single factory in California that started in the owners garage in the late 60s. TC has a outside supplier for their designs.
I really like G-K (Robert A Gallien's) designs.
 
#3
I bought a MB200 two weeks ago, great tone but it was making some anoying hiss sound, I send it back and got a BH250 this time, works flawless. I use an Epifani PS112 with both. The MB200 has alot of low end and an easy eq section. The BH250 sounds more Hi-Fi to my ears, warm and articulate, interactive eq section that is not straight forward as the GK. The toneprint is kind of cool, the tunner is nice to have. Both are loud amps at least with my ps112. Both great amps but I feel that with the same price I am getting more with the BH250.
 
#6
I have a BG 250 and a GK MB200 head that I use with an Eden EX112 cab (or a Genz Benz Focus 115).

As others have said - a tough call. The BG puts out an amazing amount of volume. I find the tone controls a little weird (they boost one freq and cut another). I initially liked the Tubedrive, but now find I usually leave it off. The Toneprint has turned out to be just a novelty for me too. I mean does anyone really need 18 different chorus choices?! I wish they would come up with an octave UP octaver and an envelope filter. Many guys like the Spectracomp compressor though.
Another thing to consider on the BG250 - there isn't an easy way to add an extension speaker (powered or not). the GK does have the "chain out" to use one of their powered extension cabs.

I was able to get the BG 250 for about 270 USD though - a huge bargain. Probably not possible in Europe.
 
#7
A few weeks ago I played the GKMB115, MB210 & the BG250 combos at a local guitar center with my LEJ6(LowEndBasses) & I thought I was going to love the GK's. The GK's colored my sound way too much & they also had way too much hiss on both GK's.....Then I tried the TC BG250. The BG250 sounded way better for my taste, it didn't color my sound at all.....The efx stuff was pretty cool for me.....So I placed an order that same day for it....I should have it by next week or so.....Plus, not bad of a combo for $300.00 & 37lbs!!!
 
#9
I've AB compared the BG250 with an MB115. Both are nice amps, the BG had a built in tuner, and cost less. The MB115, to my ears, sounded better. Neither has an extension speaker output, though you could order an extension powered cabinet. As far as reliability, I trust GK a little more. I would have chosen the GK, but ponied up the extra and bought a Markbass.
 
#10
I have the MB112 and am so impressed with it. There is no tweeter which is actually a good thing as the little piezo that GK uses in the MB115 is not very good sounding and way too loud. This little rig (28 pounds) is really great as its dead simple, a good amount of power for a single driver and the cabinet is well tuned. I found it less boomy then the 115 but tighter and better balanced tonewise. If I need more then a single 12 inch driver can provide, I will use a bigger amp.
 
#11
I did a side by side comparison of the BG250-112, MB112, BA-112, and a Cube-120 and I have to say it came down to the BG250 and the BA112 in terms of clean and accurate sound and color. I was looking for a light weight combo either 10" or 12" (15" just too boomy for my taste) with at least 200 watts with weight being the biggest concern (my 58 year old hands and arms just aren't what they used to be). I ended up buying the BG250 because I found a used one locally for $200. I'm very pleased with it. I do like a little compression so the Spectracomp toneprint is nice but that's probably all I'll ever use.
 

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