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GK mb200 ultra light head?

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#642
Instead of buying a 100-200w combo as my first upgrade from a practice combo, I thought I'd put together a small head/cab system. The MB200 seems like a pretty good option.

I don't have any particular gigging needs; I would just like something that can keep up with a drummer and guitarists in a jam setting. That said, it'd be pretty cool if the gear I bought was enough to start gigging with in 6 months to a year if that's a direction I end up going.

My biggest concern is that the MB200 only provides 200 watts at 4 ohms. Almost any cabinet I get for it would be 8 ohms, in case I decide to go bigger at some point. I don't like the idea of getting a 4 ohm cabinet and then not being able to pair it with anything later on. That said, if a 4 ohm cabinet is going to serve my best now, that's what I'll get.

I'm also not really sure if I should get a 210 or a 410. My current volume needs are much closer to the 210 range, but I see a lot of deals for used 410s. Is a MB200 going to be enough to power a 410 8 ohm cab?
 
#643
Everything else being equal, you'll get more out of a 4x10 than you will out of a 2x10 for any given wattage.

The problem is that everything else is rarely equal.

I've got quite a bit of experience under my belt with the 200. For eight-ohm duty, I'd say pairing it with an efficient 4x10 would work fine.

In general, it's best to "purchase in anticipation." In other words, buy with a view toward what you'll be doing and where you'll be playing a year or so down the road. This saves you expensive upgrade cycles. This is why the 4x10 makes better sense to me than the 2x10. I'll probably get cut a new one for saying this, but I believe the 2x10 cab class is inherently limited in the duty it's capable of performing within its comfort zone, in the context of the band makeup you suggested. (With mains support for bass, then it's a different story of course.)
 
#644
craig.p said:
Everything else being equal, you'll get more out of a 4x10 than you will out of a 2x10 for any given wattage.

The problem is that everything else is rarely equal.

I've got quite a bit of experience under my belt with the 200. For eight-ohm duty, I'd say pairing it with an efficient 4x10 would work fine.

In general, it's best to "purchase in anticipation." In other words, buy with a view toward what you'll be doing and where you'll be playing a year or so down the road. This saves you expensive upgrade cycles. This is why the 4x10 makes better sense to me than the 2x10. I'll probably get cut a new one for saying this, but I believe the 2x10 cab class is inherently limited in the duty it's capable of performing within its comfort zone, in the context of the band makeup you suggested. (With mains support for bass, then it's a different story of course.)
Click to expand...

Agreed - but I've heard high quality 2x10s that sound better than poor quality 4x10s...

Why I like 2x10 cabs is that you can always pair two of them - instant 4x10 when you need it.

But yes - expecting a 2x10 to be BIG ROCK AND ROLL READY is just silly. It's just two 10" speakers!
 
#646
Just got one in the mail, fast shipping from RMS.

Pretty darn cool, although when pushed it gets flabby on the lower end of my E string. Lower to moderate volumes sound good and the overdrive is pretty darn cool. I'll have more time to wring it out later. I believe this is KILLER for practice, I already hooked my iPhone up to it and it's way better than playing with headphones, or a crummy practice amp imho. Very nice.
 
#649
krovx said:
What kind of cab are using? Or is that what you are experiencing in your headphones?
Click to expand...

Fearful 15/6. I may be guilty of cranking it to the point that I became desensitized. I compared it to my Yorkville XS400, which is just tight deep and loud, and also 2X the power at 30lbs. I believe i found
Out where the little 200's headroom stops is all. I'm just a guy noodling and learning in his basement who jams with friends from time to time, and that was my first impression. Sounds great though, way better than the MB212 I had for a while, if not as loud. If I need loud I'll bring my Yorkie.
:bassist::bassist:
 
#650
When I push the gain/volume of any amp I always have to adjust and lower my EQ settings. With the GK having the active EQ that really boosts or cuts the frequencies, this might even be more significant than other heads.

Sorry if this comes off as a 'no brainer' but you would be surprised how much 'common' knowledge really isn't that common.
 
#652
1. Keep in mind that "flat" on those GK heads is actually a ton of bass boost. Somewhere in this massive thread is a pic of a Carvin BX250 whose controls I set to mimic the tone of an MB200. Find that pic and you'll see what I'm talking about.

2. If you're running an 8 ohm cab then you're kneecapping the MB's output at around 140 watts. (Think Sunn Concert Bass and that'll give you the correct perspective.) The MB really wakes up at 4 ohms.
 
#654
Guys I think it sounds great and I don't think I'm saying anything out of line when I compare it to a much beefier amp and say it runs out of headroom sooner. That is all.

I'm liking this bad boy, practicing with the iphone connected is pure joy.

Luke
 
#655
I've had 2 prior carvin amps . . .

PB300, and R600. The PB300 blew up after a long career of giging, plugged into some funky power at a gig and it went pfffffffff. When I went to get it repaired, they could not repair it so I exchanged it for the R600. The R600 lasted about 1/2 as long. Again plugged into some power and it blew out my DI (amp was fine), and a couple years later I am sitting with a basically blown amp. I took it in for repair and low and behold I will have to swap it out for the BX500.

I should preface this, I have minimized my rig quite a lot. I usually use a Avater 1x12 (4ohm) cabinet off of the direct out of my line6 POD for a monitor, and feed the house with the line6. On bigger gigs I could use a SWR Goliath I, though I don't have to resort to that very often (as in ever).

What I am debating is going spending the cash with Carvin to get the BX500, or getting a GK MB200. They are about equal in price at this point. I am just learry of getting another Carvin since my last 2 blew up . . . I just want something that is reliable . . .

any thoughts from current MB-200 owners?
 
#656
Lukejt said:
Guys I think it sounds great and I don't think I'm saying anything out of line when I compare it to a much beefier amp and say it runs out of headroom sooner. That is all.

I'm liking this bad boy, practicing with the iphone connected is pure joy.

Luke
Click to expand...

No worries. I just know there are many people who expect their settings to work at different volumes, and that is not the case. ( I think especially for this amp IMHO)

Been at too many shows with younger players who get their chance to shine and crank their in house settings on their amp and sound like you know what :rollno:

For what this lil head is, it is great. I am curious how a fusion or MB500 would compare.
 
#657
Lukejt said:
Guys I think it sounds great and I don't think I'm saying anything out of line when I compare it to a much beefier amp and say it runs out of headroom sooner. That is all.
Click to expand...

+1 You are not out of line at all. In fact, I totally agree. This little guy does have its limits as far as headroom goes, and you can hear it. But the cool thing is that you get killer tone and a surprising amount of headroom before you get to this point. :cool:
 
#658
mupchu said:
[...]I usually use a Avater 1x12 (4ohm) cabinet off of the direct out of my line6 POD for a monitor, and feed the house with the line6. On bigger gigs I could use a SWR Goliath I, though I don't have to resort to that very often (as in ever).

What I am debating is going spending the cash with Carvin to get the BX500, or getting a GK MB200. They are about equal in price at this point. I am just learry of getting another Carvin since my last 2 blew up . . . I just want something that is reliable . . .

any thoughts from current MB-200 owners?
Click to expand...
Into that four-ohm Avatar, I doubt you'd notice the power difference; I doubt whether the BX's additional power would even be usable, because I suspect that single twelve would bump up against its Xmax way before it was able effectively to "convert" all the BX's power. (I suspect that'd be the case even with the MB's two hundred watts.) So, I believe the MB would be a good match, as long as you're aware of those two amps' drastically-different voicings and different feature sets.
 
#660
I just picked up one of these heads to use primarily as a backup. It sounds like... a GK! I do like the fact that it works very well for both Double Bass and Electric, and of course the weight is perfect. The only thing I don't really like is the hiss. However, this shouldn't pose a problem live. Not sure about the studio...
 
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