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GK MB212
- Thread starter richbassboy
- Start date
Maybe if you provided a bit of information regarding the rehearsals/gigs you are playing with the amp. How loud, how many guitars and other members and what are they playing through, is the drummer beating the crap out of his/her kit, how big the venue, PA/FOH support, etc? Offering data like that can help us to help you figure out what might be going on. It could be possible that you are asking too much from a 212 combo. Maybe you need to add an extension speaker to help move more air? Of course, the amp could be faulty, but who could tell from your description. A bit more info please! 
Yea but that goes with anything you buy used, you never know how hard it was cranked or played, im buying a warwick on ebay most likley I dont know if the electronics are damaged as its used and i never heard it plugged in yet.
A word of advice- I'm not saying you won't get a bad deal or bad instrument from e-bay. There are many honest sellers there, and feedback is a very useful tool to see whether or not to trust them. If it were me, I would wait until the bass I was looking for popped up here on TB. Of course, no online transaction is guaranteed to be foolproof, but judging from feedback, people who have done business with, and compilation of posts here on TB, you can get a pretty good idea of what you can expect with your purchase. I've been so fortunate, and have only had perfect dealings both buying and selling here on TB. From time to time you will hear of a deal gone bad, but usually the self policing aspect of this wonderful website prevents it from reoccurring with the same parties. If you don't see what you are looking for, don't worry eventually it will show up. (That is unless it's that sonic blue Sadowsky I let get away a few years ago.
) 
Quadzilla
Supporting Member
I think that your amp has an issue and should be looked at by GK. My MB212 is extremely loud at gigs. I've been it for months and have never had a single shutdown. Something is wrong with yours. Contact GK.
Ok guys I found some video where it clips out its hard to here on though the first video i had to lower the volume it was an outside gig, this is just an idea of how the amp sounds outdoors. The band is heavy and the drummer hits really hard, both shows my guitarist is to loud, no drums, guitar or bass through the PA on either shows..
I have the G-K MB210 Combo. Its amp also puts out 500w but only if an 8ohm extension cab is hooked up. W/o the extension cab, the amp puts 350w onto the internal 2 x 10" speakers.
I gotta feelin' that the MB212 is the same: your getting "only" 350w into the 2 x 12" speakers. For the volumes your band plays at, you might need an extension cab. There are plenty out there for under $300.
I gotta feelin' that the MB212 is the same: your getting "only" 350w into the 2 x 12" speakers. For the volumes your band plays at, you might need an extension cab. There are plenty out there for under $300.
Watched the video.That poor little $699 combo is not going to compete with that situation. Get a stack. That is more of an 810, 412 situation if I ever saw one. maybe get a 2nd MB212 and you would have 1000 watts and 412s.You would also see if the new amp has the same problem.
Incorrect. The MB212 does NOT have an extension cab and DOES give the full 500 watts to the speakers.
Here is the spec sheet from the manual:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8089025&postcount=164
The amp in the MB210 and MB212 is the same. It puts out 500 watts at 4 ohms or 350 watts at 8 ohms.
The MB210 has 2 - 16 ohm speakers wired to an 8 ohm load. So its feeding 350 watts to the speakers. If you add an extension cabinet thats 8 ohms, the total load on the amp is 4 ohms and then it will be feeding the full 500 watts to all the speakers.
The MB212 has 2 - 8 ohm speakers wired to a 4 ohm load. There is NO extension jack on the MB212 and the amp puts out the full 500 watts at 4 ohms.
I watched the video. So you only have vocals through the PA and no PA support for guitar or bass, correct? And you guys are loud.
What are the settings you have on your MB212?
I would agree with the other posters that you are asking it to do more than its capable of, and its clipping out. If you need to play at that volume with no PA support, you need a stack.
The important thing to keep in mind here is that you still need to be realistic. It's still just a 212 combo amp... you're asking for it to put out like it's a 410 or more. Your band is definitely loud and you're standing off to the side and far away from your amp.
A) Why don't you bring your amp closer to (and directly behind) you and the drummer if you can't hear it enough?
B) If you have a PA, why wouldn't you plug into it if you need more volume? Use the tools you're provided
No amp is designed to run optimally with the gain and master both cranked all the way. Even if the amp isn't cutting out, it's SOUND QUALITY is not prime with the gain and master cranked.
I'm pretty sure that the 212MBE (which are the speakers in your combo) have a 600W handling capacity which means you have 100W of headroom since the amp is pushing 500W to the cab. That's really not that much headroom... That being said, if you turn the gain and master all the way up, then you're pushing its limits more than it would like to go. You can turn the limiter off but all you're essentially doing there is removing the safety feature which will keep you from blowing a speaker or something to that extent. If it's cutting out, unless there's something wrong with the amp, then it's for a good reason (you may or may not like it... but in terms of the amp's health, it is for the best that it cuts out)
It sounds to me like what you need is to go with the MB210 and get an extension for it (such as the lightweight MBE cabs coming out at the end of june).
Doesn't sound to me like there's anything wrong with your amp to be honest. I also recommend plugging into the passive input jack (regardless of whether you have an active or passive pickup bass) and turn your gain DOWN. For me, the gain knob never goes above the 2:00 position. Usually I have it at 12:00.
Personally, I would hate to buy an amp from somebody who's main mission was just to see how loud the amp could go and played it regularly with everything cranked. That poor amp...
A) Why don't you bring your amp closer to (and directly behind) you and the drummer if you can't hear it enough?
B) If you have a PA, why wouldn't you plug into it if you need more volume? Use the tools you're provided
No amp is designed to run optimally with the gain and master both cranked all the way. Even if the amp isn't cutting out, it's SOUND QUALITY is not prime with the gain and master cranked.
I'm pretty sure that the 212MBE (which are the speakers in your combo) have a 600W handling capacity which means you have 100W of headroom since the amp is pushing 500W to the cab. That's really not that much headroom... That being said, if you turn the gain and master all the way up, then you're pushing its limits more than it would like to go. You can turn the limiter off but all you're essentially doing there is removing the safety feature which will keep you from blowing a speaker or something to that extent. If it's cutting out, unless there's something wrong with the amp, then it's for a good reason (you may or may not like it... but in terms of the amp's health, it is for the best that it cuts out)
It sounds to me like what you need is to go with the MB210 and get an extension for it (such as the lightweight MBE cabs coming out at the end of june).
Doesn't sound to me like there's anything wrong with your amp to be honest. I also recommend plugging into the passive input jack (regardless of whether you have an active or passive pickup bass) and turn your gain DOWN. For me, the gain knob never goes above the 2:00 position. Usually I have it at 12:00.
Personally, I would hate to buy an amp from somebody who's main mission was just to see how loud the amp could go and played it regularly with everything cranked. That poor amp...
If need to run any amp with the gain and masters pegged, then you have picked the wrong amp for your situation.
Sounds like dude is bringing a knife to a gun fight.
Sounds like dude is bringing a knife to a gun fight.
+1
that's like saying: "My new Prius isn't as fast as a Ferrari! what a joke!!!!" The Prius, still being a good car in its own right, is never going to be as fast as a Ferrari. Similarly, you sacrifice some horsepower for the fuel efficiency (read: sacrifice some volume/power for portability).
must keep things in perspective. An outdoor thrasher metal gig... not what what the MB212 is made for.
I here what you are all saying, but I just want a high powered 2x12 combo that wont shut off it sounds good when its at med sound levels... I'm going to get a new bass soon probably a warwick so we will see how that goes plugged in to it...
Your amp is the wrong tool for the job. If you are playing outside with no PA support then bring a real mans amp.
What were your settings when it shut off? Were they really at med sound levels?
Because if you dont have the gain, volume, or boost past 12 or your EQ's past 12-3, then it shouldnt be shutting off.
But if you have your gain at max, and its shutting off, then its going its job and IMO thats NOT medium sound levels.
And playing with that alone without PA support outside its just not going to happen. You are asking waaay too much from a combo. Think about it. You are in what sounds like a metal thrash band, playing outside, with no PA support, your guitarist is playing a 4x12 halfstack and drummer are loud, and you expect to keep up with a 2 speaker combo?
sounds like what you need is a new amp, not a new bass dude... MB210 + 410 extension sounds like what you need. Either way, you're definitely being unrealistic with what you're expecting out of a little combo amp. These amps are great at what they do, but when you ask them to sound twice as big as they are, they struggle. Is that really so shocking?
It takes a lot more speakers and watts for a bass volume to match a guitar's volume. Your guitarist simply has MORE volume than you coming out and you need a serious amp + cab setup to compete with this.
unsubscribing to this thread now... richbassboy = too whiney
It takes a lot more speakers and watts for a bass volume to match a guitar's volume. Your guitarist simply has MORE volume than you coming out and you need a serious amp + cab setup to compete with this.
unsubscribing to this thread now... richbassboy = too whiney
I would say I mostly have PA support about 90% of the time, but I like to crank out the amp every once in awhile, good old raw power its fun try it! I have practice with the metal band tonight, i'm going to try lowering the gain, raise the volume and tweak out the eq so she wont quit on me....
