I have a GK NEO 410 with a GK 1001RB. I have 2 jazz basses (Carvin JB5 and Fender MIA Standard). I don't have the same experience with the OP. However, I do like the sound of the 212 better. I'll be replacing the 410 with 2 x 212's
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
GK Neo 410.......I hate it
- Thread starter outoftune
- Start date
-
- Tags
- gallien-krueger neo
I have a GK NEO 410 with a GK 1001RB. I have 2 jazz basses (Carvin JB5 and Fender MIA Standard). I don't have the same experience with the OP. However, I do like the sound of the 212 better. I'll be replacing the 410 with 2 x 212's
I have run a single 4 Ohm GK Neo 410 with a GK Fusion 550 for several years.
When I bought the Neo 410 new I chose it over the Neo 212 because I liked the sound better. I thought the Neo 412 was the pick, but physically too big. Dozens of gigs with the 410/ Fusion 550. Boost mids and cut bass a little.
Not muddy or indistinct to my ears.
When I bought the Neo 410 new I chose it over the Neo 212 because I liked the sound better. I thought the Neo 412 was the pick, but physically too big. Dozens of gigs with the 410/ Fusion 550. Boost mids and cut bass a little.
Not muddy or indistinct to my ears.
All I have to say is I'm in love with my 212 neo paired with my rb1001, I run my MIA jazz highway one through it, never needed any more power, either low end of mid's or high end punch, usually I plug in and crank it a little more than necessary and punch everybody in the face with a little too much and have to turn down immediately cuz I get the head swivel with the "WOAH!" from everybody so I turn it down a bit haha, but then again I always play with a boss ODB3 on all the time haha.
I've owned GK cabs in the past and have never found them to be very warm at all. So.. I stopped using them.
It's really funny that you say this because I've been playing a lot more through my cabinet at home (I used to just run direct into my Mac for practicing) and I found myself wondering why my amp felt so boomy of late. I do like the 4x10 NEO, but I've really been considering 12s. I'm honestly not sure what I want to do though, which drives me a bit nuts!
212<>212
Some 212 come with vertical alignment of drivers, other 212 come with diagonal driver alignment.
I can only speak for 212 designs with vertical driver alignment, which I mostly lift a little bit from floor to improve sound clarity on stage (or in the room). It also helps to decrease comb filter effects in the vertical plane. The "drawback" is a somewhat reduced coupling with the floor which actually can be a drawback, but also can be a benefit on stage (or room) with nasty resonant floor.
I can't refer to 212 with diagonal driver aignment cause I have no experience with these cabs.
Theoretically the comb filter characteristics should be quite similar like a "generic" 410.
Dispersion wise best solution was a cab like fearful or PA stuff (sub+top).
None of these solutions can prevent from nasty "boomy" room modes if present. Cabs with an extended low response tend to be more prone in this regard. A HPF or graphic EQ can help to "eliminate" the problematic frequency band if there is issues with room modes.
Or just turn down the complete low response with the bass knob of the amplifier.
BTW best bet to yield an emphasized "boomy" low response was to put the bass cab directly in the corner of a room. Second best bet was to put the cab directly to a wall.
Some 212 come with vertical alignment of drivers, other 212 come with diagonal driver alignment.
I can only speak for 212 designs with vertical driver alignment, which I mostly lift a little bit from floor to improve sound clarity on stage (or in the room). It also helps to decrease comb filter effects in the vertical plane. The "drawback" is a somewhat reduced coupling with the floor which actually can be a drawback, but also can be a benefit on stage (or room) with nasty resonant floor.
I can't refer to 212 with diagonal driver aignment cause I have no experience with these cabs.
Theoretically the comb filter characteristics should be quite similar like a "generic" 410.
Dispersion wise best solution was a cab like fearful or PA stuff (sub+top).
None of these solutions can prevent from nasty "boomy" room modes if present. Cabs with an extended low response tend to be more prone in this regard. A HPF or graphic EQ can help to "eliminate" the problematic frequency band if there is issues with room modes.
Or just turn down the complete low response with the bass knob of the amplifier.
BTW best bet to yield an emphasized "boomy" low response was to put the bass cab directly in the corner of a room. Second best bet was to put the cab directly to a wall.
Last edited:
I have a Uber 410, it is a great cab. Very clean, great response
If you don't like it, you don't like it. Don't feel like you have to like it, that's why there are dozens of cab companies and boutique builders out there.
I have the GK 410MBE and got it at a really low price. It works pretty great and hasnt given me problems despite how rough I am with it. Funny how sometimes the cheaper stuff can do the job just fine. Sorry to hear about your 410 troubles. Cabs are designed to be voiced in all different ways, that one just wasnt for you. Dont give up, try again!
I never played through the Neo 4 x 10 GK cab. Can't give my opinion on that one. However, I do like the sound of GK cabs in general. Using a 1001rb 2x10 combo with the RBH 2 x 10's and a 1 x 15 SBX ii cab the sound is delicious ! Whenever, I really want to project I add the Backline 4 x 10 to the 1 x 15 SBX ii and turn my 1001 rb up and "vibe"...lol
Never played through a Fender Neo 410, but if it's anything near the awesomeness of the Neo 610 (which I own) then I'll give it a +2.
I'm with ya. I love the sound of my 410. I have played to 212 and it doesn't bring the beef like the 410 IMO. Still have all the mids i need and its never boomy or muddy.
And for that reason, i went with the GK Neo 212, i also have a MesaPowerhouse 212, which is killin me, because i like it better then the GK.
And the GK 212 is a great cab.
+1
there is a wide range of different cabs with different voicings, as well as there is a broad range of different sound goals of different players. So not every distinct "voicing" can meet every distinct personal sound goal. Some players like to have a tweeter/HT, others don't. Some players like an extended low response, while others may prefer a rather "lean" low response. Some prefer a rather neutral sounding cab, while others like to have distinct "unique" voicing at mids or highs, some are happy with smallish 210 while others like the feel of a large sound-wall etc. etc.
As well as any sound discribtion is biased by personal "experience" and personal sound goals (including me).
I'd love to be able to just swap cabs willy nilly until I find the right one, but my wallet doesn't let that happen.
This is actually the first cab I've ever had that is just boomy. Like, knocking clocks off bar wall boomy. Lol
This is actually the first cab I've ever had that is just boomy. Like, knocking clocks off bar wall boomy. Lol
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
Worst 410 cab I ever played through. Muddy and unfocused. Matter of fact, it's the Anti-Bergantino. BTW, I loaded a 410 cab with those Faital 10's that Avatar sells and it's punchy as all hell.
I have more trouble dialing out the excessively bright high mids and treble than the bass with any GK NEO cab. When I try to dial out the High mids and treble, it goes from excessively bright to muddy and indistinct with no middle ground.
I think I may have just grown tired of the "GK sound".
I think I may have just grown tired of the "GK sound".
Comparing cabs is difficult as few people can really do it in one place/time. It's usually done in assorted venues, over a period of time, AND from memory. The room plays a big part as well, IE what sounded bad here may sound good there. One thing I have noticed is that some of big volume cab manufacturers under damp their enclosures to save money. Some people don't mind or can't notice anything excessive or unusual, while others do.
My first set up was a combo amp. No biggie. When I went to a real rig, I built a pair of BFM Omni's. Hated them. I was really bummed out. I then built a pair of fEARfuls, which I love. (The BFMs were re-appropriated to be just 500Hz bass bins for a horn loaded tube hi-fi system I built, and in that application, they are wonderful.)
My first set up was a combo amp. No biggie. When I went to a real rig, I built a pair of BFM Omni's. Hated them. I was really bummed out. I then built a pair of fEARfuls, which I love. (The BFMs were re-appropriated to be just 500Hz bass bins for a horn loaded tube hi-fi system I built, and in that application, they are wonderful.)
