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How do GK NEO 410 cabs sound?

mouthmw

mouthmw

Jul 19, 2009
5,221
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Croatia
#1
I just heard an Ampeg 410HLF from a local band whose bassist might sell me the cab but it was so mid scooped and low heavy it really didn't impress me. Quite dissapointed really. The guy used an ampeg VR head too and it just lacked character.

I dont have many cab choices here besides GK and Ampeg to pair my GK 700rb ii with.
Are GK NEO 410s also this scooped?
Another possibilities are neo 212 or 115.
412 is a little too large I think.
 
#4
Thanks! That sounds better!

rodl2005 said:
That cab is like that, DON'T blame the VR!
The GK cabs are far more mid focused, actually almost any cab is.
The new Ampeg PF cabs are great for the $$ too.
Click to expand...

Oh I'm not blaming the amp! What I'm trying to say is that even a fantastic head like Ampeg SVT VR didn't help the cab out.

On another note, I'm forced to use the Ampeg 410HLF for tomorrow's gig because I sold my 810, so I guess I'll road test it but I have a feeling I'll be ordering a GK NEO 410 next week (something tells me Ampeg 410HLF is not gonna be my cup of tea).
Also, I'll use it on band practice today as well.
Heavy boomyness expected!
 
#9
As another alternative, I use a Hartke Hydrive 4-10 cab with my GK 700RBII. I love the way they sound together. Nice full range, not boomy.

I do think the GK 410 NEO might be better because it will allow you to run the tweeter seperately with a GK Speakon Cable.
 
#10
Well, I assume you are looking for a range of different opinions so I will weigh in on my experience with the GK 410.

I bought a 410MBE after looking at all the specs out there. It was easily the smallest and lightest (41 pounds) I could find. And with 800 watts power handling I was sold.

Got it, paired it with a Carvin B1500 head...and hated it. It has lots of mids alright, but they are muddy, boomy, and not focused at all. It's a sealed cab and I have always heard those should be stuffed to cut down internal reflections. GK does not stuff them, so I did, with polyester material like they put in pillows.

It helped tighten up the mids and lows, but not enough. I just could not EQ that box to sound good in any room I tried, and I gigged it in 3 or 4 different ones in the time I had it.

It also had no character to me, just plain vanilla. Maybe that is "flat response" and desirable to some, but it just didn't work for me at all. To be fair, I only tried it with the B1500 since that's all I have for a stand-alone head, but I have used that head with a lot of other cabs with good results.

For what it's worth...
 
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#13
Today's update guys.

Just came home from practice. Played my 700RB II through Ampeg 410HLF and. it was.. it wasn't bad! Not bad at all actually. I could cut the excessive lows easilly, and the cab was pretty good with tweeter off and with tweeter on.
Will see how it fares on the gig tomorrow!
 
#14
And one thing I don't get. Everyone said the Ampeg 410HLF is heavy and will break your back. Huh? Heavy? My 810 was heavy. I can lift the 410HLF myself and put it in the back of the van. And it tilts back easily, again, don't get the whole fuss about having to really bend to tilt it. I just use my knees to tilt it back - easy as pie.
 
#16
Update!
Just came home from the gig. I used the borrowed Ampeg SVT 410HLF with my GK 700RB II. It was.. friggin AWFUL. I don't think I've ever felt this much hate towards a cab in my life. It was all muddy low end, no mids, no definition, nothing! I salute and give my hat to anyone who can get a decent tone out of that miserable fat box, because I sure as hell couldn't. The room we played in did suck though, but cmon, I played in sucky bars before, and I got at least something out of my previous amps + SVT 810. I sure as hell will not be getting a 410HLF, it's not my thing at all.
I just hope GK will fare better.. Oh cmon, it has to!
This was the worst, most painful gig I've had in my life. I even flipped my guitarist off when he gave me a signal to do a solo during Little Wing. I literally raised my hand, and flipped him off because I couldn't torment myself anymore. I barely heard any note definition with blazing guitar and drums. Yeah it sounds nice solo, or just drums and bass, but damn, that thing is not just scooped, that thing just flat out rejects mids.
Sorry for the rant!
 
#19
Sparkdog said:
Well, I assume you are looking for a range of different opinions so I will weigh in on my experience with the GK 410.

I bought a 410MBE after looking at all the specs out there. It was easily the smallest and lightest (41 pounds) I could find. And with 800 watts power handling I was sold.

Got it, paired it with a Carvin B1500 head...and hated it. It has lots of mids alright, but they are muddy, boomy, and not focused at all. It's a sealed cab and I have always heard those should be stuffed to cut down internal reflections. GK does not stuff them, so I did, with polyester material like they put in pillows.

It helped tighten up the mids and lows, but not enough. I just could not EQ that box to sound good in any room I tried, and I gigged it in 3 or 4 different ones in the time I had it.

It also had no character to me, just plain vanilla. Maybe that is "flat response" and desirable to some, but it just didn't work for me at all. To be fair, I only tried it with the B1500 since that's all I have for a stand-alone head, but I have used that head with a lot of other cabs with good results.

For what it's worth...
Click to expand...
About the 410MBE - so disappointed, we've tried the 800RB & the 1001RB but not able to get any good tone. We're thinking of keeping the box and swapping out the speakers... :(
 

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