I had all the materials except the batting so it was $6 bucks and a couple of hours. There was a learning curve and numerous interruptions that come when you have 3 children ages 10-12.
I tried an Arnopol crazy 88 in the attempt to get a small rig anticipating PA support for anything that needed bigger. I discovered my needs could be met with the much less expensive MB210. But in the side by side comparison the 88, though lacking in fullness, had a much richer sound with more character in each note.
That's what I feel I'm hearing now from the GK. More detail in the notes than before.
I've done two gigs with the MB, one with PA and one without. It did the job both times with no trouble. The one without PA was in a difficult L shaped room, hardwood floors and tall ceilings. Very boomy. But it did very well.
What got me started was getting ready for tomorrow's gig. I talked with the sound guy and got the impression he may not be providing much bass to the stage. I was worried about the 210 not being enough and started reading up on the 210MBE. Can't find one but started reading about the bracing/dampening.
When you don't know much about this stuff it's difficult to know which direction to take when different knowledgeable, credible sources disagree. So I had some time today and took a shot. Didn't mean to stir the argument. But just seeing that the build has changed in the last couple of years makes it a worthwhile post whether you think it needs dampening or not.
Thanks for the input, and thanks Rpsands, BFM, rag and others. For me it was a great learning experience. It's a great little combo, super easy to carry and easy to dial in a good sound. Now it's a little better IMHO. Still not delighted with the tweeter, but I just leave it off.