I usually only use ONE of the UL-115 cabs for MOST gigs without FOH support. I mainly play small to medium sized bars, but occasionally play an outdoor stage where the extra cab sounds and LOOKS great.
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Mini Rigs of Doom Four
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
I usually only use ONE of the UL-115 cabs for MOST gigs without FOH support. I mainly play small to medium sized bars, but occasionally play an outdoor stage where the extra cab sounds and LOOKS great.
This is as mini-doomie as I can get right now. Amp is 3.8 lbs, cab is about 59 lbs with neo Faital 15PR400. One trip carry (or roll) if I'm so inclined. Plenty of volume for most sane situations. Of course, I'm of the school that says, "Turn your guitar down or I'll find someone else to play with." I'm really liking the tone of this amp and cab paired together.
This cab also sounds great paired with my Streamliner 600.
M. M.
This cab also sounds great paired with my Streamliner 600.
M. M.
- Apr 29, 2003
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- Contributor- Bass Musician Magazine | Marketing Manager- Trickfish Amplification
I've been using a Phil Jones 6T/9B stack driven by a Mesa M9 for a while now. It's awesome and I love it. However, I need something equally high quality but smaller.
I recently purchased a GK MB800, and two Phil Jones C4 cabinets just appeared at my workplace. Should be a great mini rig of doom, only about 60 pounds. I hope to hook it up this weekend and make some noise with it.
I recently purchased a GK MB800, and two Phil Jones C4 cabinets just appeared at my workplace. Should be a great mini rig of doom, only about 60 pounds. I hope to hook it up this weekend and make some noise with it.
Update on my mini rigs: After doing some reading here and some experimenting - I think I lost some low end by lifting the 210XL cab so far off the ground on the amp stand. I've been messing around with it up on end vertically and sitting on the floor - much better.
Also - I ended up getting a Genz Benz focus 115, which weighs the same (46 lbs) as the Hartke 210XL. I pulled the Hartke 3500 head out of my 1155 combo and put it in a Gator 2-space rack bag. Makes the combo easier to move (head = 25 lbs, cab = 55 lbs) and I can use the head with other cabs. The GK MB200 has plenty of power for most of what I do though.
Also - I ended up getting a Genz Benz focus 115, which weighs the same (46 lbs) as the Hartke 210XL. I pulled the Hartke 3500 head out of my 1155 combo and put it in a Gator 2-space rack bag. Makes the combo easier to move (head = 25 lbs, cab = 55 lbs) and I can use the head with other cabs. The GK MB200 has plenty of power for most of what I do though.
2 mini rigs
1. GK MB200 with Hartke 210 XL on On-Stage amp stand
2. SWR Workingman's 10 (also fits on amp stand)
I guess this combination would be my MROD - Dynacord Eminent II and a TC Electronics RS112 cabinet. Sounds great with a Jazz. 80 W of tube power from the 1970s, into a very modern cabinet!
- Nov 24, 2008
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- Mar 8, 2011
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- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
Just to give some perspective...my rig is on the far right
So I have a smaller cab...the amp rack could stand some shrinking...same size as the cab, even though the amp itself only weighs 7lbs
So I have a smaller cab...the amp rack could stand some shrinking...same size as the cab, even though the amp itself only weighs 7lbs
Update on my mini rigs: After doing some reading here and some experimenting - I think I lost some low end by lifting the 210XL cab so far off the ground on the amp stand. I've been messing around with it up on end vertically and sitting on the floor - much better.
Also - I ended up getting a Genz Benz focus 115, which weighs the same (46 lbs) as the Hartke 210XL. I pulled the Hartke 3500 head out of my 1155 combo and put it in a Gator 2-space rack bag. Makes the combo easier to move (head = 25 lbs, cab = 55 lbs) and I can use the head with other cabs. The GK MB200 has plenty of power for most of what I do though.
How are you enjoying the Genz Benz Focus my friend? I'm torn between getting another GK Neo of some sort or trying out the Genz Focus series. Plus that Hartke 210 intrigues me but doesn't seem to get a lot of love here on TB. Have you used the two together in a "mini stack" format?
Thanks,
Brent
GK MB800 + DIY 1x10 loaded with an Eminence Basslite S2010. The amp and all the cables fit in the gigbag pocket. I have to turn the volume way down, since the MB800 is a beast, but it's still pretty loud. Usually I run that head into my Ampeg 810, so maybe I'll get a cute lil MB200 to go with the 110 eventually.
Here's a quick n sloppy sound clip I made a few minutes after I finished the cab, running the GK a bit dirty:
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Since I play in a doom metal band, it's a Mini Rig of Doom for Doom (four?).
Here's a quick n sloppy sound clip I made a few minutes after I finished the cab, running the GK a bit dirty:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Since I play in a doom metal band, it's a Mini Rig of Doom for Doom (four?).
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It works well:
MX21
It seems like the perfect fit, how far have you cranked the volume with the MB200? I'm really hesitant with the 800, since I haven't turned the master volume up much past 3 o'clock even into my 810. I just keep it at that setting and use channel 2 at 3 o'clock volume as well, which is still pretty loud for solo practice. Haven't had a chance to try it in a band mix yet. I feel like it could take more power without overworking the driver, but I'm not pressing my luck.
Theoretically, I could go almost all the way. The MB200 does 140W at 8Ω. The S2010 in this box is rated about 150W. I've never been anywhere near that as it is plenty loud. But I have two, so I can stack them up for even more.
I haven't played it as the only source for bass output. I use it for my stage monitoring where the PA takes care of the house. It's been plenty to keep up with a pretty loud stage volume. I put it on a tilt-back amp stand so it's pointed at my ears and the drummer.
I'm thinking about almost the exact same set up as well. I'd love to hear some feed back. No one around me has the GK MB500 in stock or even carries Genz Benz gear (*** GC and Sam Ash?!). I don't know if G-B has a "tone" like Ampeg or GK does and I'm really on the fence about their mini-heads.
I haven't really had a chance to try all the possible head/cab/bass combinations that are possible with my gear yet. Also I'm just getting back into playing at haven't really played any gigs with my own amps recently. Just been practicing with full band in basements and messing around in my small practice room. Here's what I have:
Heads:
Hartke 3500 head (old MOSFET "Transient Attack" one, removed from 1155 combo amp).
GK MB200 head
SWR Workingman's 10 combo (80 watts + 1X10)
Cabs:
Hartke aluminum 1X15" + 5" cone tweet/mid driver (cab from 1155 combo)
Genz Benz Focus-LT FCS-115T
Hartke 210XL
Basses:
1993 Carvin BB-75 active 5-string with rounds
2011 Squier CV 50's P with flats
2012 Squier VM 70's Jazz with half-rounds
I initially bought the 210XL to use as an extension cab for the SWR Workingman's 10 as a vertical stack, but due to the mismatch of speakers the 10 in the SWR farted out way before the 210XL did. I then bought the GK MB200 head and used that with the 210XL on a speaker stand. I wasn't really happy with the low end of the the 210XL, which led me to buy the GB Focus 115. Since then, I have tried the 210XL placed vertically on the ground and the low end was much better (nothing like the Genz though of course). The MB200 + GB Focus 115 sounds good, although the cab is a little "boomy" compared to the 15+5 in the Hartke 1155 combo cab. Hartke 3500 head + GB Focus 115 also sounds good. I haven't tried the 210XL stacked on top of the GB Focus 115 yet. Not sure I would gig with it like that due to all the talk about the evils of mis-matched cabs, but I'll at least try it to see. I actually need to get some more speaker cables to check it out.
I did stack the 210XL on top of the Hartke 1155 combo once, just in the house briefly. Sounds OK as far as I could tell, stupid loud. I just don't get the guys who say you need at least 600 watts
I do want to try the Hartke 115+5 cab stacked on the GB Focus 115 powered by the 3500 head sometime though.
I think if I like the GB Focus 115 in the long run I may get another to stack it with.
Once I plays some gigs with some of these setups I'll report back.
I gotta say - the GK MB200 has been really impressive. I actually used it to power an Ampeg SVT 8X10 cab that was in place at a rehearsal space for a blues band I'm playing with. Sounded great! The other guys couldn't believe the volume that little thing was putting out. Guitarist had a Fender Super Reverb 4X10 and the drummer was pretty loud too.
