New cabs for my old GK 1001RB-II... thinking of going Neo

If the choice is between a pair of GK Neo 115-III and a pair of GK Neo 212-II, the pair of 2x12 is the way to go. For one thing, GK's Neo 1x12 and 2x12 cabs are voiced deeper and are more balanced than their Neo 1x15 cabs, which are more midrange-intensive than the 1x12 and 2x12. For another thing, the 2x12 will definitely push more air than the 1x15.

If the choice is between these two models, the better choice is easy: the pair of Neo 212 cabs.

MM

 

A 1212/6 or 12/6 and 12/sub if you want modular would be killer...
My 'high volume' rig is an MB2-500 or MB-Fusion into a 12/6 sometimes I add the sub, mostly it stays in the truck... It is extremely versatile and cranks the volume like nobody's business.

 

Well look, we've each got to find a way to narrow down our options to a reasonable number, while not arbitrarily ignoring viable alternatives. All I'm saying is that since you presumably like the GK sound, as you've been using GK gear, the dual Neo 2x12 is a very reasonable way to get to where you want to go, and better than the 115RBH + 210RBH, in my opinion. They're relatively inexpensive, lightweight, and they allow you to make use of the separate horn channel on the 1001RB-II. Not a thing wrong with it.

As for my personal choice for a hard rock / heavy rock band - and assuming that weight and cost are not limiting factors (which would be a big assumption) - I'd likely go for a big Mesa rig; probably a Titan V12 or Big Block 750 head with a pair of Powerhouse 2x12 cabs. Or since you're in Europe, a roughly equivalent Tecamp rig would also be an excellent choice (Tecamp is sort of the European Mesa, as I see it).

But I'm not you, nor am I in your place. At the end of the day, while the performance characteristics of these various rigs can be measured and compared, the ultimate choice is always a very personal one, and is typically driven by one's own intuition and subjective comfort factor, at least as much as it is driven by the objective specifications data.

If I'm not mistaken, Mal is probably referring to his nEARful or fEARful rig, which AFAIK is intended to be operated full range. The 12/6 cab includes a midrange attenuator, so to use it with the 12 sub, one would simply deattenuate the mid-driver on the 12/6 to run it @ 100%, and thereby achieve an optimum tonal balance between lows and mids across both cabs.

MM

 

I have a GK NEO 412 cab paired with my GK 2001RB!

Luckily I have a truck to carry my gear around. The 412 is one easy cab to move around since it acts like a dolly as well.
The only time it's a hassle is when there is stairs.

If I only had a car, 2 of the GK NEO 2x12 would be my choice.

 

GK NEO 2x12

 

Yep. fEarful rig. In my case I used the original CBG x-over plus a 6 db pad on the mids, no tweet. I also use the cheaper, less sensitive Eminence alpha-lite mid. No tweet. The top end is reminiscent of my old Ampeg fridge. The lows kill. I don't actually use the LPF on the sub. I just run it full range. The 12 is supposedly have some anomalies at the very top of it's range but frankly I've never heard them as I only run that sub with the 12.6 cab and the mid driver just buries the 12 in the potentially offensive range.

Note: I was never after a 'flat' studio monitor sort of approach with my rig. I want some color and that color is somewhat darker than what most of the fEarful crowd was looking for. I like the GK 'native' sound. I push the high's a bit, I cut the upper mid's a bit, room depending, I might cut or boost low mids or the bass.

Basses wise I typically run a Lakland 55-01 or Reverend Rumblefish PJ, both strung with light Chrome flats with that rig. For my uses it is darned near perfect. It really present the things I love about GK shine. And it's pretty small. I may change the cabs up to a 1212/6 this winter. I have a second small rig that I use in stage monitor only scenarios. That one is also custom and is based on the Eminence 2510-II . Again, no tweet. I really like the upper mids presence of a bare cone driver.

Last thing... I'm almost always in the PA. I send a DI line from my pedal board. My amp on stage is a monitor for me, the drummer and anyone else close enough to hear it. It is pretty rare when I have to carry the room from stage. The fEarful rig will do it in a pretty large space, I just like the presentation we get from a good mix in the PA... I typically mix from stage and own a small, trying to get bigger sound company. The guy I mixed Saturday night had an SVT, Mesa 4x10, Fender P Deluxe. Radial PRO DI before the head. I didn't even ask, he just handed us the cable. I was happy with how the bass sat in the mix after a few tunes. Lot's of ways to get there...

 

I've used both the 212 x 2, and 115 x 2, with the MB Fusion and preferred the 2 115's. Reasonable price and weight for both.

 

I think GK NEO 12s > GK RBH 115 > GK NEO 115s

My stack of GK NEO 115s go no where though. Small footprint light & filled a church with 1000 people last week... only 1 cab. Perfect match with a streamliner, a bit too aggressive with other amps with NEO 115s I find.

 

I liked the tone of the mid frequencies better through the 15's. 212's are louder, but you aren't short on headroom with the 1001RB,either will serve you well. A lot of the sound will depend on your bass and your ears, so enjoy the experience.

 

Switzerland is pretty far from California

Have you checked out EBS?
They are not comparable by any means.

 

I felt like I got a whole new GK 1001 rb 2 the day I hooked up my first fEarful. I built a 15/6/1 and only put the two way crossover in the cab. I ran the horn right off the GK's high frequency circuit. That gave me the horn control right on the amp face, which is how GK does their biamp cabs.

But, let's face it the horns are all about sizzle, what really sealed the deal for me was the massive steak. A whole new range of lows with full power, tons of mids. All the definition I'd been after for the lowest notes, even tuned down a half step with a five string.

The fEarful 12/6 is a huge band for the buck in a very small package. Probably not the easiest cab to test in Europe, and I know DIY isn't everybody's cup o tea, but it might be worth looking into.

 

I felt like I got a whole new GK 1001 rb 2 the day I hooked up my first fEarful. I built a 15/6/1 and only put the two way crossover in the cab. I ran the horn right off the GK's high frequency circuit. That gave me the horn control right on the amp face, which is how GK does their biamp cabs.

But, let's face it the horns are all about sizzle, what really sealed the deal for me was the massive steak. A whole new range of lows with full power, tons of mids. All the definition I'd been after for the lowest notes, even tuned down a half step with a five string.

The fEarful 12/6 is a huge bang for the buck in a very small package. Probably not the easiest cab to test in Europe, and I know DIY isn't everybody's cup o tea, but it might be worth looking into.