Have you heard them? The less expensive (not cheaper) cabs use ceramic drivers. So they're heavier but they still sound good. More of a traditional tone. My buddy has the 1x15 ceramic loaded cab and it has my vote!
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Poll for carbon fiber cabs owners
- Thread starter gtirard
- Start date
In your situation I'd find out what gear a player, who's tone you admire, uses.
For me, most players that I admire use MarkBass and Aguilar. These brands deliver a tone that pleases me and I'd recommend either of them. As a side note, Aguilar and MarkBass gear play "nicely" together. So I do mix and match at times.
...why ask me? I already posted the marketing materials, you have the same information as I do:
AT 210V – GRBass
www.grbass.com
MB58R 102 PURE – Markbass
www.markbass.it
Spoiler alert: The GR claims higher sensitivity.
Why snarky? You are right on the sensitivity and I did delete that post....why ask me? I already posted the marketing materials, you have the same information as I do:
AT 210V – GRBass
MB58R 102 PURE – Markbass
Spoiler alert: The GR claims higher sensitivity.
But tis the season. I'm only trying to help you. I can empathize with your physical restriction. I hope you feel better soon!
No.
Btw: I understand that "cheaper" means "less expensive". I am not a native speaker so my understanding of English is limited though...
I haven't compared the sensitivity figures from GR Bass and Markbass, but I did a comparison from GR Bass and Barefaced, and I'm 100% sure that GR Bass exagerate this figure quite a bit (but I don't know if MB does the same?)....why ask me? I already posted the marketing materials, you have the same information as I do:
AT 210V – GRBass
MB58R 102 PURE – Markbass
Spoiler alert: The GR claims higher sensitivity.
They pretend 103 db / 1m / 1w for both the 210 and the 210+, I would think it's probably closer to 101 db, max.
For reference, the sensitivity of an Ampeg 810 Fridge is 103 db, I highly doubt a 2x10 can be as loud as a 8x10.
Anyway, since the 210 and 210+ have the same sensitivity, it may be louder in real life, if and only if it allows you to use a more powerful amp. For example, it would be very risky to use an amp rated 500W at 8 ohm with the MB or the GR 210, but it should ok with the 210+, therefore it would be capable of being a few decibels louder, even if they have the same sensitivity. But that's theory. In real life you never max the master volume of your amp, and very few amps are rated more than 450W at 8 ohm.
From my experience, I wouldn't choose a cab just by reading the specs, it's not very meaningful because each brand measure them the way they want.
I'm shocked. They've got a new model, even uglier than the standard, I wouldn't have thought it would be possible
Please don't zoom on the image, it really hurts the eyes
How far can they go next?
Edit: probably a smart way to make sure that nobody will ever steal your cab
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Thank you. On the other hand, “less expensive” implies that the cabs with yellow cones are expensive. Is it what you are saying?
Would "lower price" be more appropriate, in order to avoid implying anything other than a price difference?
In this case, I think that the cone color difference is simply to distinguish the ceramics from the neo speakers.
Both neo lines (energy and pure) use the yellow cones. The P series by contrast uses the black cone.
Ironically, some people prefer the look of a black speaker but MarkBass pioneered the "light weight" bass cabinet and they distinguished themselves visually from others by the use of yellow speakers. The weight savings is what initially drew me to the product and I have been satisfied with the sonic signature as well as the weight savings.
I haven't slept in 2 weeks and am on a liquid diet, plus I'm miserable and insufferable at my best... all I'm allowed to do is read and write pretty much. Tomorrow I get to lift 15 lbs instead of 5 though so I can at least start practicing again.
Don't go by specs? It's all I can do. I don't have a signature tone or style or recorded body of work to match or anything, just weight restrictions and a realistically tiny (compared to internet heroes with more money than God) budget so I can't/won't buy multiple things to try.
In truth I don't think the GR cabs are really in my price range without paying interest, so I'm probably just daydreaming and going to end up with something smaller, cheaper, and worse. Ideally something I can get 0% financing on from GC/Sweetwater and spend the rest on medical bills.
If I had a blank check, though, I would order the GR NF210V at 17.86 lbs and never even try another cab - the natural fiber looks cool and it's light, that's good enough for me. I'm sure it sounds better than a Rumble 100. I don't need or want bone crushing volume, I play afro-jazz in one band and soft indie rock in another, aiming to get some jazz gigs next year if I can get my skills up to par.
Personally, I wouldn't be afraid to use a 500 watt RMS head into a 400 watt RMS cabinet. I use an Aguilar AG700 which is 350 RMS @8 ohms into an SL112 cab which is rated 250 watts RMS.
No problem as long as I use my sensibilities. I'll never run the amp wide open.
Nothing wrong with it :
I'm shocked. They've got a new model, even uglier than the standard, I wouldn't have thought it would be possible
Please don't zoom on the image, it really hurts the eyes
How far can they go next?
View attachment 7391727
Edit: probably a smart way to make sure that nobody will ever steal your cab
I owned 6 Barefaced cabs from 2012 to 2020. I enjoyed them and although not perfect I thought they were good. Midget T, 15" Compact, Big Baby T, Big Baby 2, and 2 x Onetens.
After being outgunned on a function gig with the 2 x Onetens with a Mesa D800, I decided I needed more speakers for occasional loud gigs. I was going to buy a 3rd Oneten, but noticed the new GR bass aero cabs in 2020. I decided to try a GRbass210, 4 ohm cab, this would have given me a 2 ohm load on the D800 with equal power going to the GRbass 2x10 and the 2 x BF onetens. In practice the sensitivity of the GR cab was so much higher that the 2 x BF Onetens made little difference to the perceived volume over the GRbass 210 on its own. I sold the BFs and added a GR 112H instead. I preferred the more modern GR sound and the volume increase was noticeable.
I had these GR cabs up till this year 2025 and had no problem with them. I transport my cabs in my own car, so they were not subject to being thrown in the back of a van.
This year I replaced the GR cabs with two new ones. A 212slim+ 4 ohm and Cube+ 8 ohms. This gave me a more powerful one cab solution that handles my Mesa D800 or WD800. I also have a smaller lighter 112 cube+ that also handles the 2 Mesa amps, 400 watts at 8 ohms. I noticed a bit of a voicing change from the early GR cabs, the new ones both have more punch....low mid and the tweeter setting I now have is on high, rather than low on the 2020 cabs. The combination of sound, weight and previous reliability were factors in my buying GR again. I can also run 3x12's with a 2.7 ohm load with the Mesa amps.
After being outgunned on a function gig with the 2 x Onetens with a Mesa D800, I decided I needed more speakers for occasional loud gigs. I was going to buy a 3rd Oneten, but noticed the new GR bass aero cabs in 2020. I decided to try a GRbass210, 4 ohm cab, this would have given me a 2 ohm load on the D800 with equal power going to the GRbass 2x10 and the 2 x BF onetens. In practice the sensitivity of the GR cab was so much higher that the 2 x BF Onetens made little difference to the perceived volume over the GRbass 210 on its own. I sold the BFs and added a GR 112H instead. I preferred the more modern GR sound and the volume increase was noticeable.
I had these GR cabs up till this year 2025 and had no problem with them. I transport my cabs in my own car, so they were not subject to being thrown in the back of a van.
This year I replaced the GR cabs with two new ones. A 212slim+ 4 ohm and Cube+ 8 ohms. This gave me a more powerful one cab solution that handles my Mesa D800 or WD800. I also have a smaller lighter 112 cube+ that also handles the 2 Mesa amps, 400 watts at 8 ohms. I noticed a bit of a voicing change from the early GR cabs, the new ones both have more punch....low mid and the tweeter setting I now have is on high, rather than low on the 2020 cabs. The combination of sound, weight and previous reliability were factors in my buying GR again. I can also run 3x12's with a 2.7 ohm load with the Mesa amps.
I have not owned a carbon fiber cab. But I have owned several fiberglass cabs manufactured by a former builder on TB. I was his first commercial customer and eventually purchased and gigged three 1x8s, a 2x8 Crazy88, and a 15/6 or something similar cab (can't recall details). All of the cabs sounded terrific. Every one of them developed structural issues not long after I received them. The issues were all focused on where screws mounted in the material. At these points of vulnerability, the fiberglass cracked and teared--and definitely did not provide a firm foundation for structural integrity. The builder tried to repair them but without lasting success. All these cabs are gone now. I had the 1x8s rebuilt in wood by an Arizona builder. I would NEVER reconsider fiberglass, and it sounds like similar issues may exist for carbon fiber with stories of feet falling off, etc. Great concept. Lousy execution. Buyer beware!
The major touring sound system provider called Sound Image started building entire touring PA systems from carbon fiber in the mid 90's and also built the cabinets for the first generation or two of QSC speakers the first JBL line arrays. So yea it can work!
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- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,038
- 5
- 220,974
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
I’ve seen their ceramic drivers with yellow cones, so I don’t think the is )or at least was) correct.
Ther were pretty heavy by comparison, and also very expensive. Is ACE still an operating company?
Ok, it seems that their 10" ceramic speakers are yellow in the 58R series.
Both 12" and 15" ceramics are Black.
I personally don't recall a yellow ceramic speaker in the older series. In fact, I can't recall any ceramic speaker other than a 15" but I certainly could be wrong. I'll defer to your extensive knowledge.
P.S. the CMD151P combo is ceramic with a yellow cone. Go figure..
Last edited:
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,038
- 5
- 220,974
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Most of their drivers are Neo, just some exceptions that I have seen.
