somethings up with my 210 GK combo.

[BassBoy24]

okay first off i have the 300 watt 210 GK combo amp and have been really happy with it. i just also bought a ESP ltd b155dx 5 string bass with 3 band active EQ. for some reason i just cant seem to get a good tone though. like for instance if i have a deeper tone the b string makes the amp sound very distorted or other settings dont provide enough deep end. im wondering if an equilizer will help at all? or maybe adding another cab to it to take less stress off the 210's? or if any of you play a similar set up how you set the tone? should the ESP's 3 band active be set at the same settings as the amp is? srry if any of this sounds ridiculous but im just very curious.

 

[62bass]

okay first off i have the 300 watt 210 GK combo amp and have been really happy with it. i just also bought a ESP ltd b155dx 5 string bass with 3 band active EQ. for some reason i just cant seem to get a good tone though. like for instance if i have a deeper tone the b string makes the amp sound very distorted or other settings dont provide enough deep end. im wondering if an equilizer will help at all? or maybe adding another cab to it to take less stress off the 210's? or if any of you play a similar set up how you set the tone? should the ESP's 3 band active be set at the same settings as the amp is? srry if any of this sounds ridiculous but im just very curious.

It sounds like you're giving the speakers too much bottom. Adding more speakers will help. I can overdrive the 12" in my little MB150S even with a 4 string bass. There is a limit to how far a speaker can move and with the low bass notes they have to move a lot. Using bass boost on the amp really can kill the speaker if you're trying for a lot of volume. Using the 5 string setting on the switch gives you a bass boost too and this can be overdoing it. Also, using the contour control maxed out boosts the bass and treble while scooping out mids. This can help overdrive the speakers.

With active basses with eq controls, first, I never run the volume wide open. That's way more than you need usually because these things put out a lot of signal--a lot more than really needed. I set it about 1/2 to 2/3 of wide open. Also I don't crank any of the eq controls way up, particularly the bass control. Just a smidgeon to taste and I cut eq rather than boost wherever possible. The bass control when boosted can give you a way too hot signal from the bass even when the volume control is turned down.

Anyhow, try these eq changes first and try your amp with an extension cabinet when you can. That's a good amp you have.

Just noticed you said you have the 300 watt GK. Is this the Backline? If so you don't have a 5 string setting on the controls.

 

[BassBoy24]

yes. its the backline 210 combo (300 with extension cab). i think it may have been the bass control on my basses EQ. i got both the manuels out and played around with the settings for about 45 min. and i think i finally got it sounding good. ya for sure im gonna add another cab. just debating the 410 or a 115?

 

[05AmericanJazz]

I would go 15" for The "Low B" factor you already got the 10" for your high end.
For the style and sound I personally like I have yet to meet a cab with tens that cuts it. at the very least a 212 maybe but if ya want deep big sound go big cones.

 

[whacker]

I use a GK 400RB-III 210 combo (like the Backline, but slightly less power and plywood instead of MDF cabinet) for rehearsals and some performing with an external 15" cab.

I've also had a couple of different 2x10 cabs over the years.

I'd like to suggest that maybe you're just asking too much of an amp that size, or put better, one in that power class and driver class. It's not an Eden Metro or SWR Redhead, or one of the larger GK combos, for sure. You cannot simply put it in a scenario to compete with a band, and decide you want it to really boom by boosting the low end on either the amp or an active bass, and get what you might be hoping for.

Adding a single 15" would be a good move. The GK amp has honest wattage ratings, and with the extra low end the extra cab would provide, it might be a night and day experience in this case.

But also, examine what you're doing with the controls, bass and amp. Try running the EQ nearly flat (although flat on the Backline is thought not to be all knobs nooned -- check with TBer Fdeck), and the Master (I think it's called this on this model) higher than the Volume (the first gain control). Also don't run the Boost over 12:00 for starters. I use active basses, and I always have the volume on them wide open, with EQ generally flat. Set it like this as a "control" element, then bring up your amp volume, and see if it gets it any closer to what you seek. You may get more clean volume, with adequate low end, which will seem like it's low end heaven compared to where you were before. But then again, perhaps not. We're testing the waters, trying to optimize what you've got.