Two 210's or a single 212

[Jimmy Steel]

I could use some good advice on my next cabinet purchase. I just started playing some gigs and the 210 alone doesn't seem like enough. It's a GK 210 and I have the GK MB 500 head. Should I add another 210 (which are more affordable) or start over and get a 212 instead?
Thanks

 

[jshinal]

How much room do you have in your vehicle ? A 212 should be less bulk than a pair of 210s.

How much room do you have onstage to move around ? A vertical stack of 10s may be easier to hear clearly if you move around a lot.

Do you have support from the PA for your bass ? Is it in the monitors, or is all the bass output coming from your amp ? If I'm not running through the PA at all, I generally find that "not quite loud enough" onstage is actually just about right for the audience.

I also tip my cabinet upward toward my head using an "Ampwedge" foam wedge. That helps a lot hearing myself onstage.

 

[Jimmy Steel]

I have sufficient vehicle room and we've played with and without a PA, small venue to medium and outside. I think the main thing may be getting a little more thud out of the cabinet and I don't have the experience to know whether another 210 will do that or just make me louder. Thanks

 

[bass40hz]

I use a pair of the GK NEO 212s...you wont be disappointed, you rarely if ever will need more than 1. I also have an MB500 that I use as my practice amp with a GK NEO 115...you have good taste and great gear.
Rock on.

 

[Bodeanly]

Doesn’t the GK 212 come in the same size box as their 410? I have the 410 and would gladly give it up for two 210 cabs. Never used the 212.

 

[Jimmy Steel]

Doesn’t the GK 212 come in the same size box as their 410? I have the 410 and would gladly give it up for two 210 cabs. Never used the 212.

Do you know what the advantage of two 210 cabs would be over the 410, if any?

 

[Bodeanly]

Do you know what the advantage of two 210 cabs would be over the 410, if any?

Modular rig. Stack them vertically and you’ll be able to hear yourself much better.

 

[bass40hz]

Modular rig. Stack them vertically and you’ll be able to hear yourself much better.

Never ever have I had an issue hearing myself with a NEO 212...or two ;-)
It's all Preference. With the GKs...the 12s are more hi-fi sounding, more of a fuller range sound...the 10s are a bit darker and a bit more thump to them.

 

[chris_b]

If you like the sound of your current rig then get another 210. A lot more of what you like, the flexibility to use 1 or 2 cabs and the least expensive option.

 

[jlepre]

Modular rig. Stack them vertically and you’ll be able to hear yourself much better.

+1 I've done this many times, and it's amazing the dispersion. I can stand almost right in front and hear myself much better than any 410. Works great for small tight stages.

 

[Bodeanly]

Never ever have I had an issue hearing myself with a NEO 212...or two ;-)
It's all Preference. With the GKs...the 12s are more hi-fi sounding, more of a fuller range sound...the 10s are a bit darker and a bit more thump to them.

He asked why to use two 2x10 cabs instead of a 4x10. I already stated I know nothing about the 2x12.

 

[Drucifer]

How about 4x12 or 8x10? Lots more thud!

 

[Coolhandjjl]

Most 410s are really heavy. One 212 cab is very popular now. And most are conventional width so if you ever get a traditional tube head, it will fit on top, not so with a tower of vertically stacked 210s

 

[JRA]

i'm not sure i'd choose to "start over" with a 2x12 until i played with 2 2x10's first. YMMV. good luck!

 

[Nighttrain1127]

From thud I figure more low end? 2x 210 Cabs should get you there . Back in the dark ages you had to have big speakers to get lows . Now there are cabs with 6 1/2' and 8's that go as low as a 410 or a 215. The best thing you can do is bring your amp and cab someplace you can try things out and see what works best . If that is not possible then buy your cab of choice from some place with a good return policy try it out if you like then keep it if not back it goes. Be aware you will probably be on the hook for initial shipping to you and for shipping it back to them. Unless you go through Guitar center then you can return it to any store.

 

[hennessybass]

I have both a 212 and 2-210 cabs. For a long time I had just the 212, then added the 210 as my small rig, then added a second 210 for a BIG rig. I was doing the 2x210 rig for a little, but went back to my 212 for my current gig.
All IME...

The advantage of the 2x210 rig is that you have two rigs. A small one for small gigs, rehearsals, home practice, jams, etc. And a big rig that would cover pretty much any gig or any situation - and in your case you are already half way there.

A good 212 rig will cover pretty much most everything - mostly. All things being equal, the 2x210 will be a bit louder, and that can be nice for big outdoor shows, really big stages, and gigs with no FOH support. - I would say that a 2x210 will provide more thud than the 212 equivalent -
But assuming there is a PA, the 212 should be fine in those situations. The thing the 212 is not great for is the little coffee house gig, or acoustic jam with friends. It's fine cuz you can turn down, but it's kind of big. A 210 is nice for that, and you never know what situations might pop up.

As far as schlep, lot's of guys preach modular is better. For me, it's kid of a toss up. Sure the 212 is heavier, but it's not that heavy or big - and it's one thing to load instead of two. The weight of the two rigs is actually pretty close to the same, but the 212 is smaller. So when I think about trips from the car, times through a door or down a funny hallway, going up stairs - the 212 might weigh more, but in ways, it's easier and less awkward. Note that my 212 is tall/skinny. If it was a box (like a 410 shape), I don't think I would feel the same. Really, neither one is a bad schlep.

Very honestly, if I were in your shoes, I would get a second matching 210 - unless you are in a situation where you are chasing tone and want a "different flavor." A 2x210 is pretty hard to beat in terms of a do-it-all situation.

 

[buldog5151bass]

In my experience, 2 12s are almost as loud as 4 10s. It's a trade-off. Obviously this is a generality.

Another issue. With two separate cabs, you can keep one at the rehearsal space, and the other in your practice area, so other than for gigs, you just have to carry your bass and your class D head.

 

[Runlikegregg]

Do you know what the advantage of two 210 cabs would be over the 410, if any?

And also for smaller rooms you can bring just one of them.

 

[Jimmy Steel]

Very helpful. Thanks for everyone's time and comments.

 

[cchorney]

My preference is two 210s rather than a single 212. Turn it up loud enough and it's a full body massage, but I can run quite quietly to minimize stage volume because that top driver is close to ear level.