Just recently bought a GK MB115 (mk 2, so it has the chain out for their powered cabs) used because it checked off a lot of the boxes I was looking for (good sound and volume, lightweight.) However, did not realize that the 115 powered cabs are discontinued. Still going to be keeping my eyes open for one because I would really like to have a matching cab, but I'm quickly realizing that's going to be difficult to find. Do any of y'all have experience running one of these combos into their MBP112 cabs, and does it do well enough to justify the money? I have a Hartke lh500 and Acoustic 410 also, this GK was just a good deal (due to cosmetic issues, chips and stickers) for a grab and go amp I couldn't pass up.
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Will a GK MBP112 work well enough with a GK MB115 combo?
- Thread starter Skatepunk28
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Unfortunately, I am unable to help with this particular question. Just swung by to say Welcome to TalkBass!!!
We have members from all over the planet. Maybe if you give us a rough idea where you are more local members can help even more. Are you close enough to a store to go check one out?
Mixing cabs (unless they are specifically designed to work together) can be a gamble. Hope you get it sorted out.
We have members from all over the planet. Maybe if you give us a rough idea where you are more local members can help even more. Are you close enough to a store to go check one out?
Mixing cabs (unless they are specifically designed to work together) can be a gamble. Hope you get it sorted out.
Thanks! I've been a long time lurker, just finally decided to actually make a profile. As for location, I'm in the US, in North Carolina. And as for stores, the only one I've seen that even has them online is Sam Ash, and I have to look, but I think the only one closest to me is in Raleigh, which is about an hour and a half from me, and I've only seen the 112 on their website. That makes sense though, I know I hear a lot of people on here say that they prefer matched cabs because of that, I just didn't know if the ones I'm looking at being powered factored into it any more than a traditional setup. Appreciate the time and advice though!
I'm a Carolina boy too. Yeah Guitar Center is right across from Sam Ash in Raleigh. Those are your best bets for finding one to try out. If you do it, take your combo.
I haven’t chained any, but I had the MB112 combo by itself and while it was a great combo, I wouldn’t call it a low end powerhouse. I considered going the opposite route, getting the MBP115 when I had the smaller combo to cover larger gigs. In the end there were too many times I would play a place that had a cab but you needed to bring your own head, so no point in investing in that setup for me.
In your situation with the amps that you have, I’m not sure I would see much benefit in getting the powered extension. If the 115 isn’t enough volume, use your 410. If you want an easier carry than the 410, sell it and use the $ with what your spend on the MBP and get some different cabs. Don’t get me wrong, a good combo for grab and go is a great thing to have. Just not sure it’s worth turning into a full size rig.
In your situation with the amps that you have, I’m not sure I would see much benefit in getting the powered extension. If the 115 isn’t enough volume, use your 410. If you want an easier carry than the 410, sell it and use the $ with what your spend on the MBP and get some different cabs. Don’t get me wrong, a good combo for grab and go is a great thing to have. Just not sure it’s worth turning into a full size rig.
Hi. Welcome to TB.
I just looked at the MB115-II manual, and from what I see it has no provision for adding an extra cab other than via the chain system. It looks like the speaker used in this combo is already running at 4 Ohms, so the amp is maxed out at full power already. There is no extension cab output as is found on many other amps. Plugging in another non-Chain type cab doesn't look like an option. Hopefully you'll still come across an MBP series cab soon.
You might want to contact GK and see if they have any thoughts regarding your needs.
I'm originally from that area, so I know exactly where you're talking about. I'll have to call, see if they have any in stock, see if it's even worth it. If not I might just do like PotsdamBass8 was talking about, ditch the 410 and find a couple lightweight cabs to go with the hartke.
That's fair. I will say my 115 combo seems to have decent low end, but I have yet to actually put it up against other instruments. I've only ever been in one situation where there was PA support and backline equipment, too, so in my situation (whenever I actually end up in a band again, who knows when that'll happen though) I would probably be relying on the amp and cabinets for all my volume anyways. Unless I just ran up on a killer deal for one of the powered extensions, I'm inclined to agree with you, cuz passive cabinets are everywhere, and for the price of a new MBP I could find two used cabs that might be better suited.
I haven’t played the 115, but based on the size, I’d expect it to be much better at competing with a band. It doesn’t hurt to just keep the amp and check online every week or so for a used MBP115.
Thank you! That's about all the information I've been able to run across myself. It being as lightweight as it is and having enough volume to hold its own in smaller settings is what drew me to it to start with. I saw the chain out as I was looking at it and figured it wouldn't be that big a deal to find a cab to go with it (which apparently I was wrong because finding a MBP115 in 2022 seems to be quite difficult.) Hopefully somebody can chime in who's tried the configuration I mentioned. Funny you should mention contacting GK though, I sent somebody in their product support department an email about a week ago and haven't heard a thing from them. Not like I have the money to spend right now anyways, but would be nice to know what my options are.
That's kind of what I was thinking, when I tried it out at guitar center, I barely had the volume cracked and it thumped. Having access to all 200 Watts doesn't hurt either, though I know I don't want to turn it up all the way. It would definitely get me through an open mic/rehearsal/small show etc. (Why I got it to start with, the other features are cool but will take a while for me to use it's full potential.) The light weight and projection impressed me, which is why I'm even halfway considering making do with a different driver size. Given your info though, I think I'm just going to hold out and hope I find a 15, unless somebody chimes in that's actually had good luck with the configuration I'm asking about. Appreciate the advice!
The MBP cabs pop up here and there on GC's website. If you're patient you can catch then napping and get one for a really good price.
I got my MBP 115 cabinet by convincing someone on reverb to sell it separately from the MB115 Combo they had it listed with.
It works great with my GK Plex, and works great chained to my MB212ii. I have no idea about the configuration you have, but the different size GK MBP cabs, for me, sound great together.
It works great with my GK Plex, and works great chained to my MB212ii. I have no idea about the configuration you have, but the different size GK MBP cabs, for me, sound great together.
Thanks, I'll keep my eyes open! I saw one that looked like it might be mislabeled, but I can't do anything about it right now anyways, if it's still there and I have extra cash I might ask about it.
That's awesome! That's why it never hurts to ask. I always wondered how that combination would work together, but glad it works for you. As for my configuration, as far as GK, right now it's just the MB115-2, and I had originally wanted to find a 115 mate for it, but with it being discontinued and harder to find because of it being so specific, had toyed with the idea of one of their 112s instead. You just answered one of my bigger questions too, cuz I was concerned about different size speakers being an issue since the cabs have their own power supplies. I'm used to regular amps and passive cabinets, so it would be my luck that if I didn't ask and I tried to plug something else in it would blow up haha still want to find a match eventually, but good to know it wouldn't necessarily be an issue to go with something different.
It's a little different with the GK powered cabs as they have their own dedicated amp so you don't have the problem with mixed passive cabs where they share the power load with one working a lot harder than the other making the chances of blowing a cab or speaker a higher possibility.
You may still have issues with comb filtering depending on where you locate the two cabs on stage.
I'm surprised the MB115 isn't enough though. I've got the MB212 and it is stupidly loud for the size and weight.
I suppose if you're playing an outdoor gig without PA support you might need more, or if you're a stupidly loud metal band without PA support. But if you're that loud and the PA can't support anything more than vocals that PA will struggle to be heard anyway.
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The problems with mixing cabs have little to do with power distribution (although that is a consideration).
Cabs that are wired out if phase (or in the case of two completely different power supply could theoretically be "slightly" out of phase) can cause problems. In those cases two cabs can sound worse than one due to cancelation.
Also, cabs that are tuned completely differently working together can make for a mess. Physics is a harsh mistress.
Sometimes two completely different cabs cam make magic together. Sometimes they sound worse together than each individual cab. It's a roll of the dice.
Yeah, keep an open mind and don’t go spending on preconceived ideas of what will work best.
I bought a GK mb-112. It is decent. So a used mbp 112 came up cheap and I grabbed it, thinking this will be awesome. Nope.
Here’s the rub. On upright bass, which is most of my gigging, the two boxes feed back like an sob.
One is actually better than two. If I separate the two boxes, like one on the other side of drums, it’s ok.
There is no way I am dragging the second box along so the drummer can hear me.
They just want to hear themselves anyway. Lol
Any decent show will have a back line and you will be going through the house, so my two GKs don’t leave my house. If they did not have a back line I would take only one.
Enjoy your mb115 until your gigging pays for what you need. It may be just one mb115. For electric bass I have a Mesa 410 that can blow the two GKs into the back yard. For what that’s worth.
I bought a GK mb-112. It is decent. So a used mbp 112 came up cheap and I grabbed it, thinking this will be awesome. Nope.
Here’s the rub. On upright bass, which is most of my gigging, the two boxes feed back like an sob.
One is actually better than two. If I separate the two boxes, like one on the other side of drums, it’s ok.
There is no way I am dragging the second box along so the drummer can hear me.
They just want to hear themselves anyway. Lol
Any decent show will have a back line and you will be going through the house, so my two GKs don’t leave my house. If they did not have a back line I would take only one.
Enjoy your mb115 until your gigging pays for what you need. It may be just one mb115. For electric bass I have a Mesa 410 that can blow the two GKs into the back yard. For what that’s worth.
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I have the MB112 - got it used a while back. While it find it surprisingly loud for its size, I figured it couldn't hurt to get the ext. cab. Don't use the cab very often, but that little stack is hella powerful. I found the MBP112 cab used online at GC, for $150. Serious bang for buck little rig.
All valid statements.
My comment that "You may still have issues with comb filtering" was a much more basic way of saying a similar thing.
