Cab Suggestion for Gallien-Krueger MB200

Todd Bolig

Todd Bolig

Feb 11, 2015
13
18
4,551
#1
Quick Background: Middle aged guy, only playing bass for 2 years, who was given a new MB200 by his son to replace a cheap combo amp currently in use. I'd like to get a cab for the MB200 keeping in mind that in all likelihood I will never be playing anything bigger than my backyard family reunion! What speaker configuration, 2x12, 1x15, etc., and what impedance is recommended? I've been playing a wide range of music from The Jam, Wilson Pickett to Funkadelic so it's all over the map! Thanks for the help!
 
#2
Todd Bolig said:
Quick Background: Middle aged guy, only playing bass for 2 years, who was given a new MB200 by his son to replace a cheap combo amp currently in use. I'd like to get a cab for the MB200 keeping in mind that in all likelihood I will never be playing anything bigger than my backyard family reunion! What speaker configuration, 2x12, 1x15, etc., and what impedance is recommended? I've been playing a wide range of music from The Jam, Wilson Pickett to Funkadelic so it's all over the map! Thanks for the help!
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on the offchance that you get keen to play some shows one day you should get an 8ohm cab so that you can get another one for a bigboy rig. Two 8 ohms together makes 4 ohms.

Avatar 210 is very good value for money if you want new.

Otherwise anything goes used. If it's going to live in your garage and get dragged outside for parties you could grab a 810 cheaper.
 
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#3
What kind of budget are you looking at?

Any chance you could take your bass and amp to a few different stores to try out options a figure out what you like the best?

Given that your needs aren't too demanding or specific, I'd say there aren't really any bad answers from the usual well-regarded commercial brands (GK, Fender, Ampeg, and so on).

With that being said, family reunion or not, outdoor gigs can be demanding on bass rigs just due to the nature of there being no boundaries, so to make the most of your rig's lower (but respectable) wattage, I'd advise on getting as much speaker as you can afford/store - within reason of course.

Two 8ohm cabs like GK Neo 112-iis (like those I used personally for a little while) would be ideal, as they're small, light, relatively powerful, and would total a 4ohm load combined so as to get the most performance from your amp - but given that they're two separate cabs it'll also be more expensive than getting a single cab solution, which if you're not going terribly big are usually of the 8ohm variety.

But still, a even a single 8ohm 2x10, 1x15, or any other combination bigger than say... a 1x10 would likely serve you very well. There are always tradeoffs; it's just a matter of finding one that you like the sound of and is in your budget. Best of luck!
 
#4
Downunderwonder said:
on the offchance that you get keen to play some shows one day you should get an 8ohm cab so that you can get another one for a bigboy rig. Two 8 ohms together makes 4 ohms.

Avatar 210 is very good value for money if you want new.

Otherwise anything goes used. If it's going to live in your garage and get dragged outside for parties you could grab a 810 cheaper.
Click to expand...

One of those old Avatar B210s (back when they came stock with ceramic Deltas) was my very first cab, and a great one at that. Relatively heavy at like 60lbs (they sell lighter neo versions now), but great nonetheless.

Used it solo for a little while when I was starting off, then did what Downunderwonder suggested and paired it with another 8ohm Avatar cab when I got serious and started gigging. That workhorse combination lasted me through the times of my heaviest gigging and rehearsals for almost a decade of heavy use.
 
#5
If you don't plan on starting a band and playing clubs so no need to ever expand your rig, I'd look for a 4 ohm cab with 2 speakers, 10s or 12s. Avatar is a good name and you can get custom colors for not too much loot.

This head only has one speaker out so if you wanted to get one 8ohm cab with the thought that you'll expand the rig later with another 8ohm cab, look for one with parallel inputs so you can easily patch one cab to the next. There are other ways around two cabs with one speaker output but this is the easiest.
 
#7
Wicked G said:
Since you already have a GK amp and are not really planning on playing out, why not just get a GK NEO 112? It will sound good with that amp, does not cost a lot and if later you do decide to start jamming out, you could get one more for a vertical stack or a NEO 212 to make it a 312 rig.
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This +1

Also, you could probably find something used that will work. I use an MB200 as a backup to my main MB500. I have a Hartke 410 as my main cab and a GK Neo 210. I use the 200 and the Neo cabinet to practice with, but it is a little weak IMO by itself. I would go with something like the 12 inch or 212. I wish I had. I would never take the 210 out by itself. The thing about the Hartke I think is that even if you get one used they seem to last for a million years. Very tough and great sound. The 200 would push it if you ever decided to play out somewhere.

BnB
 
#8
I found my MB200 to be too weak to push my cabs to any useful volume, but my cabs are 8ohm and not very efficient.
I did see a fellow gigging on MB200 a few years back - he was driving a 4ohm SWR Goliath 4x10 and it did the job just fine. Not the best tone ever, but just fine for blues / classic rock.
Something to consider.
 
#9
Another bump for the Avatars. I have a pair of B210s and they are built like tanks and sound great for the classic rock blues bands I play in. They are " cost effective" when new and even more so used. A while back I played that same head thru a GK 2-12 new and that combination would handle any of the venues I play at whether indoors or out. Happy hunting.
 
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