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Pros:
- Extremely portable and lightweight
- Active equalizer, tailored to bass guitars
- Responds well to both active and passive instruments (-10dB switch)
- Easy to use
Cons:
- The line out is a bit clumsy
It is quite common for beginners to neglect the important stuff just to avoid additional headache and expenses. When you get your first guitar, you try to get all the necessary equipment to make it sound as good as possible. But as you move forward and try to take on the techniques of other instruments, you become reluctant to spend the extra money and do your best to make the existing gear work. However, your job will get a lot easier if you get specific devices. This is especially true when it comes to bass guitars.
Even though these bad boys sound awesome and add a lot of body to any performance, they are quite unique in nature and require special care. This also means that they do need dedicated amplifiers, which enhance their character and just respond better. Today we are going to talk about Gallien-Krueger MB112-II, a distinctive member of the top bass amp family. It stands out among the crowd a great deal and if you want to find out why just keep on reading!
Features
As I have already mentioned, Gallien-Krueger MB112-II is basically the best thing since sliced bread. It is not just a copy of other models or yet another typical combo. On the contrary, it strives to be distinctive with its features and does everything to tailor itself to the bass guitar. This amplifier can output some 200 watts, which is more than enough for mediocre to large venues. It has a single 12” speaker, which is housed in an all-black chassis. Additionally, Gallien-Krueger MB112-II has a special circuit equalizer.
Each frequency range is optimized individually, then wired together to respond to bass in the best way possible. You also have the ability to boost the lower frequencies, drop the mids and push the high-end up. One of the best things about this combo is its Smart Protection Circuitry. It keeps an eye on the malfunction of the circuitry and if it detects any failures, it informs the user right away. The power LED lights are red and the output is muted before the problem is eliminated.
Gallien-Krueger MB112-II has a Chain output, which can be connected to the brand’s MBP-powered cabinets in order to enhance its capabilities. As far as other connections go, this combo has a single input for your bass guitar, a 1/8” auxiliary input for external audio sources, headphone output for silent operation, as well as a Balanced output for plugging the device into the PA system.
Controls
The control panel on Gallien-Krueger MB112-II looks pretty damn fancy. The sections are outlined with rounded lines, which transfer into each other smoothly. These segments are labeled to ease the understanding process and visualize everything better. And when it comes to the specific functions, we have some distinctive knobs that you might not have encountered in other models.
The first button on the panel is -10dB. This little switch reduces the signal from active or high-gain instruments so that the amplifier can respond carefully. Gain adjusts the gain after the preamp and can optimize the headroom of the combo. To make things a bit more interesting, Contour boosts the low and high frequencies while attenuating the mid-range. Let’s move on to the EQ. Treble boosts or cuts high frequencies at 7kHz and allows you to add more definition. Hi-Mid operates at 1kHz and affects lower string harmonics, while Lo-Mid affects the frequencies at 250Hz and shapes the main body. And Bass can be activated at 60Hz and define your bass response even more. Last but not least, you can select whether you want your signal to be sent before or after the EQ (when using the Direct Out).
GK MB112 Sound
No matter what position your bass beholds in the band, if it sounds bad, everything will be ruined. Whether you play solos or are in the background, you have to really shine and stand out, otherwise, all your efforts will be in vain. For this reason, the sound of your bass amplifier does make a lot of difference. Gallien-Krueger MB112-II is definitely one of the best options if you want your instrument to display all of its best qualities. The active equalizer allows you to maximize the results and nail your tone to perfection.
It knows how to treat low-end and accommodate the rest of the frequency range to it. This way the whole sound comes out as even and well-thought-out. The in-built voicings of the contour switch enhance the capabilities of this combo even further. Gallien-Krueger MB112-II is loud on its own, but if you want to turn it into a real stage monster, you should chain it with MBP cabinets. Briefly, this combo knows how to make your bass punchy and steep it with definition and character.
Conclusion
To sum up everything said above, I can say that Gallien-Krueger MB112-II is undoubtedly one of the best bass amplifiers on the market. Its price is well worth the quality and tone you receive and it is not very expensive either. It has a number of unique features that make it stand out among other models and brands. Plus, it is super lightweight, which means you will not have to suffer from back pain before and after every gig. Gallien-Krueger MB112-II is simply a very handy and usable amplifier that also sounds amazing. You will not regret any penny spent on this purchase. And your bass will bless you in return. Good luck!
