Ampeg pf500, GKmb500 or Carvin bx 500 Amp

srockbass · #1 02-01-2012, 08:13 PM

I've been a Peavey Player for 25 years.... Tour 700 Being the latest. But, I am ready to move on. No more 20lbs+ for me. I'm torn... My Cab is a GK mbe 410. I'm leaning towards the Ampeg for tone preferences and the on board compressor but the Carvin has more eq possibilities and a tube pre amp. Not sure why i'm diggin the gk.

decisions decisions

**B-string** · #2 02-01-2012, 09:27 PM

Because G-K amps sound so good

You want true 3 tube preamp, 500 watts @ 4 ohms and under 5lbs? G-K MB Fusion.

Never been a fan of compressors in bass signals so you would have to jack up the gain on the MB Fusion to get tube compression I guess

BassBob1 · #3 02-01-2012, 09:44 PM

I have no experience with carvin or the peavey amp you own. I own a svt 7 pro which for the most part is very similar tonally to the PF500 and I also own a GK MB210 combo which basically has the MB500 head in it. They are definitely different in tone and features. The GK seems to be voiced with the smilie face eq with all tone controls at noon. Pretty big in the low end and a lot of highs. It's a pretty modern sounding amp with an aggressive voice that you can't really eq out if it's not your thing. The PF 500 will sound like and ampeg. More of a vintage midrange sound. A warmer, less aggressive voice if you will. The ultra-lo and ultra-hi buttons do give you access to a more modern sound though. That's my general description of the sound of each amp. My preference is the ampeg. Try them if you can but if not I hope I was some help.

srockbass · #4 02-04-2012, 07:41 AM

Thanks. That did help tremendously. I pulled the trigger on the Ampeg. Classic sound is what sent me in that direction

**B-string** · #5 02-04-2012, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassBob1

I have no experience with carvin or the peavey amp you own. I own a svt 7 pro which for the most part is very similar tonally to the PF500 and I also own a GK MB210 combo which basically has the MB500 head in it. They are definitely different in tone and features. The GK seems to be voiced with the smilie face eq with all tone controls at noon. Pretty big in the low end and a lot of highs. It's a pretty modern sounding amp with an aggressive voice that you can't really eq out if it's not your thing. The PF 500 will sound like and ampeg. More of a vintage midrange sound. A warmer, less aggressive voice if you will. The ultra-lo and ultra-hi buttons do give you access to a more modern sound though. That's my general description of the sound of each amp. My preference is the ampeg. Try them if you can but if not I hope I was some help.

Actually I personally disagree as I have copped Ampeg V4B and SVT tones with my 800RB, Fusion 550 and a 400RB IV. As well as demonstrating tones of amps I didn't care for

Quote:

Originally Posted by srockbass

Thanks. That did help tremendously. I pulled the trigger on the Ampeg. Classic sound is what sent me in that direction

Don't let this detour you from your purchase as I am sure the PF-500 is no "one trick pony" either.

jeff7bass · #6 02-04-2012, 03:28 PM

The Carvin's versatility and sound make it tough to beat in this price rance. It's a chameleon that also cranks up VERY loud and is 2 ohms stable.

**Chef** · #7 02-04-2012, 08:14 PM

I don't have the MB500, but, I have the MBFusion, and the MB800.

I sure wouldn't call those scooped...man, those have tons of mix cutting midrange and presence.
So do the GK Neo cabs, really, and, as a pairing, they work really well at that.

Yes, they're voiced, but, you can dial that back. Pull out a tad of bass, push in a tad of low mid, cut high mids and treble, and it does a very decent vintage tone, especially if you cut that cab's horn attenuator.

B-String: preamp tubes don't really squish and compress like power amp tubes...IMO, IME, YMMV, etc...this is one place the hybrid Walkabout has a leg up on a lot of heads, in that they do use a 12ax7 as a driver tube for the mostfet section, and that thing really does squish as you turn it up.

Of course, if you want a more Ampeg sound, there's no good reason not to get Ampeg, that PF series stuff does it's thing well.

JimmyM · #8 02-04-2012, 08:34 PM

Ya, not getting the scooped thing with GK. I don't hear them that way either.

**Chef** · #9 02-04-2012, 08:38 PM

I will say this:
cause I'm old I had a B15 for a while, around 1974(?), so the whole PF500/portaflex cab really hits a nice spot for me, aesthetically.

**B-string** · #10 02-04-2012, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

[snip]
B-String: preamp tubes don't really squish and compress like power amp tubes...IMO, IME, YMMV, etc...this is one place the hybrid Walkabout has a leg up on a lot of heads, in that they do use a 12ax7 as a driver tube for the mostfet section, and that thing really does squish as you turn it up.
[snip]

Sorry Chef, never was taught "squish" in any course

.
The compression from tube stand alone preamps is very good. I understand the "mojo" placed on output tube compression with guitar, not on bass though JMO. Preamp tubes can compress sweetly with bass signals, compression with output tubes tends to be more hard edge. I don't fully understand the walkabout reference as the tube you mentioned is a high Mu dual triode preamp tube pressed into a driver service? Not exactly a position it "shines" in with a low current capability.
Interesting thought though, maybe it differs in "buffer" service to mosfets than to driver/PI on tube output? This I never studied.

**Chef** · #11 02-04-2012, 09:32 PM

After reading some of your posts in SVT7, it's fairly clear you may know more about this than I do...

Here's what I know:
I never felt the DB680, 659 or MBFusion compress under duress like my old Mesa 400/+ or SVT. The Walkabout does this some. The GB SL900 does this some.
There's probably other junk I would, or would not, remember via direct experience, but I just read that whole STV7 pt2, and my brain is tired...

**B-string** · #12 02-04-2012, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

After reading some of your posts in SVT7, it's fairly clear you may know more about this than I do...

Here's what I know:
I never felt the DB680, 659 or MBFusion compress under duress like my old Mesa 400/+ or SVT. The Walkabout does this some. The GB SL900 does this some.
There's probably other junk I would, or would not, remember via direct experience, but I just read that whole STV7 pt2, and my brain is tired...

Understandable

Thanks for leaving it open. Interested in new results being posted.

BTW I believe some of the old "magic" from the portaflex era came from the use of the 6SL7 and 6SJ7 octals.

JMHO

madurolover · #13 02-04-2012, 09:54 PM

I really like the tone of the PF500. I run it through a BBE Sonic and use the sonic to change tones on a few songs. I wish I can rackmount it. I was fiddling with it the otherday and nearly dropped it. I grabbed it by one of the front hooks and it snapped. The amp hit the ground but it was light, no damage occured but it could have been a disaster 5 minutes before a gig. A heavy amp or rackmount would have prevented it.

JimmyM · #14 02-04-2012, 09:55 PM

I believe that, Jon. Other things add up too, but it does seem like the 6S_7 tubes have mojo because products like the REDDI and the Monique that can cop that vibe in a DI/preamp form use them and it does sound quite B-15 like to me.

madurolover · #15 02-05-2012, 06:33 AM

A REDDI costs more than my PF500 and 410B. I would put the extra 700 into a tube amp before I would go that route

juledude · #16 02-10-2012, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I believe that, Jon. Other things add up too, but it does seem like the 6S_7 tubes have mojo because products like the REDDI and the Monique that can cop that vibe in a DI/preamp form use them and it does sound quite B-15 like to me.

The Reddi uses a 9 pin 6N1P. The right stuff can be found in a variety of ways.