First night working out the MB-500

WillieDikker · #1 05-17-2010, 06:23 PM

Finally got to put my MB-500 to the test. I've had it for a few weeks, but haven't been able to turn it up all that far because it shakes the house too much. Was running it through my Ampeg 410 with new B810's in it. Started the afternoon with a short practice for a temp side project helping a buddy out in a death metal band. Not my cup o'tea, but it pasted the challenge of being heard over 2 guitar 1/2 stacks. They play just too damn loud. Then off to gig with my regular band. I was kind of fiddling with my setting through the night, but pretty much ended up running everything flat and the treble backed off a small amount. Turning the contour back the whole way really gets the tone to cut through, but sometimes sounded a bit "honky" depending on the type of song. Keeping it at noon is probably the safe bet for me. Anyway between the amp and the new drivers, EVERYONE telling me how great it sounded. Guitar player said it was the best he heard me in 15 years. A few bass player buddies I know were in the crowd and flipping out over the tone. Made me feel good. I always got complements on my Ampeg, but never like this. I don't know if my speakers were still breaking in or what, but by the end of the night, I was just really digging my sound while up on stage. I'm still not sure though if I was getting the signature GK growl or if I was working the speakers hard. Sounds dumb talking up my rig and then asking if I was ready to destroy it

Anyway, the B810 is a 150w driver, so I'm looking at a 600w cab @ 8 ohms, right? I was only putting 350w to it. Had the master turned to about 4 o'clock and the gain up to maybe 1 or 2 o'clock. I'm thinking it was the growl, right? Anyway, I'm really happy with the rig now and will probably hold off on buying a light Neo cab for awhile. With casters and handles, the Ampeg cab is "that" bad to haul around anyway. Any input on my amp/cab question??? Thanks for all the help guys. This is a great site.

jtc_hunter · #2 05-17-2010, 06:36 PM

The "Boost" is what brings in the "growl".

4Mal · #3 05-17-2010, 06:48 PM

I've been running my input volume much higher (around noon) and my master correspondingly lower. I think that the front end of the MB2-500 likes more signal running through it ... I'm not sure if the MB-500 is the same or not ...

WillieDikker · #4 05-17-2010, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

I've been running my input volume much higher (around noon) and my master correspondingly lower. I think that the front end of the MB2-500 likes more signal running through it ... I'm not sure if the MB-500 is the same or not ...

Just messing around, if I ramp up the front end alot more than the master section, I can make the speakers fart even at low volume. Thats if I run it like I did my Ampeg with gain the whole way up and use the master to set the volume. I thought that it sounded "growly" the other night, but it might just be almost 20 years of playing through the same old Ampeg rig. So a GK has no signature growl at all unless you use the boost?

tallboybass · #5 05-18-2010, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillieDikker

So a GK has no signature growl at all unless you use the boost?

....and a car won't go fast unless you use the throttle.

**B-string** · #6 05-18-2010, 12:08 AM

You can still get "the growl" without the boost but the boost sure makes it easier, and saves your hearing

4Mal · #7 05-18-2010, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillieDikker

Just messing around, if I ramp up the front end alot more than the master section, I can make the speakers fart even at low volume. Thats if I run it like I did my Ampeg with gain the whole way up and use the master to set the volume. I thought that it sounded "growly" the other night, but it might just be almost 20 years of playing through the same old Ampeg rig. So a GK has no signature growl at all unless you use the boost?

Yeah, well all the way up is way too far for most basses I've played. The idea is to get the maximum signal from your bass BEFORE you clip the input section ... Input clipping sounds bad, so dial it back if you clip.

To me the amp just seems a little 'hotter' when run that way as opposed to with the input way low and the Master way high.

WillieDikker · #8 05-18-2010, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

Yeah, well all the way up is way too far for most basses I've played. The idea is to get the maximum signal from your bass BEFORE you clip the input section ... Input clipping sounds bad, so dial it back if you clip.

To me the amp just seems a little 'hotter' when run that way as opposed to with the input way low and the Master way high.

I could get away with it with my SVT400. With the gain the whole way up, the red light only rarely flashed unless I was wailing on it. The MB is WAYYYY hotter than my old SVT. By alot. I really like this amp. The size, the power, the sound. Everything so far. Can't wait to gig again with it