Gallien-Krueger MB800 - Page 11

**Chef** · #**201** 12-01-2012, 04:48 PM

I'm hearing Mid January from my sources.

TK4261 · #**202** 12-01-2012, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

I'm hearing Mid January from my sources.

Bummer, oh well....Hope sooner but my 410 cab won't be ready till mid January so I don't mind waiting one more month

**Chef** · #**203** 12-01-2012, 05:07 PM

I was hoping the MBF800 would be in my stocking, but, maybe not so much.

bassgod0dmw · #**204** 12-03-2012, 07:17 AM

I just picked up an MB800 in favor of an MB500 that I was using. I've noticed a few things that I'm not exactly thrilled about, and I'm curious if it's the norm or if there is something wrong with it.

The fans are LOUD when they kick on. I don't notice them while playing, so no big deal.
There seems to be a high pitched whine coming through my cabs, but not right away. It doesn't matter if the fans are on or off, or if the mute is enabled or not. I hear it more through the tweeter than the woofer. I figured I'd try it out on a gig and see if I noticed it while playing, and I did. Of all the other amps I've owned, I've never heard anything like this before. It's pretty annoying. I want quiet gear.

I've seen a few other posts of people mentioning this whining sound. Did I get a dud?

It very well might be too much amp for my gig too. I was barely able to even turn the master up. Whether I got a dud or not, it might be going back for the MB500 again.

Blair101 · #**205** 12-03-2012, 07:55 AM

I was setting my MB800 up like I did with my Trace and Ampegs by setting the gain first and the master second. I thought it sounded ok, but not what everyone has been raving about with theses amps. When I finally read the owners manual things started clicking, I know I should have read it first but who does. The manual suggested setting the master at noon and then push the gain to desire volume. Totally different animal at once.

bassgod0dmw · #**206** 12-03-2012, 08:05 AM

Pushing the power amp on GK's has always been a good thing! Does it matter as much on the class D heads? I don't believe you can hit the rails on them like on the RB heads.

If I had set the master at noon on this, I would have barely been able to turn up the gain. We're not a quiet band either.

I'm more curious about the whine.

bkbass2000 · #**207** 12-03-2012, 08:10 AM

I am on my 3rd MB800. The first one had a pretty bad hiss. My second one had high freq whining and some crazy fans that came on full speed and wouldn't turn off. Although, the whining probably wouldn't have been audible at a gig. Thankfully, the third one has been great so far and I really like it. However, you shouldn't have to keep shuffling through these amps trying to find a good one.

**Chef** · #**208** 12-03-2012, 08:10 AM

I agree.
The RB's do some stuff I enjoy when pushed a little.
The MB's do a more "stereotypical solid state breakup" that I don't enjoy.

Note: this may be in part to the RB's separate horn amp........

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

Pushing the power amp on GK's has always been a good thing! Does it matter as much on the class D heads? I don't believe you can hit the rails on them like on the RB heads.

KJung · #**209** 12-03-2012, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

Pushing the power amp on GK's has always been a good thing! Does it matter as much on the class D heads? I don't believe you can hit the rails on them like on the RB heads.

If I had set the master at noon on this, I would have barely been able to turn up the gain. We're not a quiet band either.

I'm more curious about the whine.

+1 That recommendation to 'control volume' with the gain control makes no sense whatsover on any amp, especially the GK's with those linear gain and volume pots that go from 'off to screaming' after about 30% of their taper. The relatively noisy preamps of these heads also STRONGLY suggests use of the gain and master controls as recommended by virtually every other manufacturer for optimum signal to noise ratio on solid state preamps (and even tube preamps if you aren't looking for distortion/break-up.

The reliability issue of these has been much discussed, of course.

bassgod0dmw · #**210** 12-03-2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

The reliability issue of these has been much discussed, of course.

Crap

Are we talking all MB heads, or specifically the MB800?

Reliability is of utmost importance. If the MB500 has a better track record, that seals it for me. If it's the MB heads in general, maybe I need to rethink this and go back to lugging an RB series head. Not that they're all that bad to lug...

I'm still sifting through what I can to find these discussions, I just not might have enough time to get through all of it before tomorrow when I'll have some time to get to the store and return/exchange it.

KJung · #**211** 12-03-2012, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

Crap

Are we talking all MB heads, or specifically the MB800?

Reliability is of utmost importance. If the MB500 has a better track record, that seals it for me. If it's the MB heads in general, maybe I need to rethink this and go back to lugging an RB series head. Not that they're all that bad to lug...

I'm still sifting through what I can to find these discussions, I just not might have enough time to get through all of it before tomorrow when I'll have some time to get to the store and return/exchange it.

IMO, it seems more like constant production issues than long term reliability to me, from the many, many posts about continuing early failures in the MB line. I assume if you have one that works OK from the start, you should be OK.

These heads, IMO are a bit 'rough and noisy' in their design (really noisy to my ear), but the price point is pretty amazing... something has to give. No free lunch.

If you dig it, and have one that is working well, I would think you are good to go.

bassgod0dmw · #**212** 12-03-2012, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

If you dig it, and have one that is working well, I would think you are good to go.

I don't seem to, that's my problem.

The whole reason of me getting one was to retire my 800RB from gigging. I was going to replace it with either another 800RB or a 700RB-II. Then I started looking into the MB series and figured why not carry something smaller and lighter, but only if it's most of what the RBs are.

KJung · #**213** 12-03-2012, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassgod0dmw

I don't seem to, that's my problem.

The whole reason of me getting one was to retire my 800RB from gigging. I was going to replace it with either another 800RB or a 700RB-II. Then I started looking into the MB series and figured why not carry something smaller and lighter, but only if it's most of what the RBs are.

The 800RB and 400RB are pretty 'classic' sounding and unique. I gigged one or the other of those for many years back in the day. Quite frankly, it took them a while to get those heads 'right' also. I remember my 400RB (I bought it the year it came out) had to go back twice.

I guess you have a decision to make, and it is a tough one. If the tone of that amp really speaks to you, I guess it is worth going through the drama of getting one that works.

TK4261 · #**214** 12-03-2012, 08:54 AM

I'm hoping the new MB Fusion 800 has any kinks worked out and they should be a nice balance of power with the tube pre-amp

GRoberts · #**215** 12-03-2012, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TK4261

I'm hoping the new MB Fusion 800 has any kinks worked out and they should be a nice balance of power with the tube pre-amp

What are the odds? LOL ...Seriously, you would think most of the kinks have been worked out of the MB 500 Fusion. So the 800 should simply have more power. although I am beginning to wonder about fan noise being a problem with the high powered micro-sized form factor. Time will tell. Mid January perhaps?

**Chef** · #**216** 12-03-2012, 09:00 AM

Well; two things with the MBF800:

-Yep, Mid Jan is what I heard most recently
-It's moving to MB800 form factor, with the glow rings, and control layout, so, it is a bit of a different form than current MBF500. The MB800 has been out for a while now though, so, hopefully there's not much of a transition to be made there.

bassgod0dmw · #**217** 12-03-2012, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

Well; two things with the MBF800:

-Yep, Mid Jan is what I heard most recently
-It's moving to MB800 form factor, with the glow rings, and control layout, so, it is a bit of a different form than current MBF500. The MB800 has been out for a while now though, so, hopefully there's not much of a transition to be made there.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you guys.

The MB800 that I picked up was brand new and USA made. The MB500 that I had was MIC and had no problems that I knew about.

**Chef** · #**218** 12-03-2012, 09:13 AM

Production for everything moved to the USA earlier this year AFAIK

bassgod0dmw · #**219** 12-03-2012, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

Production for everything moved to the USA earlier this year AFAIK

Indeed. I thought the reason behind it was to get a better hold on the production & QC issues that the MIC amps seemed to exhibit.

If the MIA amps are doing the same thing, well...

Blair101 · #**220** 12-03-2012, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

+1 That recommendation to 'control volume' with the gain control makes no sense whatsover on any amp, especially the GK's with those linear gain and volume pots that go from 'off to screaming' after about 30% of their taper. The relatively noisy preamps of these heads also STRONGLY suggests use of the gain and master controls as recommended by virtually every other manufacturer for optimum signal to noise ratio on solid state preamps (and even tube preamps if you aren't looking for distortion/break-up.

The reliability issue of these has been much discussed, of course.

It doesn't make sense, but it works. If you use the B channel as the growler every thing works out fine. It's what the manual said and it
works, against everything I've ever done with the master and pre controls, but like I said it works and works great.