GK Fusion appreciation thread (all kinds - 500 , 550 , and 800)

[Bassist30]

Originally Posted by Primakurtz

I really like the 550. It does not have the "GK" sound, to me. Very warm and versatile.

You can get warmth and versatility from the 500 to. But what makes it different? This is my first GK and I have played GK but never owned one. I don't want to be that guy who comes off like an expert about something who doesn't own one. The only other time I played it is when rented or rehearsals. Never sat down with them for months or years. So what is the fusion 550 differences. You also have the DB750, would like to know the similarities if any. Never know I may be interested in buying one in the future.

[DiabolicLow B]

Wow, who cares if I shut my amp off sometimes on long breaks, like I said in my first post it is not a big deal just something I noticed so I stated as much.

Now back to the MB Fusion, compared to my Shuttle 9.0 which is very clear and articulate I find the Fusion even more so, almost like a blanket had been lifted off the cabinet, powerful low end and very punchy low-mids with a lot of volume, I don't care for much grit or grind in my tone so I leave the gain fairly low and it stays very clean.

[Toptube]

Originally Posted by KJung

If you have been pushing the amp really hard, actually keeping the fan running is a better strategy than turning it off,

Respectfully, this is wrong. Removing the heat source (power/electricity) is better than pointing a fan at it (so to speak). Turning your amp off will cool it off exponentially faster than letting it idle.

[Jim C]

I haven't owned a class D yet but believe that keeping the fan running before shut down is best when there are hot power tubes or output transistors involved. See no reason that other amp output supplies would not benefit by the same.
Lastly, I think tube life is extended when an amp is allowed to cool before moving, something that never happens to an opening band. Would think this would also apply to any hot piece of electronic gear.

[Bassist30]

Originally Posted by DiabolicLow B

Wow, who cares if I shut my amp off sometimes on long breaks, like I said in my first post it is not a big deal just something I noticed so I stated as much.

Now back to the MB Fusion, compared to my Shuttle 9.0 which is very clear and articulate I find the Fusion even more so, almost like a blanket had been lifted off the cabinet, powerful low end and very punchy low-mids with a lot of volume, I don't care for much grit or grind in my tone so I leave the gain fairly low and it stays very clean.

My point taken. I don't care, but I do want to hear your take on the shuttle 9.0. So the fusion has a better low mids. I thought it was nice also which was a big selling point as someone else stated that also. You use an active bass or passive. I use an active bass so i had to use the -14 DB even if I use the gain fairly low. Somehow I could not get a clean Low B. Or anything on that string. The -14 DB did it for me but I can't get any overdrive out of it. Its pretty much 2 channels of clean. Doesn't bother me because Im not really into a overdrive sound. Its a real nice convenience to stick in my gig bag when I have a gig that requires it. No its not my main head but as a digital amp its my favorite. Although Im far from an expert on digital amps and what they all sound like. Although I tried ( not on a gig) many of them.

[Bassist30]

Originally Posted by Jim C

I haven't owned a class D yet but believe that keeping the fan running before shut down is best when there are hot power tubes or output transistors involved. See no reason that other amp output supplies would not benefit by the same.
Lastly, I think tube life is extended when an amp is allowed to cool before moving, something that never happens to an opening band. Would think this would also apply to any hot piece of electronic gear.

Interesting you say that. One day unfortunately I was visiting someone in the Hopitals Radiation Dept. I was speaking to the doctor and I noticed a Bogan amp on a shelf that they used to call other doctors and nurses.I have rarely seen them as they are a very old amp and not with alot of power. They may have been like the first tube PA amplifier. So I said thats an old amp isn't it. He said he has been there for 15+ years and he said its always been there. It was there when he came in. So its been there for a long time. He said he cant remember if it were ever shut off. It was in the corner up on a shelf pretty much out of everyones way. The unit is open 24 hours. I guess they dont make them like they use to.

[Session1969]

Originally Posted by Bassist30

Listen if you want to turn your amp off. Turn it off. Most of this thread has been whether you should turn your amp off or use a mute switch. But if you are using a DI out you usually will hear a pop out of the main with any amp.... Do you like the sound man. If he is doing a bad job and you hate the bass sound shut the amp off. if you like what he is doing use a mute switch. Thats a better idea. So lets go on with the Fusion. Now my question, You like the fusion more thn the 9.0? why? Based in a live situation.

Really ? I disagree. Doesn't sound very professional at all.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by Session1969

Really ? I disagree. Doesn't sound very professional at all.

What doesn't?

[Bassist30]

Originally Posted by Session1969

Really ? I disagree. Doesn't sound very professional at all.

IT was an ongoing thread. To the point it became a joke. Dont take it literally.

[Bassist30]

Originally Posted by B-string

What doesn't?

Thanks B.... It was an ongoing thread with the shut the amp off or mute. It was one of the post that me and kjung went off. It was a joke that session isnt laughing but its one of those "you had to be there". By the way what mic did you use on the guitar part of Summer of 69". Please dont say it was a 58.

[Tevatron]

I have had a MBFusion 500 for a couple of months now. Absolutely love it. This is the first class D amp I have ever owned. I have owned other GK heads and was not a stranger to the "GK sound". But, I am still learning what I can do with the EQ, and I have not used the Contour much. Tons of power and plenty of headroom for my needs.

[B-string]

Originally Posted by Bassist30

Thanks B.... It was an ongoing thread with the shut the amp off or mute. It was one of the post that me and kjung went off. It was a joke that session isnt laughing but its one of those "you had to be there". By the way what mic did you use on the guitar part of Summer of 69". Please dont say it was a 58.

Hahaha, it was a 57 though. Better range than a 58. The best mikes were on the symbols (Blues, EV and Audix).

[Bassist30]

Originally Posted by B-string

Hahaha, it was a 57 though. Better range than a 58. The best mikes were on the symbols (Blues, EV and Audix).

Your kidding!!!!!!!! Now put it through a fusion 500.

[Jerry Ziarko]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

I, for one, think the GK amps all have a baked in kind of tone, otherwise known as the GK sound. I have owned a few of the heads, but never played a Fusion. How does it compare with, say a GK RB 700, or one of the MB heads, as far as tone goes ?

I've used GK since the mid 80's. The Fusion sounds all GK and not tremendously different than my MB2 500. The highs are a bit more subtle, and it has limiter and 2 position contour frequency. IMHO they are WAY more alike than different. I've interchanged them gig to gig, and they way I had them EQ'd you probably wouldn't notice a difference.

[husky123]

Originally Posted by Jerry Ziarko

I've used GK since the mid 80's. The Fusion sounds all GK and not tremendously different than my MB2 500. The highs are a bit more subtle, and it has limiter and 2 position contour frequency. IMHO they are WAY more alike than different. I've interchanged them gig to gig, and they way I had them EQ'd you probably wouldn't notice a difference.

I agree. In your practice room all by yourself you may even struggle to hear much difference. In a band context, once the guitars and drums light up.....forgettaboutit.

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by Jerry Ziarko

I've used GK since the mid 80's. The Fusion sounds all GK and not tremendously different than my MB2 500. The highs are a bit more subtle, and it has limiter and 2 position contour frequency. IMHO they are WAY more alike than different. I've interchanged them gig to gig, and they way I had them EQ'd you probably wouldn't notice a difference.

Thanks, just what I kinda thought, but wanted to hear from somebody who actually has played the GK stuff for awhile. I own an MB200, which sounds just like the 500, imho. Don't really get the Fusion, two channel thing. Three tubes, I thought it might be a change of direction from GK, kinda like the Streamliner was for Genz.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Jerry Ziarko

I've used GK since the mid 80's. The Fusion sounds all GK and not tremendously different than my MB2 500. The highs are a bit more subtle, and it has limiter and 2 position contour frequency. IMHO they are WAY more alike than different. I've interchanged them gig to gig, and they way I had them EQ'd you probably wouldn't notice a difference.

+1 That was my impression in my A/Bing the Fusion with the 'regular' MB's on a number of occasions. Even though the Fusion has three preamp tubes, it isn't particularly 'tubey' the way we use that term on TB. It is a slightly more 'refinded' GK tone, with a nice smoothing of the more aggressive upper mids and treble of the MB500/800. The difference, for me (as a long time GK user back in the day) is a positive for the MBFusion500, but it is subtle enough that IMO it isn't worth the added complexity of those tubes (for me anyway). If I was getting a GK micro, I'd probably get the MB800 and call it a day!

[JGR]

I've owned the 800RB, 2001RB, and the Fusion 550, and I found the Fusion's preamp to sound quite a bit different than the SS ones in terms of EQ, amount and quality of gain, compression, and harmonic complexity - it still had a lot of the GK vibe, but the contribution of the tubes was definately there - very "tubey" IMO. I hear more contribution from the tubes in the GK's preamp than I do in say the GB Streamliner which just sounds scooped, but it all depends on what you are looking for, and it's worth doing a side by side if you can to see if it works for you.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by JGR

I've owned the 800RB, 2001RB, and the Fusion 550, and I found the Fusion's preamp to sound quite a bit different than the SS ones in terms of EQ, amount and quality of gain, compression, and harmonic complexity - it still had a lot of the GK vibe, but the contribution of the tubes was definately there - very "tubey" IMO, but it's worth doing a side by side if you can to see if it works for you.

I've only compared the micro fusion to the other micro's. I have read reviews that indicate there is a bit more impact of the tubes in the 'full sized' Fusion model.

[Bassist30]

Originally Posted by KJung

+1 That was my impression in my A/Bing the Fusion with the 'regular' MB's on a number of occasions. Even though the Fusion has three preamp tubes, it isn't particularly 'tubey' the way we use that term on TB. It is a slightly more 'refinded' GK tone, with a nice smoothing of the more aggressive upper mids and treble of the MB500/800. The difference, for me (as a long time GK user back in the day) is a positive for the MBFusion500, but it is subtle enough that IMO it isn't worth the added complexity of those tubes (for me anyway). If I was getting a GK micro, I'd probably get the MB800 and call it a day!

But isn't "refined" GK Tone, with a nice smoothing of the more aggressive upper mids and treble of the MB500/800."
a related function of the tubes? Yet subtle. I haven't extensively compared. I compared in a store which an expert Im not.
Also I would like to know better about the 800 -if that is what you meant about the full size one - having a more impact. Many here are anticipating the 800 and would like to know more being it didn't come out yet.