GK MB-800 Meeting Place! Meeting Room/Club

[husky123]

Glad to see this thread revived as more people are pulling the trigger on these. It's really and amazing amp. I've had one for a while now and it continues to amaze me each time. It's NEVER run out of steam on me...including outside gigs. Sounds great in the studio too.

[Neil]

Has anyone else found that the dual function pots feel different than the single function pots?

[Chef]

Yes.

Originally Posted by Chef

It's true, the dual function pots feel different than the single function pots...
Only time will tell if that's indicative of a problem.

[Neil]

Kind of strange that those knobs feel so flimsy and the others feel like top quality all the way.

[packhowitzer]

Originally Posted by husky123

Glad to see this thread revived as more people are pulling the trigger on these. It's really and amazing amp. I've had one for a while now and it continues to amaze me each time. It's NEVER run out of steam on me...including outside gigs. Sounds great in the studio too.

Husky, your initial reactions in this thread had a definite influence on my decision to buy this amp. Maybe GK oughta start paying you a commission.

Originally Posted by Neil

Has anyone else found that the dual function pots feel different than the single function pots?

Yes, the gains and master knobs on mine are noticeably easier to turn than the others. I am inclined to agree with Chef that the dual purpose knobs just feel different. But I don't see why they shouldn't last a long time with normal care afforded to other electronics.

That said, I don't know how flimsy your knobs were. And I didn't have to tighten anything on mine, so you may have a valid point. In fact the only blemish on mine that I have noticed is that some the screen printing on the "gain A" label is a little under applied. I'm not surprised though, it must be difficult to get the ink to adhere to that slippery silver surface on the face of the amp. NBD.

[::::BASSIST::::]

I used to have a Markbass LMII and alot of people claimed those amps to be really loud as well. However, the reality was the volume was all in the first half of the master vol dial and after about 12 or 1:00, it did not really get that much louder.

Regarding the reported large amount of volume from the mb800 is there any chance that the above scenario is true with this amp as well?

[Neil]

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

I used to have a Markbass LMII and alot of people claimed those amps to be really loud as well. However, the reality was the volume was all in the first half of the master vol dial and after about 12 or 1:00, it did not really get that much louder.

Regarding the reported large amount of volume from the mb800 is there any chance that the above scenario is true with this amp as well?

I don't find this to be true.

By the way, while I have complained about the knobs I do love the punchy, full sound of this amp.

[packhowitzer]

I think it has to do with the cabs in question moreso than the amp. As I said in my earlier post, with both of my Ampegs and now this GK, the cabs got to where they just couldn't move any more air. There was still play left in the volume knob, but the cabs were at their max. Any more power was most likely just being radiated off thermally. I'm no science guy, but I believe that's what happens.

And again, I'll state that the cabs in my experience are Mesa powerhouse cabs- very loud and beefy. Perhaps not as able as some of the super modern Fearfuls and 15/6s and the like, but very capable bass cabs.

But then again, I don't have any experience with Markbass outside of guitar center. Maybe they do run out of gas at 1 oclock.

[rag]

Originally Posted by Neil

Kind of strange that those knobs feel so flimsy and the others feel like top quality all the way.

The push knobs have switches that activate when pushed. The shaft has to be looser on these so the swithces will not stick. The bushings and shafts are still all metal and still the same high quality.
Bob

[Chef]

Robert; thanks for that.
It's nice when gjuys like you drop in and give real and meaningful answer

Also:
Thanks for the great gear.
I'm a GK guy nearly 100% of the time now, and I wasn't before I tried the MB Fusion and Neo 112's a year or so ago.
Now I have two complete GK rigs; I had to try the biamp heads as the concept behind how you do that really spoke to me. And for me and my goals, it works exceptionally well.

thanks

I have other stuff, I sometimes use other stuff, and I'll keep trying other stuff, because that's just my nature.
But lately, trying other stuff has served to highlight how well the GK stuff suits me.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by rag

The push knobs have switches that activate when pushed. The shaft has to be looser on these so the swithces will not stick. The bushings and shafts are still all metal and still the same high quality.
Bob

Bob that makes sense. Thank you for taking the time to respond. It tells me that it's important to you to listen to what your non-endorsers are saying and I like that.

[packhowitzer]

Originally Posted by Chef

I have other stuff, I sometimes use other stuff, and I'll keep trying other stuff, because that's just my nature.
But lately, trying other stuff has served to highlight how well the GK stuff suits me.

+1,000,000

Nice summation, Chef!

[Jarrett]

That's cool the owner posts here. Just in case he is still around, Is there anyway to control the DI level out on the MB800?

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by Chef

I have other stuff, I sometimes use other stuff, and I'll keep trying other stuff, because that's just my nature.
But lately, trying other stuff has served to highlight how well the GK stuff suits me.

Very true!

[Jarrett]

Well... I learned something the hard way about this amp at last night's gig when I showed up to use the backline. Apparently I need to add this to the stuff I carry in my gig bag specifically for the MB800 :



I had to run ampless last night. I was really wishing I had my TC RH750 (w/ the combo speakon/1/4" speaker outs) with me at that point.

When you google GK MB800, this is the first document that pops up:

http://www.gallien-krueger.com/revie...800_Review.pdf

The document is hosted on on GK's site. In the Features & Specs section of the document, it lead me to believe you could use a 1/4" speaker cable with the MB800 by stating:

"Two combination ¼” / Speakon speaker output jacks"

That apparently is not a feature on my MB800. I'm really surprised (as last night proved) that you can't use 1/4" speaker cables with this amp

[Chef]

I believe GK switched from the dual use speakons used on the MBFusion500 due to the higher output of the MB800.

I personally prefer the dual use speakons, and wish that all amps, and all speaker cabinets used them. That way, whatever cable I actually remember to bring, works.

I have two of the one you picture, because the Walkabout is only 1/4" out, and the GK cabs have only one of each connector on their patch panels. It takes a hodge-podge of cable ends to run two GK cabs with the Walkabout.

Dual use speakons at the amp and the cab would solve this.

I -don't know- if GK biamp heads could employ dual use speakons and maintain their biamp feature....??????

[Jarrett]

Yeah, all of my cabs have speakon connections, but there are situations where I get called to use the backline cabs (like last night) and sometimes those cabs are too old to be equipped with speakon connectors. Live and learn I guess and keep some conversion cables in your bag

[::::BASSIST::::]

Green = speakon and 1/4

Black = speakon only

But yeah, I feel your pain. I'd be screwed if that happened to me as I generally I have no option for bass thru PA.

[Jarrett]

Had a great gig with the MB800 and SWR Golight Jr. 2x10 this weekend. Plenty of punchy, full, clear tone on tap with more to go if I had needed it. It's the tone I've wanted for a while on stage and it left me grinning all night (like my avatar ).

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by Jarrett

Had a great gig with the MB800 and SWR Golight Jr. 2x10 this weekend. Plenty of punchy, full, clear tone on tap with more to go if I had needed it. It's the tone I've wanted for a while on stage and it left me grinning all night (like my avatar ).

Glad you like it!