GK MB2-500, Markbass F1 Video Clip Comparison

[KJung]

I didn't quite know where to post this (GK thread, Markbass thread?), so decided to just post up a quick 'neutral turf' thread.

A buddy brought over his GK MB2-500 (it is a version 5 'upgraded' to around a version 7 from what he told me), so we gave it a good pounding through the Bergantino AE410 with a few basses (Music Man Sterling, Alleva-Coppolo LG and Sadowsky Vintage).

Really impressive... VERY small and light (about a pound lighter and a couple inches less deep than the very small F1). The positives... very small and light, cool lighted switches, and that unique GK tone (that 'grind' that doesn't seem to happen with any other head). This head has HUGE low end (more than the F1), and I never thought I'd hear an amp with more sizzly, open top end than the F1, but the GK has it... really high upper treble response. Loud as heck also... easily as loud as the F1/F500.

The only complaints I have are that the gain and master reach very hot levels very early in their travel. This is not a subtle amp... it goes from zero to about 8 in the first 25% of the taper. And, quite a bit of noise (hiss and even some upper midrange hum). Not an issue when cranking it, but this would not be an amp for those who play jazz trios with an acoustic piano or record live in the studio.

The Markbass F1, as you can hear from the clip, sounds quite similar, but without that GK grind (duh!). It is a little tighter down low, a little bit more present in the low mids, and a little less bright in the lower treble through 10K sizzle.

Nice amp(s)! Here is the clip (very quick and dirty last minute thing, but both these heads sounded very good, and seemed to be from a similar tone family, so thought you TBers might be interested)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eOAfakgaSw

[dubstylee]

I still like the Markbass tone better. Personal preference though, I like how it sounds in the mids and low mids better.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by dubstylee

I still like the Markbass tone better. Personal preference though, I like how it sounds in the mids and low mids better.

The GK is very wide and VERY bright, but I can see how some would really dig that. Also, I bet the GK would sound GREAT in a cab with no tweeter. That super bright top end would really push the grind out of a 12" loaded cab with no tweeter IMO, for a really nice 'rock' sort of grindy, aggressive tone.

I obviously dig the F1 more also, since it is my primary gigging head. I like that upper bass/lower mid punch in a mix, and the F1 has more than enough top end for even the most sizzly treble requirements. However, the GK is quite impressive, and does a very good job delivering that classic GK tone in a VERY small box!

[jnewmark]

I dig the F1 also, seems a bit more " melodic " sounding, like the middle pickup on a Telecaster guitar, or that Fender Jazz tone some of us strive for. Did'nt really hear the grind on the Gk, but have played the GK heads enough to know that it's probably there.

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by KJung

The Markbass F1, as you can hear from the clip, sounds quite similar, but without that GK grind (duh!). It is a little tighter down low, a little bit more present in the low mids, and a little less bright in the lower treble through 10K sizzle.

That is pretty much how I hear the difference between these two heads, too (well, F500 instead of F1). The GK seems to punch through a little better in a mix (for me, at least, though this is heavily IME/IMHO, and YMMV), and the F500 is more smooth and mellow. Each makes a compelling argument, though with their own spin.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by tombowlus

That is pretty much how I hear the difference between these two heads, too (well, F500 instead of F1). The GK seems to punch through a little better in a mix (for me, at least, though this is heavily IME/IMHO, and YMMV), and the F500 is more smooth and mellow. Each makes a compelling argument, though with their own spin.

That gives you a good idea of how aggressive and bright the GK is. The F1/F500 are among the brightest, punchiest, aggressive heads I've ever experienced, and they sound relatively 'smooth and mellow' next to the MB2-500

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by KJung

That gives you a good idea of how aggressive and bright the GK is. The F1/F500 are among the brightest, punchiest, aggressive heads I've ever experienced, and they sound relatively 'smooth and mellow' next to the MB2-500

FWIW, the Carvin BX500 is also more bright than the F500, but less aggressive than the MB² 500. The EA Micro 550 and the Ibanez Promethean are both a bit more laid back than the Markbass, though.

Tom.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

I dig the F1 also, seems a bit more " melodic " sounding, like the middle pickup on a Telecaster guitar, or that Fender Jazz tone some of us strive for. Did'nt really hear the grind on the Gk, but have played the GK heads enough to know that it's probably there.

The GK grind is not a distortion thing (well, it probably is a distortion thing, but not like tubes breaking up across the entire frequency range of the amp). It's a certain grit and character to the top end (upper mid lower treble) that really emphasizes that 'wire on wire' grind you get when digging in with roundwound strings. It changes things from what could be 'ganky' sounding in that region to something a little more usable and having more 'character'. Pretty cool to my ear.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by tombowlus

FWIW, the Carvin BX500 is also more bright than the F500, but less aggressive than the MB² 500. The EA Micro 550 and the Ibanez Promethean are both a bit more laid back than the Markbass, though.

Tom.

+1 All these heads have their own unique voice. The TecAmp is even deeper than the GK, and has every bit the upper treble response, but is totally clean, creamy and smooth in the mids... ZERO grind... pure cream.

Or course, the RH450 is MUCH more old school, but can grind and growl with the best of them, but won't do the 'clickity clickity'.

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by KJung

+1 All these heads have their own unique voice. The TecAmp is even deeper than the GK, and has every bit the upper treble response, but is totally clean, creamy and smooth in the mids... ZERO grind... pure cream.

Or course, the RH450 is MUCH more old school, but can grind and growl with the best of them, but won't do the 'clickity clickity'.

+1 on both counts.

[Freddels]

Originally Posted by KJung

The GK is very wide and VERY bright, but I can see how some would really dig that. Also, I bet the GK would sound GREAT in a cab with no tweeter.

It sounds great with the Bag End S-15D's.

[JimmyM]

they sounded real close to me. like identical.

[B String]

The GK MB2-500 that I had, (an early version) was a killer
match with my Berg HT112 box. It just sounded very full and
balanced due to the extended low end and brightness of the GK.

[::::BASSIST::::]

Ah, come on Jimmy even I could hear a difference!

[Thundar]

I got a lil' woody when I heard that GK MB2-500....I could definitely hear a diff.

[jtc_hunter]

This is a cool thread and I would like to suggest something to the OP. Do this again with the G.I. V.E. off on the MB. You will get, IMHO, almost an identical tone to the Markbass. This is for all those who liked the Markbass better. The MB-500 can sound like two different amps entirely. If you want it to-. I know I can make mine sound just like the Markbass or change it to a grindy SOB

[4Mal]

My MB2-500 is an A07 and it's quiet as a mouse. Well it's as quiet as it's stablemates (WT-800 and ART Tube Channel/QSC). The native tone of the GK is a slight scoop. If you want flat - I for one don't - then you have to back off the low's & hi's a smidge. Me I just back off the hi's a bit with my rig and I'm a happy boy...

Folks go back and forth on the flat vs character thing. The way I see it - I have a really good active DI if I truly need flat. The vast majority of the time I want some tone sculpting ability. The GK's tone stack seems well voiced for me. I can find myself in there without much work regardless of the bass I pick or the musical setting I'm in.

For light acoustic support dates I take the GK and a Bag End S15X-D - yeah the one with the coax compression driver - not a cab with a 'subtle' hi end... I use a Godin Acoustibass loaded with TI flats and get a really good jazz tone from it - I do roll the hi's back and of course I bring the low's up to compensate for the relative lack of low's in the cab.

For country rock and 60's / 70's blues rock dates I take the fEarful 12/6.5. The fEarful has a more efficient and more extended range mid than the 'stock' Eminence I have the mid's padded back about 6 db and that seems about right for the 'all the controls at noon' approach. There I'm generally using my old war horse PJ with Chromes and a hot rodded 55-01 with half rounds. I'm kind of a 'thumper' so I don't go for full on rounds real often...


The next 'loud' date I get, I'll carry my newly completed Feeaful 12 sub under the 12/6.5. It sounds impressive in my studio space. It will be nice to get it up to gig volume with Bob the Drummer doing his John Bonham impression.

The amp I'd really like to be able to compare with is the EA Micro 550 and the GK... The EA 300 was my first micro amp and the two channel feature set of that amp was awfully convenient.. Not quite the guts to drive my 12/6.5 fEarful in anger through ... a problem I haven't experienced with GK - it's a healthy bugger!

[KJung]

Originally Posted by jtc_hunter

This is a cool thread and I would like to suggest something to the OP. Do this again with the G.I. V.E. off on the MB. You will get, IMHO, almost an identical tone to the Markbass. This is for all those who liked the Markbass better. The MB-500 can sound like two different amps entirely. If you want it to-. I know I can make mine sound just like the Markbass or change it to a grindy SOB

+1 That clip was very quick and dirty. I actually really like the boost channel.. makes the GK sound like a GK (I had the 'boost' control at a reasonably low level on the clip). The F1 was still a little more fat and even, regardless of channel or EQ settings that we tried, and the GK was a bit more aggressive up top and deeper down low to my ear, even using the regular channel.

That being said, these heads are more similar than different, which is why I chose the F1 as the comparison head. The F1 is the quickest, brightest and tightest head (IMO) in the Markbass line-up, and when I first fired up the GK, I could hear a bit of the F1 in there. IMO, the quality feel of the F1 is quite a bit better to me (feel of knobs, metal of the box, and definitely the noise floor), but it is also quite a bit more expensive than the GK.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by 4Mal

For light acoustic support dates I take the GK and a Bag End S15X-D - yeah the one with the coax compression driver - not a cab with a 'subtle' hi end... I use a Godin Acoustibass loaded with TI flats and get a really good jazz tone from it - I do roll the hi's back and of course I bring the low's up to compensate for the relative lack of low's in the cab.

I never was very happy controlling the tweeter in the Bag End 'x' cabs with an active treble control (although with the particular instrument you are using with that rig, probably not that big of a deal). The VLE on the Markbass is just fantastic with those cabs... a nice, gentle, passive upper treble roll-off that at low levels mimics a tweeter attenuator.

I bet that GK sounds GREAT with the 15/6. The F1 sounds very good with that cab also, but I prefer the Puma due to its extended deep low end and very sweet, extended top end. The GK doesn't quite have the deep low end extension of the TecAmp heads, but it does extend quite a bit more than the F1, which is a positive thing with the 15/6. That very aggressive top end also would work will with the smooth ,somewhat polite treble response of the 15/6 if you don't have one with a tweeter. I bet that sounds great.

Quite an impressive little head, which is why I put up the clip. I dig it!

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by jtc_hunter

This is a cool thread and I would like to suggest something to the OP. Do this again with the G.I. V.E. off on the MB. You will get, IMHO, almost an identical tone to the Markbass. This is for all those who liked the Markbass better. The MB-500 can sound like two different amps entirely. If you want it to-. I know I can make mine sound just like the Markbass or change it to a grindy SOB

That is a good point. The G.I.V.E. option really does let you set this amp up for two very distinct tones.