GK MB200 - Gain Question

R. Laevinus · #1 01-10-2011, 08:09 AM

Just a quick questions to the guys who own or have used the GK MB200 head. I've done a couple searches and have found either no solid answer, so I hope you can help.

How do you dial in dirt/control master volume with only a single gain control?

I'm seriously considering one, but they haven't hit shops around me yet, and I can't wrap my head around the concept of a single volume control. I just don't get how it would work.

Thanks!

mikkejohansson · #2 01-10-2011, 08:12 AM

I think it's very simple; you dont't

!
That meaning - there is only one way to control the volume. I you like how ut sounds at higher volumes, play louder!

All kidding aside - that's how amps were for a looong time. You wanted dirt, crank it up! Then again, I'm not sure how dirty the MB200 can get, at all.

lbwdog · #3 01-10-2011, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R. Laevinus

I can't wrap my head around the concept of a single volume control. I just don't get how it would work.

LOL!

Forgive me for laughing. It just reminds me of how old I'm getting.

Back in the olden days of the sixties & seventies, we only had one volume control, and if we saw an amp with two, we'd say "I just don't get how it would work".

(actually, I think I would have figured it out since my Dad was an electronics wiz.)

stantonl · #4 01-10-2011, 10:53 AM

Interesting question, I've turned mine up about half way and it was still pretty clean, not sure if it does get dirty. I'll fiddle around with it tonight and report back this evening.

Hippos Melas · #5 01-10-2011, 11:03 AM

I wondered the same thing when I looked at it. Thanks for being brave enough to post a thread about it...I felt stupid looking at it and not knowing what the heck to do for more gain vs. more volume.

BigOldHarry · #6 01-10-2011, 11:07 AM

amps with a single master vol or gain knob are not designed to overdrive the preamp.

R. Laevinus · #7 01-10-2011, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

amps with a single master vol or gain knob are not designed to overdrive the preamp.

That's what I was thinking/afraid of. No big deal, though. I'm mainly thinking of it to use in hourly rehearsal spaces - I dislike having to dial in my sound on a different amp every time, and am growing dissatisfied with the SansAmp I've been using to bypass the tone stacks.

Also, it would be nice to have a backup amp - currently I only have a Walkabout head.

Let us know how it goes, Stanton!

metron · #8 01-10-2011, 11:34 AM

If you really crank the volume it does start to break up a bit. I thought it still sounded good even for solid state distortion. However at that point you naturally start to lose some dynamic range.

R. Laevinus · #9 01-10-2011, 11:55 AM

Hmm, interesting.

My first thought was as Harry and Mikke said - but then I remembered that GK is famous for their "GK Snarl", and I wondered how they would fit it into a head with only one gain knob?

Looks like the answer is, they stuck it way up top!

Chrisk-K · #10 01-10-2011, 12:03 PM

The MB200 stays clean. That's why I bought it. I use a VT Bass to get some dirt.

R. Laevinus · #11 01-10-2011, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisk-K

The MB200 stays clean. That's why I bought it. I use a VT Bass to get some dirt.

Cool, thanks!

stantonl · #12 01-10-2011, 09:29 PM

Alright, ran my GK MB200 through my Ampeg 410HLF and it does indeed stay pretty clean, even when cranked to the max. It does start to sound a little dirty after about 75%, as metron said, but in a good way, at least to me. This little thing gets loud! and actually stayed fairly quiet when cranked. The wife got mad as that I was rattling the whole house!

Definitely a great little amp, especially for the price.

fcleffer · #13 01-10-2011, 09:49 PM

Great amp. I've had the 200MB combo (April '84) on stage with my upright and fretless going alone, through Eden 210, or sometimes Gauss 12 in Flite, and even through an old Peavy 18 BW. The only mod I ever did was about twenty years ago... installed a trim pot in the interior works, and set it at a good average to give me a great tone at all reasonable volumes. Took some experimenting to find the one-size-fits-all before closing the box, but it was worth it. Even in big venues, the DI does the trick. Lots of newer boutique stuff works great for upright, but I've never heard one sound better.

R. Laevinus · #14 01-11-2011, 07:20 AM

Thanks Stanton and FCleffer, it's great to hear from real owners. I really appreciate your antagonizing the wife on our behalf!

metron · #15 01-11-2011, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fcleffer

Great amp. I've had the 200MB combo (April '84) on stage with my upright and fretless going alone, through Eden 210, or sometimes Gauss 12 in Flite, and even through an old Peavy 18 BW. The only mod I ever did was about twenty years ago... installed a trim pot in the interior works, and set it at a good average to give me a great tone at all reasonable volumes. Took some experimenting to find the one-size-fits-all before closing the box, but it was worth it. Even in big venues, the DI does the trick. Lots of newer boutique stuff works great for upright, but I've never heard one sound better.

Silly GK... making two different products almost named the same thing: MB200 (new) and 200MB (old)