GK mb500 as loud as the LMII/III ???

[::::BASSIST::::]

As a perpetual weight weenie I see that the mb500 is smaller and 2.64LBS lighter than the LMII. But... can it reach the same volume?

Also how is the limiter at 8 ohms of the mb500? The limiter on the LMII at 8 ohms is not so great when the volume gets loud.

[KJung]

Just did a comparison between the LMII, the F1 and the MB2-500 (not the newest MB500, but the 'seventh' release of the MB2-500... so should be about the same as the MB500 with the limiter switch off).

The MB500 is quite loud, and actually seems louder than the MB heads due to the REALLY hot input gain structure. The amp goes from 'off to screaming loud' within the first 25% of the gain pot and master.

When you take the gain and volume tapers into account, the volume is about the same, although the MB2-500 has deeper bass and WAY more sizzly treble up top... very 'over the top' voicing to my ear. It actually makes the very bright F1 sound a bit 'dark' It also is quite hissy and noisy.

I don't use my MB heads at 8ohms, and didn't test the MB500 at 8, so can't comment on their 'half power performance'.

[G RICH 5]

My main rig is the MB 2-500 (older version) with a schroeder 1210 L. I also have a Mark Bass LM 800 tube. Every time I play with the GK, I am only able to turn it up 1/2 way, and that is LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!! The LM 800,while having a "warmer" sound to it, is nowhere near as loud at the same settings. The price point is also better on the GK, if that is an issue. IMHO, FWIW.

Peace, and good luck on your quest!

[KJung]

Originally Posted by G RICH 5

My main rig is the MB 2-500 (older version) with a schroeder 1210 L. I also have a Mark Bass LM 800 tube. Every time I play with the GK, I am only able to turn it up 1/2 way, and that is LOUD!!!!!!!!!!!! The LM 800,while having a "warmer" sound to it, is nowhere near as loud at the same settings. The price point is also better on the GK, if that is an issue. IMHO, FWIW.

Peace, and good luck on your quest!

That was my point above... you can't compare two amps based on the position of the knobs, which is arbitrary and due to the specific gain structure and volume and gain knob tapers. That tells you very little about the maximum volume of the amp.

For example, my TecAmp Puma uses those audio taper controls (nice!), so it doesn't even start to cook volume-wise until the master is past noon, and the input gain is at 3 o'clock (given my technique and signal strength going into the head). My Markbass reaches pretty much full volume at noon or 1 o'clock with similar 'just below clip light' input gain settings. The GK seems to reach almost full volume at VERY low knob settings (which is not good IMO... makes it hard to do small volume adjustments when you are playing at moderate volumes.

[::::BASSIST::::]

Interesting.

I would almost undoubtedly use my VT Bass as the primary tone shaping tool for the mb500.

Any TBers use the VT Bass with the mb500 and care to comment on the tone?

[jtc_hunter]

I have the newest MB500 and with the input gain at 3:00 and master at 3:00 there is no hiss or unwanted noise at all. I have never pushed it past that volume because I dont want to loose my hearing.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by jtc_hunter

I have the newest MB500 and with the input gain at 3:00 and master at 3:00 there is no hiss or unwanted noise at all. I have never pushed it past that volume because I dont want to loose my hearing.

Excellent! They must have REALLY changed the gain structure on the new model. On the original, even with my relatively light touch and moderate output basses, I couldn't get the input gain past 9 o'clock, and the amp seemed to reach 'beyond full power' with the master at about 11 o'clock. Not good, and it hissed like a snake.

[lbwdog]

While I've been a G-K fan for 20+ years, I've always found them to be a little hissier than other similar brands, although my 700RB II doesn't seem to hiss quite as much as my old 800RB.....and it seems to hiss a little more now than when it was new (1987). No experience with the MB500.

FWIW; It's never been a problem once I'm playing with other instruments, and I've also done lot of successful recording through a Neve console without incident.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by lbwdog

While I've been a G-K fan for 20+ years, I've always found them to be a little hissier than other similar brands, although my 700RB II doesn't seem to hiss quite as much as my old 800RB.....and it seems to hiss a little more now than when it was new (1987). No experience with the MB500.

FWIW; It's never been a problem once I'm playing with other instruments, and I've also done lot of successful recording through a Neve console without incident.

Also, to be fair, the upper treble is so goosed on the MB2-500, that part of the noise is just a lot of volume above 8K or whatever. If I crank the 10K shelving treble control of, for example, my MB heads, they get a bit hissy also.

[jtc_hunter]

Originally Posted by lbwdog

While I've been a G-K fan for 20+ years, I've always found them to be a little hissier than other similar brands, although my 700RB II doesn't seem to hiss quite as much as my old 800RB.....and it seems to hiss a little more now than when it was new (1987). No experience with the MB500.

FWIW; It's never been a problem once I'm playing with other instruments, and I've also done lot of successful recording through a Neve console without incident.

That his that is getting worse is probably the preamp section going bad slowly. A good tech can change that out easily. I had one that did that.

[lbwdog]

Originally Posted by jtc_hunter

That his that is getting worse is probably the preamp section going bad slowly. A good tech can change that out easily. I had one that did that.

Probably....I don't take it on gigs anymore,though. I have a 700RB and a Markbass 800 Tube that does gig duty. The 800RB just stays behind for home playing. There's also a modification I've read about that I might look into one of these days.

I'll probably get a G-K MB Fusion if it debuts in my lifetime.