Regular MB500 OR MB fusion 500?
 

I've been playing an MB500 for years now. Could someone give me an opinion on if it would be worth it to upgrade to the fusion model. Do the tube really effect the amps tone that much. i have little interest in distortion from the amp. i mainly use a very clean tone.

All opinion welcome.

I wouldn't call the fusion an "upgrade". It's essentially the same amp with a slightly different tonal palate. If the MB500 is working for you I'd probably stick with it as you've mentioned "clean" is the sound you're mostly looking for.

Probably won't matter that much for you, but tube distortion can be very mild and pleasing not like the hard clipping distortion from many pedals. This is what people are talking about when they say the "warmth" of tubes. This is very mild thing (I mean if you are mildly pushing the tubes not full on grind) and for live performance it probably not very noticeable if you are playing in a full band. On a recording it will be more noticeable depending on how loud the bass is in the mix, how the bass is processed, and the arrangement.

But again if you aren't really pushing the tubes hard it will only be a minor difference.

As I recall bot Tom and Chef have reported that they hear a subtle difference in tone and not a night and day thing.
It would take a while but it is searchable.

+1 In my A/Bing of those heads, much more similar than different, and I find the MBFusion one of the least 'hybrid' sounding heads, even with the three tubes. A little less 'screaming' in the upper midrange versus the very bright/aggressive MB500, but nothing that you can't pretty well match with EQ. I did 'prefer' the MBfusion a smidge for that reason (the somewhat more controlled top end) and that big of 'edge' removed from the inherent tone), but again, with EQ, I got close enough that it didn't really matter.

My rule is to avoid tubes at all costs unless you can really hear the impact (especially an amp with three of them crammed in that small space). IMO again there.

To the OP, I would just keep that MB500 and be happy!

Yup!

Definitely keep that MB500 - and rock it! :smug:

I've got one of those myself, and I just love it. So sweet, so clean, so modern, so punchy! Not to mention powerful.

If you need it a little smoother or darker, merely dial down the upper midrange a bit, the highs a bit less...and dial up the lower midrange a bit, the lows perhaps a bit less.

Voila! You're there. Enjoy... :bassist:

MM