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Double Bass Gallien-Krueger MB200

Uncletoad

Uncletoad

May 6, 2003
5,272
160
64
Columbus Ohio
Disclosures
Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
#1
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I just got one of the heads to use as a backup in case my AI head took a dive. It's the perfect size for that job, 2lbs, the size of a small book. $250 new. It's supposed to live in my bag of back up stuff, extra cables, extension cords etc.

Funny thing is I really like the sound of this head. Really quite a bit. In some ways better than most of the other stuff I use. It has no signal process stuff like adjustable phase or high pass or any of that. Flat it just sounds really good with anything I plug into it. Although it has less power than I'd like for my regular amp it seems loud enough to do quiet to moderate loudness gigs.

Paired with the realist on the Queen and a VL208 it's smooth, fat and clear. Very much a support to my acoustic sound. I've not gig tested it yet but I suspect it will hold its own pretty well.
 
#2
Uncletoad said:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I just got one of the heads to use as a backup in case my AI head took a dive. It's the perfect size for that job, 2lbs, the size of a small book. $250 new. It's supposed to live in my bag of back up stuff, extra cables, extension cords etc.

Funny thing is I really like the sound of this head. Really quite a bit. In some ways better than most of the other stuff I use. It has no signal process stuff like adjustable phase or high pass or any of that. Flat it just sounds really good with anything I plug into it. Although it has less power than I'd like for my regular amp it seems loud enough to do quiet to moderate loudness gigs.

Paired with the realist on the Queen and a VL208 it's smooth, fat and clear. Very much a support to my acoustic sound. I've not gig tested it yet but I suspect it will hold its own pretty well.
Click to expand...

Phil,
I think what you're hearing is a pre amp voicing that's similar to the old 200MB and 400RB.

200MB
Treble control operating at 4.0 kilo- hertz.
High Mid-Range control operating at 1.0khz.
Low Mid-Range operating at 250hz.
Bass control 60hz.

MB200

Treble: Boost and cut at 7 kHz +14 dB
Hi-Mid: Boost and cut at 1 kHz +6 dB.
Low-Mid: Boost and cut at 250Hz +6dB/-10 dB.
Bass: Boost and cut a 60Hz +10 dB

With the exception of the Treble Control, the EQ points of the 200MB and MB200 are the same. I always liked my 200MB.

Ric
 
#4
I've been using the 400RB and loving every minute of it. Last night after the first set I talked with a good friend and regular at my steady gig. Literally, the first thing he said was, 'that has to be the best sounding bass amp I've ever heard'. Maybe a stretch, but he wasn't far off. I have gotten compliments on my tone everytime I have used that old head whether it was used with slab or DB. It just gets it done.:hyper: I find the EQ points to be absolutely perfectly chosen. Whether the treble is at 4k or 7k isn't material as it's well above where I live anyway.

I bought into the school of thought that DB amps have to be 'neutral' in order to preserve the 'acoustic' purity. They need phase reversal, HPF, notch, yada, yada, yada.
Honestly, when I owned the Focus I rarely used those features and could never remember when I was or wasn't reversing phase. Way too much to worry about.
It's nice to just plug in, do some minor EQing and play the gig. I don't even use Fdeck's box with it.

Phil, does the little head fit in the back pocket of the Messina?
 
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#6
I'm looking to try one of these guys out with my DB. As much as I love the warn tone I get out of my old pre-fender WM 12, the fact remains It is too heavy to take it with me to a gig on the subway. I wonder how it would push something like the wizzy 10? The MB200, an F-deck, and the wizzy would only be about 20 pounds and could utilize that nifty backpack. And would come in comfortably under $1k....
 
#7
The amp is so small it would easily fit in a bass gigbag. I think it would power the Wizzy 10 just fine although I've never tried it. Not enough cab for me though. I'm going to try to borrow an MLine Wizzy to try with it. I think that cab and head would make a great portable rig in the same ilk as the MB150 combo but with a richer low end. Lighter too.
 
#9
It would be interesting for somebody to measure the response curve of the MB200 preamp. If it's like the Backline 600 that I own, the preamp has a "scooped" voicing when the EQ knobs are centered, but I was able to dial it flat. Not that flat response is the be-all and end-all, but I've found that at the very least, it would be useful to know what the curve looks like.
 
#10
fdeck said:
It would be interesting for somebody to measure the response curve of the MB200 preamp. If it's like the Backline 600 that I own, the preamp has a "scooped" voicing when the EQ knobs are centered, but I was able to dial it flat. Not that flat response is the be-all and end-all, but I've found that at the very least, it would be useful to know what the curve looks like.
Click to expand...

IHMO the Backline Amps sound different than the MB500 and 200, but I'm not a expert by any means. What I like is the fact that GK is building afordable amps which sound good with DB that a highschool or college student could easily afford. Most of the stuff we discuss on the DB Amplifier thread is out of their price range.

Ric

I took a look at the specs for the pre amp voicing for the Backline is the same as the MB200.
 
#11
fdeck said:
It would be interesting for somebody to measure the response curve of the MB200 preamp. If it's like the Backline 600 that I own, the preamp has a "scooped" voicing when the EQ knobs are centered, but I was able to dial it flat. Not that flat response is the be-all and end-all, but I've found that at the very least, it would be useful to know what the curve looks like.
Click to expand...
It's for sure scooped and EQ'd like mad. I like the sound of whatever it is. It works.

I have no interest in "flat". I think the sound of DB pickups flat through high res stuff is awful. The pickups don't pick up flat so I think EQ is required to make them sound like something.

My thing is with amps like this I don't have to mess with it myself, just plug in, turn on, and play. I like that.

Also I hadn't really thought of it but the Wizzy 10/MB200 mix at $650-$750 is a small rig killer combo for money and size.
 
#12
I agree that "flat" isn't where it's at, for piezo pickup equipped DB amplification. Sometimes a gentle scoop helps mellow out the nasal piezo quack.

I have been a fan of the GK "tone" for upright for some time. They have a nice warm tone but with good clarity also.
 
#13
Gearhead43 said:
I agree that "flat" isn't where it's at, for piezo pickup equipped DB amplification. Sometimes a gentle scoop helps mellow out the nasal piezo quack.

I have been a fan of the GK "tone" for upright for some time. They have a nice warm tone but with good clarity also.
Click to expand...

I guess it's simply scooped in right place for DB. I'm not a big fan of "flat amplifiers" either cause the Walter Woods definitely ain't flat. Some folks really don't like them, but they work for me.

Ric
 
#15
Uncletoad said:
I have no interest in "flat". I think the sound of DB pickups flat through high res stuff is awful. The pickups don't pick up flat so I think EQ is required to make them sound like something.
Click to expand...
Exactly my thoughts. I believe the "flat" concept is a huge misunderstanding of what amps are about. With pickups we need to have the right curve or voicing to recreate the acoustic bass sound. To go flat means we amplify the true sound of the pickup, NOT the bass. As Uncletoad said, anyway...
 
#16
fdeck said:
Agreed with all of y'all. I just want to know what the curve looks like. The only hitch is that I've already got a micro head. But I'm glad that GK continues to make honest, affordable gear.
Click to expand...

Francis,
I remember now that you got yourself a EA micro. Hows that compare to the preamp in you're GK Backline? I would think that they would be quite different.

Ric
 
#17
Ric Vice said:
Francis,
I remember now that you got yourself a EA micro. Hows that compare to the preamp in you're GK Backline? I would think that they would be quite different.

Ric
Click to expand...

I'm happy with the micro. To be honest, I got lazy and haven't measured its response curve, but from the info provided by EA at their site, it's a safe bet that the micro is flat. That's what seems to work with my current bass, pickup, speaker, etc.
 
#18
I have a Micro as well, and I am not sure its all that flat in its response. Nice sounding head though. My only gripe is the lack of a hi pass because its frequency response is so broad(I have the Micro 300). Always liked the GK sound with Double Bass. The MB150 isn't a perfect amp, but I can almost always get a really good sound no matter where I am playing. The MB200 looks great.
 
#19
The 200MB was a great amp. If this new 200MB sounds has a similar slew rate and old school type tone, I'll be very interested in owning one. And 2lbs, 250 bucks, 200 watts (140 at 8ohms)! Reliability is the only issue that could bring this one down. Very classy looking package.....are the controls back lit?

EDIT: new MB200, that is. Those two model numbers are a breeding ground for dyslectic possibilities.
 

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