So last night I am at full-volume band practice and all the sudden I start hearing weird squealing every now and then from my rig. Freaking out since it's a BRAND NEW GK MB500, I shut things off as soon as I could. It happened about twice (even after swapping some cables) and we deduced that it was some weird patch cables on my effects board giving me trouble. I was a bit sad, because I use an incredibly aggressive tone that still has some solid bottom-end (don't ask me how, but it defies all logic and cuts through no problem), and I believed that this was achievable only with my pedals. So I plugged in and used the G.I.V.E. (Gate-Induced Valve Effect), located on the 2nd channel of the MB500. Had the gain at a normal setting, cranked the "Boost" knob to about 12 o'clock and played a couple of riffs. I noticed the drummer's eyes widening as mine did, it sounded incredibly close to the tone I got from all my pedals....to the point that the guitarist said "Man, maybe it was those GK heads getting that sick tone all along!" Before now, I used the 700RB-II with the boost knob at about 9 or 10 o'clock, paired that with my Idiotbox Blower Box or Wren and Cuff Tall Font Russian. While I'm keeping all those pedals, I was floored at how much aggression I got simply with that 2nd channel on the MB500 of all things (figured the 700RB-II would handle this kind of thing better). Dude...I freakin love that company so much lol
Welcome grashopper; you have seen the light! These amps aren't great for everything but they do some things VERY well and rock music is on of them. The same amp can be used for much quieter and softer material with some minor tweeks to volume, boost, and master. For the record, I prefer my RB1001 over the MBF800.
I'm often telling folks they don't need a drive or boost pedal if they have enough gain on their amp.
1) use the EBS flat patch cables. All others are crud by comparison 2) GK is good gear. I run an MB112 and MBP112. Can get stupid loud and sound good.
I don't use the crunch channel (or crunch) but agree with you about the company. The MB amps are something else.
You should have cranked the boost on your RB head to really see what RB amps do growl wise. Nothing against D class or MB amps, but RB amps are a league of their own IMO. It's that power amp that does that awesome thing. I agree, GK rules, and I've been using them for years and years. I don't think there's a genre I couldn't do with my 2001RB, so I disagree about them not being great for everything. I say they're great for EVERYTHING.
I thought this was going to be a GK bashing thread from the title. I have a 400RB III 210 combo that I have in my practice room for quick connect practice/jam moments. Sounds great when I put the boost knob at about 1:00 or 2:00 o’clock to get a nice rocking P bass tone. Funny thing is I am contemplating pulling the head out of the combo so I can use it as a portable head with my other cabs, with a fabricated top of coarse.
My 212II combo can downright get dirty as f¥€k! I don’t even use my Volt Thrower with it anymore. Same for my 800RB
One of the great things about those RB heads- that magic Boost knob! Hearing Scot Soto playing a P-bass through an RB400 into an SVT810 on Live at the house of Blues is just right; not too loud, not too soft. It sits against two Marshalls half stacks perfectly.
I really wish someone would have told me to remove the shot glasses from the shelf, before making these adjustments... ... I really like the G.I.V.E./Boost circuitry on my MB500... thanks, GK!
These are the stories I love to hear. I'm a pedal head. Totally admit it. I love them. But I too have had those moments where you're not using any pedals or it's a bare minimum and it's like, "WOW...my tone...it's so.....so SICK!" haha That's what's up. I remember I got this one time with a pedal. A Fuzzro Rat Tail. I stomped it and my guitarist looked at me like haha It was great.
Interesting. I got an MBF800 some years ago and never took to it. Got an 1001rbII recently and actually read the manual when I could not get the sound I was aiming for. The gain/boast/volume thing is exactly backwards to anything else I have used. Will be trying it on the MBF800 with channel B and see if that brings some love. I am sold on the 1001 but it is hard to use except in larger venues. The 1001rbII is a hairy scary monster. Thanks for the thread.
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