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Double Bass G&K MB 150S Micro Bass Amp

1

1gneissguy

Aug 7, 2006
9
7
Greenback, TN
#1
I am looking to purchase a new amp for use with an upright acoustic, and occasional use with a P-bass. Is this amp a good choice if I am playing old-time, bluegrass and gospel with other acoustic instruments? Weight is a factor. Large venues are not on the horizon. I also considered the AMPEG Micro-VR Head + SVT 210 AV cab.
 
#3
I was using MB150E with same combination (DB + BG) and it is excellent little combo, small and easy to carry. But if you play with loud drummer it will get lost unless you connect it to PA.

GK MB112 is probably good option. Haven`t tried it, but I tried Markbass Minimark (I was impressed by the sound for DB) and CMD 121P (also excellent and very powerful). However these are expensive compared to MB112, but you should check forum on the BG side, some people had reliability issues with new MB series.
 
#5
GoranR said:
I was using MB150E with same combination (DB + BG) and it is excellent little combo, small and easy to carry. But if you play with loud drummer it will get lost unless you connect it to PA...
Click to expand...

I had this amp for many years. (MB150) I agree on the headroom as described above on electric bass, but not necessarily so with doublebass. I played some big places with loud bands and this amp on a chair or stool and had it work really well.

I did seem to have trouble with it in certain rooms. Bad acoustics, limits to where I could place it, etc could stress it's limits. That's certainly true of any amp, but some handle that type of trouble better than others.

In answer to your question: yes, it's a good choice for what you describe. Think lower volume situations for electric bass and assume that for one handed carry in that price range, especially used, it's a great tool for double bass.

For a lot more money, there are better choices, but I don't think there are great competitors in it's used price range right now.
 
#6
1gneissguy said:
I am looking to purchase a new amp for use with an upright acoustic, and occasional use with a P-bass. Is this amp a good choice if I am playing old-time, bluegrass and gospel with other acoustic instruments? Weight is a factor. Large venues are not on the horizon. I also considered the AMPEG Micro-VR Head + SVT 210 AV cab.
Click to expand...

1 Gneiss Guy,
IMHO the Gallien Krueger MBS is a rugged little amp that can take some bumping around. I haven't played through a MB112 but I don't think they would hold up as well. There is a substantial difference in price between the two, but it's worth the extra money. As long as you aren't going for any substantial volume it's a great little amp. If you buy it get the carrying bag. I have no experience with the Micro VR.

Ric
 
#7
Macher said:
What is the difference between the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] and the MB150S-112III 150W MicroBass Combo Amp And would any compare to the Markbass CMD 112P?
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I own both the GK MB112 and the MB150S. To me they are significantly different, each with their own strengths. The voicings of these two amps are quite different, with the MB112 have slightly scooped mids, while the MB150S has more prominent mids with less low-end extension. Into their internal speakers, the MB112 can develop twice as much power as the MB150S (200 watts vs 100), so the MB112 has quite a bit more headroom. Although they weigh about the same, the MB112 is significantly larger, and the MB150S is easier to carry, especially with your DB. I have found the fdeck HPF-Pre to be essential for DB use with the MB112, while I never need it with the MB150S. Subjectively, I tend to prefer the MB150S for bass guitar and EUB and the MB150S for double bass.

I have also used the Markbass CMD 121P on several occasions. It's a very nice amp overall, but the GK MB112 comes very close for about a third the price of the 121P.
 
#8
To the OP: The GK 150MB is an excellent choice. I use one in almost the exact situations you are describing. Very portable, and I love the tone. It does have trouble keeping up with a drummer, unless they play at moderate volumes. I also have a MB500/210MBE/115MBE stack, and I agree with the others here, completely different tone.

To me, the 150MB gets a really good tone for acoustic type settings. And it will get quite loud on its own. In fact, it sounds pretty good when it is pushed hard, but you run the risk in a jam situation, where everyone keeps getting louder through the night, of blowing the speaker. It would require an extension cabinet if really deep, loud bass content was required..
 
#10
Blankandson said:
What kind of sound/tone/lows would I get if I used the GK 200w/4 ohm 15 inch extension cab and turned the MicroBass internal speaker off? That would be running 150 watts into the 200 watt cab.
Click to expand...

This works surprisingly well, and I've done just this for louder gigs, although I was using a cabinet with a 12" speaker. The tone is not unlike a standard GK head like the 400RB. Part of the MB150S tone comes from the sealed cabinet, so shutting off the internal speaker and using an extension cab yields a more traditional tone, if that makes any sense. It's really a versatile and rugged little amp and I like it for electric bass too.

BTW it's only 150 watts if you leave the internal speaker on as well which brings it down to 4 ohms.

- Steve
 
#11
If you're looking at the GK MB150s (which I owned once and liked alot) then the following might work for you -

GK MB 200 / 2 lbs : [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

and

GK 112 MBX / 16 lbs : [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I own one and it works great.

I also own an Ampeg SVT 210 AV and that would be a great pickup too.
 
#12
The manual for the MB150 says (on page 5) that if the internal speaker is turned off, and the extension speaker is a 4 ohm cab, then you get the full 150 watts into the extension speaker. I was just looking at the MF website and came up with another possible option for using the MB150 when you really need more power. Get the MB115 combo (200 watts 1X15 spkr) or MB112 combo (200 watts 1X12 spkr) and plug it into the line out on the MB150S. That adds $340-$400 but would give you about everything you'd ever need. At least for me it would.
 
#13
I got the MB150S and it finally got here last week, after nearly two months on back-order. I haven't "gigged" with it yet, but so far I really like the sound I get with the upright. It has the nice "natural" acoustic sound that I was hoping for. Your advice is appreciated.
 

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