+1
I was pleased with my GK head right out of the gate.
But when I learned to do this my amp came alive.
I run my master around 3 o'clock and use the input as my volume control.
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+1
I was pleased with my GK head right out of the gate.
But when I learned to do this my amp came alive.
I run my master around 3 o'clock and use the input as my volume control.
IMHO that's true of ANY solid state amplifier. overdriving the power section is only useful when it's a tube power section, because you get that great natural compression and a very usable harmonic distortion. i've never ever liked the sound of an overdriven solid state power section... ever.
point being, has nothing to do with class d, IMHO/IME.
I do the same as well. Keep my master around 3, boost around 2 and input as my master. Big sound.
RaginRog
Last guy you want to see is Employee Relations guy
FWIW, I may have misread the comment based on wording...
If this is just about turning the master down and cranking the gain up, that's more along the lines of overdriving the input stage of the power section, but not necessarily pushing the power section into overdrive (my bad if I misread that). That said, my story is still the same. Except for MAYBE some hybrid designs, using tubes, and highly dependent on design, I generally find solid state distortion to be not very good. So the MB Fusion might sound good, but I wouldn't expect the MB 500 to... at least not as good as a tube design, or maybe even just running it clean with a really nice distortion/fuzz box in front of it (which I typically find to be the best... especially for tonally critical applications like bass guitar where dynamic loss can REALLY hurt).
Anyway, FWIW.
RaginRog
Last guy you want to see is Employee Relations guy
I set the master at 3 o'clock and pre at around 10 and had a great tone. Better than when I used the master to control the volume on my MB115 II.
This is a bit inaccurate. On a lot of the new Ampeg micro's, you get the best tone by turning up the input to just before clipping, then set the master volume after that. I do the same with the MB Fusion.
The strategy of turning up the master all the way and using the input/pre as volume control is a trick to maximize the amp's headroom (by not clipping the preamp). This does indeed work well for a lot of amps, both SS and Tube. Personally, I don't want a completely clean sound, so I set the growl first on the preamp and then adjust my master volume.
Scored a used 700RB-ii on EBay. Waiting for it to ship now. I'm going to pair it with my 212 MBE-II cabinet. I'll now plan on getting a 112 to pair with my MB200.
After my MBF 500 gave up life twice it got finally replaced by a new model, BUT it seems that the speaker-output only accepts speakon cables now, before i could also use 1/4" plugs ... manual says: "The MB features dual use speaker connections. These unique jacks allow for Speakon or 1/4 plugs to be used."
So are there different MB Fusion 500 models? I want the dual-use connection back.
So are there different MB Fusion 500 models? I want the dual-use connection back.
What a deal!!! Or should I say... steal!! I'm jealous.
I've been looking for one of those (used) for months, with no luck. The closest that I've come is a GK neo 112 for $350.00 that went up on Kijiji recently... but I'm pretty well covered in the 12" department already.
Make sure the 1/4 connect isn't in the center of the SpeakOn connect first. My previous amp was like that.
This was a running change, made for safety reasons. My late-model MB800 and MB200 are the same way.
I read somewhere (Genz Benz thread?) that class D amps run in bridged mode. If the body of a metal 1/4" plug is accidentally shorted to ground, things get ugly. This is why the dual-purpose Speakons have gone out of favour.
I believe that you are correct and that it has gone as far as new products must meet this as a UL requirement as well.
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,621
- 18,706
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
#971 is now free. Just put a Mesa 400 on layaway, should have it in another two weeks. I really love GK's amps (not familiar with their cabs) but one just isn't in my path right now. I'm sure I'll be back some day...
Raz
Raz
Hey - the 'exact' same thing happened to me just last week. Bought a new GK MB500. The research I did and the manual said the outputs would accept both Speakon and 1/4 jack. After I got it home and tried, not so.
I did some more research to find GK stopped that compatibility a while ago due to some technical or legality reasons (@steve_rolfeca mentioned it above), but were a bit late on getting marketing and the manuals updated.
All I did was go back to where I bought it and explained. They were surprised also (or seemed so). The shop picked the adapter - Speakon to 1/4 - off the wall and gave it to me free - Neutrik NA4LJX adapter.
Works just fine now with my 4x10 cabinet and I fell in love all over again ;-)
As per my previous post I was having problems with my MBF800. Loud and hissy and sticky knobs. I contacted the store (online) I bought it from and essentially got blown off.
When I talked to GK directly they immediately said they'd replace it. I received the new one yesterday and what a difference!!
This amp is quiet with none of the hiss of the first one and all the knobs work smoothly with no sticking or catching.
Great customer service!!
When I talked to GK directly they immediately said they'd replace it. I received the new one yesterday and what a difference!!
This amp is quiet with none of the hiss of the first one and all the knobs work smoothly with no sticking or catching.
Great customer service!!
When I learned this trick years ago, made a huge difference with me also!
Highly recommend that method also.
The only problem I had was my ground noise/hiss increased due to the crank of the master. But that was my older amp. Since I got a new amp, I don't really have that problem anymore.
I liked the fact that right in the GK amp manual it suggest this.
