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~ Gallien- Krueger MB Series Amplifiers ~

Which 500W Gallien-Krueger MB series amplifier is the most “RELIABLE“?

  • Total voters
    31
Joe Louvar

Joe Louvar

Guest
Jun 6, 2011
7,543
289
Santa Rosa, CA USA
www.reverbnation.com
#1
Which 500W Gallien-Krueger MB series amplifier is the most “RELIABLE“?
(amplifier head - not combos)

MB200 - I’ve read there have been some hiss issues - but overall it gets both thumbs ups?
MB500 - I’ve read there have been some overheating etc issues - but GK fixed the problems?
MB Fusion 500 - I’ve just started reading reviews and so I’m not sure?
MB800 - I’ve read there were some earlier issues, like mute switch failure - but GK fixed the problems?

I didn’t include the MB200 in the poll because - it’s only 200 watts, plus I already know ‘most’ people love them - and I already plan to buy a couple if I don’t like one of the 500W amps better - plus, I’ll probably buy one anyway. PS - and yes, I’ve been read the other TB GK threads too. ;) And remember this is just about reliability only - not features, tube/SS, tone, etc - which one has the least bugs?

Which 500W Gallien-Krueger MB series amplifier is the most “RELIABLE“?

Thanks
 
#3
Won't this poll turn into a popularity contest?
Seems unlikely that many hear have purchased more than one which means the experience is either based on ones' personal ownership, or, what has been regurgitated here in the past.
No criticism but purley interest in the accuracy
 
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#4
Uh...it's a gK. it's reliable. If it breaks, they are super about getting you handled... RAG, hizzhonor visits regularly... Or to put it another way... I've had a 400B, 400 RB, 800RB, 2 1001 rb II's and now own the MB200 and an MB2-500 A07. 30+ years of GK ownership...

Buy the one you like the sound of and don't sweat it. Really. My only complaint with GK is that I'm not sponsored :D

(If I was sponsored, I'd be all over the sweat deal for an MB Fusion as I love the concept. ...had a Fusion 550 in a backline last summer... Sounded very nice but I really couldn't crank lest I get the look from Mr Artist... That gig, he's the guy who gets to be too loud...)
 
#5
I have a MB500 that is the speakon only version and it has no issues. I love it. The only thing that is annoying is that the knobs always change during transport. 2 year warranty should cover any electronic issues.
 
#6
4Mal said:
Uh...it's a gK. it's reliable. If it breaks, they are super about getting you handled... RAG, hizzhonor visits regularly... Or to put it another way... I've had a 400B, 400 RB, 800RB, 2 1001 rb II's and now own the MB200 and an MB2-500 A07. 30+ years of GK ownership...

Buy the one you like the sound of and don't sweat it. Really. My only complaint with GK is that I'm not sponsored :D

(If I was sponsored, I'd be all over the sweat deal for an MB Fusion as I love the concept. ...had a Fusion 550 in a backline last summer... Sounded very nice but I really couldn't crank lest I get the look from Mr Artist... That gig, he's the guy who gets to be too loud...)
Click to expand...

I’m a longtime GK800RB and 400RB user (over 30+ years) and I currently own 3 GK rigs, and I‘m going to buy another one - so this is NOT a bash GK thread. ;)

Jim C said:
Won't this poll turn into a popularity contest?
Seems unlikely that many hear have purchased more than one which means the experience is either based on ones' personal ownership, or, what has been regurgitated here in the past.
No criticism but purley interest in the accuracy
Click to expand...

Yeah, probably somewhat anyway - but I guess that’s ok too because at least I know they’re happy campers. And I like having all/most/many of the MB series comments in one thread - if possible?

I have a MB500 that is the speakon only version and it has no issues. I love it. The only thing that is annoying is that the knobs always change during transport. 2 year warranty should cover any electronic issues.
Click to expand...

Way cool - the newer version, thanks.

Please keep voting and all comments (pro and con) are welcome. Thanks.
 
#11
Joe,
Not to kick sand but you might want to search the MB500. As I recall the first versions were very unreliable but that was resolved through a number of revisions.
 
#12
Jim C said:
Joe,
Not to kick sand but you might want to search the MB500. As I recall the first versions were very unreliable but that was resolved through a number of revisions.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jim, yeah I’ve read the thread and others and this is one reason why I stated this thread - trying to gather the newest updated GK MB info into one thread.

Please keep voting - and commenting. Thanks
 
#13
Joe Louvar said:
Wow, 2 months to fix is a long time, how long ago was this, recently or was this one of the earlier models - oh, and what was/were the problems?

EDIT: and how is it holding up now?
Click to expand...

2 years ago.

It was an MB500 not an MB-2-500.

I sold it after it got fixed because I couldn't deal with a primary amp being out of commission for 2 months in the event of a problem.
 
#14
Jim C said:
Joe,
Not to kick sand but you might want to search the MB500. As I recall the first versions were very unreliable but that was resolved through a number of revisions.
Click to expand...

Never heard of the MB500 as being unreliable. You may be remembering the MB2-500. There were 7 itterations of that head before it was rebadged as the MB500. Most of the itterations were voicing related with 1 or 2 being noise related, hiss and rf IIRC.

Those 7 itterations did not help GK from a reputation standpoint at all. Ot did give them a bunch of opportunities to show off their customer service though... That can't have been cheap for them. It seems to me that they took a lesson away from that experience and applied it to the MB200 and MB Fusion heads where the releases seem to have been pretty stable.

GK took care of those by updating the heads to the A07 release. Mine is an A07 and it's been a trooper.

Mb800, I can't imagine wanting to stand in front of a head that powerful when it was fired in anger... 500 about halfway up into my 12/6 is louder than I need to be ...
 
#15
Just to chime i here, I had posted in another thread about my new MB Fusion having a problem.

I dropped it off for repair Monday morning at the authorized repair shop in Canoga Park, ARS. Despite the fact that it is likely just the tube they still think it will be 'at least a week' to fix, unless I want to pay a rush fee. Since I don't think I should be out of pocket at all on a 6 week old amp I declined. So I'm feeling a bit of apprehension regarding how long it will really take.

At this point I personally cannot vouch for the MB Fusion being reliable. No doubt my cause is unusual but it is what it is. Hopefully this will be the only issue I ever have with it.
 
#16
Thanks rpsands, yeah, I can’t blame you - I wouldn’t be happy about 2 months either. BTW, what did they say was the problem - what did they fix?

Thanks 4mal, wow, yeah that’s not good. BTW, how can we tell if a MB500 is a newer “A07” version or not?

Thanks SillyStrings, a month and a half is a long time - what is the problem or what did they say is the problem? Also, please keep me updated as to what happens.

And all MB owners (or ex-owners) please keep voting and commenting - pro or con. Thanks.
 
#18
4Mal said:
You may be remembering the MB2-500. There were 7 itterations of that head before it was rebadged as the MB500. Most of the itterations were voicing related with 1 or 2 being noise related, hiss and rf IIRC.

Those 7 itterations did not help GK from a reputation standpoint at all. GK took care of those by updating the heads to the A07 release. Mine is an A07 and it's been a trooper.
QUOTE]

Yes, that's it; thanks for the correction
Click to expand...
 
#20
I don't know what all the revisions were (A00-A07). I know one revision was driven by comments/concerns here on TB. Robert Gallien responded to comments here by re-voicing the preamp! :) Remember that when the MB2-500 hit the market the class D modules were very new to Bass MI use. Took guts to be the scape-goat and take the financial hits to bring these little class D wonders to the market, not only under the G-K name but many others have profited from G-K's early efforts. ;)
 

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