Gallien-Krueger MB2-500: Part II

[unclekebm]

"one man's trash"

 

[vene-nemesis]

I tryed one yesterday and I think it sux.
I cant deliver clean power, the powersupply sags @ less than half power, actually just like the shuttle 6.

this is never 350 clean watts possibly 100 , but no way its 300 watts.

If you know what a good amp sounds like, then its clear that there is some thing wrong with the dwarf.

Good switching Powersupplys and class D amps are not cheap, so go figure.

Care to explain a little bit further plz, as you seem to be the only one who does not like the amp your input might be interesting.

 

[dave79]

powersupply[sic.] sags? Haven't had that problem with either amp. What are your symptoms?
IMO the Shuttle 6.0 at 600w sounds like 600w and the mb2-500 at 500w sounds like 700w.

 

[MarkusBass]

powersupply[sic.] sags? Haven't had that problem with either amp. What are your symptoms?
IMO the Shuttle 6.0 at 600w sounds like 600w and the mb2-500 at 500w sounds like 700w.

Yes...my MB2 is surprisingly powerful!

 

[bazzanderson]

once I sell my 1001RB-II I'll be able to either get the MB2-500 or the Carvin BX500....totally torn between them. I like GK quality (love my 1001RB-II...just downsizing) but the Carvin has a tube preamp.

 

[dave79]

yes, one tube...check out Gallien's interview in Bowlus's bass gear mag. Oddly enough, the only bass amps I've ever had ANY problems with were GK and Carvin. Both GK's had grounding issues.......still better than the Carvin though, which caught on fire (they're the best value in bass guitars though)

 

[NOLA Bass]

Just picked one up from the Perfect Bass yesterday. I've been needing a second head. I tried it against the Shuttle 6.0 (through an Epifani PS410) and IMO the GK smoked it.

 

[NorCal Dog]

Our rack ears for the MB2-500 are in the final engineering phase. They should be available in about 8 weeks.

Hey Brian,

can you let us know when they are available to the public & who has 'em ?

thanks

Dog

 

[jnewmark]

Just picked one up from the Perfect Bass yesterday. I've been needing a second head. I tried it against the Shuttle 6.0 (through an Epifani PS410) and IMO the GK smoked it.

Can you talk a little bit more on why you think that? The GK is the only lightweight head I have'nt tried, and I do have a Shuttle 6.0. I've also tried the Carvin and The Markbass LM ll. Carvin so far seems the best bang for the buck.

 

[Jim C]

You've go to hand it to GK; they have a very loyal following.
After reading this thread, it is clear that this amp has had a huge share of problems as well as revisions.
Glad they are being worked out; props to management but perhaps no "attaboys" to marketing & R&D.
Don't think Ampeg has ever had this many issues on a new release, but then again, they don't have very good customer service either.

 

[bass4me]

A05 version here, no problems for me so far, and it is very comparable to my 1001rb-II. Way easier to lug around too!

 

[jnewmark]

So, has there been any general consensus as to whether or not this head sounds like a typical GK head, or is it a different animal altogether?

 

[coolrunner989]

To me it sounded exactly the same as my 1001 RB-II. Otherwise I wouldnt have swapped them out.

 

[MarkusBass]

Mine sounds a lot like my 800RB.

 

[Christian Waiau]

Mine sounds a lot like my 800RB.

with the GIVE circuit on I get close to my 800rb also.

I would like to state I have had no problems with my a03 since I got it back the first time. I have gigged out about twice a month and recently I have used it for gig level practice session at the studio 5 days a week running it at least 1hour a day.

 

[tombowlus]

So, has there been any general consensus as to whether or not this head sounds like a typical GK head, or is it a different animal altogether?

When I first got in the MB2​-500 and the Fusion 550 for review, they were so unique from each other that I asked Bob to send me a more "standard" GK head for comparative purposes. He sent a 700RB-II (which I find to be one heck of a good head, but that is another story...), and the MB2​-500 sounds much more like the 700 than it does the Fusion. Of course, the Fusion sports GK's first tube preamp, and both the MB2​-500 and the 700RB-II feature solid state pres, and a very similar EQ, so it makes sense that they would sound very similar. I would not call them identical, though. But certainly quite similar.

Tom.

 

[bazzanderson]

us GK fans know their amps are conservatively rated...my 1001RB-II (700 watts) sounds like it's louder than some 1000 watt amps.

I'm wondering if the same is true for the MB2-500? Does is seem to get louder than what would be expected from a class D 500 watt amp?

Thx,
Barry-

 

[bazzanderson]

just got back from GC for lunch break. WOW....the MB2-500 is REALLY loud. I played a sterling through it to a GK 4X10. Very loud and a nice tone was easily eq'd (everything flat!)

Has anyone done ABd this to the Carvin BX500?

 

[Brian Clark]

Hey Brian,

can you let us know when they are available to the public & who has 'em ?

thanks

Dog

They are about 6 weeks away. They are considered an accessory, so you can order them from any of our dealers or off of our website.

 

[NorCal Dog]

They are about 6 weeks away. They are considered an accessory, so you can order them from any of our dealers or off of our website.

thanks for your response Brian, i actually LOL'd when i read it

the first time i asked about the rack ears, on 4/1, you responded that they were 8 weeks out

hence my current query, ( as that was 7 weeks ago )

now they're 6 weeks out

i guess that i'll just put them on my christmas list & hope for the best

( this is not a dig, as i TOTALLY understand the manufacturing process )

keep up the good work there at GK