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Gallien-Krueger MB2-500: Part II

#561
I have pushed mine to crazy levels with my laptop open on top of amp, causing it to be rather warm with the cooling fan running ...I've never noticed it getting really hot. I have played heavy riffs for extended periods, slap and finger style on B and E strings with settings way beyond what others say leads to random drop out. Mine has never even hiccuped.
If you like the amp and its giving you trouble, I would recommend contacting GK's 1st class customer service.
 
#562
I keep being told by Brian @ GK that, I'm pushing my amp too hard...
-10db engaged, volume approx 1/3rd, EQ flat, no contour
I personally don't feel like I'm pushing the amp hard at all ???
my 600 watt 4ohm 2X12 is barely breathing,
when I kick in the Boost channel (slight vol increase with dirt) is when it starts shutting down

He's blaming it on my speaker cab; GB NeoX 212t,
but I've never had any problems with my (LMKII, F1, Shuttle 6.0, 1001RBII or 700RBII) through this cab...

He has never offered to send me a new one, so I guess the MB2 will be my LOW volume gig amp,
to bad, 'cause i really like it

I've been using GK for years, but this kinda sours my relationship :(
 
#563
ahh I see I'm not the only one with this problem.

I got an A05 model and plugged into an Ampeg 810 with my Ibanez musician bass. Within the first minute and half of playing it shut down and then came right back on when I stopped playing. I called GK(and they're awesome, by the way) and one of techs told me it could be a faulty power issue, so they sent me an A06 model.
Same thing happened. I never had this problem with my 700RBII. I spoke to Brian and he is going to try to duplicate the problem and if necessary, replace the boards.

My only guess is that because my bass has an active toggle switch AND the head has G.I.V.E., it's just too much for the head to handle. I'd like to hear what Brian says this week. Since this is a metal band, playing low is not really an option.

I would really like this to work out, on account that I'll be lugging an 810 to every gig and it would nice to have one less, bulky item to carry. If it doesn't work this time around there's no way I can keep it. Too risky for future gigs. Time will tell.
 
#564
After 29 pages, many months and 5 revisions of this amp I'm beginning to think all is not well with this design. I have loved GK products up in the past... and really wanted to purchase one of these amps but something stinks. I would think GK could narrow down the problems by now... especially with 20+ units returned... just from TB'ers. I really think it's time for an explanation.
 
#565
This one went belly up today.
The A01 didn't last too long, had static problems and A02 had no headphone output. This one, stamped A00 out of sequence, lasted a few months, played every Sunday minimum through two 1X15s.
Today I plugged the usual MTD Artist into it and powered one 1X15, but let the bass player at my new church play it while I was on guitar. He was rocking! Halfway into the second song, nothing. All the musicians and choir members started looking around (we're a 'bass-centric' congregation :)) and we noticed the amp's light was off, so I quickly re-plugged the bass into his Boss floor pedal and we were back in business. Later, plugged the GK into various outlets; nope, dead. We're between services, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to send this one back since it's still under the overall warranty. I think.
 
#566
Last night was my #4 gig with an A05. And as with the previous gigs....the amp shut down several times causing VERY ANNOYING, VERY NOTICEABLE dropouts!!! I just joined the band and I'm getting all kinds of looks from the guys at these gigs and I'm fed up with this crap. It's totally unacceptable to buy a state of the art, brand new amp and have these kind of problems. 3 out of 4 gigs this amp has randomly shut down and powered back on. And I am obviously not the only one experiencing these problems. I have lost all faith in this amp. This weekend the band is off. Unless someone @ GK can do some serious damage control and change my mind VERY soon.....this amp is getting returned and I will be going to another brand. I really wanted to like this amp. But reliability is far more important to a gigging musician than portability. And there are too many options out there. I need an amp I can depend upon. GK....the ball is in your court....but not for long.
 
#567
Gtrslngr said:
Do you know what the impedance of your headphones is? I have headphones rated at 250 ohms and 24 ohms. The 250 ohm Koss headphones cause the amp to have issues, but the 24 ohm Sony headphones work great......
Click to expand...

Amp breaks when pluging in headphones..... Hummm!

Swapping it for a Shuttle. See Ya!

GK, if you're looking for a tested get in touch, I don't mind putting stuff through their paces as long as I'm not forking out for the privilege.
 
#569
Below is the exact copy of my email from Brian @ GK. I got a floor model from GC and have a new in box MB2 coming as a replacement. I'm going to give it a shot solely based on Brian's word that aside from a small percentage...these amps are reliable. If the new one has problems too....then I'm done with GK altogether. But for the moment, I'm going to chalk it up to bad luck on the floor model and see what happens with the new one. FYI...I am actually using the NEO 4x10 cab now. Not the GLX 8x10...that thing was crazy heavy.

The current revision of the MB2-500 has actually been quite reliable. I have seen the problem that you are have with less than 1% of the units sold. From going over your emails, I would suggest that you go a different route. I think that in your situation and the way that you are using your gear, I would suggest that you try our Goldline500 head. It has the same power handling capability as the MB2-500 but it is designed specifically for the GLX810. The analog power amp in the Goldline500 is designed to be pushed aggressively and I believe that it will give you what you are looking for. The store should be able to swap you directly as the two amps are the exact same price. -Brian
 
#570
Aww man im sorry to hear about everyone having problems with their MB's... ive had mine for like 2-3 months and its been SOLID!!! ive used mine at countless church services and gigs with and without PA support. ive never used the boost channel cause the amp is sooo loud!!!! and i have the A02 version...
 
#571
Kenifkook said:
Amp breaks when pluging in headphones..... Hummm!

Swapping it for a Shuttle. See Ya!

GK, if you're looking for a tested get in touch, I don't mind putting stuff through their paces as long as I'm not forking out for the privilege.
Click to expand...

Why would you think headphone impedance wouldn't need to be matched to the amp's output? Would you plug in a 250 ohm cab and expect it to work?
 
#572
HeavyDuty said:
Why would you think headphone impedance wouldn't need to be matched to the amp's output? Would you plug in a 250 ohm cab and expect it to work?
Click to expand...
Most headphones are 16 to 32 ohms, which should be perfectly safe for any solid state audio amplifier rated at a 4 ohm minimum. I'm not even sure if there really is a such thing as a maximum impedance limit with a solid state amp, but if there is one, I can't imagine it being down in this range. There should be absolutely no problem with what he's trying to do. If we were talking tube amp, totally different story, but we aren't.
 
#573
I would like to share my GK response that I got:

"Hello Laurie,

Brian is talking to Bob Gallien today about your unit. We are out of stock on those units, so it is apparent that they will put a new board in it. I will send you another status update either later today or first thing tomorrow. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Yes, he was able to duplicate it by overdriving the pre-amp and power amp sections at 4ohms. Otherwords, he was playing pretty heavy.
Don’t you worry we will get you taken care of."
******
So they are aware that the shut downs/clipping can happen and are already working on the fix. I've been a GK user since the mid 90's and I'm thrilled I stuck with them. You won't get this service from the other companies. As soon as I get this head back, I will be playing full force and give you guys an update. I play heavy, and I play loud. If it stays on and does the job GK and me hope for, it's worth it. Many thanks to Christine and Brian!
 
#574
laurie said:
You won't get this service from the other companies.
Click to expand...
While I'm also a big GK fan, and also a fan of Bob, this is really not true. I won't bring other company names into this thread, but I've gotten this kind of service from multiple other amp/cab manufacturers... and it was also well before my association with a magazine.

Yes, GK is among the very best, but they are not alone (thankfully!). :)
 
#575
Vic said:
While I'm also a big GK fan, and also a fan of Bob, this is really not true. I won't bring other company names into this thread, but I've gotten this kind of service from multiple other amp/cab manufacturers... and it was also well before my association with a magazine.
Click to expand...

+1, and the best service and support is that which rarely needs to be used:smug:
 
#576
I stand corrected. I've only dealt with a handful of other companies, and it's my experience that GK was better with communications and warranties. But if you guys have had good luck with other companies, kudos to you! I won't bad mouth the ones who I thought could use improvement- but they're out there.
 
#577
KJung said:
+1, and the best service and support is that which rarely needs to be used:smug:
Click to expand...
True. Thing is, as long as a given company doesn't have to exercise their CS like this with every product they make, which is true with GK, I'm still comfortable with them as a company, and it's nice to know they are this responsive when it is needed.
 
#578
Vic said:
True. Thing is, as long as a given company doesn't have to exercise their CS like this with every product they make, which is true with GK, I'm still comfortable with them as a company, and it's nice to know they are this responsive when it is needed.
Click to expand...

+1 It took them a LONG time to get the MB150 micro combo 'right' (those things blew up good for a couple years through the first couple of revs back in the day), but once they did, it was a solid performer and has been for 15+ years.
 
#579
Vic said:
Most headphones are 16 to 32 ohms, which should be perfectly safe for any solid state audio amplifier rated at a 4 ohm minimum. I'm not even sure if there really is a such thing as a maximum impedance limit with a solid state amp, but if there is one, I can't imagine it being down in this range. There should be absolutely no problem with what he's trying to do. If we were talking tube amp, totally different story, but we aren't.
Click to expand...

First let me say that I really like my MB2 version A05. I have also determined that with open laptop onto of amp generating heat that I would damage my speakers before I could ever get this amp to drop out. I put in ear plugs and pushed it til wife started throwing a fit.
Now about the headphones. I tried to use my Koss PRO4AA's with the Rev A05 and they started popping and if they were plugged in, my speakers also had popping noise. This is not the case at all with my Sony headphones. In fact they sound great. Not many folks have these old Koss models: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
and I am fine not having these big heavy headphones on my head anyway. They are from the 70's but have been re-issued. I have tested every feature, every input-ouput on this amp and it works great. I was just trying to assist someone asking for feedback and they somehow made a ridiculous conclusion that the headphones broke my amp. The Koss phones work OK with stereo, but maybe if everything about my amp is perfect til I connect a certain set of phones, then maybe its the phones.
 

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