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Gallien-Krueger MB2-500

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#222
frandiaz said:
Mr Krueger,

Would it be covered by the warranty if I buy a unit from the USA? I live in Europe. If this is not possible...when will the MB2 be available over here?

Thanks in Advance.
Click to expand...

I recommend you wait and buy it in Europe. We have a huge back log to fill but Europe will be getting units before the end of the year.
 
#223
To reiterate a question I mentioned earlier (specifically to you Captain Gallien ;) )

The unit that I tried at Guitar Center this afternoon had a power LED/light that would turn red when powered on and then would fade to black. Pictures in this thread lead me to believe that the light should switch from red to blue. Does this indicate a faulty unit or did misinterpret the light colors? The amp appeared to function normally.
 
#226
I have refrained from posting my comparitive thoughts yet, as I practice in a small spare bedroom, and the acoustics are such that it hard to really tell a huge difference between the two. I have a gig this weekend so this will be the telling factor. What sold me on the Shuttle was its ability to cut through the mix under almost any circumstances, soft, loud, big room etc. I want to see if the MB2 can do the same. If it can, then I would possibly keep the MB2 over the Shuttle. It has a slightly 'warmer' tone than the Shuttle, as many have said a lot like the other GK heads. It is equally loud, equally versatile in terms of altering that tone. The only slight downside I have noticed is the slightly muddy low end, which can be dialled out be reducing bass EQ a little. It has all the good features of the Shuttle (Tuner out, effects loop, headphone out, mute etc) but does not have an AUX in which I did find useful on the Shuttle for playing along with my ipod. Also the DI on the Shuttle is beautiful - very transparent, whilst I have yet to see what the MB2 can do there.
Both were played through my GB Neox 212T, which is a great cab, but may not be as optimally matched with the MB2 as a GK 212 might be (as noted elsewhere). I will get back to you all after the gig.
 
#227
silky smoove said:
GK's warranty service has been great for me thus far.
Click to expand...

I have had mostly positive experiences with GK service. they answer the phone and get right back to you weather you play gigs of 10 seats or 10,000 seats.

i mean the president of the company is talking to us in this thread. awesome.

when my 800rb died (which is 99% bullet proof, i guess there is one lemon in every bunch) within a month of getting it, and they (after a few calls and some phone tag) helped get me a new unit shipped to my door.

they were also great when i needed to fix some sbx cabs i used to have (before i moved onto the much improved neo cabs). they also sent me a GK shirt (which was way way too small).

nothings perfect (and like any control freak bassist, there are things i'd change in the amp designs mechanically and visually, website, etc), but at least GK tries to give us all dependable good tone and service while keeping up with trends, and their gear has easily taken the many weekly gigs and rehearsals i do without failure. kudos to them.

the MB2 500 is great add to the GK line. it seems tailor made for fly dates. although a SVT looks cool and sounds cool, for there to be amps ot now that can get you decent tone from the size of a old cable box, good for us.
 
#228
silky smoove said:
To reiterate a question I mentioned earlier (specifically to you Captain Gallien ;) )

The unit that I tried at Guitar Center this afternoon had a power LED/light that would turn red when powered on and then would fade to black. Pictures in this thread lead me to believe that the light should switch from red to blue. Does this indicate a faulty unit or did misinterpret the light colors? The amp appeared to function normally.
Click to expand...

It sounds like the blue LED isn't working, that's all.
 
#233
deekay911 said:
From the manual:
Treble - Boost and Cut at 7kHz +14dB
Hi-Mid - Boost and Cut at 1kHz +6dB
Low-Mid - Boost and Cut at 250Hz +6dB/-10dB
Bass - Boost and Cut at 60Hz +10dB
Click to expand...

Me like. I just a/b'd the GK and LMII. The GK had a bigger
sound and more headroom. I think I may have to pull the
trigger on this one and see how it does in the real world.

Where did you get the manual? I didn't see it on the GK website.
 
#235
one guy did a thing where he found out where the true flat setting was on a Backline 600. maybe someone should do this on the MB2-500. i am curious myself.

a 2x10 or 1x12 neo combo with the MB2 head would be really nice, especailly if it tilted back (like the markbass), and even better if the head could be easily removed (like the mesa scout).

make it GK, and show that markbass who's boss. maybe even go in another style direction sort of how ampeg has those vintage looking combos.
 
#236
origami said:
one guy did a thing where he found out where the true flat setting was on a Backline 600. maybe someone should do this on the MB2-500. i am curious myself.
Click to expand...

That guy was me. I wrote a freebie real time analyzer program for Windows, which you can download from my little web page. All I did was watch the spectrum on my computer screen while I twiddled knobs until it was as flat as I could get it.

Not that "flat" is not the silver bullet, which is why bass amps are voiced. But especially on upright, I find it to be the best starting point for trying to dial in a good tone. Also, my speaker happens to be designed to sound good with a flat amp.
 
#237
Well, I bought one... No pics yet, but I do have....... SOUNDCLIPS!!!!

These clips are recorded direct into my computer via an XLR cable through an M-Audio Delta 1010 PCI card card using the MB2-500's direct out. The bass used was my custom jazz bass:
Warmoth Alder J body
Status Graphite J neck
DiMarzio Model J pickups wired directly to the output jack with the neck pickup in parallel and the bridge pickup in series.
DR Lo-Riders (45-105) that have about 50% life left in them.

The fingerstyle portions are played over the bridge pickup. The slap portions are slapped/popped at the end of the fretboard.

The EQ was left flat throughout. The gain was matched to the input of my computer. The contour and boost settings were the only thing I adjusted. I played fingerstyle, then slap on each setting, changed settings, played the same lines again... and on and on.

The settings were as follows:
Contour Off
Boost Off

Contour Off
Boost 50%

Contour Off
Boost 100%

Contour 50%
Boost Off

Contour 100%
Boost Off

Contour 50%
Boost 50%

Contour 100%
Boost 100%

None of this was done to a click, and is anything but scientific... Now with all the fluff out of the way:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#240
@rag:

Dear Mr. Gallien,

first of all I'm sorry for my english. I'm from Germany and it's been a long time since I went to school... ;)

I'm a great fan of GK-Amps and play through them since January 1987. I guess I was one of the first to buy a 200MB in Germany, and I used it for more than 14 years. Other gear came, other gear left, but the 200MB still remained. Actually I play through the MB150 S 112 III.

I would really like to replace my reliable little combo with a MB2 112 Neo-Combo, because our Gigs get bigger and I need a bit more power on stage.
Is there any chance to get one in the near future?

I'll be very pleased if you can afford the time to post a short (positve? ;)) answer.
 
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