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Gallien-Krueger MB2-500

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Is the MB2-500 designed to play through headphones without speakers attached?
The headphone output on mine was nice and clear last week when someone posted this question and I answered that I could hear both of my basses just fine through the headphones without speakers attached. I have not been able to duplicate that feat since, regardless of which bass I plug in or which cable I play through.
There is a headphone switch on the back; one position is for line out and the other sounds like something wants to ... happen.
As reference, both basses play just fine through my Peavey Max110 with little gain required, regardless of cables. The headphones are ProFormance P6000 and Sony 7506 cans.

It should work fine without any speakers connected. The old MB series amps and combos could do this too (except they didn't use a switch).

SNAP! Then that means my headphone jack shorted out -- or the button switch did -- and I didn't even know it.
 
Just wondering, would the choke also help cut out noise from neon beer signs? Last gig I had, the back wall of the stage was loaded with neon beer signs and making my cab sound like a buzz saw! I wound up turning most of them off and it went away.

I don't think so. It depends on frequency. I'm not sure what the frequency of the power supply on those lights are but if it is something like 60Hz it won't have any effect.
 
I can only say try one and see. I have noticed many of my adapters for cameras and some of my USB cables come with these filters built onto them, so I'd say try one and find out. But, your beer sign problem may require a power conditioner; if you play out a lot you probably need one of those anyway.


I do use a power conditioner and it made no difference.
 
I do use a power conditioner and it made no difference.
...as well it shouldn't. The noise induced by fluorescent/neon signage has nothing to do with your supply power. It's RFI emissions. Same thing with dimmers. Not a darn thing you can do about it other than humbucking and shielding. Period.

Line/power conditioning is specifically about power dips, spikes, and surges, and in some advanced products, even waveform correction.

Then you also have grounding issues to consider.

It's a battlezone out there, especially for folks with non-humbucking picukps, but even for those that do!! :D
 
kap'n kro--
These are the clamps I mentioned in another thread. I got the idea from some clamps that were supplied, but never used, with another amp. I leave the clamps on, no tone loss. $5.50 at Radio Shack.

Just picked up two of them. Hopefully I'll never have use for them again, but if I do seems like they'd do the trick.

From earlier posts, it would appear that GK is addressing this issue as well though. I'm glad I could participate in the beta testing of this amp. Maybe a year from now I'll just take it into the nearest certified GK place, drop it on the desk and yell "updates please!"
 
I'm glad I could participate in the beta testing of this amp. Maybe a year from now I'll just take it into the nearest certified GK place, drop it on the desk and yell "updates please!"

Do you, or anyone else for that matter, find that these issues are beyond what would be considered normal for a new product release? Is this product really in a beta phase?

Part of me thinks that we should not be "beta testers" for GK. You would think these test would be done before the product is released to the general public.

I guess I'm one of the lucky one since mine doesn't seem to have any issues with too much bass, RFI, bad LEDs, bad headphone connections, etc. It has replaced my beloved 1001 on gigs and I'm liking it more every time I use it.

You really have to hand it to GK though for their awesome customer service. If they truly haven't worked all the bugs out of this amp, at least they are standing by their product. I mean, Mr. GK himself is on TB listening to customers and I've never heard of GK giving someone a hard time with service.
 
Do you, or anyone else for that matter, find that these issues are beyond what would be considered normal for a new product release? Is this product really in a beta phase?

Part of me thinks that we should not be "beta testers" for GK. You would think these test would be done before the product is released to the general public.

I guess I'm one of the lucky one since mine doesn't seem to have any issues with too much bass, RFI, bad LEDs, bad headphone connections, etc. It has replaced my beloved 1001 on gigs and I'm liking it more every time I use it.

You really have to hand it to GK though for their awesome customer service. If they truly haven't worked all the bugs out of this amp, at least they are standing by their product. I mean, Mr. GK himself is on TB listening to customers and I've never heard of GK giving someone a hard time with service.

I'm sure it was more a poke at GK for having a couple hiccups at launch... Nothing that would stop me from buying the product, especially since it is the first run of these amps.

Like you said, they've been more then accommodating if something does come up. :bassist:
 
Part of me thinks that we should not be "beta testers" for GK. You would think these test would be done before the product is released to the general public.

Yeah, when I posted that comment I was being a little snarky about it...

First off, aside from the RFI experience, which may or may not have been the amp's fault (part of me is of the mind that it is by neglect, as there seems to be fairly simple steps to make sure that this doesn't become an issue), there hasn't really been anything "wrong" with my amp. The tone thing is completely subjective, and I'm honestly more impressed with the fact that steps were taken to adjust it to the community's preference after the fact, than I was disappointed that changes DID have to be made.

Still since changes and updates are being made - and who knows, in the future more may be made - I do kind of feel like a paying beta tester.

P.S. If I had to predict the next update? If GK is to be believed, and there are rack ears being created to mount this tiny amp, the way the rubber feet are attached will need to be addressed - the front screws can only be removed from the inside, and the rear screws can't be removed without disassembling the entire amp. Lucky for me I have the amp sitting above a Korg tuner so I didn't have to do any major surgery... and good luck if you want to re-attach the feet. In my eyes this would appear to be design flaw.
 
I'm sure it was more a poke at GK for having a couple hiccups at launch... Nothing that would stop me from buying the product, especially since it is the first run of these amps.

Like you said, they've been more then accommodating if something does come up. :bassist:

Just to clarify, I'm only being tough because I love.

I'm not just sticking with it because I'm stubborn, or because my return period is up - I actually don't think it is yet even... As far as I'm concerned this is still the best micro-amp on the market.
 
Just to clarify, I'm only being tough because I love.

I'm not just sticking with it because I'm stubborn, or because my return period is up - I actually don't think it is yet even... As far as I'm concerned this is still the best micro-amp on the market.

I hear ya, I'm heading to stockton sometime in the next week or two to A/B the MB2 and the fusion to see which one I end up with.
 
Actually, that might not be a bad matchup if you can leave your system somewhere; I'm thinking church players like me who don't mind leaving equipment locked up on the premises.

Also, I think I'm one of those "beta testers" and I don't mind being an occasional early adopter. I think the MB2-500 is a great idea, upgraded or not. My Lakland 55-02 is the only perfect piece of equipment I've owned.

Does it matter which service center you send the amp to? I'm in El Paso, there appear to be six service centers throughout Texas.
 
Gallien-Krueger MB2 Ultra Light Bass Amp Head and NEO410 Cab Stack

# MB2-500:
# Weight: Less than 4lb.

# Neo410 Speaker Cabinet
# Weight: 78lb.

No thanks! :rollno:

I wonder why a 410? Why not a 15 w/tweeter, or a 210? Kinda gets away from the whole " lightweight" concept.
 
Just for information - Bob has got a fix for the RFI issue (didn't sound like it would be too difficult based on some of the discussion here) and is in the process of getting a modified unit back to me. I will report back if the issue is resolved. I didn't really want to have the hassle of wearing those chokes on my cable.... :)
 
I demoed one at GC for a few moments, and found that the input was clipping with several different run-of-the-mill basses -- both active and passive, with the gain around noon.

Again, this is a GC floor model, so it's been abused. I was disappointed, though. I really wanted to play around with it and see what it could do, as the GK brand and tone is really growing on me as I get to know my 800 RB.
 
I don't think that is a combo, at least the kind that the head fits into.

It's not. Musician's Friend just likes to offer package deals on many of the amps they sell.

Interestingly enough, they're including a Monster speakon cable in that package and with the Fusion 550/Neo 410 package. Ironically, the Monster cable isn't even the "right" kind for the Fusion 550/Neo 410 stack, because you wouldn't be able to use the horn bi-amping.


That's entirely wrong. It's actually about twice that weight. My Neo 212 weighs more than 54 lbs.!

I think we're quickly establishing that Musician's Friend isn't the most credible retailer out there...

I wonder why a 410? Why not a 15 w/tweeter, or a 210? Kinda gets away from the whole " lightweight" concept.

...or the most sensible. :D
 
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