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Gallien-Krueger MB2-500

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#161
Smallequestrian said:
I have read that about the LMII as well, but I have been playing one for so long (almost 2 years) that the low end seems perfectly normal to me. So the low end of the GK it definitely was not a good thing for me :smug:
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+1 I find the MB stuff very balanced. I think most of the 'big low end' comments come from users of other micro's that can sound a bit thin down low to me.
 
#163
I'm wondering how it's going to sound with my Schroeder 1210R ?. I had the LMll for a short time with my Carvin 1503 and really had to dial down the low end and it still rattled everything in the room. I find the 1210 to be chunky in the low end with my current pre/power amp set up. I definitely want to go the ultra light route, so I'm hoping for some good reviews with the Schroeder stuff.
 
#164
I have been following every ones comments regarding this amp with great interest. We shipped the first 500 units about two weeks ago and they seem to be selling as soon as they hit the stores. To my knowledge we have had two or three DOA's which is not surprising for a first run. It sounds to me like these are very simple issues like a loose connector since the amps power up with no sound. They are very light units and we packed them very well but I know packages like this get tossed around a lot in shipping. I can't wait to get these units back into the lab to see what is actually wrong. I will also be conducting more listening tests with them to check out your various opinions.
Bob
 
#166
rag said:
I have been following every ones comments regarding this amp with great interest. We shipped the first 500 units about two weeks ago and they seem to be selling as soon as they hit the stores. To my knowledge we have had two or three DOA's which is not surprising for a first run. It sounds to me like these are very simple issues like a loose connector since the amps power up with no sound. They are very light units and we packed them very well but I know packages like this get tossed around a lot in shipping. I can't wait to get these units back into the lab to see what is actually wrong. I will also be conducting more listening tests with them to check out your various opinions.
Bob
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Looks like a winner. I'm looking forward to trying them in a Canadian music store when they hit this country.
 
#168
rag said:
I have been following every ones comments regarding this amp with great interest. We shipped the first 500 units about two weeks ago and they seem to be selling as soon as they hit the stores. To my knowledge we have had two or three DOA's which is not surprising for a first run. It sounds to me like these are very simple issues like a loose connector since the amps power up with no sound. They are very light units and we packed them very well but I know packages like this get tossed around a lot in shipping. I can't wait to get these units back into the lab to see what is actually wrong. I will also be conducting more listening tests with them to check out your various opinions.
Bob
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I just have to say, it's fantastic seeing a company take this much interest in it's customers publicly. GK don't ever seem to put a foot wrong.
 
#169
bass9999 said:
Sorry if the answer is buried somewhere in all the posts -- does the MB2-500 have a fan?
thanks
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yes it does. It actually came on for me yesterday while jamming with friends for about 1 hour or so. Pretty damn quiet, and the unit was only warm to the touch. I can't wait to gig this week. 3 nights in a row, and my final 3 with this band :(
 
#175
Great to read Mr. Gallien post here. I love GK amps and consider them the best amps on the market. Great designs, sound, controls, quality. I love my old '87 GK MB200 combo amp and this new GK small heads is G.A.S.ing me a lot.

Thank you Mr. Gallien for all what you did for bass amps world.

Can't wait to give it a try. Hope the noise of fan will be less than the Markbass I have tried.

Is there a chance to download the manual of the GK MB2 500 head? It will help me to understand some features...
 
#176
Freddels said:
Zac,

How did it do on your gigs?
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I thought the MB2-500 did a great job on stage. I brought the 1001RB-II with me to the gig, but never did an A/B with the MB2. I liked what I was getting from the MB2 enough that I didn't bother. It sounded great and had more than enough power for the gig.

This wasn't a good gig to do a comparison anyway. It was a very noisy stage that required us to play at lower levels. Even then it was tough to hear on stage. The entire room, stage, and wall behind the stage were covered in hardwood flooring. It looked really nice, but sounded like hell.

I'll be at Union St. Bar & Grill in Newton, MA this Saturday and will give it another go. Again this is a smaller and quieter stage, not a good place to do an A/B. It is a perfect venue for the MB2-500 and my ZL210 cab though. Load-in is up three flights of stairs. The less I have to lug up there the better.
 
#177
KJung said:
+1 I find the MB stuff very balanced. I think most of the 'big low end' comments come from users of other micro's that can sound a bit thin down low to me.
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+2 I just picked up a MB F1 and find that it has much more bottom than the Shuttle I used to have. I would be very interested in a direct comparison between the MB²-500 and an F1. I bet both sound great, but it would be nice to know how they differ. The mute switch on the MB²-500 is definitely a great feature that's missing on the F1 IMO.
 
#178
KJung said:
My god that head must have some intense low end. Most describe the LMII as having a ton of ooomph down low versus most of the other micro heads (Genz, Eden, etc.). If the GK has THAT much going on down low, I'm not sure that would be a good thing.
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The differences that I heard in low end between the GK 1001RB-II and the MB2-500 are very slight. Also, since the GK knobs don't have detents and the controls are a little different what I heard might have been a matter of settings being off. It could have also just been my perception. You hear something from a tiny little box and when it doesn't sound small it seems bigger the same thing coming from a large box. I would say the low end from these cabs is a lot more similar than it is different. You couldn't tell the two apart just by listening. I certainly would not describe the low end from either GK as "intense".

My only experiences with the LMII have been in GC. In my brief A/B with the MB2-500, I didn't notice any real differences in low end output between the two. They each had slightly different voicings, but more similar than different to me. I hear more of a difference when comparing these amp and something like a Mesa Walkabout, Ampeg SVT, or SWR 550x. I know I'd be happy with either; I thought they both sounded great. That said, I'm sure someone with more sensitive ears in a better setting would hear more of a difference between the LMII and the MB2-500 than I do.

I'm glad I have less sensitive ears than most here on TB. It puts things like price, size, and weight much higher on my list of priorities than things like punchy low end, warm mids, etc.
 
#179
Well, heck, someone in Detroit buy one so Ken (Mr. MB), myself (Shuttle 6.0) and the GK can all go toe-to-toe.

Haven't heard the MB2 obviously, but what I find in the opinions of bigger low end etc.....doesn't amount to a hill of beans.
What I mean here is there are these things called knobs for EQ, you can actually turn them and get what you need.
Weird huh?!?!! ;)

I've played thru the MB stuff- awesome amps. I think stood the "micro- amp" world on it's ear much like the Aguilar GS112 did when it first came out.
Then the other guys started coming out with cool stuff.

I played the MB LMII and own a Shuttle 6.0.
To me, it's just a matter of how each company "pre-EQ's" their "center-detent"- what we would call flat I guess.

Each amp can, IMO, acheive what the other has to a good degree.
The comments of ABC having less low end that XYZ, well, it's simply a matter of a simple twist of a knob or hit a switch- and bingo bango, there it is.

I'm yet to discover that one amp, especially in this class, really outshines the other by any significant amount.
Each has it's own voice, but in the end, if any one of us owned one of the other amps that we discuss back and forth, after a gig or two, I seriously doubt if your tone would be really much different at all.
I would be just as pleased with a LMII, I'm sure the GK-MB2 or a Shuttle 6.0.
But thats just me. YMMV.
Just pick that voice that you prefer.

I'm super stoked about the GK-MB2.
As a big lover of the old school 800RB & 400RB amps, if this little sucker captures that tone......oh man!!!!
And just call me old, but a 800RB and a pair of Hartke 410's........especially the 4.5XL's.......someone get me a towel!!!!

I'm finding these days my preference in gear is really not having a preference.
Sure, I do have things I like, but in the end, any of these amps are gonna kill on the gig.
And I'm sure if it's GK, MB or GB- if it was the only amp I had to play, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have anything to complain about!!!:D

Bottom line for me: They're all stinkin' GREAT amps (even the yet very little heard MB2), just different flavors of great.

Can't wait to give the MB2 a spin!
just hope it doesn't sound better than my 6.0!!! :hiding:
 
#180
MikeBass said:
I'm super stoked about the GK-MB2.
As a big lover of the old school 800RB & 400RB amps, if this little sucker captures that tone......oh man!!!!
And just call me old, but a 800RB and a pair of Hartke 410's........especially the 4.5XL's.......someone get me a towel!!!!
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+1...I'm showing my age. :ninja:

I bet the MB2 and a couple of Hartke 2.5XL's might make a nice little rig.
 
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