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Double Bass Gallien-Krueger MB200

#21
MR PC said:
The 200MB was a great amp. If this new 200MB sounds has a similar slew rate and old school type tone, I'll be very interested in owning one. And 2lbs, 250 bucks, 200 watts (140 at 8ohms)! Reliability is the only issue that could bring this one down. Very classy looking package.....are the controls back lit?
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Tone it's got. Reliability?...after it spends a year or two with me we'll know something about that. I'm the amp killer.
 
#24
Outside of operator error or abuse, the reliability issues should only be related to design or individual component flaw.

I imagine GK has already done the dropping the operating unit on to the concrete floor after hammering with a ball peen hammer test.:D
 
#25
MR PC said:
Outside of operator error or abuse, the reliability issues should only be related to design or individual component flaw.

I imagine GK has already done the dropping the operating unit on to the concrete floor after hammering with a ball peen hammer test.:D
Click to expand...

GK's reputation for reliability has dropped over the last few years. Whether that is due to moving to overseas production, using cheaper components or poor design I don't know. One thing for sure, their amps now have more knobs and buttons. Even my micro combo (made in the US) has issues with the little contour pot.

I am curious to see the insides of one.
 
#26
For those of you that want an affordable small efficient rig for your DB this amp paired w. a Wizzy 10 may be the answer.
My buddy Peter Tillotson came by today to show me this thing and we did an A-B w. my Doubler.
Peter knows his stuff... he worked for Fishman for 20+ years and is an excellent bassist w. a great ear. I was actually more impressed w. the GK set flat than the Doubler. And there is a $500 difference... So you be the Judge... It is fat, warm, punchy and cheap, What more do you need but a cold beer and some dancing girls. I'm sold, out of here....:cool:
 
#28
Uncletoad said:
I've not gig tested it yet but I suspect it will hold its own pretty well.
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting. Gig tested yet?

My backup for my AI Focus + M-line or VL-208 is a 42 lb. iAMP 200 C Wizzy combo. Now that combo amp gets a great sound. I used it tonight w/ EB in a big band behind Charles Lazarus. Man, that dude can seriously play ... oh my ...

But 42 lbs. for my backup EA combo vs. 2 lbs for the GK? And $250? Hm ...
 
#32
I want to chime in and just clarify that this is an Affordable rig.. It can be a main amp for some w. budget constraints or some that want it as a spare.
For the money I am impressed, but it does not come close to the power and features the EA stuff has... notice I am recommending it be paired w. a Wizzy 10.
The old saying..." You get what you pay for" might prevail here.
 
#33
I read those lines while I wanted to get away from the Cube100. Somehow it's not what I was looking for. Then I saw a 200MB from 1986 (hell - two years older than I am...) in the local classified ad's.
I got it and what can I say? It's great.
Small, light, very punchy and thick sounding combo. It's neither loud, nor bright, it doesn't have clarity nor depth... but it gets it's job done very well. Had one church/gospel gig yet and purely awesome.
Here a crappy nokia-pic: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I think much of that sweet tone comes from the cab aswell, not ported, very small volume and no HF driver.
Would a little MB200 combined with a cab like in the 200MB sound like a real 200MB?

EDIT:
Oh, I forgot: I use it with the Wilson K4 pickup.
 
#34
aledeville said:
I think much of that sweet tone comes from the cab aswell, not ported, very small volume and no HF driver.
Would a little MB200 combined with a cab like in the 200MB sound like a real 200MB?
Click to expand...

Aledeville,
Well you could certianly try the MBX extension that GK makes
cause that would get you pretty close to the same sound I would think. However, I think the sound of the 200MB comes from it's pre amp voicing which is similar to the MB200 with the exception of the high end and it has more power than it's predecessor.

Here's the specs for both

200MB

4 Band EQ
Treble control operating at 4.0 kilohertz.
High Mid-range control operating at 1.0khz.
Low Mid-range operating at 250hz.
Bass control operating at 60hz.

MB200

Treble: Boost and cut at 7 kHz +14 dB shelving type.
Hi-Mid: Boost and cut at 1 kHz +6 dB.
Low-Mid: Boost and cut at 250Hz +6dB/-10 dB.
Bass: Boost and cut a 60Hz +10 dB, shelving type.
 
#35
Finally played a whole night club gig with this amp and an EA VL208. Really fantastic. Great sound flat, rolled off the bass some to get the G string balanced with everything else. Used a Full circle straight into it, no preamp. Mic through FOH with a touch coming back in monitors. It was big round fat and punchy. No headroom on this guy but for small and not to loud gigs it's a better sounding amp than most I've tried on my DB, including some stupidly expensive stuff.
 
#36
I've been using a GK MB500 on DB gigs for the past couple of months. So far I like it very much. Very clean and clear. Although the EQ is very effective, I haven't found the need to use it much. I wonder how similar sounding the MB200 and MB500 are besides the MB500 having more headroom...

The MB500 also works very well with the GK 112MBX for sort of a super MB150 or 200MB. The whole rig weighs less than 20 lbs., which is really nice.
 
#37
I expect to pick up an MB200 as well as a 112MBX lunchbox this year. The 150 combo is working very well for me on most gigs, but I prefer the EQ of the 400RB which the new micro head shares. The 400 sometimes requires another trip to the car which is beginning to bug me as I get older.
 
#38
robgrow said:
I've been using a GK MB500 on DB gigs for the past couple of months. So far I like it very much. Very clean and clear. Although the EQ is very effective, I haven't found the need to use it much. I wonder how similar sounding the MB200 and MB500 are besides the MB500 having more headroom...
Click to expand...
I A/B'ed both the 200 and 500. Oddly I liked the tone of the 200 a little better on both DB and EB. The 500 has a bit more of a mid scooped voice in it that wasn't as pronounced with the 200. Not enough for me not to like it though. I'll probably get a 500 for Electric Bass at some point just to have the extra power. I demoed a bunch of 500 watt bass amps in the small and light category and the 500 really worked better in those tests paired up with one or two VL208s, my current favorite speaker for everything bass.

I'm not much of an EQ fan and all that extra junk on the 500 is more of a distraction to me than of any use. I did roll the bass down on both those amps during DB workouts but other than that didn't use any other tweaks.
 
#40
Anyone tried the MB500 and/or MB200 and compared it with the MB210 combo? as a student the MB210 combo sounds very interesting with the price and external cab for extra oommpf (BG usage). How similiar/different are they, sound wise?

I've only tried the MB210 in a music shop so far.

oh, and if you have a pizeo pickup, would a normal mic preamp work to get proper impendace to the amplifier? or hmm, i just realized the preamps output might not be what the amplifier likes?
 

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