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Double Bass Gallien-Krueger MB200

#41
Hey Toad,

I was reading on the EB side that one of the designers of the new mb800 owns an SA200 and voiced that new head to sound similar. Knowing how much you liked that Sadowsky head with the VLs I thought I'd mention it if you haven't read it already.

Pete

Sent from my iPad using TalkBass
 
#42
peterpalmieri said:
Hey Toad,

I was reading on the EB side that one of the designers of the new mb800 owns an SA200 and voiced that new head to sound similar. Knowing how much you liked that Sadowsky head with the VLs I thought I'd mention it if you haven't read it already.

Pete

Sent from my iPad using TalkBass
Click to expand...

Are you sure you aren't thinking about Roger Hart from Genz-Benz, who owns an SA200 and helped voice the Streamliner 600/900?
 
#45
I bought one of these and the UPS guy brought it to me just in time to take it to my trio gig. I gave it a very quick spin at home, mainly to be sure it worked!
My experience with it just made me smile, both because it's so d**n cute and sounds so d**n good.
Set flat, the I would describe the tone as warm, fat and clean.
Although the EQ points are similar to the venerable 400RB, I believe they sound quite different with the 400RB sounding brighter and more open. The bigger amp requires some knob twisting to sound as nice as the little giant. In the power department, I suspect the nod will go to the bigger amp but I haven't spent enough time comparing them to know for sure.
The little amp is a nice DB amp and a tremendous bargain.
 
#46
I just got to take a tour of the GK facility in Stockton, CA yesterday. I was picking up a new 410MBE cab for my bigger, no PA support shows. (this cab is awesome, btw)

Really cool place and it was neat pointing out all the gear in progress as it was being put together - I think the guy was impressed with my GK knowledge. :D

Met Bob Gallien also and he was very nice, as briefly as I was able to say hello. He was helping his workers clean up their showroom / gear testing area making room for new stuff. It's nice to see the pres out there working like his employees do.

I've been using GK gear for as long as I have been playing bass so that makes 21 years now. It was cool to see the place. It's a much smaller, more intimate place than you might think - people put these things together, no robots, haha.

I was checking out the little MB200 heads and they looked very cool. According to Jason (my tour guide) the soon to be released MB112 combo is going to surprise alot of double bass players in tone and volume for the super low price. My MB115 sounds great for DB so I can see the 12 being even better for the Jazz crowd.
 
#47
Gearhead43 said:
According to Jason (my tour guide) the soon to be released MB112 combo is going to surprise alot of double bass players in tone and volume for the super low price.
Click to expand...

The MB112 has been released, there is one sitting right next to me. So far I have only been able to try it out at home in a noise-sensitive environment (whiney neighbor) with my Shen SB90 -> K&K BassMax - FDeck HPF-pre V2, and it sounds great. I probably won't get to gig with it until early March, and I don't need it for band practice (BG band).
 
#48
Finally discovered something I don't like about the amp. It has a pretty heavy compression/limiter kicking as the volume goes up. Probably helps you play at the upper end of it's limited power without clipping.

I hate compression.

Guess I use this one quiet.
 
#49
Uncletoad said:
Finally discovered something I don't like about the amp. It has a pretty heavy compression/limiter kicking as the volume goes up. Probably helps you play at the upper end of it's limited power without clipping.

I hate compression.

Guess I use this one quiet.
Click to expand...

yeh, both the MB200 and MB500 has a limiter at their very top preventing clipping. Good feature if you ask me, since SS clipping is very ugly IMO. it's not like you could go louder without it. Though, if i remmember correctly, the limiter is defeatable at least on the MB500.
 
#50
psykopatsak said:
yeh, both the MB200 and MB500 has a limiter at their very top preventing clipping. Good feature if you ask me, since SS clipping is very ugly IMO. it's not like you could go louder without it. Though, if i remmember correctly, the limiter is defeatable at least on the MB500.
Click to expand...
No doubt a good choice to keep it from sounding like crap when you are midway through something and discover you should have more amp...like I did last night.
 
#51
Uncletoad said:
No doubt a good choice to keep it from sounding like crap when you are midway through something and discover you should have more amp...like I did last night.
Click to expand...

That's where the MB500 comes in! :D Or the new MB800... :ninja:

Regarding the limiter, yes, it is defeatable on the MB500, MB Fusion, and MB800. My guess is that the reason it is not defeatable on the MB200 is partly related to keeping the cost down, and partly related to the fact that there are a lot of yahoos out there who are going to try and use it like it's a 500-watt head and drive it really hard. Especially with relatively inefficient speakers, like, say, an EA VL-208. :smug:

For what it is, though, I'm still darned impressed with that little MB200. :cool:
 
#52
michaeln said:
The MB112 has been released, there is one sitting right next to me. So far I have only been able to try it out at home in a noise-sensitive environment (whiney neighbor) with my Shen SB90 -> K&K BassMax - FDeck HPF-pre V2, and it sounds great. I probably won't get to gig with it until early March, and I don't need it for band practice (BG band).
Click to expand...

Sweet!!! Let us know how you like it- after some gig testing, because I have been wanting one for over a year since first hearing about it - it has taken a long time to finally become available.

With the prices on these MB series products, I might start a collection. :D
 
#53
That's it. I'm selling the 400RB and getting a 112MBX cab.

I opened up the 150 combo and ran the MB200 straight to the speaker to get an idea what the MBX would sound like. Although it wouldn't go any louder than the 150 head, the sound was much smoother set flat. I find the 150 to sound a bit harsh, but it ain't the speaker so much as the amp itself. The MB200 is a warm, smooth sounding amp that both my upright and slabs like.

As much as I dig the more manly 400RB I do so few crazy loud slab gigs to justify it.
Last night, I doubled with the quintet and took the MB150S with one Fdeck DIY 12", putting the extention near the drummer. That's the loudest gig I've played in over a year and had no problem at all (other than not having my gut bass);). The 400RB is a great slab head but for DB, the nod goes to the little giant and the bigger one won't fit in the cable pocket of my bag! The little thing is a sweet little amp.
 
#54
Update:
I've been using the MB200/112MBX combo now for the past month (approx 15 gigs/rehearsals) and it is working out really well. The tone is certainly more warmer and smoother than the 150S combo which sounds quite harsh by comparison.
The MB200 is a simple, single channel amp that sounds really nice. GK has hit a home run at an amazing price point.
 
#55
Uncletoad said:
I just glanced at that Streamliner 900. Sounds like something I need to demo!
Click to expand...

I bought one, and got a great deal used on a Berg AE112, the
funny thing is I bought this head mostly thinking of electric
playing, but OMG it is just to die for with my Hungarian.

I also own a MB 210 combo, had used it a couple years, and
now its just a backup, I had liked its sound, but after hearing
the Streamliner is seems rather lifeless. Those that pay any
attention in my big band, ie the drummer, pianist, and leader
:p have all commented on how good it sounds. One night I
just took the MB for a change and the band leader was
complaining that the bass didn't sound as good :)

So, ya, give one a testdrive if you get the chance!
 
#58
clink said:
That's it. I'm selling the 400RB and getting a 112MBX cab.

I opened up the 150 combo and ran the MB200 straight to the speaker to get an idea what the MBX would sound like. Although it wouldn't go any louder than the 150 head, the sound was much smoother set flat. I find the 150 to sound a bit harsh, but it ain't the speaker so much as the amp itself. The MB200 is a warm, smooth sounding amp that both my upright and slabs like.

As much as I dig the more manly 400RB I do so few crazy loud slab gigs to justify it.
Last night, I doubled with the quintet and took the MB150S with one Fdeck DIY 12", putting the extention near the drummer. That's the loudest gig I've played in over a year and had no problem at all (other than not having my gut bass);). The 400RB is a great slab head but for DB, the nod goes to the little giant and the bigger one won't fit in the cable pocket of my bag! The little thing is a sweet little amp.
Click to expand...

I know that I've probably posted this before but aside from the treble control the MB200 and ye old 200MB have very similar pre amp voicings unfortunately the MBS was better than the MBS but the 200MB was far bette IMHO, IME.

Ric
 
#59
Thanks to all your great reviews, I felt comfortable purchasing this head without even trying it out. Now its time for a cab. I was wondering if anyone had experience with their MBE115. It seems a good price at $225 but I just don't know if it has the mids for upright. Of course the stores around me do not have much GK in stock.. it seems to fly off the shelf when they get it. I also found a wizzy 12 for 350 but its a little out of my price range, but its probably worth it. Thanks for the advice.
 
#60
bassfriendly913 said:
Thanks to all your great reviews, I felt comfortable purchasing this head without even trying it out. Now its time for a cab. I was wondering if anyone had experience with their MBE115. It seems a good price at $225 but I just don't know if it has the mids for upright. Of course the stores around me do not have much GK in stock.. it seems to fly off the shelf when they get it. I also found a wizzy 12 for 350 but its a little out of my price range, but its probably worth it. Thanks for the advice.
Click to expand...

I just grabbed a wizzy 12 for $350 off the classifieds here, sorry if I scooped you. ;)
I've been gigging my MB200 for about a month now, absolutely loving it. I haven't yet had a chance to run it through the Wizzy, and i don't have another gig for 2 weeks. Driving me nuts, can't wait to try this mini rig at gig levels. :D
Currently running through a 2x8, sounds great.

Love it. Can't recommend it highly enough, especially for doubling. I may even ditch my Fishman Platinum pre. :ninja:
 

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