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Gallien Krueger MB500
- Thread starter BeanzCorp
- Start date
derylgallant
Bassist from Prince Edward Island, Canada
Does anyone use the MB 500 for upright bass? I have a David gage realist pickup and a Clark Biesele magnetic pickup - any comments on how well it would work?
I also play a lot of fender pbass and fretless jazz bass ... varying styles from jazz to funk to rock, etc
I'm thinking this is the amp for me but hoping to hear from someone with similar setup and styles
I also play a lot of fender pbass and fretless jazz bass ... varying styles from jazz to funk to rock, etc
I'm thinking this is the amp for me but hoping to hear from someone with similar setup and styles
I have an MB500 arriving tomorrow and plan on using it almost exclusively with my double bass. I also use a Realist and will be pairing the head with an Epifani PS210. I'l try to get back on here and share the results.
I am also considering the Euphonic Audio Doubler- kind of have my heart set on it actually!
derylgallant
Bassist from Prince Edward Island, Canada
derylgallant said:
I'm using my MB500 a lot with my upright (Fishman Full Circle in an Arnold Schnitzer Cleveland laminate bass) and also with various electrics (Fender Jazz or Precision, Guild Pilot, Epiphone Jack Casady). It's great with piezo pickups since its input impedance is about 1 Megohm and you don't necessarily have to use a separate preamp. Lots of EQ maneuver room, and the boost disengaged for a very warm, clean sound. For electric I keep the boost on and get the loveliest bite. I don't think the amp is quite as warm sounding as my old 400RB when clean but the GIVE bite is wow! I've been using an Avatar SB112 at 8 ohms for the upright, adding an 8 ohm B210 for electric gigs. So far my impression is that the MB500 is more than credible for both types of work.
I love my mb500, and I recently spent alot of time trying to figure stuff out with it and my neo cabs (as some of you may know...). All in all, punchy as hell! 
Safe to assume that the MB500 head with a Neo 212 cab would handle a 5 string? As of now I have (and really like) the MB115 combo and am using my Fender basses thru it. All passive...a VM Jazz fretless, a Jazz bass and my newest, an American Standard 5 string Jazz bass.
I really like the sound of passive basses thru my combo.
I really like the sound of passive basses thru my combo.
Even though I prefer tube amps I have an MB500 and I love it. I first had a MB2500 that worked fine, but returned it to GK because of the early issues with some of the units. GK sent me a brand new amp in a turnaround of about 10 days. Their customer service really is that good.
Volume? I have never had to push it to it's limits. It sounds great on my GK cabs and even better on my NV610. Depends on what kind of muisc you're playing I suppose, but to me it's a really robust little amp.
Volume? I have never had to push it to it's limits. It sounds great on my GK cabs and even better on my NV610. Depends on what kind of muisc you're playing I suppose, but to me it's a really robust little amp.
derylgallant
Bassist from Prince Edward Island, Canada
My local music store in PEI was nice enough to bring in a MB500 and and a NEO210 for me to try out . I spent an hour using my own fretless through it and I was impressed at the clarity and bite and the wide range of sounds I could get. Thumping bass low end ... Jacoesque fretless growl ... I also tried a few pbasses and was even more wowed by the sound ( and confirms that my fretless really does need work an probably some upgrades ) ... The slap sound is crazy awesome ... Full and punchy ...
Downsides ...
Wasn't impressed with the Boost sound ... on any of the basses ... Would probably use it as a volume pedal more than anything .. But ... I only did spend an hour ...
They're letting me take it home on Saturday to give it a whirl in my own habitat and use it with my upright as well ... That will tip the scale either way depending on whether I love the upright sound or not ...
will update further after Sunday
Downsides ...
Wasn't impressed with the Boost sound ... on any of the basses ... Would probably use it as a volume pedal more than anything .. But ... I only did spend an hour ...
They're letting me take it home on Saturday to give it a whirl in my own habitat and use it with my upright as well ... That will tip the scale either way depending on whether I love the upright sound or not ...
will update further after Sunday
derylgallant
Bassist from Prince Edward Island, Canada
Well I officially love it ... Going to shell out and buy it tomorrow . The upright sound with my Realist and Biesele is quite good and definitely a useable sound ... Can't wait to try it live ...
with fretless it really cuts ... My "Portrait of Tracy" has never sounded so good !!
With the pbass I knocked a picture off my wall .. Whoops ... Thumping low end but still clear .
The boost channel I'm still not 100% sold on but it's not a deal breaker in the end .
The only thing that is puzzling me is ... What do I do with the head when I use the cab in tilt back mode?
I asked GK and they said they'd just put the head on the floor . No thank you!
Anyone else have this config have an opinion?
with fretless it really cuts ... My "Portrait of Tracy" has never sounded so good !!
With the pbass I knocked a picture off my wall .. Whoops ... Thumping low end but still clear .
The boost channel I'm still not 100% sold on but it's not a deal breaker in the end .
The only thing that is puzzling me is ... What do I do with the head when I use the cab in tilt back mode?
I asked GK and they said they'd just put the head on the floor . No thank you!
Anyone else have this config have an opinion?
derylgallant
Bassist from Prince Edward Island, Canada
Going back to the original post in this thread, I was wondering the same regarding the reliability of the GK MB500.
I'm presently looking out for a new amp and the MB500 fits all my needs. The only thing that's holding me back from ordering one right now is that I've also read on a few bass-forums that, for some bass players, the MB500 has stopped working in less than 6 months of usage.
Any MB500 users who have the time to comment, I'd be appreciative.
Regards,
Honkertonk
I'm presently looking out for a new amp and the MB500 fits all my needs. The only thing that's holding me back from ordering one right now is that I've also read on a few bass-forums that, for some bass players, the MB500 has stopped working in less than 6 months of usage.
Any MB500 users who have the time to comment, I'd be appreciative.
Regards,
Honkertonk
Over a year and a half of part time (1-2 times a month) gigging w/o any issue, noise or hiccups of any kind.
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
I've owned the MB500 for about seven months and have had no problem with it. I have on several occasions pushed it pretty hard, too--into an Ampeg 810 with a very loud rock band. These days I use it to drive my Neo212 and 410MBX stack in a much quieter band. Tonight I will be plugging my new 5-string Ibanez SR505 into it and attempting some crazy dubstep wobbles via my Source Audio Hot Hand and associated pedals. Wish me luck.
Bottom line for me is, all I want out of my amp head is watts, some basic tone shaping and maybe some bass-specific features like a DI and an active instrument input pad. Otherwise it might as well be a slave amp. I rely on my pedal board for "my sound." I just want a small, totable head and a lightweight hi-fi stack of cabs. The MB500 is exactly what I need. A dollar a watt, weighs four pounds, has only the knobs and lights I need.
Bottom line for me is, all I want out of my amp head is watts, some basic tone shaping and maybe some bass-specific features like a DI and an active instrument input pad. Otherwise it might as well be a slave amp. I rely on my pedal board for "my sound." I just want a small, totable head and a lightweight hi-fi stack of cabs. The MB500 is exactly what I need. A dollar a watt, weighs four pounds, has only the knobs and lights I need.
I'm happy with the MB-500 overall, but I'm not crazy about the boost channel either, and I love cranking the boost knob on my 700RB-II. IMO, the MB-500's boost sounds harsh in comparison, but in fairness I do need to experiment more. Great tones are probably in there, and of course the footswitch boost activation is a plus.
Thanks for the responses.
It is highly likely I will order an MB500 this week. I've found an online shop that offers a 3 year warranty with all their amps, so regarding any reliability issues I'm hopefully covered in the event of any potential problems.
Another question....
Can anyone recommend a speaker cab to go with the MB500? I've read a thread somewhere talking about this, though I don't have the link anymore.
Ideally I'm looking for a punchy and clear style cab that can handle the lows of a five-string. Can the GK 4x10's handle this? For budget reasons I'd be looking at the GK MBE or MBX models.
It is highly likely I will order an MB500 this week. I've found an online shop that offers a 3 year warranty with all their amps, so regarding any reliability issues I'm hopefully covered in the event of any potential problems.
Another question....
Can anyone recommend a speaker cab to go with the MB500? I've read a thread somewhere talking about this, though I don't have the link anymore.
Ideally I'm looking for a punchy and clear style cab that can handle the lows of a five-string. Can the GK 4x10's handle this? For budget reasons I'd be looking at the GK MBE or MBX models.
derylgallant
Bassist from Prince Edward Island, Canada
I personally love my NEO2x10 ... crisp, tight, and still lots of bottom.
but I've also heard good things about the 2x12s.. ( Norm Stockton uses NEO 2x12s but they are of course more pricey than the MBE ) the MBE you can get in 4 or 8ohms and is 600 watts ... my local store was trying to bring in the 4ohm in for me to try pairing with the MB200 to get the full 200 watts but there was none in Canada at all..
But with the MB500 you'd want 8ohm anyway so you have options of pairing later on with a 2nd 8ohm cab.
Long & McQuade - Gallien-Krueger 212MBE/8 - 600-Watt/8-Ohm/212 Bass Cabinet
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
I have a Neo 212 and a 410MBX. If I had my way, I'd ditch the 410 and get a second 212, but money was a factor. (I got the 410 used.) I find the MBX to be pretty woofy. But that could be partly because it's blowing at my ankles.
