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Gallien-Krueger MB800

#181
Got mine today. My first impression is that the amp seems great, but that doesn't matter because I am quite disappointed -- it is hissy and there is a high pitched "whine" that goes up and down in pitch. Almost like I'm at a freaking airport! No, it's not LOUD, but very noticeable and annoying. I wanted to use this amp to listen to music at home whenever I'm not gigging it. I can start to ignore it if I really have to, but it's always there and rather irritating. :hmm::hmm::hmm:

This is true whether the amp is muted or not.

Also I'm not sure if it's supposed to be like this -- but the B channel has to be turned up wayy more to acheive the same volume as the A channel. Is this normal?

edit: and the fan just turned on and it's very loud! and there is a LOUD POP when I turn the amp off!! Unbelievable... I thought they would have fixed issues by now...
 
#187
Had some vacation time to burn, took this week off.
I'm the type that doesn't mail order equipment, I have to play it first.
E-mailed my closest, big, Gallien-Krueger stocking, Guitar Center in Indianapolis, In. The Castleton Mall G.C.
Asked the store manger, "Do you keep in stock the Gallien-Krueger MB800 head and the Gallien-Krueger MB Fusion head."
His reply, "We have both on the floor and in stock."
Left home yesterday morning and made the 3 hour, one way drive to the store.
Walk in, guy in their bass department says, "To my knowledge we've never had either of those heads at this store but we can order one for you!"

They can be giving them away at this store...won't matter...I WON'T be wasting my time going back.
 
#188
thudfromafar said:
Got mine today. My first impression is that the amp seems great, but that doesn't matter because I am quite disappointed -- it is hissy and there is a high pitched "whine" that goes up and down in pitch. Almost like I'm at a freaking airport! No, it's not LOUD, but very noticeable and annoying. I wanted to use this amp to listen to music at home whenever I'm not gigging it. I can start to ignore it if I really have to, but it's always there and rather irritating. :hmm::hmm::hmm:

This is true whether the amp is muted or not.

Also I'm not sure if it's supposed to be like this -- but the B channel has to be turned up wayy more to acheive the same volume as the A channel. Is this normal?

edit: and the fan just turned on and it's very loud! and there is a LOUD POP when I turn the amp off!! Unbelievable... I thought they would have fixed issues by now...
Click to expand...

Send it back, you have a rare lemon. I have had my MB800 for almost a year now and never had any problems like those you describe. IMHO it's the best micro head in its price range.:bassist:
 
#189
Guys, quick question...

I was watching this demo of mb800 and saw this under the video:
I made this one to learn, the MB amp doesn't like my Sadowsky bass preamp ( the amp has a 'protection' and rejects non compatible pedals or preamps)
Click to expand...

Can someone explain me what does it mean? Don't get it - I can't use a preamp like Sadowsky DI before this little GK amp?

link to YT:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uM-MhfEwE8
 
#190
suvdecropp said:
Guys, quick question...

I was watching this demo of mb800 and saw this under the video:


Can someone explain me what does it mean? Don't get it - I can't use a preamp like Sadowsky DI before this little GK amp?

link to YT:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uM-MhfEwE8
Click to expand...

Thats pretty much a post by someone that doesn't know what he's doing, or talking about (yet). There is no such issue with GK amps that I know of. However if the gain on the Sadowski pre (or any pre for that matter) is set too high, there will be problems with the head clipping and sounding bad or distorted. But that will happen with ANY head, not just GK.
 
#191
DougD said:
Send it back, you have a rare lemon. I have had my MB800 for almost a year now and never had any problems like those you describe. IMHO it's the best micro head in its price range.:bassist:
Click to expand...

I'm just not happy that I have to pay for boxing/shipping and then I have to wait a while to get it back. I took it to a local tech center (GK certified) but GK wouldnt respond to them and they couldnt help me with these newer micro heads. They said they tried to fix the issue, but, the problem is still there, just not as bad I guess...

We'll see how it goes with the warranty...

The good news is, it's loud and sounds good. I just use my genz benz shuttle at home.
 
#192
Thudfromafar: I had the exact same annoying whine from my GK MB fusion. The amp was a few weeks old. Called GK and they said take it to the authorized service center and they would 'take care of me'. Well after a few days I called the tech and he claimed the amp was working normally. I suspect now he did not even look at at it. I paid the $25 bench fee for supposedly wasting his time and took it home. Plugged it in and surprise! Still whining.

I sent the amp back to the vendor, who confirmed the noise was there. I was so bummed out, not just because of the amp noise but the fact it could not be repaired. I swapped it for the Aguilar TH500, which I like less tone wise but, it is quiet.

If you have had the amp less than 90 days and paid by credit card try asking the vendor to take it back. If they refuse call the credit card company and tell them you were sold a dud. My credit card company offered me full refund if the vendor was going to quibble about the return, luckily it was an easy transaction.

Clearly this whining is an issue for some of these GK heads. Send it back. Don't bother trying to get it fixed. I should have sent mine back instead of following up with the warranty fiasco. Hope it works out for you.
 
#195
thudfromafar said:
I'm just not happy that I have to pay for boxing/shipping and then I have to wait a while to get it back. I took it to a local tech center (GK certified) but GK wouldnt respond to them and they couldnt help me with these newer micro heads. They said they tried to fix the issue, but, the problem is still there, just not as bad I guess...

We'll see how it goes with the warranty...

The good news is, it's loud and sounds good. I just use my genz benz shuttle at home.
Click to expand...

Where did you get the head from? If its a big box store like GC or MF, If you speak to them, they would probably exchange it for you free. I've done this several times, one head was a year old and they still took care of me:bassist:
 
#196
shoot-r said:
Had some vacation time to burn, took this week off.
I'm the type that doesn't mail order equipment, I have to play it first.
E-mailed my closest, big, Gallien-Krueger stocking, Guitar Center in Indianapolis, In. The Castleton Mall G.C.
Asked the store manger, "Do you keep in stock the Gallien-Krueger MB800 head and the Gallien-Krueger MB Fusion head."
His reply, "We have both on the floor and in stock."
Left home yesterday morning and made the 3 hour, one way drive to the store.
Walk in, guy in their bass department says, "To my knowledge we've never had either of those heads at this store but we can order one for you!"

They can be giving them away at this store...won't matter...I WON'T be wasting my time going back.
Click to expand...

That's ridiculous. I know you said that you'll never go back to that store; but if you ever do the same thing at a different store, I'd ask for the name of the person on the phone, and tell him when he can be expecting you. ("Okay, Bob, I'll be driving down tomorrow afternoon to see the amp. See you then. Thanks!") I've found that this tends to make them check their inventory before they get off the phone with you.
 

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