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Gallien-Krueger MB800

#481
Jim Carr said:
We are just all so happy, that we trust everything will turn out fine. ;)
Click to expand...
Hey maybe I can ask an MB800 question here. I started a new thread but maybe this is the better place to ask.
I currently use a 700RB-II . I like this amp a lot- been using it hard since 2008. I have the chance to pick up an MB800 and I am considering it since I could use it on my pedal board ( I keep my PB on top of my cabinet) and lose one Rack case to carry to gigs. Plus I would would have a backup amp.
I use the boost on the 700RB-II all the time. Generally run it about 11-12 o'clock and crank it up to 3 o'clock when i want more grind.
My question is - on the MB800 can I get the subtle grind of Boost at 11 on the 700RB-II - on the A channel of the MB800? That way I can set the B channel for my 3 o'clock grind setting.
Any other thoughts on this is appreciated. I use a GK 212MBE cab and I play in a party/variety band that plays Modern rock to current Top 40 dance music.
thank you
 
#482
Since I am all about the clean clean clean, I can't say. Seems to me having two settings on the B channel might be the way to go, or find a pedal for the initial "subtle grind of Boost at 11 on the 700RB-II." Might a VT Bass ver. 2.0 be what you need?
 
#483
Jim Carr said:
Since I am all about the clean clean clean, I can't say. Seems to me having two settings on the B channel might be the way to go, or find a pedal for the initial "subtle grind of Boost at 11 on the 700RB-II." Might a VT Bass ver. 2.0 be what you need?
Click to expand...
Thanks - I am hoping not to have to buy anything and ad more stuff to my setup. So what I am hearing is there is no boost or gain to add grind on the A channel.
 
#486
You can get some dirt out of the second channel, which is one of the intended designs of the two channel setup. But from what I have read it's a different kind of GK grind than what your probably used to based on the amp architecture.

I was all about clean too and loved mine. Went a different route but would buy one back in a second if I needed a separate head.
 
#488
B-string said:
"Gain B/ Level B: Turning up the Gain B control
will add a little growl to your tone by adding a
small amount of ever order harmonic distortion.
This is an unmistakable GK trade mark sound"

This sounds like the definition of the boost control on the RB heads?[/Q

Thanks - I will use this thread for the question. It sounds like I can use the MB800 like I use the 700RB-II today by using the B channel only and turning up the gain for more grind.
I did read both the MB800 and the MB500 manuals. It sounds like the MB800 does not have boost at all. I saw that it didnt have a boost control but from reading the manual I thought raising the Channel B gain effectively did the same thing.
Click to expand...
 
#489
BassMan99 said:
Hey maybe I can ask an MB800 question here. I started a new thread but maybe this is the better place to ask.
I currently use a 700RB-II . I like this amp a lot- been using it hard since 2008. I have the chance to pick up an MB800 and I am considering it since I could use it on my pedal board ( I keep my PB on top of my cabinet) and lose one Rack case to carry to gigs. Plus I would would have a backup amp.
I use the boost on the 700RB-II all the time. Generally run it about 11-12 o'clock and crank it up to 3 o'clock when i want more grind.
My question is - on the MB800 can I get the subtle grind of Boost at 11 on the 700RB-II - on the A channel of the MB800? That way I can set the B channel for my 3 o'clock grind setting.
Any other thoughts on this is appreciated. I use a GK 212MBE cab and I play in a party/variety band that plays Modern rock to current Top 40 dance music.
thank you
Click to expand...


In a nutshell, yes, you can dial in as much grit on either channel you want. If you want it on A, turn the gain up higher and lower the volume to compensate for getting too close to clipping. Set channel B's gain where you want, and adjust the level to taste.
I went ahead and made a quick vid of me tinkering around with a riff to check it out. You'll have to pardon my settings, the input on my UI was a little too high, but it didn't come through my headphones. It's a little distorted when I switch to Channel B. But I put the settings you're asking about. Channel A is at 11, and Channel B is at 3 oclock with the B level around 1-2. Normally, I have channel A at around 9. I get most of my tone from my Darkglass B7K pedal.
I have a 1001RBII and I have the boost set to 100% all the time, so I know the tone you're after.

Sorry for the sloppy playing. I had a cat that wouldn't quit going for a damn bag of treats. The input was too loud, my pedal levels weren't really set either so when I hit my B7K it came screaming through. Also this is on an MB800 Fusion, so it's a tube pre amp.
Beginning is me switching between the Mk2 Bartolinis, and the Piezo pickups, which explains the acoustic tone.
First few times I play the riff is clean, then switching between the A-B channel. After that I switch between my B7K (you'll know it when you hear it), and then the Darkglass VMT (normally my overdrive over the top boost sound, which the levels aren't set to be balanced).

Mehhh. So take it for what it is. Maybe it'll help you see if you like the A-B channels, if it doesn't clip your speakers. Lol.

 
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#495
I have two MB200's and I recently sold my Shuttle 6.0. I'm thinking of the MB800. I don't want a tube front end at all. I love tube amps, but I'm weird. I want all tube or none at all. I started on page one here and then got to page two, then I realized that the fun of Talkbass is that every gear thread starts out so starry-eyed then turns into some 40-something divorcee in a casino with a Marlboro pressed in their lips bitching about their ex. It just never gets old!

So I skipped to page 20 and - no divorcee. I read through the end. Pretty good, GK.

So, let me ask a question: The negative reviews I've read have some concerns about hiss, buzz and fan noise. Overall it seems these concerns are not shared by those in this thread. The MB200 I've used for the last two years is a champ and the one I bought fairly recently seems pretty the same. Are you long time users happy with the amp with regard to noises? Over all it seems that you are.

KO
 
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#496
There were a bunch of early MB200's with noise problems due to sloppily dressed wiring at the factory. I believe there were also at least a couple with excessive hiss.

G-K was quick to look after people, and make it right. I suspect that this was one of the reasons for moving production back to the States.

Meanwhile, MB800's have been made in the U.S. and China, and the defect rate seems to have been extremely low.

As long as you don't need 2-ohm capability, the MB800 can power any cab stack to crushing levels, and it never runs hot.

Perhaps because of the massive power output, there have been zero reports of the protection cutting in on the gig, even in hot weather on large outdoor gigs.

All in all, if the tone floats your boat, it's probably the safest choice in a micro head for the gigging bassist.
 
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#497
I've had both the SS and Fusion MB's, and the clean tones are very similar.

The MB800 is the hardest to drive into really major clipping without dirt pedals, simply because the power stage is so humongous.

By the time you get it cranked enough to drive the power stage to the rails, Elvis will have left the building, along with half the audience.

IME you can get a significant amount of preamp distortion by pushing the A and B gains, but it's not going to get quite as grindy as a pushed RB700. Or as Tubular as a Fusion.
 
#498
I'm happy enough using a VT pedal for grind and I like the MB line. I have a 20% voucher for Musician's Friend that would take this to the level of being a stupidly good deal. I'm likely to pull the trigger.

The main reason I wouldn't is the same reason I was comfortable selling the Shuttle: My bass gig is at a church where the MB200 fits the bill perfectly. I don't have a secular gig on bass, all of my secular gigs are as a drummer.

But it would be a stupidly good deal, and I'd like to try the MB800 out.

KO
 
#500
I need a bit of advice from you guy, please.
I have just received a GK MB800 and there's a few things I have noticed and I'm not so sure about:

- As soon as I turn the amp on there is a faint but noticeable background noise, kinda like a grainy white noise, not a hum. It is there always no matter what the gain, eq or master knobs are set to, even with the mute on and no bass plugged in. I have tried different cables, different basses, plugging in a different room...but it's always there.

- The fan comes on pretty much after switching the amp on and it's quite/very noisy, noisier than any other amp I've had in the past (Ampeg PF-800, TH500, DB750, SVT4....) Even on standby the fan keeps running even after having played only for 2 minutes at low volume. It's quite loud even standing on the other side of the room , about 5 metres away

- Also when I switch channels it makes a popping sound, it only happen if I am playing when I change the channel, but not if I'm not playing at the time.

- The second Channel, seems to be quite a lot quieter than Channel A. Is this how it is?
As an example, right now Gain A at 12 with Master at 12 sounds the same as Gain B all the way up and Level-B at 12...is this normal?

Thanks!
 

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