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GK 700RB-II vs MB500 or MBFusion

Slowgypsy

Slowgypsy

4 Fretless Strings
Dec 12, 2006
1,944
56
NY & MA
www.peterweissdesigns.com
#1
Short and sweet... I've run my 700RB-II into 2 GK Neo 112 cabs for several years... love everything about it. I'm toying with the idea of an MB500 or MBFusion replacement/backup for my 700RB... lightweight is very appealing. Which of those 2 choices would you consider to be the closest match in terms of tone to my 700RB? Thanks...
 
#2
I haven't played the MB Fusion yet, but I have several rehearsals and a gig with the MB500....... The MB500 will not replace my 700rbII, nor do I find it to be a close match. It's missing girth, or "heft" in tone that you get with the 700rbII. Each time I've played the MB500, my VT stays engaged, because I don't like what it's missing tonally. With the 700rbII, my VT gets only partial use. The "hitting the rails" tone you can achieve with the 700 is just not there with the mb500.

I'm toying with the idea of a new practice amp, and the MB200 may serve that purpose, as well as a backup...... and I'll save some cash in the process.
 
#3
I have the MB200. For what it is, it's a great little amp. I'm mainly using it as an emergency backup, and occasionally as a practice amp, depending on which group I'm practicing with. For me, it's definitely not going to be a gigging amp.

I haven't tried either the MB500 or the MBFusion. And the idea of maybe being able to bring just that little amp and one of my 112 cabs is very appealing. I'm okay if it's not a dead match to my 700RB... I'm not expecting that. But if it's close, and behaves similarly then that's a winner for me.

So... anyone else care to send your thoughts my way?
 
#6
Slowgypsy said:
Short and sweet... I've run my 700RB-II into 2 GK Neo 112 cabs for several years... love everything about it. I'm toying with the idea of an MB500 or MBFusion replacement/backup for my 700RB... lightweight is very appealing. Which of those 2 choices would you consider to be the closest match in terms of tone to my 700RB? Thanks...
Click to expand...

You may want to pm Tom Bowlus. He has used the RB700II and the MBFusion, and has commented on both heads in another thread.
 
#7
ljazz said:
I haven't played the MB Fusion yet, but I have several rehearsals and a gig with the MB500....... The MB500 will not replace my 700rbII, nor do I find it to be a close match. It's missing girth, or "heft" in tone that you get with the 700rbII. Each time I've played the MB500, my VT stays engaged, because I don't like what it's missing tonally. With the 700rbII, my VT gets only partial use. The "hitting the rails" tone you can achieve with the 700 is just not there with the mb500.

I'm toying with the idea of a new practice amp, and the MB200 may serve that purpose, as well as a backup...... and I'll save some cash in the process.
Click to expand...

Just wanna chime in and say that I have an original 700RB (not the II), and after using other GK models, what turns me off is that they just don't have that same personality. I'm sure the 700RB-II is no different.
 
#8
I understand the light weight thing to a point, but I don't really consider my 700rbII to be all that heavy. Ive played through a bunch of different amps, including an MB500 and I haven't come across anything that would take the place of my 700rb
 
#9
The 700RBII is a workhorse type of amp. I know this from experience. Rock solid, straight ahead tone machine. I’m a little weary of the lightweight class D amps in comparison although they do sound great. My friends MB500 just stopped on him during a gig a couple weeks ago and I know Carvin also had problems with theirs. Is it a voltage thing? This could be its own topic, but would it be advisable for band’s to run all of their components through a voltage regulator?
 
#10
I used to own a 700RB-I, as well as an MB2-500, but not at the same time, so I can't compare them easily. The one side-by-side comparison I did do was the MB2-500 and a Fusion 550. To my ear, they sounded too similar to distinguish from each other, and the volume from both was enormous! I was shocked the MB could get so loud, and sound so beefy, while keeping the signature GK tone in tact!
 
#11
I have no experience with the Fusion, but IMO if you get any Class D you'll miss your 700RBII every night. Some techie guys will tell you otherwise so read my comment with a spoon of salt...

The MB500 would be a great backup amp, though...
 
#12
For a short time I had the opportunity to use both of these amps. I owned the 700rb-II for about two years and loved it. I then got the MB Fusion and felt it was equally as good if not better. I have never tried the MB 500 so I can't comment on that. My guess is you can't go wrong with any of the three. That being said and have used the above two mentioned, I would go with the MB Fusion as the backup. You might even wind up using it as your main amp. I have no negative comments about the 700rb-II, I just like the MB Fusion a little more.
 
#13
I purchased an MB Fusion and returned after 24 hours. While I liked the sound there was an increbile hiss modulated by the master knob. It was there even with all the knobs to' zero. That was the day I cursed myself for trusting in something that powerful, that light and Made in China. It seems a damned battle: the cheaper, the lighter, the powerful ... It's not just in the amps, or in the instruments... it's where this ****ing world is headed. Things are not made to' last anymore.
I'm not saying that the lightweight serie sucks: I probably got a lemon BUT the day I called the shop to' return the thing back they told me that another customer had experienced the same thing.
I had an RB700-II in exchange and guys... that's another story! While it wouldn't be fair to' do a comparison because I didn't try the two at the same time, I have to' say that to' my ears the RB has an authority that the MB lacks. Not to mention that it screams "TRUST ME"!!!
 
#15
Sold my 700rb II to buy my MB Fusion. Never regretted it for a moment. I loved my 700 but fusion is just as huge and has more warmth. I bought mine through BassNW and they test every amp before they sell them so no hissing problems from mine. The fusion cured my amp gas instantly. Been happy with it for the last 6 months.
 
#16
I had a 700RB-II a couple of years ago and loved everything about it, but had to sell it for financial reasons. I now have an MB500, and while it is a great amp I do agree that it is missing some "girth/heft" in the tone. There is also noticeable hiss with the MB500 which I didn't get with the 700RB-II. (FWIW I had a GK Backline 600 for a little while last year and that was also hissy).

That being said, the MB500 fits my needs better now as it is pretty small and makes for a very lightweight/compact setup when paired with a single Neo112 cabinet. I turn the horn down so the hiss is barely audible.
 
#18
I've had all three-- and what i noticed was the MB Fusion and the 700RB-II sound very similar if you have the "boost" knob on the 700 up all the way,
but theres still a tad bit of extra "heft" to the MB Fusion
and a bit more buttery articulation -
but the 700 can seem a bit more "grindy" when pushed , and the MB Fusion has a bit more low end "rumble"

the MB500 was a nice sounding amp-- but the most sterile sounding of the 3
 
#19
Hmm... IME, I have been able to get my MB500 to sound fairly similar to my 700RB-II, and the MB500 seems to hit plenty hard, to boot. With GK cabs, I do really like the HMS on the 700RB-II, as it lets me push the drivers to where they are getting a bit edgy and aggressive, but still keep the tweeters nice and clean. But I've been very impressed with the MB500. The MB Fusion has more harmonic content than the 700RB-II or MB500, and it does have a very "exciting" tone, but I find the 500 and 700 to be bit more solid and even from top to bottom. I really can't say that I prefer one over the other (though if I had to pick just one of my GK heads to keep, it would probably be the Fusion 550).

Tom.
 
#20
I have the 700RB-II, MB-500, and two Neo 112 cabs (first gen). I agree the 700RB-II has more "heft" or "authority" than the MB-500, and perhaps a warmer tone overall. Tone wise, I prefer the 700RB-II, and I definitely like using the Horn Management System with the Neo cabs.

But the MB-500 gets pretty close to the 700RB-II tone wise, or at least close enough for my purposes. I like using the "boost" channel, and cutting both treble and high mids on the EQ brings it closer to the 700RB-II's warmth. This takes out some of the "synthetic" quality I've heard at times. I've only used it on stage once, which isn't exactly a wealth of experience, but it was a pretty big venue and a high volume gig, and I was happy with the snarly, growly G-K goodness. For me, the convenience of the smaller, lighter head that fits in my gig bag will be worth it most of the time.
 

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