GK Amps question???

[Al Kraft]

While I don't play them that much these days, I have all three MBs (200, 500, 800). IMO the MB800 and MB200 sound the closest in terms of inherent voicing. To me the MB500 is a slightly more inherently aggressive sounding amp, but not in an "in your face" or annoying kind of way.

As a clean player, I find that all have the classic (RB centered/inspired) sound and of course that great GK tone stack. If you like that riding the rails GK growl, I don't think you can get that from the MB heads the way you will on say on 700 RB.

 

[shoot-r]

my MB200 amp is 'MY' sound. I want to buy something with more power with the same voicing.

Maybe try using your MB200 as a pre-amp only, lined out into a high wattage power amp?

Or, try the MB200's pre-amp out/send to one of your other higher wattage amp head's in/recieve. That would be using your Veryon or the PF500 as the power amp.

I'd happily pay half price for something used without a warranty...then if it breaks (not likely) I can turn around and buy a second one and still break even. There's a GK MB500 in the classifieds for 350 calling your name...there is really nothing more "like your MB200 but louder" than that.

+1!

That was my solution when the MB's were no longer being made and when factory service/repairs were no longer available from GK.

I have found a local brick and mortar music store that will do repairs on MB's if/when necessary, but having most repairs made will be just slightly less, than buying a used, good to mint condition, working MB.

I've made what I consider great buys on the 3 MB heads I've found, (a MB2-500, MB500 and a MB Fusion 800.)
Outside some scratchy pots,(something that occurs with most manufacturers amps), they've been rock solid being used in a working band.

(For jobs, I run a SansAmp BDDI V2 in front of (usually the MB Fusion 800) into one or two, 210 cabs. The MB500 I carry as a yet to be needed backup.)