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GK MB 200: Part Two

#301
i have no idea if this is something anyone else has experienced with the MB200.
fiirst i'll say that i love everything about it in theory, and the tones i got from a few minutes playing in the apartment convinced me i wouldn't be gigging too much without it.
i brought it to its first ''official'' gig last tuesday- lounge singers, small combo, Fodera 6, everything's cool- then 20 minutes into the set, this bizarre dive-bomber whistle starts shrieking out of the cab, descending chromatically like a weird buzz-saw bomb.. i yank the cord, the singer freaks, i plug into a cheesy knock-off 10" 50-watt amp on the side of the stage and hobble through the set.
home later that night- headphones- 20 minutes in, same descending buzzsaw whistle.
thursday, in the apartment through a 15'', same thing- 20 minutes or so in, same pitch.. but now it's considerably louder and shriek-ier.
anybody get this same weird, nasty noise?
from what i see here, page after page both praise this little marvel and revile it for being completely lacking in quality-control somewhere in the production chain.
i do not want to believe that GK is chuckling in the home office, saying " **** 'em, we GOT their money and they got the s****y pieces from the China run!! hahahh!!"

i scheduled a tech appt in town because i tossed the warranty card by mistake and i've had it since mid-february. but looking over these responses, i'll contact the guys at GK through email tonight.
i really want this to be my main small-group rig, but i can't afford pro gig exposure and recording sessions turning into an embarrassment due to a $259 amp head.
 
#306
I got my MB200 a couple of months ago and it's been absolutely quiet, runs cool, and sounds great. BUT... it seems that there is a built-in limiter or compressor. Whenever I hit a low notes, especially below low E (I play 5-strings), the attack of the note seems weak and if I let the note ring, the volume increases. This effect is indicative of having compression in place; fairly fast attack and slower release. Not major compression, just enough to "round off" the attack of the notes. So, what I've been wondering is if there is some compression built into these amps. Doing so would take away some "strain" on the amp. Any insights?:confused::hmm:
 
#307
I just bought the MB200 from GC today and they gave me the same price as RMC ($199) after I had them check RMC`s web site.

Was really concerned about the hiss I read about here so before I left the store I played through a 112 and a 115 Markbass cab they had-no hiss at all.

I even brought my MDR-7506 phones and a cd player to try this amp out--flawless- no hiss what so ever.

She is now in my living room ready for practice and later when I get a cab the real fun begins--I am stoked this is my first real bass amp-I know it`s not much but for now I`m happy.

Oh I checked and mine is USA made.
 
#308
Roadrunr said:
I just bought the MB200 from GC today and they gave me the same price as RCM $199 after I had them check RMC`s web site.

Was really concerned about the hiss I read about here so before I left the store I played through a 112 and a 115 Markbass cab they had-no hiss at all.

I even brought my MDR-7506 phones and a cd player to try this amp out--flawless- no hiss what so ever.

She is now in my living room ready for practice and later when I get a cab the real fun begins--I am stoked this is my first real bass amp-I know it`s not much but for now I`m happy.

Oh I checked and mine is USA made.
Click to expand...
Congrats! You'll love it!
 
#311
Bumping up this thread with a little gig review of mine.
I had only run it with my 3015-loaded 1x15 cab in small clubs, but this Friday I played a larger place that had a Hartke stack with a 3500 head and 410 and 115 Vx cabs. No bass or drum reinforcement and no subs, so I had to carry the whole club with the amp. I had used the 3500 the last time I played this joint and was really frustrated with the blurry sound. This time I pulled out my MB200 and my new Catalinbread SFT and immediately on the first few notes I was happier with the sound, especially when I moved the volume up to stage volume. The MB pumped out sweet tone all night and freed my brain up to push the band better instead of constantly turning around to tweak this or that on the head. If I this head can cover this gig, then I really have no need to look around for anything else. I already knew it sounded good, now I know it can carry a whole room, given enough cone area at 4ohm.
 
#313
checking in:
I've used my MB200 / GB NeoX 212t on several gigs now - 50 or so
everything from a small bar with lousy acoustics to a giant out-door stage
Used as a DI for amp-less gigs and recording

I'm amazed! 200 watts and I always have plenty of headroom
...and not one glitch :bassist:
 
#314
I have read 'bout 12 pages in this thread (actually in part 1), and now I'm curious in one basic question (for me): is this head capable for giging situation asociated with some effecient 4Ohm 410 cab?
I like how it sounds, like price too, and I like that 2 pounds of weight.. But, can it gig?
So, my plan for now is to read rest but please, I need that answer to see where i am with that head..
Cheers and thanks in advance
 
#315
parker 71 said:
I have read 'bout 12 pages in this thread (actually in part 1), and now I'm curious in one basic question (for me): is this head capable for giging situation asociated with some effecient 4Ohm 410 cab?
I like how it sounds, like price too, and I like that 2 pounds of weight.. But, can it gig?
So, my plan for now is to read rest but please, I need that answer to see where i am with that head..
Cheers and thanks in advance
Click to expand...
People always ask this question and the answer is always the same...

"It depends"

...on how loud you guys get on stage. It's a strong 200W, and with a 410 will put out a lot of sound, but if it's "enough", depends completely on the band.
 
#317
parker 71 said:
OK, I see your point :)
Now, maybe if I ask a little different.. Is that 200w a real 200w?

Sorry for my indian english :)
Click to expand...
I don't think I've seen benchmark results on this head yet, but if it follows suit with their other heads, then it should. IMHO, GK rates their heads very realistically.

Also, as I've always said, if you want to get louder, don't double your wattage, double your speakers. It's not a linear relationship between wattage and "loudness". A 400W amp through a 410 is NOT going to be "twice as loud" as a 200W amp through a 410. Not even close... assuming nothing particularly special about the needs of the cab... that it's a reasonably efficient cab like pretty much most all are these days I think.

I own one of these and I've gigged with it. One band I play in honestly gets "too loud" on stage so I use the larger MB heads for that, but for other gigs where stage volume is more reasonable, I've even gigged this head with a 112/110 combo as well as my GK dual 112 stack (the Neo112-II cabs) and been very happy.
 
#318
Vic said:
I don't think I've seen benchmark results on this head yet, but if it follows suit with their other heads, then it should. IMHO, GK rates their heads very realistically.
Click to expand...

Well, it is what I heard too. One thing, I live in country where we have'nt GK in stores :rollno:. Most of manufactors yes, but GK no :rollno:. So, theres not much of GK equipment here. So, if mr Gallien read this, please - do something :hyper:

Vic said:
Also, as I've always said, if you want to get louder, don't double your wattage, double your speakers. It's not a linear relationship between wattage and "loudness". A 400W amp through a 410 is NOT going to be "twice as loud" as a 200W amp through a 410. Not even close... assuming nothing particularly special about the needs of the cab... that it's a reasonably efficient cab like pretty much most all are these days I think.
Click to expand...

So, am I going wrong thinking that I'm gonna get most of it with 4 Ohm 410?



Vic said:
I own one of these and I've gigged with it. One band I play in honestly gets "too loud" on stage so I use the larger MB heads for that, but for other gigs where stage volume is more reasonable, I've even gigged this head with a 112/110 combo as well as my GK dual 112 stack (the Neo112-II cabs) and been very happy.
Click to expand...

Most of my gigs are like - inside and 100-200 people, so I'm pretty sure that I can make it with this head and decent cab :). And with little help from house's OP (is that word - OP? Or PO?)

My situation is that I can get it brand new for about 200 Eur, and this is good price for me, most of equipment here is pricier than usually Europian/world's price. So I hope that it's gonna work
 
#319
parker 71 said:
So, am I going wrong thinking that I'm gonna get most of it with 4 Ohm 410?
Click to expand...
No, you are correct. That would be a great match!

Most of my gigs are like - inside and 100-200 people, so I'm pretty sure that I can make it with this head and decent cab :). And with little help from house's OP (is that word - OP? Or PO?)
Click to expand...
"PA" is what we call it here which stands for Public Address system... basically any big sound system for large amplification needs. :)

But it sounds to me like you have a fair case for good application. If it was me, I'd go for it.
 
#320
Well, my english is kind a rusty but we understand each other :)

And, 'bout amplification and fair case.. I got to go in Hungary, which is closest where I can find GK. But I live in Serbia, which is not in Europian Comunity, and Hungary is in. So I can get amp for about 250-260eur, but minus taxes (VAT, if I write it correct?) and it is about 200eur finaly.. But, I have all that odity, to travel a lot and drink a lot with Hungarians and all..
So, that's it

Cheers, and I'll post some pic when I got it :)
 

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