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GK MB 200: Part Two

#361
It is interesting. I've run my Aguilar Tone Hammer - which I mainly use for recording - into the Genz Effects Return many times just to preview a setting that I was going to use in the studio. I suppose I didn't really think about the power section's effect on the tone in those instances.

The difference was really noticeable. Maybe this is just part of the GK "special sauce"!
 
#362
johnpbass said:
Okay, so I tried this last night. I don't have a power amp so I ran the Line Out from the MB200 into the effects return of my Genz Shuttle 6.0 into 2 GB Focus 115s. The result surprised me a bit - the tone lost a lot of the presence and edge.

Seems like the power amps in the GK and Genz factor into the tonal equation quite a bit? I would have thought the amps themselves were fairly neutral sounding but according to my quick test, there were definite voicing differences coming into play.

I guess the better test would have been to run to a "real" power amp, which typically do not color the tone.
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Impedance compatibility would be the first thing to check in a comparison like this. Not all preamp/line/fx out impedances are the same; not all preamp/line/fx in impedances are the same.
 
#363
craig.p said:
Impedance compatibility would be the first thing to check in a comparison like this. Not all preamp/line/fx out impedances are the same; not all preamp/line/fx in impedances are the same.
Click to expand...

Good point craig.p. There's definitely something going on. there was a noticeble diference in presence, although I could hear no loss of low end.

If I wanted to do this in a real life gig situation though, I would invest in a good dedicated power amp - Crest, Crown, QSC, etc.
 
#364
johnpbass said:
It is interesting. I've run my Aguilar Tone Hammer - which I mainly use for recording - into the Genz Effects Return many times just to preview a setting that I was going to use in the studio. I suppose I didn't really think about the power section's effect on the tone in those instances.

The difference was really noticeable. Maybe this is just part of the GK "special sauce"!
Click to expand...
Interesting. I've tried this too with my Tonehammer with 2 amps. I ran into the amp section of a Carvin R600 and then tried the same with my Markbass LMKII. In both case ,was never able to get it to sound like what I had expected. As someone else has mentioned levels and impedances may be having a bigger impact that you think.

As a side note, I've been spending more time recently messing with my Tonehammer, especially exploring the ASG options. Adds some nice extra tone shaping to the mb200.
 
#365
Britbonic said:
Interesting. I've tried this too with my Tonehammer with 2 amps. I ran into the amp section of a Carvin R600 and then tried the same with my Markbass LMKII. In both case ,was never able to get it to sound like what I had expected. As someone else has mentioned levels and impedances may be having a bigger impact that you think.

As a side note, I've been spending more time recently messing with my Tonehammer, especially exploring the ASG options. Adds some nice extra tone shaping to the mb200.
Click to expand...

Definitely something going on for sure. There are plenty of lows but a lot of the GK signature presence is missing.

Interesting note about your Tone Hammer - I've been experimenting a LOT more with the AGS circuit lately too. I'll have to try it with the MB200.
 
#366
#367
johnpbass said:
Okay, so I tried this last night. I don't have a power amp so I ran the Line Out from the MB200 into the effects return of my Genz Shuttle 6.0 into 2 GB Focus 115s. The result surprised me a bit - the tone lost a lot of the presence and edge.

Seems like the power amps in the GK and Genz factor into the tonal equation quite a bit? I would have thought the amps themselves were fairly neutral sounding but according to my quick test, there were definite voicing differences coming into play.

I guess the better test would have been to run to a "real" power amp, which typically do not color the tone.
Click to expand...

John- I agree. Thats why I used a standard Crown power amp, I don't think it impinges on what the MB200 is offering you, producing 'uncoloured' extra clout.
 
#369
Right, so I flew over to the UK for a show last weekend and ran the Hartke bass attack through the MB200 into a 4 ohm Peavey 15" cab ...no problems whatsoever, great level and tone. -which leads me to believe my problem lies in power fluctuations here in Spain - the voltage is notoriously fickle here - I think that's what causes the amp to progressively distort the signal.
 
#370
Just wanted to post this - last night I went to practice with a blues band and used my MB200 with a bass cab that was already there at the drummer's house - an SVT 8X10;) Looked ridiculous, sounded great. Kept up with a loud drummer and guitarist with a Fender Super Reverb. :D
 
#372
Long time GK user here. Just picked up a used USA made MB200. I currently have a USA made MB500 that I love. Running through either 1 or 2 - 8 OHM Avatar Eminence Neo loaded 2x10 cabs as the situation dictates. Has anyone played a MB200 through an Avatar 2x10. After reading through these threads... it seems like it should be killer. Will also be using the 200 as a tune learning tool.
 
#373
Hey bluesrx,
Haven't used the Avatar 210 specifically but IMO, my MB200 sounds great through any of the cabs that I have (Aggie GS112s,GB Focus 115s). I'd bet it would sound great with the Avatar 210.

BTW, I'm planning on soon picking up an MB500 for larger gigs. I'm loving the GK tone these days.
 
#374
I recently acquired a US made MB200 from the TB classifieds. I love this little amp. I haven't tried it in a band setting yet, but I'm sure it will do just fine. I was using Kustom KB200 that, while it was loud, the tone was too sterile for my tastes. The diminutive GK fixed that for me.
 
#378
Roadkill said:
^ What happened?
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Ah - I broke off part of my rehearsal rig (The Kitchen Jank TM​) to serve as the backline for a 2-bill show. Left the P.A. cab at the space and just brought the 210 and 115. Usually, I use a power amp and biamp to run my mids to the PA cab (a vintage Acoustic 85-lb. beast) and my lows to those two bass cabs. I thought that at the gig I could biamp to run the mids to the 115 and the lows to the 210. The 210 has a blown tweeter so it is well suited to lows-only duty.

Wrong. It sounded hella weak. Even when the first band fed the power amp with the Line Out of their MB200. Would have been completely drowned out. This is a bottom-of-the-line QSC amp but that is still 350 watts going into each cab. They had their MB200 dimed.

So I suggested going full range straight from the MB 200 to the cabs. (Took a chance that running full range into a cab with a blown tweeter wouldn't set the cab on fire.)

Beautiful. Loud and deep and ballsy. And this is 200 watts total. Not even, since we each kept our MB200s at about 10 or 11 o'clock for loud bands. I was too loud - had to hella high pass the recording the next day.

So cool that both bass players threw their MB200s into their gig bags even though we thought we had it all worked out. Why wouldn't you? It's just so tiny and cute! And shakes the walls! Love love love.

--Bomb :bassist:
 
#379
Adam Bomb said:
So cool that both bass players threw their MB200s into their gig bags even though we thought we had it all worked out. Why wouldn't you? It's just so tiny and cute! And shakes the walls! Love love love.

--Bomb :bassist:
Click to expand...

+1 I totally agree. That was my first thought when I initially saw the MB200 at a NAMM Show, and the more that I have played it, the more I feel the same way, only stronger. :D :cool: :bassist:
 
#380
I notice people picking up US made MB200s used now so how long have the US models been produced & is there any difference in quality/sound/reliability with the Chinese mades? I've got a Chinese one I bought as a backup I've never used as I'm not playing much recently & when I am it's through a house rig so just interested. Cheers
 

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