I know that contour on sounds good coming from Ampegs but try with it off also. Cuts the mix better and brings some real meat to the mids. 
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GK MB 200: Part Two
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
The line-level output vs. headphone output point made a few posts above is a valid one.
For what it's worth, I've had two MB200s. The first, made in China, had pretty noticeable hiss, even with the volume turned all the way down, and a bad D.I. The second, with a USA sticker, still had some hiss. As it was a warranty replacement for the first (which I sent to GK), I didn't get to A/B the two head-to-head, but I think it hissed less than the first. In any case, the D.I. was good (used successfully at the same club its predecessor failed at) and the hiss, while greater than my Genz head (a big, ol, GBE 1200) was in the same ballpark as that produced by my Mesa Walkabout. So, while I could wish it a little quieter, it's in good company.
I found the sound of the MB200 a bit hyped and lacking in detail (I like the older Micro Bass heads better in that regard). Also found no use for the Contour switch, which has an exaggerated effect in my opinion -- but for the size and price it is remarkably useable: powerful, punchy, and articulate, though the lows can get away from you a bit if you're not careful. I got my favorite sound out of it by dialing back the lows to 10:00-11:00, dialing back the highs to 9:30-10:30, and boosting the low-mids and high-mids a bit.
The aux in was also nice when I had to learn a few tunes for a show the night before. My MB200 recently left in a trade, but I could see myself maybe getting another.
I know that contour on sounds good coming from Ampegs but try with it off also. Cuts the mix better and brings some real meat to the mids.
Yea I got to flipping that switch after using the head for a couple more hours. Sounds great either way, I could imagine it would need to be off for a band setting.
I think the tone here is just great, still a bit weary of downsizing in power and mostly about losing a few options/controls on the head. Shouldn't be a problem, my band is synth heavy so we always have FOH support.
Anyone with the MB500 able to comment on the difference with having the gain and volume controls, does the gain on the 500 allow to bring in some grit that way? I really liked that about the ampeg, dialing in the subtle grit.
I'm not familiar with the MB500, but the channel-switching with gain & master for each channel on the MB-Fusion (same 500 watts) makes subtle grit available at the touch of a button, with or without a volume boost or cut. It doesn't go all the way to fuzz or buzz.
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
+1 I agree that the lows can get a little wide but it also warms and fattens really nicely. I find I can get a usable tone really quickly with this head, and for the size/price factor, I've determined it's a total keeper. Well executed GK!
GK Guys,
Was practicing with the MB 200 today, gain probably at 2 o'clock-loud drummer louder guitarist. I had it on my 18" cab, and it vibrates quite a bit.
Twice, the amp just cut out-little blue light went red for about 5 secconds, then back.
Amp was not hot, and I set it down off the cab where vibration wasn't an issue. No problems from that point.
Any ideas? Working it too hard? Vibrational issue?
Thanks,
S33
Was practicing with the MB 200 today, gain probably at 2 o'clock-loud drummer louder guitarist. I had it on my 18" cab, and it vibrates quite a bit.
Twice, the amp just cut out-little blue light went red for about 5 secconds, then back.
Amp was not hot, and I set it down off the cab where vibration wasn't an issue. No problems from that point.
Any ideas? Working it too hard? Vibrational issue?
Thanks,
S33
Probably vibration. If the cab is that poorly built, you are losing sound output vibrating the cab panels. Time to brace the interior of that cab.
Really? I've used this little beast with an Eden 410XLT at a rock gig. Plenty of juice. Yeah, I'd rather have something beefier as my main amp, but it has saved two gigs for me, as my emergency spare.
I just used it at band practice a few weeks back with my new GK NEO 212. It shined there as well.
Possible bad solder joint or flaky component on the Icepower board. Has the unit been dropped, or suffered other physical shock? Not too long ago I scrapped an MB200's Icepower board because of an almost identical problem. Never could find the cause even after 2 hours of troubleshooting and going over many solder pads. Toward the end I suspected one of the chokes, because touching it with a plastic probe would send the amp into protect mode. In the course of this, I found that the cover screws needed to be tight for the amp even to pass pre-flight, but that was on just that unit. Pursuing it any further made no economic sense because it was taking away from billable hours.
If it's still under warranty, I'd call them up (don't email -- emails to G-K go /dev/null) and explain what's going on, and see what have to say about whether the vibration that head is seeing is within reason.
My MB200 with my 'not so portable, but still more portable than my goddamnthatsfreakinheavy SVT' setup..
And yes.. its bloody loud!
Very cool. Have you tried the MB200 through your Fender B-Dec yet? That sounds pretty good too. You have to take the Fender apart to pull more of the speaker wire through, but it's worth it to try. I almost left the GK in the Fender for a great combo, but then it's only a combo.
This is so funny... I've done something similar and the sound guy thought it was a DI box! I've told that one before, but every time I see a big cab with that little head on top, I'm reminded of a scene close to the end of Beetlejuice... so funny...My MB200 with my 'not so portable, but still more portable than my goddamnthatsfreakinheavy SVT' setup..
And yes.. its bloody loud!
I'm going to use my MB200 at a gig today with an AE210. I'm going to the board, but I want a little more bottom.
ok, ok! Now top this 
(external dimensions: 210x210x210 mm):
just giving another point of view about the possible multi uses of this wonderful little head; I just built this micro cab for fun and home practice. Sure you won't play the Madison Square Garden with it, but tweaking the controls of the MB200, therefore adding a bit / a lot more basses, you definitely have a good sound out of it. Just don't push it too much, since the Ciare CM161 (4 ohms) holds 80 w rms and the head at 4 ohms delivers 200w...
(external dimensions: 210x210x210 mm):just giving another point of view about the possible multi uses of this wonderful little head; I just built this micro cab for fun and home practice. Sure you won't play the Madison Square Garden with it, but tweaking the controls of the MB200, therefore adding a bit / a lot more basses, you definitely have a good sound out of it. Just don't push it too much, since the Ciare CM161 (4 ohms) holds 80 w rms and the head at 4 ohms delivers 200w...
