GK MB Fusion 800 too loud!

[Doug Parent]

Space Balls! The master volume knob has a push-option to turn off the limiter (I don't know why anyone would ever turn the limiter off on this monster truck), which makes the knob ever so slightly loose, thus increasing the difficulty in making slight adjustments.

Yes loose knobs.

 

[DerekW]

Just buy some earplugs.


You're welcome.

 

[LegendSTA]

Sooo... searching for stuff on the new MB fusion line I toppled with this thread,

My playing will mostly be done in my house, I don't play gigs, the closest I'll be to that is jamming with a couple of buddies in their house. That being said, do I still need the 800? Or can I go with the 500? Looking to start with a 4x10 and the adding along the way a 1x15

 

[Jurbanski]

Thanks for all the replies! I know it sounds ridiculous, but I've previously owned a Markbass LMT800, and that didn't come close to the volume on the GK!



As far as the cabinets go, the 410 alone is just too thin for what I need. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful sounding cabinet, but I'm using it in a band that primarily covers the Grateful Dead! I like the way the 115 rounds out the 410, but I'm well aware of the 410 surpassing the 115 in volume. That's why I'd hoped that the 212 might be a nice compromise. Plus, a higher RMS adds peace of mind.



I might have to give that a go. God forbid it ever lost power or got stepped on by accident. My cabinets would explode!

Like I said, I know it sounds ridiculous, so I appreciate your suggestions![/QUOTE

We may have been separated at birth. I played the same SVT cabs and had the same LMT800 and it was utter shock in a good way at the sonic difference when I switched to the GKMB 800. 2 things coming from Mark bass Land to GK.1. THE GAIN CONTROL, THE GAIN CONTROL, THE GAIN CONTROL....... I hear ya, a little tuff to dial to your own personal touch but worth the fight. 2.GET THE CAB OFF THE FLOOR. Don't take much , caster s or dolley goes a long way in reducing the Boom Boom in the room . I am saving my sheckles for the GK 212 also. More mid focused, and I was able to demo one, great cab but as stated may not be what u want. The Ampegs are glorious and if u can handle moving them. I would stick with them. DONT DOWNSIZE THE HEAD, Headroom is the key Grasshopper!

 

[BassmanPaul]

Get one of these?

View attachment 2574049

Terrible idea!

 

[Yogi Bear]

Sooo... searching for stuff on the new MB fusion line I toppled with this thread,

My playing will mostly be done in my house, I don't play gigs, the closest I'll be to that is jamming with a couple of buddies in their house. That being said, do I still need the 800? Or can I go with the 500? Looking to start with a 4x10 and the adding along the way a 1x15

To be perfectly honest, based on the what you described, you could easily get by with an mb200... Loud little suckers, especially when pushing 4ohm load.

 

[Lobster11]

I like the way the 115 rounds out the 410, but I'm well aware of the 410 surpassing the 115 in volume. That's why I'd hoped that the 212 might be a nice compromise. Plus, a higher RMS adds peace of mind.

Keep in mind that not only is the 115 less loud, but it's also working much harder. The 400 watts going to the 410 are getting evenly divided among four speakers, while the same wattage all goes to the single speaker in the 115. RMS ratings be damned, I'd be worried about blowing that 15.

I think that if you don't like the sound of your 410, the answer is not to try to "round it out" with something different, but rather to replace it with something you like by itself. Or, swap it out for a second 115 matching the one you have. Or, ditch the lot and get a pair of matching 210s or 212s. There's really no good reason to pair a 410 with a 115, and lots of good reasons not to.

 

[Downunderwonder]

What's wrong with just using the fifteen? Put it up on a collapsing stool if you need better monitoring.

 

[Bassworship1]

If your playing this amp at 5% headroom with 2 drumers then they are the lightest drummers I've ever heard. I play 800 watt heads all the time and never have issue being to loud even in accoustic settings.

 

[Krikcet]

I'm telling you guys, having owned 800 watt heads before, this one really pushes. I appreciate everyone not berating me for asking a seemingly dumb question.

I'm currently shopping around for a pair of cabs to replace the mismatched 410/115. In the meantime, I've acquired an Eden wtdi preamp pedal. I put that right in the front end and it both acts as a buffer, as well as adding some warm bottom to the crispy GK.

 

[Bassometer]

Buy a Basson cab; you'll be using that volume knob.

 

[Chef]

The MBF800 is a great amp.
I've used that, and the MBF500 since they each came out.

You should have zero issue with it being too loud.
It has a master volume knob. Simply turn that down.

You could engage the active pad; but I don't like how that changes tone.

The GK Neo 212 is a great cab, but speakers aren't a volume knob.

 

[NOVAX]

Hey I'm considering an 800.
I love it loud. I'm a tone hound.
I have a class D power amp but this would be my first foray into dedicated D heads.
I'd much rather face too loud than too quiet.

Should I jump on it?

 

[Jim C]

What Chef said.
I JUST came up from downstairs for a short practice session while the family is out.
Granted, the controls have no resistance and are too small, but they do work accurately.

What's also cool about this amp (like other GK's) is that the tone and balls don't disappear at lower volumes.
With a decent balance of pre and master volume (as well as boost on the RB's), it has the same pucnh and tonality; just quieter.

A matter of re-training your brain from old school amps.
Rememember the Peavey mixers with the 3" diameter knobs; OK you'd have to be old to know...

 

[two fingers]

Keep an eye out in your area for an Epifani UL410. It is the fattest and warmest 4-10 I ever heard. Sounds even fatter and rounder than my Mess Scout cabs with my Mesa Walkabout. And if pushed it will get plenty loud.

One cab solution if you can find one.

 

[keyboardguy]

I just found out my Hyundai Elantra has a top speed of 116 MPH.
I don't want to go that fast !! WHAT CAN I DO? WHY DID I BUY THIS CAR ?

Oh, just use my gas petal and go 40 MPH......

 

[jeff7bass]

Get Godzilla jr. amp if you can't handle it.

 

[Munjibunga]

Hmm. I never had anything like that problem with my MB800 or MB Fusion 800. Do you understand gain staging as it applies to not only your gain and volume controls but also your EQ controls? Also, ditto on the others' comments on losing one cab.

 

[Mediocrity Man]

I have the MB800 and it is loud but I never had a volume problem. This is very interesting.

 

[Krikcet]

I'm glad that my most active post is the one that makes me look like an idiot! On paper, I obviously should just turn down or lose a cab, but that didn't work for me. I didn't like the sound of either of my cabs alone and i wasn't getting the tone from the amp that I wanted because it wasn't being pushed at all. I sold it and bought an Eden WT800 and it's exactly what I wanted! Now if anyone has an Eden 610xlt for sale...