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GK MB2-500 or Carvin BX500?

Gecko 5

Gecko 5

Supporting Member
Commercial User
Jul 11, 2005
3,113
1,456
South Milwaukee , Wisconsin
www.geckoleatherworks.com
Disclosures
Gecko Leatherworks
#1
I am looking to pick up a light weight head.
I can pick up either one of these for the same price new.

I've previously owned the GK MB2-500.
Besides getting one of the "bad" earier ones, my experience with the amp was good. GK took good care fixing me up when it took a crap on me.

Just wondering if anyone else had experience with these amps, and what the opinions are.

Thanks.....discuss
 
#2
I really enjoy my BX500. It's a powerful little head and I love having the option of running down to 2 ohms. While it may not be as small as the MB2-500, it's still decently light and compact.

If you liked the GK when you owned it, that would be the safe choice. Carvin does offer a great return policy. I believe you have 7 days to try it and if you don't like it, you can send it back. You'd be out the cost of shipping but at least you'd be able to see if you like the amp. I really like mine when I run it through my pair of Avatar SB112s. It has all sorts of EQ options so it's quite flexible. The tube preamp wasn't very noticeable but the head definitely sounds good.

I would really like to have some personal time with one of the GK micro heads. All of the talk about the problems that they initially had kind of scared me away from them when I was shopping. I was seriously considering the GK. In the end, the reliability was causing concern and I figured that the 2 ohm stability of the BX500 couldn't hurt. The GK amps do seem like they'd be awesome pieces of gear to have on hand. I don't think that you'd be disappointed with either head. :)
 
#3
1u is a big deal for me -- really prefer the small size of the GK. The newer Mb500s are great sounding amps, as well. Not too different from the MB2's I guess. But I like mine.

If size is not an issue, the Carvin has a lot more tone shaping features and compression. For me, it's not a huge issue, as I have extra tone shaping on the pedal board and a compressor I like in pedal form, and need a tuner anyway.
 
#4
They've both had reliability issues. Both seem to have fixed most problems with their newest versions, hopefully.

The carvin is bigger, but has more EQ and tonal options. However, the EQ on GK amps is very good in my experience. Those 4 EQ knobs are generally very effective, and probably more practical than all of carvin's flashy tone shaping... That's coming from someone who loves tweaking things and playing with switches and buttons and sliders. The EQ is still pretty good on the carvin.

Personally, I prefer the GK boost knob to the carvin drive knob.
The carvin pre-amp tube is pretty much unnoticable. The compressor is decent.

If you want simplicity, a plug-and-play good tone, go with the GK.
 
#6
I am in fact a plug'n play kinda guy.
I'm not much for bells and wistles.

As I said, when my first MB2 blew up I was amazed at GK's Customer Service. My amp blew on a Tuesday. I had a gig on Saturday with no backup. Brian Clark assured me I would have a new amp in time.....I did.

That in itself gives GK the edge.

I just wanted to get some opinions of others.

Thanks.
 
#7
I've just recieved a Carvin last Friday. So far I love it.

Many real useable toneshaping options. All functions are big, basic in design and clearly marked. I'll take the little bigger size for this, everything is easy to read and access. Very light @ 6lbs

I am very pleased with the tone right out of the box, I only have some mids boosted about 3db on the parametric and graphic+ a tiny bit of compression. No where near out of headroom.

I'm running the BX500, a Mesa 112 8ohm and a custom 4 string fretless. Plenty of clear power all over the neck.

Looking forward to many gigs with this head.

***** I bought this head to replace an SWR headlite (3 mths old), which I despise. The function was terrible, and the tone didn't match what I needed. Hopefully your other option (GK) is better
 
#8
I didn't think the Carvins were even 6lbs

YamahaJamBass said:
I've just recieved a Carvin last Friday. So far I love it.

Many real useable toneshaping options. All functions are big, basic in design and clearly marked. I'll take the little bigger size for this, everything is easy to read and access. Very light @ 6lbs

I am very pleased with the tone right out of the box, I only have some mids boosted about 3db on the parametric and graphic+ a tiny bit of compression. No where near out of headroom.

I'm running the BX500, a Mesa 112 8ohm and a custom 4 string fretless. Plenty of clear power all over the neck.

Looking forward to many gigs with this head.

***** I bought this head to replace an SWR headlite (3 mths old), which I despise. The function was terrible, and the tone didn't match what I needed. Hopefully your other option (GK) is better
Click to expand...
 
#12
I seriously considered both of them last year (and actually owned the Carvin for about a week). I found that the GK had a perceived higher output, but the Carvin was quieter (the GK had some high end hiss with EQ flat through my Epifani cab) and had a more flat (or uncolored) response.
 
#13
I have 2 MB2-500s. One is being repaired currently. First one went back to GK and they repaired it under warranty. Has worked great since and has been worked over quite well. Very loud amp. Easy for me to get my GK sound from my prior 400/800rbs. Love the little guys but hopefully this repair will be the last. Seems all micro heads have had probs early on though from what I've read on TB. Only had one Carvin head in my life and GK blew it away. Carvin sounded "plasticy" for lack of a word to describe it.
 

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