GK MB500 vs 400RB IV

[davehenry]

Hey all,

I'm trying to figure out why the new GK MB500 is the same price as the 400RB IV. The MB500 appears to be more powerful and is smaller and lighter with more features (headphone jack, foot switch, separate volume for boost,...) than the 400RB IV. So why isn't it more expensive? What am I missing?

Thanks in advance for sharing your collective knowledge!

Best,
Dave

 

[lz4005]

Digital amps are less expensive to manufacture and ship.
GK is probably making the same or more profit on it.

 

[Freddels]

B/w those two, I'd choose the 400RB-IV. You can get that classic GK sound at a lower volume. I had the MB500 and didn't really bond with it. I still have an 800RB and the 400RB-IV would be more like it.

 

[TC.65]

Just a personal preference but I would pick any of the RB heads over the MB series heads any day. The 700RB-II is my all time favorite GK head. It's destined to be a classic IMO.

 

[hsech]

Are you talking MB500 or MB500 Fusion? If you are talking the Fusion, I think it is definitely better.

 

[davehenry]

hsech, I am talking about the MB500, not the Fusion.

 

[bouns]

The rb series' EQ is much more precise. The same for the filters IMO. The rb series sound better with more richness in the low end.

 

[aproud1]

Just a personal preference but I would pick any of the RB heads over the MB series heads any day. The 700RB-II is my all time favorite GK head. It's destined to be a classic IMO.

Big +1. The 700 is one of the better amps I've owned and still consider picking another one up.

I played an MB800 for awhile and it was stupid loud but just didn't have the growl or predictable EQ of the RB series.

 

[Spent]

I'm having a much different experience with my MB500. My 1001RB died a fiery death at a Halloween gig, very fitting. I'd been seriously considering the MB500 for a while and decided to pull the trigger. I'm extremely happy with the tone (and growl) I'm getting out of it. So much so that I'm not going to replace the 1001RB as I originally intended. It's not identical, but for a live application, it's close enough. The fact that it fits in my gig bag is a huge plus as well. I didn't A/B them (because of the fire thing) but it definitely has the GK sound I like.