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GK MB800 "push" knobs stink!

CaptainWally

CaptainWally

"You wrote a bad song, Petey"
Oct 21, 2000
3,094
1,797
Sandy Eggo, CA
#1
I love my GK MB800, but I get tired of the dumb push buttons, e.g. the gain, EQ knobs and master. You know...the knobs you push to engage tone features -- they toggle from white to blue.

There is a design issue whereby they often do not correctly push/engage, and you have fiddle with the button quite a bit to make it work again, e.g. pull out the rubber piece and stick it back in.

Plus, the push buttons are "floppy" -- they move/flop around during transport, so you always have to reset them to your preferred settings anytime you move the amp.

I would be much happier if I just had solid knobs --- and skip the push/pull tonal features altogether. Classic case of overdesign, if you ask me.

That being said - this amp is otherwise killer. Super loud. Great tone. So far, it's been quite reliable. Knobs aside, the form factor is great.

The fan isn't particularly quiet, but not a big deal either.

While I'm on a rant....does anyone actually use both gain channels? (and the foot switch) I simply have no use for this at all....
 
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#4
While I don't own the amp, the extra channel was advertised mostly as using it to kick in more gain to drive it into distortion...personally I'd use it to drop the volume for slapping for a more natural sound compared to compression/limiting.

Sucks to hear about the buttons though, this amp (the MB Fusion actually) has been on my G.A.S. list for awhile.
 
#5
Interesting. Even though I just sold my MB Fusion 800, I never had any of the issues mentioned. The "buttons" always engaged/disengaged properly, and, while they didn't feel "tight", the only time they moved was when I carried it in my gigbag and I was pulling it out or putting it in. Once I mounted it in a rack, they didn't move. IMHO, the motorized knobs on the Fusion 550 is way more overkill, especially considering that you gotta have the FS to maintain any changes you make.

Having owned both a Fusion 550 and a Fusion 800, I'd say if I had to choose one of them, I'd take the 800(btw, I'm gigging an SVT-4Pro, so it's not because the 800 is smaller...:thumbsup:;))
 
#7
just bought a new MBF800 and that's one of the first things I noticed, I've had an older MB800 for a few years and it does not have this problem, the older MB knobs don't even feel the same they have a deeper movement to them with a more distinct click, im guessing these knobs are in some way being made differently for some reason and I can only hope that GK is not cheaping out to save a buck in production costs and this will be taken care of somehow
 
#10
I've had issues with the push knob controlled B-channel effect getting stuck "on," requiring me to power cycle the amp to straighten it out. Not a big deal, though.

I have long since verified I have no use at all for the distortion effect that the B channel supposedly provides. IMHO, it is there to sell a clean amp to those who think dirt sounds good—not that there is anything wrong with that. ;) :roflmao:

Maybe a straight-forward drive/blend would have been more user friendly?
 
#15
I have the 500 Fusion so the knobs are on top and are slider switches. As for the two channels, I leave the gain the same in both channels and boost the channel B volume. I'm either clean on both or dirty on both. I can get identical distortion on both channels, A & B. Most users think that Channel A is for clean only. I can get down and dirty on A or B, so setting the volume a tad louder with both gains at the same setting does it for me.
 
#16
mam1862 said:
I agree while it's a fantastic amp that particular feature is a bad design. I prefer the set up on the Mb500 or the Fusion500 better.
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I'm not happy with this amp those A B and Master volume pots may be cheap or something like that (are they made in China?) I had to use electronic cleaner two time in 3 months and the amp works but not Reliable! I'll sell it as soon as possible I'm tired of playing and be worry that any minute it will stop working properly, the main problem with my MB is that volume goes up and down by itself! with out moving the knobs of the amp or the bass guitar. I will try to trade in this MB800 for a Fender 500 rumble bass head or if I get some cash for the MB I'll buy a 500 Carvin amp
 
#18
filibertin said:
I'm not happy with this amp those A B and Master volume pots may be cheap or something like that (are they made in China?) I had to use electronic cleaner two time in 3 months and the amp works but not Reliable! I'll sell it as soon as possible I'm tired of playing and be worry that any minute it will stop working properly, the main problem with my MB is that volume goes up and down by itself! with out moving the knobs of the amp or the bass guitar. I will try to trade in this MB800 for a Fender 500 rumble bass head or if I get some cash for the MB I'll buy a 500 Carvin amp
Click to expand...

The "electronic cleaner" is likely the cause of a lot of your problems. As an amp tech, pots that I had to replace were 99% of the time from improper "cleaners" or improper use of the "correct" type of chemical. You can't blame the unit for problems you create from improper maintenance.

You will likely find the pots on your next amp made in the same country and likely the same company.
 
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#19
Never had any problem with the push knobs on mine. And yeah, I do use both channels - add some grit when I switch to the Jazz bass- and I do switch the contour for certain basses, particularly, the Jack Casady ( sounds better with the 800hz setting). How good is the MBF800? Two years, ZERO amp GAS....
 
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#20
B-string said:
The "electronic cleaner" is likely the cause of a lot of your problems. As an amp tech, pots that I had to replace were 99% of the time from improper "cleaners" or improper use of the "correct" type of chemical. You can't blame the unit for problems you create from improper maintenance.

You will likely find the pots on your next amp made in the same country and likely the same company.
Click to expand...
I've used the electronic cleaner two times I don't think it is the problem ( maybe they are bad pots ... cheap )
 

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