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Got my GK MB Fusion today!!!!

#284
This amp and cab are just marvellous!

I've just tried my amp/cab with Epiphone Viola Bass, (a copy of Hofner Beatle Bass). This bass guitar has tremendously hot (high output) passive neck humbucker (the bridge humbucker does not meet my needs -- I think I have to set it up). First experience: the Viola tends to overdrive the first tube preamp stage instantly. Second thought: far too much of muddy low mids from the guitar.

Ideal settings for me:
Gain A: 8:00 (to keep the tone clean)
Treble: 2:00 (to give "air")
Hi-Mid: noon
Lo-Mid: at minimum
Bass: 2:00
Deep: ON
Presence: When ON, soloes are more pleasing

I could also play totally distorted bass guitar:
Gain B: max
Deep: OFF
The Tone knob on my bass rolled-off to get rid of the finger noise on the fretboard.

I would not play such distorted bass in a gig, but nice tone for recordings ;))) Note: This distorted tone pumps a lot of power through the cab horn!

Overall, Viola gives me a kind of vintage tone that does not suit my new band, but which I love when I make recordings for my project. Vintage punk-rock, big-beat, rock'n'roll, rock-reggae.
------
To compare with my Sandberg 4 bass that is totally different, modern bass, active pre-amp, MM-style pickup:

Gain A: 10:00-11:00 (clean tone getting in crunch with power-chords)
Treble: noon
Hi-Mid: max
Lo-Mid: noon
Bass: noon
Deep: OFF
Presence: OFF

I will probably not use the other channel for overdrive, only maybe for boost/more crunch in some parts of songs.
-------------
The flexibility of the amp is breath-taking -- since I've understood how it all works ;)
 
#285
This last guy was a tied threadwhring but im gtting ready o orde the fusion
I wanna getnew cab(s) preferrbly gk everone seems o speak highly of te neo 212s bt im not tryen to b hve a rig that a dim a dozen. Anyone ever us any of gks other cabs?
 
#286
I am not quite sure what you are saying mmccleskey ??

Antek, I told you that you would like the GK stuff, glad you have sorted it, quite often when we buy something like an amp first impressions are not always what you expect, its like meeting a new woman, you have to do a lot of tweaking before you find the sweet spot :D
 
#287
An excellent parallel, Graham! :) Especially, as we bassist should be very good at vibratos on the G.... string )))

New thing that has really shaken me positively. I don't know what trick has Robert Gallien done to the Channel B: When I set Channel A and Channel B at the same Gain knob position (low: not more than 9:00), then the Channel A gives totally clean tone, while the Channel B is not overdriven, but rich and full with overtones, the "warm tube tone" so many are looking for.

Also, the dynamics, headroom. So far, playing the other amp, I had problems with placing strong accents (the compressor there was not the culprit -- it was set very moderately). With MB Fusion, strong attack on strings gives very accurate response from the rig. I'm just delighted!

I think I will christen her Lova ;)
 
#288
DaveAceofBass said:
That Streamliner 600 looks sweet. That may give the GK a run for the money! That's more like it, GenzBenz!
Click to expand...

Yeah, that is a bit of a dilemma. I'd really like to be able to try them side-by-side. Like Antek, I'm in Poland so that's not likely to happen anytime soon. I am impressed with the new GK stuff - I played a gig on Friday with the MB200 through a Schroeder 1212L and the tone was just fantastic and WAY loud enough (Antek - in Puławy - and the bass player from Oddział Zamknięty was there and went nuts for it along with the green t-bird)
 
#289
I've had my GK MB Fusion for almost 3 weeks and have been loving it. BUT today noticed a very annoying hum that will be a killer. It happens with no instrument plugged in, even in the mute position -- and it increases with the final gain control. Must be something in the final power amp stage. Anybody hear anything similar?

So it's going back. Now, replace or refund? That is the question.
 
#292
ddbassGA said:
I've had my GK MB Fusion for almost 3 weeks and have been loving it. BUT today noticed a very annoying hum that will be a killer. It happens with no instrument plugged in, even in the mute position -- and it increases with the final gain control. Must be something in the final power amp stage. Anybody hear anything similar?
Click to expand...
Exactly same in my piece. This is the cooling fan. It must be a feature.
 
#293
hmmm.... mine is silent. One perk of buying it from BassNW. They always open up the boxes and test every amp before they sell it. They said with some companies it's about 50-60% they end up sending back.

I do love that B channel too. I've been playing with using it as my sole overdrive source when slapping. Keeps it clean and articulate but dirty at the same time.
 
#294
DaveAceofBass said:
That Streamliner 600 looks sweet. That may give the GK a run for the money! That's more like it, GenzBenz!
Click to expand...

I've looked to the specs of Streamliner. One thing that has instantly drawn my attention was the single Mid knob and the Mid Freq selector. For practical reasons, I'd like to have separate low and high mid controls like in the MB Fusion. YMMV :)

David -- I'm jealous of you having so many gigs in so many interesting places, meeting so many interesting people!
 
#295
ddbassGA said:
I've had my GK MB Fusion for almost 3 weeks and have been loving it. BUT today noticed a very annoying hum that will be a killer. It happens with no instrument plugged in, even in the mute position -- and it increases with the final gain control. Must be something in the final power amp stage. Anybody hear anything similar?

So it's going back. Now, replace or refund? That is the question.
Click to expand...

I haven't noticed that in mine. With GK making its amps in China, you may have a dud or defect that occurred during transit. That's one thing that I'm not fond of about GK. But I guess you have to take the good with the bad. Let us know how it turns out.
 
#296
Hey Fellas-- heres a youtube vid of the MB Fusion =



and if you remember my earlier post,, i noted that mine doesn't overdrive easily, and after watching this video, i'm sure my B channel is much cleaner than what it supposed to be, but i have to wait to get mine back, cuz its been in the shop for the past 5 weeks, one of the tube shields just poped off, and it still played fine and worked great, but since its under warranty, I figured i'd get er fixed,
And this is the 3rd GK amp in a row that i've bought new and had problems with, and my emails seemed to be gettin ignored so i hope GK will step up with there customer service, cuz I too am on the verge of turning away from there products.

ON a side note... I painted My Neo 412 = FlatBlack Grill,
Figured all yous gettin the 2x12 to go with the fusion might be interested..
IMG-20110308-000571.gif

IMG-20110308-000511.gif
 

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