• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Got my GK MB Fusion today!!!!

#81
Hi all,

I have a Jazz bass MIA 2010 with NJ4 pickups playing through '96 400RBII with an Ampeg 2x10 PRO cab (from '96 too) and a farly new SVT-15E and I'm looking for a more tubey (vintage) sound (I'd love to have a SVT-VR but it's too expensive and heavy), Is anybody could compare the 400RBII and the MB Fusion. This one has been in my target for a while.


Thanks in advance guys...
 
#82
TheFantod said:
My review, Day 1, with gratuitous pr0n pic:
2%20amps.jpg


First off, I'm no sound engineer. These are simply MY findings form noodling around for while on two brand new amps. The following observations are not facts, but my opinions.

As you see, there's a brand new GK1001RB underneath. I got it last week. It's probably not fair to compare the two. The 1001RB is pure SS and 700 watts. The Fusion is only 500. But, I'm trying to decide between the two, so I was A/B-ing them.

I'm playing through an Ampeg SVT 410HLF.

Before the Fusion arrived, I thought the tube pre-amp was only used with the "boost" button. I now see (hear) I was wrong.

Initial thoughts from noodling around:

The Fusion is definitely a much thicker sound than the 1001RB. In fact, it might be a little too thick for my taste. I really don't care for the Channel B Boost. It adds a ton of hiss & "white noise" to the signal. The included footswitch is a nice thought, but it seems almost like a gimmick. I couldn't see ever using the Boost button as it's super obvious.

Interesting note. I ran some pedals through the Fusion. My OD's were great. There was enough headroom to handle even a B:Assmaster at high volume. However, it did NOT like envelope filters. I tried my Micro Q-tron and 3Leaf GR. With both pedals, the end result was kind of a mess through the amp. I really think the sound would get completely swallowed in any kind of mix with other instruments.

I really need to get a second speaker cable. I only have one Speakon cable, and I was constantly turning an amp off, disconnecting, re-connecting, then turning back on. I'm going to try to pick up an instrument cable tomorrow and run the amps through my Boss LS-2 so I can A/B them with a stomp.

I'll update more tomorrow. Feel free to ask any questions or give any critiques.

UPDATE: Hmm, twice now I've turned the Fusion on and it wouldn't come on. Both times I fiddled with the power cord going to the surge protector. It feels a bit dodgy where the cord meets the amp....After fiddling it came on. Kind of sketchy....
Click to expand...

:eyebrow:
 
#84
Hey,

I bought the Fusion 550 six days ago! For the first five days I couldn't play it loud because I live in an apartment, so I didnt really get a good taste of it. But today I used it in our jam space and wow am I ever impressed. I had it hooked up to my Ampeg 4-10 classic series speaker. Playing a Washburn WB66 bass. Everthing was set at 12 except for my volume knobs (and i had the bass booster on). The sound was thick, punchy and clean. This bass amp is very versatile so if I want to get rid of that thickness I can.

What I really enjoyed about this amp was that my lows were heavy and the note sustained for a long period of time. Along with that my highs were warm and enjoyable to listen to. This isn't just an awesome groove amp but it can give you beutiful melodic tones.

Mesa M6 Carbine? Ampeg SVT-4? Mark bass F-500? I tried all of these bass amps along with the GK Fusion at the local music store and it was a hard pick. I first decided to eliminate the Ampeg because the tone just didnt impress me like the GK or Mark Bass. The Mesa was an amazing amp but the sound of it just didnt fit my playing style. So the tuff choice was between the GK and Mark bass. The Mark bass kept it simple and sounded tight. However it didnt have as much character to it, plus I like the sound of a big 28 pound amp compard to a 5 pound amp.

The GK has style and if it sounds good to your ears then get it! When purchasing an amp I suggest you try out everything because something that sounds good to me, may sound not so good to you. But on another note, the GK FUSION KICKS ASS AND NEEDS MORE RESPECT THEN IT GETS.

The motorized knobs are cool, but I wont use them.

Thanks! Ill put pics up soon. Any questions ?
 
#85
Not to dampen your ardour Pendeulla, but this thread is about the Fusion 550's little brother, the MB Fusion:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#86
77jazz said:
Hey everyone. I am sorry I did not post my second review earlier like I said I would. I have been SO busy between work and gigging.
Anyway, the second I plugged her into my 8X8, tones all set flat, she sounded thick and sweet. I played her with a 73 jazz, a 75RI J with NJ4's, a MIM J Deluxe, and a Warwick thumb. She sounded awesome with everything. The only adjustment I made at all was setting the contour to about 2 O clock to scoop the mids a little bit. It sounded great. Unfortunately our guitarist was SO loud that I had to turn it back to flat and compromise my tone to cut through.
It deffinately has it's own sound. My main rig is a Demeter 201S/stewart 1.2 setup, very clean, and lets each bass be itself good or bad. While I missed that attribute, I liked the fact that ALL my basses I brought sounded good. Similar, but good. If I could have even a moderate volume guitar on stage beside me, I couldnt be happier with the tone. Sure, I could turn up my volume to absurd levels too, but that just makes an already boomy stage boomier, and you loose alot of finness and suddleties in your playing. So I opted to keep my volume where it was and run one ear bud. I was surprised how good it sounded in my in ears. My other heads always leave the bass sounding thin if I run in ears, but not the MB Fusion.
I mistated earlier when I said two channels, it was correctly pointed out that I should have said 1 channel, with another for boost. Not really a full second channel.
I never got around to using the OD channel (boost). You can run either a Speakon cable or a 1/4" out of the back (by using the center of the Speakon jack)(unlike my Orange Terror bass...Speakon only). I had the gain at about 1:00 and the master at about 2:00 all night. I wouldnt have had to have them that high, but I was going for a little bit of a mid scooped sound and it wasnt cutting through.
To give you an idea of the volume I had to compete against, all I had in my in ears was my vocal, my bass and the rythm guitarist's guitar, and If I put in both earbuds, the loudest (by far) thing in the mix was the lead guitarist who wasn't even in my mix, but was so lound that it dominated my mic from across the stage (yes, he owns the PA so what can you say). So, for a 4.5 lb head, she did allright.
I will post again after this weekends gig and hope the volume isnt so horrifically loud on stage. But in general, I was very pleased. Much thicker than my MB2 sound.
Again, sorry for the REALLY late review.

Todd
Click to expand...


The guitar player(s) in your band were too loud?? I can't believe it!!:D:D (Todd plays in one of the best bands in the area, but his guitar players are INSANELY loud on stage)

Seriously gotta get together one of these days so I can check some of this new stuff out..............
 
#87
Update, Day 2. (Well technically Day 3. I wrote this last night, right before my wife informed me of the new leak in our bedroom ceiling.)

Day 2: The plot thickens!

Okay, just went through the first RATM album twice, once with each head. (my wife is sick of hearing Rage tonight).

On the Fusion, I had both the GAIN-A and MASTER-A set at almost 12 o'clock, probably closer to 11:30. Had the stereo playing at "listening" volume. Nothing too loud & crazy. The Fusion was nice, although at times it would get "swallowed" by the stereo. It just didn't have a lot of presence. By the time I got to "Know Your Enemy" the fan had kicked on. I can report the fan is almost silent, and creates no ambient noise. By the end of the album, the amp had become quite warm, but not "hot."

I then switched over to the 1001RB. Set the gain & master both at 9 o'clock. In every song, my playing was crisp and clear and easily heard. It never got swallowed up in the music. Also interesting, played through the entire album, and the fan never came on once.

Once again, it might not be a fair comparison, because the 1001RB has 200 more watts of power. But so far, she's first in this race.

The last test will be a band rehearsal, which won't happen for a few days unfortunately.

Oh, and I investigated the power cords. They are identical, however, the "sockets" in each unit are not. The 1001RB socket holds the power cord nice and snug, but the Fusion's socket is definitely looser. There is some play where the cord meets the socket. I switched the cords and got the same result.

I'm already sure I'm going to return the Fusion. Just want to play it with the band to complete my review.
 
#89
I'm disappointed to hear about the trouble with this amp (GK MB Fusion). I've been wanting one for quite a while--I thought a micro amp with 3 12AX7s would just be killer, but it seems like there's some issues. I had considered the MarkBass Little Mark Tube, but it is a bit worrisome for me, with it's mini tube that is hard soldered in. I can't imagine that a tiny tube would give that much tube tone anyway. Same thing with the GenzBenz.

I've always liked Aguilar amps for their tone the best. Maybe those guys at Aguilar need to take a hint and make a micro amp version of the DB750 (or 751). I want a 5 lb. hybrid amp that sounds like my 750, tubes and all!
 
#90
Oh man! I just got back from BassNW and tried out the MB Fusion. I got to A/B it against the TC RH450 running through a TC rs210 & rs212 just like I play myself. I was using one of there Warwick Corvette $$ 5 strings (sweet bass btw). So immediately it was apparent that the Fusion was much punchier, clear and aggressive than the RH450, not mention overall more present. The RH450 is warm and does that classic rock/blues thing oh so well but it's not great for speed or definition style playing. Now the really cool thing about the MB Fusion is that it can get that warm tone but it still is defined and present but the RH450 can't get that grind/sparkle or cut that the MB Fusion can. I was debating on getting both of these down the road so I could play some road house blues with the RH450 and prog rock/funk with the GK but once I realized the GK does the warmth and thickness too. I was sold on just going with it. Now I just got to sell something to buy it. hmmm.....what could I sell?
 
#92
1) The three "tiny" tubes that are in there in there are the same 12ax7's that drive the preamp section of nearly every preamp that uses tubes. So, I don't think you can just dismiss them on principle.... What they do or don't do has much more to do with plate voltage, and how they're actually in the circuit than their existance, as such. The Mesa Walkabout has *one* lone 12ax7 preamp tube, and is surely as tubey as nearly anything I've ever used....and I'm old! I came up with tube amps;)
Then again, there are amps like SWR and other where the tube does very little indeed, by my ear.

2) What problems? A couple uers here griping about power cord sockets? Not to discount their experience, but we're a small and vocal audience here, and I wouldn't call tb users a representative sample of overall end user experience...

Are there other horrid problems I don't know about?


DaveAceofBass said:
I'm disappointed to hear about the trouble with this amp (GK MB Fusion). I've been wanting one for quite a while--I thought a micro amp with 3 12AX7s would just be killer, but it seems like there's some issues. I had considered the MarkBass Little Mark Tube, but it is a bit worrisome for me, with it's mini tube that is hard soldered in. I can't imagine that a tiny tube would give that much tube tone anyway. Same thing with the GenzBenz.

I've always liked Aguilar amps for their tone the best. Maybe those guys at Aguilar need to take a hint and make a micro amp version of the DB750 (or 751). I want a 5 lb. hybrid amp that sounds like my 750, tubes and all!
Click to expand...
 
#93
It's not the same amp obviously but there were a ton of failures in the first few runs of the MB2-500. The MB500 hasn't seemed to have a lot of issues yet, and no idea on the Fusion since it's not been out long.
 
#95
Chef said:
1) The three "tiny" tubes that are in there in there are the same 12ax7's that drive the preamp section of nearly every preamp that uses tubes.
Click to expand...

I believe he is referring to the smaller preamp tubes used in some of the Markbass heads, not the 12AX7's in the MB Fusion.
 
#96
tombowlus said:
I believe he is referring to the smaller preamp tubes used in some of the Markbass heads, not the 12AX7's in the MB Fusion.
Click to expand...

+1 The LMTube and LMT800 tube driver section is really not worth the trouble IMO (although the extra features are nice). I believe the MB heads that are designed (like the Fusion) to grind and distort use full 12ax7's like most other preamps.

Amazing that they can fit three 12ax7's in that little box. For those who want to snarl and grind, it seems like a pretty good little box if the reliability holds up. For those that like the GK grind (or a more clean tone in general), the MB500 is virtually the same amp without the tubes from what I understand (same pre and power amp).
 
#99
KJung said:
For those that like the GK grind (or a more clean tone in general), the MB500 is virtually the same amp without the tubes from what I understand (same pre and power amp).
Click to expand...

Yes and no. The output section is the same, but in the MB Fusion, those six valve stages drive the preamp (Gain/Contour, Post-Gain, Bass/Treble, Low-Mid/Hi-Mid), so the pres are fairly different, design-wise. I would agree that there is a good bit of tonal similarity, though, and that if someone is not after the additional harmonic content, then the MB500 may serve them just as well.
 
#100
I used the MB Fusion on a gig over the weekend. I ran it pretty much flat, but used the limiter. I didn't even use the deep switch because this thing is has a lot of low end already. I found a pretty good tone right away, so didn't have to fiddle with anything. I was playing thru a pair of 210 cabs (SWR style) and using an old 1990 pre-Gibson Tobias Killer B5. I will use the deep and presence switches on my gigs this weekend - playing Sat and Sun. Compared to the SWR Headlite, this thing seems louder, thicker and has a lot more low end.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back