How does the GK MB2 500 stack up against the GK Backline 600?

Here's a little demonstration of the MB2, if you don't mind the long explanation in German before it (or if you speak German yourself):

http://www.musik-schmidt.de/Gallien-Krueger-MB2-500.html

Definitely the coolest looking amp out there, maybe apart from the Hellborg and Genz Benz. Sounds quite similar to the Backline; I use one for practice. Nice high mids.

 

Damn, that "growl" (?) sounds like crap in that video. That kind of drive will definitely be drowned out by a guitar. Honestly, I don't have an option to test this amp and I was GAS'ing for it, but this demo makes it sound cheap.

 

Yeah, hard to judge with this video. There isn't anything else on youtube aside from a simple introduction to it,unfortunately. I'd love to test this amp at some point. 500 Watts and a great sound at 3 pounds always seems too good to be true.

 

If you don't want that growl but still want a GK, go for a 1001RB since it will take alot more to make these start overdriving. GK's are VERY punchy and fast. Keep in mind that even a little growl will introduce a bunch of higher harmonics and make you cut through more easily.

 

I love mine. I would like to try a LM2 and a Genz Benz, but mine gets the job done, has great tone, lots of power, and all at under 5 lbs.

Ill take it.

 

Actually, I'm not attached to GK at all, and the growl is what I would like. But is *that* growl? It sounds like Digitech Bass Drive stomp box!

I've played the LM2, and if this video is even remotely doing the GK any justice, these amps do not have anything similar in sound. But the Little Mark gets eliminated due to lack of a mute button. What a way to waste a great amp.

 

That video doesn't do this head justice. I'm able to dial in a sound that is very comparable to the 1001rb-II that I had. You can get 'growl' if you want it, or it can be very clean. The head is very powerful, cuts through like a hot knife through butter. I also have the LM3, totally different sound. Both are excellent heads and both are quite powerful if you need it. Oh, and in response to the thread title, while the backline 600 is a good head, IMO it isn't in the same league as the mb2.

 

I had the MB2 vs LM3 debate about a month ago. I play tested both, both have adequate power and a great deal of flexibility. To disqualify the Little Mark 3 just because it doesnt have a mute is foolish, try out Mark Bass before deciding.

I chose LM3 becuase I liked the way it sounded with my fretless better and the GK made the upright sound horrible. The real test has to do with what you want. Mark Bass products have very little color, and GKs have a GK sound. IMO Markbass is just the sound of your bass, amplified. With the simple EQ and filters you can sort of emulate SVT sound or GK sound.

If you are absolutely in love with the GK growls and farts then go for that. The MB2 will totally kick the Backline 600s buttocks and it fits into any gig bag.

 

The lack of mute makes soundchecks a pain. Whats the point of adjusting my stage volume during the check, if I will have to turn it to zero to switch the amp off before the performance and then when I start to play I have to figure out where it was. LM doesn't even have numbers and a tight scale so I could write down where it was (not that I would like to do that in every soundcheck).