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I bought too much amp. :(

#61
Regarding running an active bass at full volume, Musicman, who has been making active basses since 1976, recommends running the volume at about half. This allows one to turn up or down as needed during a gig.

On Fender-style passive basses, the tone changes considerably as the volume is lowered. Best sound is usually achieved (IMHO) with the volume turned all the way up. Active basses are far more consistent in tone across the entire volume range. No need to run them dimed.
 
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#62
Most of the active basses with which I am familiar have the volume pot ahead of the preamp. (Necessary if the instrument has an active/passive switch.) This configuration means the sound will change with adjustments to the volume knob.
 
#63
As usual, some good and bad (borderline rude) advice here.
Internets, yay!

It sounds like your amps output volume pot is wonky or simply designed poorly.

For instance, my Mesa M9 (900w/4ohm, 450w/8ohm) is quite loud with the volume past 9 o'clock and only gets somewhat louder after that.
The jump from 7 to 9 o'clock is like 60% of the available volume.
This is with the gain just above minimum.
Subsequently, I have the gain set to about 9 o'clock (per my taste in tubey clean/growl), and the volume set to 7:15 for bedroom use.
I crank the volume up to 3 o'clock for stage/practice use.
This is by design, unfortunately, and some others who have had this amp have had the volume modified to produce a more even control across the available range.
I intend to do this as well.

The advice to turn your bass down doesn't really fly in this instance, I think, as adjusting your bass volume effects the response of your amp input gain (growl), and you may want some flexibility there. As well, if you use any drive effects prior to your amps input, the volume you set your bass to will effect their performance as well.
So adjust your bass volume to get the tone(s) your want, not to compensate for your amps crazy volume control.
For instance, I have my bass volume set to 90%.
Then when I want more grind, I push it to 100%.
When I want more clean, I drop it down to 80% or 85%.
This is for the purpose of controlling input gain to the drive effects and the amp's tube-pre, not for peak volume control.

On the amp:
Set your input gain to a place that makes your amp as clean or growly as you like.
Then set your output volume to suit your actual overall volume needs.
If you can't do this reasonably well, then there is something wrong with your volume or gain pot(s).
Contact GK, I'm sure they can help.
 
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#64
The way our ears judge loudness is logarithmic, not linear. Those suggesting cutting wattage in half does almost nothing in terms of reducing volume level. Reducing wattage by a factor of ten makes it half as loud...now you're getting somewhere. Compared to the 800RB, that would mean going to a 30-40 watt amp...you know, a practice amp :whistle:

I hope after four pages you are convinced you just need to lower both volume knobs to get a reasonable level for practice.
 
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#65
I don't know about the GK MB800 - but my RB700 is also crazy loud - which is an absolute blessing in my opinion.

As others have mentioned, turn everything to zero and start from there. My pre, EQ, and master are all between 9-11 o'clock (I guess that's 2 or 3 on the Richter scale) and that's plenty for gig volume through just a modest 2x10.

Wish I would've bought a GK sooner - they're great bang for the buck.
 
#66
Some of these suggestions will work for other amp brands - but you have a GK. It's a little different; for one there are five MB amps available and they are not all the same. MB Heads Three are all SS but two are tube driven. What works for one will not necessarily work on the other. Plus they sell the Fusion 550 model which is a loud loud heavy workhorse of an amp but operates in a similar fashion to the other five. Fusion 550 And the older RB models are close but not the same as the new models. RB Heads Suggestions about how other amp brands work won't usually help you. You need to move over to the GK forum so all of your suggestions are coming from GK users. Ampeg, Fender, etc users who have never used a GK head probably will not be a good resource. Advice from other GK amp users here on TB has helped me get what I paid for - all the tone and functionality as advertised and so much more. Move on over to the GK forum and you'll not regret it.
 
#68
These work wonders :)

fender_volume_black.jpg
 
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#69
I do leave my bass volume up because as stated it greatly affects tone otherwise. I have Gain A at a most minimal turn, if 7 o'clock is off then I'm around 7:30. Volume at maybe 7:30-7:45. -10 pad on. I'm good.

For ***** and giggles... pad off, gain at 9 o'clock, volume at 9 o'clock running through the Lil'G with both speakers on, and I literally knocked pictures off the shelf in the room, and I'm down in my family room with connected dining room, so not a small space.
 
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#71
Vlad5 said:
As usual, some good and bad (borderline rude) advice here.
Internets, yay!

It sounds like your amps output volume pot is wonky or simply designed poorly.
Click to expand...

It's the nature of the MB800 and you may well have hit the nail on the head here as it's not intuitive.
Anyway, using Gain A at anything approaching even the 6 0'clock position will make the Master Volume really touchy, it'll go from zero to quite loud with a barely perceptible movement no matter what bass you're using.
As I said before, using Gain B you can set it anywhere you like (grindy or clean), you can then lower that signal with Volume B which gives a much better sweep on the Master volume. Yes it's a pain but gives much more control.
 
#72
Waltsdog said:
It's the nature of the MB800 and you may well have hit the nail on the head here as it's not intuitive.
Anyway, using Gain A at anything approaching even the 6 0'clock position will make the Master Volume really touchy, it'll go from zero to quite loud with a barely perceptible movement no matter what bass you're using.
As I said before, using Gain B you can set it anywhere you like (grindy or clean), you can then lower that signal with Volume B which gives a much better sweep on the Master volume. Yes it's a pain but gives much more control.
Click to expand...

This is something I will try when I get back home. I know there isn't a lot of love for the manual but I just checked and it says "You can use Level B to increase or lower the overall output volume when switching the Gain B on via the front panel or from the included foot switch."

That may give me the control I'm looking for.
 
#78
Noshtero said:
Bass volume full. Active bass.

If I set amp gain to noon, then the slightest turn of the master volume gets a decent bedroom volume. Jusssst barely turn that master volume and wham! Blasting volume. If I back the gain way off and back the master to about 9 o'clock, it's about right. Maybe I'm just old.
Click to expand...

I've noticed that with my TC Electronics amp. Between 1-4 on the master there is very little difference, between 4-5 it jumps from quiet to massively loud, from 5-10 there is no difference in volume. I noticed the same thing on GK heads and the Fender Rumble combos as well. It definitely makes it harder to dial in that perfect volume. Luckily for me, I play in a loud rock band so I can crank it without worry.
 
#79
Too much amp. Poppycock. (I've always wanted to say that)

There's no such thing. You've got at least 3 viable gain stages to futz with to get a reasonable low volume and you're only concerned with the main output volume? My main rig tells me that it's 3000w. The other day I had it home (I usually use headphones at home to practice), and had it running with 'dining room volume' without problems.

Turn your volume down from your bass. I use active basses and rarely if ever max out my volume. Since your signal and your pickups are buffered, you don't lose 'tone' by turning down like you do with a passive bass.

VVVVVV THIS VVVV
ofajen said:
You can turn down an active bass without appreciable effect on the tone of the output. You can also reduce the amp's preamp gain. Any combination of those two will let you turn up the master, but of course you will have less overdrive from the preamp stage (if you care).

Otto
Click to expand...

Your preamp level is way easy to change. Turn it down. I ran a Hartke 3500 for over a decade with the preamps dialed way back and the power amp level cranked. Not all amps work the same, but don't be afraid to mess with things like pre levels and don't take the manual to heart when it comes to these kind of topics.
VVVVVVVV
Interceptor said:
Bring that preamp level way down, far enough that you have a workable master. The GK manual suggests running it with the master almost full up, and then using the preamp level to set volume. That works well for getting full headroom at high volume. It doesn't work so well for low volume.

Plus, if you drop the preamp level like I've suggested, you'll get less noise.

I use a MB500 in all sorts of applications from coffee house to full volume bar gigs. I use low preamp gain for low volume, and the GK method for loud.
Click to expand...
 
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#80
BurningSkies said:
Too much amp. Poppycock. (I've always wanted to say that)

There's no such thing. You've got at least 3 viable gain stages to futz with to get a reasonable low volume and you're only concerned with the main output volume?...
Click to expand...

@Noshtero — And don't forget this mantra: "Too much is just enough!" :thumbsup:
 
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