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Just tried an ampeg Micro-VR, a PF-350 and a GK Mb-200

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by bassman74, Jul 2, 2013.

  1. Jul 2, 2013 #1
    bassman74

    bassman74

    Jan 2, 2007
    Montreal
    I just played these 3 heads with a p-bass thru a markbass 2x10 cab.

    The MB-200 was incredibly loud and Nice sounding. It had a great tone with the bass and treble slightly around 10. I felt like it could cut through a dense mix very easily. It had a great clean rock tone.

    The PF-350, sounded like an ampeg but slightly more polite then what i usually like from an ampeg not as much grit. I liked it but i had to play with the EQ to get to growly rock tone that i like

    Tonewise my favorite one was the micro-vr. Just the tone i have in my head, just a nice growly p-bass rock tone. It sounded great with everything flat and awesome with the mids on 10.

    While i tried them, the salesman t'ils me that the Mb-200 was compressing a lot at high volume and sounded better at low to mid volume.

    He also told me that the PF-350 was losing its punch at high volume, and had his best tone at mid volume.

    He told me that these little bass head sounded great at a specific volume!

    If you own one of these heads, do you agree with the salesman's comment?
     
  2. Jul 2, 2013 #2
    JimmyM

    JimmyM Supporting Member

    Apr 11, 2005
    Apopka, FL
    Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
    No. Those heads all sound the same at different volumes, except for differing levels of breakup when cranked hard. But I don't like any micros with power sections cranked super hard, so maybe that's what he meant. Who knows?

    Don't know enough about the GK stuff to have an opinion about different volumes with it, but to me the Micro VR and PF350 sound identical, except you can get more headroom out of the PF350. To some, that may be considered "more polite" as the Micro VR does break up at an earlier point in the volume due to it having less wattage, but I like it since if I need breakup out of the head, I can just crank the gain. But I usually use pedals for dirt so I'd rather have a clean foundation.
     
  3. Jul 3, 2013 #3
    jnewmark

    jnewmark Just wanna play the groove. Supporting Member

    Aug 31, 2006
    Stax 1966
    Third St. Cigar Records staff musician.
    I have the GK Mb 200, which I mainly use as a headphone amp plugged into my computer, but, the one time I had to use it on a gig, I found that it did get loud early in the gain stage, but not that much afterward. It saved my butt that night, but really was'nt loud enough for the gig. Great practice/headphone amp though !
     
  4. Jul 3, 2013 #4
    johnpbass

    johnpbass

    Feb 18, 2008
    Glen Mills, PA
    I had the MB200 and it is definitely the GK sound - a lot of everything. I have the PF350 - it's definitely very "Ampeg". I think the key with the Ampeg is to tweak that Gain knob. To my ears, I can get just the right amount of "edge" with the Gain set at about 2-3 o'clock.
     
  5. Jul 3, 2013 #5
    bassman74

    bassman74

    Jan 2, 2007
    Montreal
    Thanks for your answers
     
  6. Jul 3, 2013 #6
    bassman74

    bassman74

    Jan 2, 2007
    Montreal
    I felt the same about the mb-200, the volume remain almost the same from 12 to the max