Double Bass Looking for today's GK MB150

[Ric Vice]

Mine arrives sometime tomorrow, I have a rehearsal to take it to on Friday. "could be, we'll see" to quote an old adage. GK made a big mistake not revisiting the 200MB Preamp, with a newer power section IMHO.

The MBS was very close, but they discontinued it. The MB200 head was also close. Just my take of course.

 

[damonsmith]

Mine arrives sometime tomorrow, I have a rehearsal to take it to on Friday. "could be, we'll see" to quote an old adage. GK made a big mistake not revisiting the 200MB Preamp, with a newer power section IMHO.

The MBS was very close, but they discontinued it. The MB200 head was also close. Just my take of course.

Willem von Hombracht, who you probably know, had a little amp he brought to a free jazz session last year at Tower Grove Park. I forget what it was, but it was impressive.

 

[Ric Vice]

I just received my Traynor SB 106 from Gollihur Music. So, I fiddled with it at the house. Now, until I get it to a rehearsal we're having Friday at Eliot Chapel, I've only played it in my practice space. Since I use a Ehrlund EAP, and the Headway EDB 2 H.E.
it's a different setup from most other players, but just playing around with it today, it's definitely got plenty of volume and the right timbre for duo and trio gigs. It's saving grace is the size, form factor, and sound. I'll have to reserve judgement until
I play out in a different space, but for the moment it a really nice combo amp if you're using a pickup ( most common pickups like the Realist Life Line, Full Circle, and Yamahiko have a lot higher output than the EAP which requires a pre amp of some sort)
Now I'm sure some of you want to ask the question " how does it compare to your powered MAS 1/8's" to me that's an unfair comparison, of course Mike's cabinets are amazing, but the SB 106 can definitely hold it's own. Please don't ask for a recording, cause
it just ain't gonna happen, it's a bit of a PITA and everyones got their own ideas about sound, so you'll just have to trust me on this one (or not). We'll see how things wash out on Friday. I received no monetary compensation from the folks at Gollihur for this post.
Just thought I'd try one out.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Some people describe Markbass as transparent, but yet they have those two tone shaping dials, which makes me think it could be pretty versitile..I also tried out a GK MB110 and was impressed. Looking at those and others.

When I sold my GK MB150S I switched to Markbass amplifiers and I find that they work well for double bass. I have a CMD 121P combo which is very powerful at 300 watts and weighs a hair over 26 pounds. For louder electric bass gigs I pair it with the matching extension cabinet for a 500 watt mini-stack.

I also have the somewhat less common Markacoustic AC 101 which I reviewed here. This is a two-channel, 150 watt combo that weighs a little over 23 pounds. It was designed for acoustic instruments and sounds more transparent than the CMD 121P. It has some nice features that come in handy for the double bass and you can use the second channel for electric bass or a microphone.

For the ultimate in easy schlep-ability, there is the Micromark 801 which I recently got on sale at Musician's Friend ($275 with a President's Day coupon). This tiny combo weighs 14 pounds and sends 50 watts through an 8" speaker. The single VPF filter tone control is too limited for double bass, but when I use my Fishman Platinum Stage preamp with it a get a nice, stage-worthy sound. It's a great little amp for travel and practice too.

I also had a GK MB110 which was pretty nice, but I recently sold it to a friend after I got the little Markbass combo. I would have no hesitation in recommending that amp as well. I've also been curious about the Traynor SB 106 and I'd like to hear more real-world experiences about this amp.

I hope this information is helpful. Good luck!

- Steve

 

[Ric Vice]

Willem von Hombracht, who you probably know, had a little amp he brought to a free jazz session last year at Tower Grove Park. I forget what it was, but it was impressive.

Sure do Damon, I don’t know what he’s using these days, I gave him a Gallien Krueger 200RCB head. He also has/had a little Line Audio mini combo amp, could have been what you saw him using.

 

[damonsmith]

Sure do Damon, I don’t know what he’s using these days, I gave him a Gallien Krueger 200RCB head. He also has/had a little Line Audio mini combo amp, could have been what you saw him using.

That was it, it exceeded expectations. He is a great bass player!

 

[Brad_Pearson]

Ive been gigging the little SB106 almost since it first came out. I rented it for a couple years then bought out my rental. It now lives under my workbench as my testing amp. Works great for any small restaurant gig. I find with electric bass I'll bring the bigger brother (SB112) as a default but with upright for anything involving acoustic instruments with nothing in the PA its great. I've been playing all my rehearsals (up to three horns plus drum and piano) lately without an amp, so for gigs I only really need a little boost.

I don't think it should be anyones ONLY amp. Its a great grab-and-go that punches far above its weight. Between it and the 200w SB112 I have all the amp I need.

 

[DuluthDank]

When I sold my GK MB150S I switched to Markbass amplifiers and I find that they work well for double bass. I have a CMD 121P combo which is very powerful at 300 watts and weighs a hair over 26 pounds. For louder electric bass gigs I pair it with the matching extension cabinet for a 500 watt mini-stack.

I also have the somewhat less common Markacoustic AC 101 which I reviewed here. This is a two-channel, 150 watt combo that weighs a little over 23 pounds. It was designed for acoustic instruments and sounds more transparent than the CMD 121P. It has some nice features that come in handy for the double bass and you can use the second channel for electric bass or a microphone.

For the ultimate in easy schlep-ability, there is the Micromark 801 which I recently got on sale at Musician's Friend ($275 with a President's Day coupon). This tiny combo weighs 14 pounds and sends 50 watts through an 8" speaker. The single VPF filter tone control is too limited for double bass, but when I use my Fishman Platinum Stage preamp with it a get a nice, stage-worthy sound. It's a great little amp for travel and practice too.

I also had a GK MB110 which was pretty nice, but I recently sold it to a friend after I got the little Markbass combo. I would have no hesitation in recommending that amp as well. I've also been curious about the Traynor SB 106 and I'd like to hear more real-world experiences about this amp.

I hope this information is helpful. Good luck!

- Steve

I've never heard of that markbass acoustic amp line. I looked into it and didn't see a high pass filter. Do you add an external one?

Between the GK MB110 and the Markbass CMD 121P, which would you say is more transparent?

 

[Ric Vice]

I don't believe they build the Mark Acoustic line anymore, the Gollihur Genzler Acoustic Array has a similar feature set, however it's a bit larger. They still make the CMD 121 P for sure and lots of players love them. However after trying one out on a couple of gigs,
it's not the amp for my bass and pickup (Ehrlund EAP). For most gigs I have separates that I mix and match depending on the size of the venue, both my MAS Soundworks 1/8's are powered and the Traynor SB 106 looks like an excellent addition to the flock as
a grab and go casual and small club trio amp.

 

[Dave Hill]

GK MB112-II.
Grab a second powered cab, and you have a great, flexible doubling rig.

 

[neddyrow]

The GK MBS was the first upright amp I purchased after hearing such great reviews here on TB. I never could get the sound I wanted. The price was fair compared to what I wanted but, I slowly upgraded. I like all the suggestions mentioned above. I'd go with the Genzler if I were in your position. I can double with my trusty Genz Benz shuttle with most cabs. They make quality gear. Price is high but you get what you pay for. If your budget is a little tighter, I'd go Traynor.

 

[jebo]

As much as it didn't sound great in every room & placement (but did in most) there has not really been anything else like the MB150. Light 25lbs, carryable like a briefcase, very practical for a lot of different type of gigs, can sound great with both upright & electric bass. I would love to find something that is the same weight & size that does all these things but I don't think it exists. GK really needs to re-release / re-issue it with upgrades. I'm trying out the Aguilar TH350 w/ the SL112 cab now. SL112 is also 25lbs but a little biggie in size (has more low end than the MB150 though) & the head is 3lbs and very small. Pretty easy to carry around. If this setup doesn't work out for me I'd like to try the Ampeg RB112 next for this use.

 

[Ric Vice]

While I loved the GK 200MB (I had two different versions) when I bought the MBE I could not get a useable EQ for Double Bass using a Underwood
pickup or the original Realist Copper foil. So, I sold it. I really tried to like the MBE but the midrange EQ had a distinct timbre that favored EB. Rather than
wait on them to figure out they needed to come up with a different model, to replace the 200MB ( which they did about 12 months later with the MBS). I moved back to the Walter Woods MI-100-8 I had put in moth balls as my backup to the 200MB’s. The Traynor SB 106 is as close as I’ve ever come tonally to that original
200MB. Just my take.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

I've never heard of that markbass acoustic amp line. I looked into it and didn't see a high pass filter. Do you add an external one?

The newer version of Markacoustic AC 101 is still around and has been rolled into the regular Markbass lineup as well as the DV Mark line of guitar amps. It still says Markacoustic on the front though. [This invalid link has been removed] to the current one and [This invalid link has been removed]. None of the Markbass amps have a built in high pass filter. There is one on my Fishman preamp which I used with the little Micromark 801. I generally don't use it with the larger Markbass combos.

Between the GK MB110 and the Markbass CMD 121P, which would you say is more transparent?

That's a tough question. Neither is as transparent as the AC 101 and both sound good with the double bass, but I between those two combos I prefer the tone of the CMD 121P because it offers a clear sound that's not too boxy or bottom heavy. BTW I use a Fishman Full Circle on my basses.

Here's a picture of my Markacoustic AC 101 on a gig:
View media item 17433
- Steve

 

[elmer]

I had the newer version of Mark Acoustic AC 101. It sounded great with it´s two channels! After Acoustic Image products I went back to my old GK 200MB. AC101 sounded less coloured still and better for the DB and you could use Full Circle with condencer mic with it - I was excited! BUT -what a disappointment- Markacoustic had some distortion on the lower notes on the A and E strings with 12 o´clock settings on gain and eq! If I remember right I got a little buzzing with the bass guitar also (not sure about that).
Anyway, I thought there was something wrong with the 10" speaker and sent it back to Thomann Germany. I was ready and willing to have a new one but after testing my combo, they said it was a character sound of the combo and there was nothing wrong with it!
I find this hard to believe and would like to test another one again, but it´s difficult to find one here in Finland. Or could it be it is optimized for the guitar and not for the bass frequencies. Otherwise I think I had the best amplified sound in a small package compared to all my previous gear. I didn´t try it with a band though brécause of the distortion.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

That’s too bad. I’ve never gotten any distortion from my AC 101.

- Steve

 

[Vince Waldon]

I've a SB110 and SB106, and unfortunately I just can't get the SB106 to work with my upright, at all.

The 106 was a pawn shop find and I replaced the driver hoping that was the issue, but it still breaks up at even moderate volumes on the E string. Oddly it seems to be OK when using my electric bass, but of course the main reason for the 106 was less weight when lugging the upright to a small club etc.

The 110 on the other hand works great on both UB and EB and fills a 250 person hall at the local university no problemo.

My goto these days, even moreso than my PG BJ-400, which seems like sacrilege.

 

[Brad_Pearson]

I've a SB110 and SB106, and unfortunately I just can't get the SB106 to work with my upright, at all.

The 106 was a pawn shop find and I replaced the driver hoping that was the issue, but it still breaks up at even moderate volumes on the E string. Oddly it seems to be OK when using my electric bass, but of course the main reason for the 106 was less weight when lugging the upright to a small club etc.

The 110 on the other hand works great on both UB and EB and fills a 250 person hall at the local university no problemo.

My goto these days, even moreso than my PG BJ-400, which seems like sacrilege.

When these amps first came out there was a run of them that distorted (I work for Long and McQuade, the same company owns them and Traynor/Yorkville). I sent multiple emails to head office about it. It appears to me that the current production has solved the issue, I have friends with newer ones that sound just like mine. Mine is a super early one with a rubber handle instead of the leather. It seemed to me that the early ones with the updated leather handle had the issue.

 

[Vince Waldon]

Rats... mine in fact seems to have a "leather" handle.

Brad: did you ever get any official response in terms of recall, a fix, etc etc?

It did all strike me as weird, since so many folks here have 'em and love 'em.

 

[Brad_Pearson]

I did not. That said Traynor is excellent with warranty issues. It would be worth sending an email with your serial number included to see what they can do for you.