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MB Fusion vs WalkAbout

#21
IntrepidCellist said:
How would you compare the TC RH450/Staccato to this pairing?

I'm looking for a micro that gives a more "old school" sound and is capable of some nice grit/tubey compression. I have a WT400 already so I'm pretty much set for a nice warm clean sound, but I likes me some grit!
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The TC heads are shooting for many of the same goals as the WalkAbout and MB Fusion, for sure. So good call on wanting to throw them into the mix. I was thinking of adding my RH450 to the mix, but it's currently with our Technical Editor, Tom Lees, for bench-testing. :hiding:

The RH450 does a really good job of tube emulation, and it seems to me that they did a good job of blending not only preamp tube overdrive, but also some power tube overdrive. I'm going to say right off the bat that the RH450 is going to be a lot more subdued in the high end than the GK. :smug: :D

When I get my RH450 back, I'll try to revisit this comparison. The Staccato '51, when I had it, had much bigger lows and somewhat bigger highs than the RH450, and it seemed like the Tubetone was tweaked to allow for a more aggressive overdrive, but one that sounds more like preamp tubes breaking up than power tubes, IMHO.

Tom.
 
#24
Musicman20 said:
Great info, thanks Tom. Any idea how the Shuttle 9.0 compares to the Fusion?
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The Shuttle 9.0 is more full/warm/round throughout it range than the MB Fusion. The GK is brighter and more open when you keep the Gain set a bit lower, but you can dial it up and get a fairly similar tone to the 9.0. You can also push the MB Fusion further into overdrive than the Shuttle 9.0.
 
#25
tombowlus said:
The Shuttle 9.0 is more full/warm/round throughout it range than the MB Fusion. The GK is brighter and more open when you keep the Gain set a bit lower, but you can dial it up and get a fairly similar tone to the 9.0. You can also push the MB Fusion further into overdrive than the Shuttle 9.0.
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How about total volume available at 4 AND 8 ohms? I've heard the MB Fusion is pretty strong compared to the Shuttle 9.0.
 
#29
I'll throw in my 2 cents. I had an MB 500 and liked it (mostly through my Epifani PS210). I then bought 2 GK NEO 112 II's looking for an ultra portable rig I could use 1 or 2 cabs with as needed. However, the combination was a little too modern sounding for me. I was looking for some tubey warmth. I first went with a friend and we brought my MB 500 and compared it side by side with the MB Fusion. I didn't find that the difference between the two was enough of what I was looking for. Ultimately, they are both still very GK sounding (I don't mean that in a bad way by any means, my big rig is powered by a 1001 RB II). However, the Walkabout was just what I was looking for. Very smooth and tuby, nice mid controls, and it does not have that more modern growl or attack in the sense of the GK. I used it live last night for a rock gig and was quite happy.
 
#30
Nice review. I tell you what though, seing the picture of the top of the amp makes me VERY nervous, with those cheap little plastic switched exposed like that. Not good, IMO, for those who gig out hard. I've found the newer GK stuff a bit 'fragile', and that picture doesn't give me a lot of confidence in these being particularly road worthy. The Walkabout... zero issue!
 
#33
This is very interesting to me as I have an MB500 with a Neo412 and it is a very modern and bright sounding rig. I was thinking the Fusion might be the ticket to go with that particular cab to add some warmth but it sounds like you figured the MB500 and MB Fusion were very similar.

I also have a Walkabout and find it does sound amazingly good with the very modern sounding Neo412. So far I really like the MB500 for something completely opposite to the Walkabout tone.


NOLA Bass said:
I'll throw in my 2 cents. I had an MB 500 and liked it (mostly through my Epifani PS210). I then bought 2 GK NEO 112 II's looking for an ultra portable rig I could use 1 or 2 cabs with as needed. However, the combination was a little too modern sounding for me. I was looking for some tubey warmth. I first went with a friend and we brought my MB 500 and compared it side by side with the MB Fusion. I didn't find that the difference between the two was enough of what I was looking for. Ultimately, they are both still very GK sounding (I don't mean that in a bad way by any means, my big rig is powered by a 1001 RB II). However, the Walkabout was just what I was looking for. Very smooth and tuby, nice mid controls, and it does not have that more modern growl or attack in the sense of the GK. I used it live last night for a rock gig and was quite happy.
Click to expand...
 
#34
KJung said:
I tell you what though, seing the picture of the top of the amp makes me VERY nervous, with those cheap little plastic switched exposed like that. Not good, IMO, for those who gig out hard. I've found the newer GK stuff a bit 'fragile', and that picture doesn't give me a lot of confidence in these being particularly road worthy.
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I disagree. I don't consider those switches on top to represent any significant risk, and I don't see any reason to assume they're particularly cheap. I'm sure they're good quality, and they don't stick out far enough to be a problem. Further, I also don't think the newer GK stuff is particularly fragile either. It seems to me to be perfectly well made stuff from quality parts. What makes you say all this? Have you heard from gigging owners about a lot of failures? Just curious.
 
#37
Vic said:
I disagree. I don't consider those switches on top to represent any significant risk, and I don't see any reason to assume they're particularly cheap. I'm sure they're good quality, and they don't stick out far enough to be a problem. Further, I also don't think the newer GK stuff is particularly fragile either. It seems to me to be perfectly well made stuff from quality parts. What makes you say all this? Have you heard from gigging owners about a lot of failures? Just curious.
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On the MB500, yes, of course. Do a search:smug: The tube version has not been out long enough to really say, but again, that design seems quite strange to me (those little plastic switches on the top of the amp), and an unusual design decision, IMO.

I'm relatively unimpressed with this whole line of amps at this point. They are loud as heck, but IMO and IME quite noisy and to me, the quality and build is not particularly impressive.
 
#38
KJung said:
On the MB500, yes, of course. Do a search:smug: The tube version has not been out long enough to really say, but again, that design seems quite strange to me (those little plastic switches on the top of the amp), and an unusual design decision, IMO.

I'm relatively unimpressed with this whole line of amps at this point. They are loud as heck, but IMO and IME quite noisy and to me, the quality and build is not particularly impressive.
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Regarding noisy, as we've discussed before, I think your information is outdated. Mine is quiet. I'm also not at all convinced the switches present a problem, and "do a search" is a lame answer from anyone, IMHO. I'm looking at it as a fair comparison to other amps truly and directly in its class, including form factor, such as the Markbass F amps, and I just don't see it as being inferior at all. Just making sure, on the "MB500" are you referring to the current model, or all the posts on the older MB2 500 (which did actually have a lot of problems)?
 
#40
Vic said:
I disagree. I don't consider those switches on top to represent any significant risk, and I don't see any reason to assume they're particularly cheap. I'm sure they're good quality, and they don't stick out far enough to be a problem. Further, I also don't think the newer GK stuff is particularly fragile either. It seems to me to be perfectly well made stuff from quality parts.
Click to expand...

Yeah, they take an appropriate amount of force to "switch" them, and they seem fairly durable. I am not really worried about them, personally.
 

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