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So I just picked up a MB800

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by Handyman, Dec 19, 2014.

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  1. Dec 19, 2014 #1
    Handyman

    Handyman

    Sep 4, 2007
    Austin, TX
    And much to my surprise, the fan stays entirely off under normal operation, and Google tells me this is how the thing is designed to work.

    I think I've found my new practice amp. Aside from sounding great, having zero fan noise in my itty practice room is REALLY welcome. This thing also takes up almost no space. Double win.

    My only complaint for using this for practice is the lack of a aux input. I've already got plans to wire up a few jacks and resistors into a passive mixer box to blend the effects loop send with my mp3 player output. Problem solved (well, it will be soon).

    The headphone out seems to work as advertised.

    Seems silly to practice with a 800W amp, but that's what volume knobs are for.

    Oh, ya. I plan to use it with the band, too, but I'm just shocked how useful such a powerful amp is for my practice room. :)
     
    Plucky The Bassist and B-string like this.
  2. Dec 19, 2014 #2
    DWBass

    DWBass The Funkfather

    Jan 24, 2003
    Newport News, VA via NYC
    Yeah, these Class D amps run pretty cool. Been playing mine for years and they have barely warmed up if at all.
     
  3. Dec 19, 2014 #3
    Handyman

    Handyman

    Sep 4, 2007
    Austin, TX
    I've owned (and still own) other class D amp, but this is the first one I've used that totally shuts off the fan when running cool.

    Very clever.
     
  4. Dec 19, 2014 #4
    Low Class

    Low Class

    Jul 4, 2005
    Gasaholic
    The fan on mine would come on after a while when the amp was not even being played through and it's LOUD!
     
    bobicidal likes this.
  5. Dec 19, 2014 #5
    Handyman

    Handyman

    Sep 4, 2007
    Austin, TX
    Interesting. Other folks say that their fan almost never comes on at all. I wonder if their temperature sensors vary significantly from part to part.
     
  6. Dec 19, 2014 #6
    Chef

    Chef In Memoriam

    May 23, 2004
    Columbia MO
    Staff Reviewer; Bass Gear Magazine
    800 watt practice amp.
    You win.


    :D
     
    Mike A, armybass, bobicidal and 2 others like this.
  7. Dec 19, 2014 #7
    Handyman

    Handyman

    Sep 4, 2007
    Austin, TX
    Oh, yes. I win. :)

    It wasn't my intention to use this for practice, but this seems awfully convenient for it.

    I guess this will really be my "everything, including practice" amp.
     
    Mystic Michael and Chef like this.
  8. Dec 19, 2014 #8
    scottfeldstein

    scottfeldstein Roots and fifths and a little extra.

    Jun 20, 2011
    West Bend, Wisconsin
    I'm not sure I've ever heard the fan in my MB500.
     
    Mike A and topcat2069 like this.
  9. Dec 19, 2014 #9
    jeff7bass

    jeff7bass Inactive

    Apr 9, 2009
    Do you live in a concrete bunker? My neighbors complain when I crank up my little 20w, 8" Peavey.
     
    staurosjohn likes this.
  10. Dec 19, 2014 #10
    Handyman

    Handyman

    Sep 4, 2007
    Austin, TX
    I practice with headphones more often than not, actually.
     
  11. Dec 19, 2014 #11
    Plucky The Bassist

    Plucky The Bassist Istanbul...not Constantinople Supporting Member

    Jul 30, 2010
    Tejas
    Just get ready OP, you'll end up going "Well of course I HAVE to get an MB200, it has the Aux Input! Hmm, I wonder if 2 GK Neo 412 cabs will be enough for a 30-person coffee house gig...better get 4 just to be sure." ;)

    The GK stuff is pretty killer, I'd pick them for an endorsement deal over anyone else.
     
    Mike A and Handyman like this.
  12. Dec 20, 2014 #12
    MrBKerth

    MrBKerth The Gypsy Bravado

    Apr 20, 2013
    Texas
    Never again worry about the guitarist coming in with the marshall half stack!
     
  13. Dec 20, 2014 #13
    lomo

    lomo passionate hack Supporting Member

    Apr 15, 2006
    Montreal
    I love practicing through a big rig, even alone at low volume.
     
    Mike A, bobicidal, friendlybass and 1 other person like this.
  14. Dec 20, 2014 #14
    bassinflorida

    bassinflorida turn that dang thing down

    Jan 27, 2014
    Tampa, FL
    It will get even more notice on top of an 8x10.
     
  15. Dec 20, 2014 #15
    Ewo

    Ewo a/k/a Steve Cooper Supporting Member

    Apr 2, 2008
    Huntington WV
    Been thinking about getting one of these. Were there reliability problems with early units? I get that sense from browsing some of the threads about this amp...
     
  16. Dec 20, 2014 #16
    Low Class

    Low Class

    Jul 4, 2005
    Gasaholic
    The one I bought very recently from someone was a replacement for a failed unit, so it seems to still be occurring. Of course all brands are subject to failure.
     
  17. Dec 20, 2014 #17
    Real Soon

    Real Soon

    Aug 15, 2013
    Atlanta, GA
    Funny thing...I practice thru my lil 15W amp in part because I fear my electricity bill spiking if I started using my MB200. I'd worry an 800W amp would throw a breaker!
     
  18. Dec 20, 2014 #18
    Mystic Michael

    Mystic Michael Hip No Ties

    Apr 1, 2004
    New York, NY
    The fan on my MB800 comes on after only a moderate amount of playing, and it's definitely noticeable. But I have no intention of using mine for anything other than personal practice, rehearsals and live gigs - no recording sessions. So the fan noise is for me a non-issue.

    MM
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2014
  19. Dec 20, 2014 #19
    friendlybass

    friendlybass Guest

    Jul 19, 2012
    Colorado
    Dude where's your amp lol
     
  20. Dec 20, 2014 #20
    Troph

    Troph Guest

    Apr 14, 2011
    Kirkland, WA
    Frankly I'd rather have an amp with a fan that kicks on when necessary rather than an amp where the fan is quiet but prone to overheating... such as my Carvin BX500.
     
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