Spare amp advice

[Renaissance]

What about a Carvin BX500? Small, lightweight, powerful, fairly cheap brand new, Carvin has a great return policy...

 

[bassgod76]

What about a Carvin BX500? Small, lightweight, powerful, fairly cheap brand new, Carvin has a great return policy...

I was thinking about this one.
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[bassgod76]

BTW, Musicians Friend BEAT the price.

 

[froghat]

BTW, Musicians Friend BEAT the price.

You were asking about gig-level performance. I used mine with a raucous Motown band through a Genz Benz Uber 212T at a mid-sized bar and it sounded fine. No PA support. I did have to turn down the bass control as the GK is EQ'd rather bass-heavy. Also, I agree with earlier comments about the contour switch. I just leave mine off as with it on it is simply too mid-scooped.

 

[bassgod76]

You were asking about gig-level performance. I used mine with a raucous Motown band through a Genz Benz Uber 212T at a mid-sized bar and it sounded fine. No PA support. I did have to turn down the bass control as the GK is EQ'd rather bass-heavy. Also, I agree with earlier comments about the contour switch. I just leave mine off as with it on it is simply too mid-scooped.

Good to know. I look at a backup amp like a car's doughnut spare. It doesn't have to be full sized or have all the abilities of the normal tire. It just has to reasonably do the job. That is all I'm asking for.

I think the GK can meet this demand by what people are posting here.

 

[xring]

I highly recommend the MB500. I take it to back up my main rig. When I use the MB500 as my main amp (I get lazy sometimes), I use an MXR M80 DI pedal as back up.

 

[bassgod76]

I highly recommend the MB500. I take it to back up my main rig. When I use the MB500 as my main amp (I get lazy sometimes), I use an MXR M80 DI pedal as back up.

I have a Sansamp Bass driver DI, so I could use that through the PA. Decisions...

 

[xring]

I haven't had to use it, but it did save my keyboard player when his jack broke off in his amp. He plugged into the M80, then to the board and the show went on. Sounded great too. The bandmates were very thankful.

I have a Sansamp Bass driver DI, so I could use that through the PA. Decisions...

 

[bassgod76]

I haven't had to use it, but it did save my keyboard player when his jack broke off in his amp. He plugged into the M80, then to the board and the show went on. Sounded great too. The bandmates were very thankful.

BTW, why did you choose the GK MB500 over the 200?

 

[Picktastic]

I use a laptop bag that is approx. 12"x16"x2". I put the MB200 along with a Zoom B2, power supply and cables in it. The whole thing only weighs a few pounds and I can carry it over my shoulder. It's a great little portable setup.

I use a laptop bag for my MB500 and it works great with multiple cables, power supply, a pedal and my charts. I'm leaning towards the 200 as a backup- honestly the 500 seems like overkill but its a killer amp with tons of headroom. The 500 hangs well in my band with the volume at about a third of the way up. I love showing up with my amp and cables in a bag around my shoulder, my cab in one hand and guitar in the other. So easy.

 

[xring]

I chose it to fill two roles. Obviously as back up, and as my "small rig" head. I have 4 ohm cabs, and it allows me to get the most watts from it. I'm sure that the MB200 would push my cabs pretty well, but it's nice having the headroom. The 500 will push either one of my Aggie cabs (410 and 212)to high volumes without trying hard at all. It seems like more than 500w to me. I've heard that the 200 is a loud head also for what it's rated.

BTW, why did you choose the GK MB500 over the 200?