Pretty stupid how you guys discontinued your 500 watt mb model... actually scratch that it's pretty stupid how you discontinued 90% of your amplifiers and cabinets oh well at least you still make the mb200...
Norm. Thanks for the review. I actually own an MB 500 and love it! I play through two Bergantino 12" cabs and the sound is amazing. I did an audition for a R&B group not long ago. The group was two guitars, drums, and a horn section. Using just one of the cabs and the MB 500, my sound cut through the mix perfectly and the guitar player couldn't get over how BIG it all sounded with such a little foot print. GK makes really find gear. Period.
Hi, the manual says the following about the power amp output to speaker cabinet : "Delivers 500w into 4 Ohm loads. Lower impedances such as 8 Ohms or 16 Ohms and NO LOADS ARE ACCEPTABLE". Does the latter means that you can use this amp with headphones and not hooked up to a cab, without risking damaging it ?
djabthrash the headphone don't go through the power amp stage. Headphone derives its signal from the line out signal. So when headphone is connected the power amp stage sits there doing nothing. Its possible because of class D. A tube amp would be damaged without load.
I have a MB 500. All my band mates (various gigs) are supper amazed by the sound Big sound, little foot print. I use 2 SWR 2X10's and it drives them no problem. In the biggest rooms I have never ran more than halfway, and I still have the sound man yelling at me to turn down LOL. GK and good cabs=world class tone and volume
What I really want to know is what "cabinet" is he playing through? I love Norm's videos, but why doesn't he list all the details? I have the GK MB500; I'd love to get THAT sound. What cabinet? Is it that tiny black box? Is that a 2x10?
Hey, thanks for the response. I've actively looked for an Eden 212XLT cab to combine the GK MB500 with; but no luck so far in finding one. Great to know the 210XLT's sound great paired, too-I've seen many of those as options. This post is a few months old, and I've moved towards a bigger rig (GK 1001RB ii and an Epifani PS410). But, again, great to know the Eden XLT gear sounds great with the GK MB500-I think I'd really like the tone of the Eden XLT cabs from how they're described.
it would be better to have more power in the cabinet. The Eden 212 xlt delivers 400 watts 4 ohm and the gk delivers 500 watts 4 ohm(it's a problem when you pump up the volume).
Thanks for this thorough review... One thing I do not understand... The sound seems compressed, yet I see no compression knob on the head. Do these GK amps all have internal compression?
It is how the amps are EQ'd and processed, unique to GK. Very distinguished tone. If you're all about the 'vintage'... tone. then you may want to keep looking. I think GK's all sound very clean and punchy.
Great sounding amp, only complaint i have after owning one for a year now, is that the mute button is annoyingly close to the gain. 90% of the time when pushing the mute, I hit the gain without noticing and then when I go back to play its different . And now unfortunately it crapped out and I had to send it to hopefully be fixed......never toured with it, never abused...poor quality build im guessing
Pretty stupid how you guys discontinued your 500 watt mb model... actually scratch that it's pretty stupid how you discontinued 90% of your amplifiers and cabinets oh well at least you still make the mb200...
"Does Rain Plummet?" is a good name for my next progressive jazz fusion album. Thanks, mate!
MINE IT'S COMING TODAY 10/20/16... CAN WAIT... BM 500 GK WITH AN SWR 4X10 CAB.... AND AN "R" BASS!!!!! 5 SRING!!!
Norm. Thanks for the review. I actually own an MB 500 and love it! I play through two Bergantino 12" cabs and the sound is amazing. I did an audition for a R&B group not long ago. The group was two guitars, drums, and a horn section. Using just one of the cabs and the MB 500, my sound cut through the mix perfectly and the guitar player couldn't get over how BIG it all sounded with such a little foot print. GK makes really find gear. Period.
Fuck yeah
Hi, the manual says the following about the power amp output to speaker cabinet : "Delivers 500w into 4 Ohm loads. Lower impedances such as 8 Ohms or 16 Ohms and NO LOADS ARE ACCEPTABLE".
Does the latter means that you can use this amp with headphones and not hooked up to a cab, without risking damaging it ?
djabthrash the headphone don't go through the power amp stage. Headphone derives its signal from the line out signal. So when headphone is connected the power amp stage sits there doing nothing. Its possible because of class D. A tube amp would be damaged without load.
fantastic head....can't enough of this amp...loud,versatile,limeweight...for me is perfect
I have a MB 500. All my band mates (various gigs) are supper amazed by the sound Big sound, little foot print. I use 2 SWR 2X10's and it drives them no problem. In the biggest rooms I have never ran more than halfway, and I still have the sound man yelling at me to turn down LOL. GK and good cabs=world class tone and volume
Does GK have a 2 x 10 cab to pair with this amp ? Is the 112 GK the only small GK cab suitable to pair with this amp ? ta
Final decision made. This is my choice! With the extra $100 from the Chinese Ampeg equivalent IMO. More features for sure!
What a great review and feature on this amp. Thanks Norm. BTW, I actually got one of these recently and its fantastic.
What I really want to know is what "cabinet" is he playing through? I love Norm's videos, but why doesn't he list all the details? I have the GK MB500; I'd love to get THAT sound. What cabinet? Is it that tiny black box? Is that a 2x10?
i use the MB 500 with a pair of eden 210 xlt....absolutely a killer rig
Hey, thanks for the response. I've actively looked for an Eden 212XLT cab to combine the GK MB500 with; but no luck so far in finding one. Great to know the 210XLT's sound great paired, too-I've seen many of those as options. This post is a few months old, and I've moved towards a bigger rig (GK 1001RB ii and an Epifani PS410). But, again, great to know the Eden XLT gear sounds great with the GK MB500-I think I'd really like the tone of the Eden XLT cabs from how they're described.
it would be better to have more power in the cabinet. The Eden 212 xlt delivers 400 watts 4 ohm and the gk delivers 500 watts 4 ohm(it's a problem when you pump up the volume).
Watch the video for the MB800. They filmed these at the same time. The MB800 video shows which cab he's using.
He's recording direct. No speaker
very nice review! I would like to know how you record this. Did you use the direct out, line out or micing a cab? thanks
Simen Andreas Knudsen He talks in the other videos about this, he is doing a mix of both.
i really like Norm. he is rally good, and really chill.
Wow que calidad de sonido!! i like it
What i should go to RB 400 or MB 500?
Thanks for this thorough review...
One thing I do not understand... The sound seems compressed, yet I see no compression knob on the head.
Do these GK amps all have internal compression?
It is how the amps are EQ'd and processed, unique to GK. Very distinguished tone. If you're all about the 'vintage'... tone. then you may want to keep looking. I think GK's all sound very clean and punchy.
I like the tone of this amp
I love the look of his MTD.
Great demo....!
Great sounding amp, only complaint i have after owning one for a year now, is that the mute button is annoyingly close to the gain. 90% of the time when pushing the mute, I hit the gain without noticing and then when I go back to play its different . And now unfortunately it crapped out and I had to send it to hopefully be fixed......never toured with it, never abused...poor quality build im guessing