gallien krueger mb800

[LLroomtempJ]

i just got it in the mail. Only paid $600 before taxes using a guitar center coupon.

 

The crazy thing is that i'm not going to have an opportunity to play it for a while (christmas party tonight with my ad agency), then i'm taking a mini-vacation with my fiancee's family from friday to saturday...and then i'm not playing bass at church this sunday.

 

My stevie band played what will probably be our last gig of the year yesterday.

 

I will say this - the amp is light and it looks beautiful.

 

It comes with a footswitch and A CABLE TO CONNECT THE FOOTSWITCH!!

 

the next question is whether or not this will replace my gk 2001rbp + crown xti2000. which are pushing my acme b2s.

 

just wanted to let you guys know so that we can celebrate together. My review will be here as soon as i can a/b it with my rbp/xti setup.

[Cthulhu Fhtagn]

Ah, new gear stories. 'Bout time we got back to "bassics".

[CaptainCutthroat]

I just got mine too!!! Footswitch is thumpy, is yours that way too? It'll be powering a fEARful 15/6 when I'm don't building it. Happy holidays!

[jeremy c]

Hey, Kevin, nice to see you again!

[rumpelstiltskin.]

fEARful 15/6 when I'm don't building it.

 

nice. i would love to hear one someday. i doubt it will supersede my love for my bergantino HT/EX-112 stack, but i heard of some nidacore (composite) builds getting around 30 pounds total weight. rad.

[LLroomtempJ]

I just got mine too!!! Footswitch is thumpy, is yours that way too? It'll be powering a fEARful 15/6 when I'm don't building it. Happy holidays!

 

I've never used a footswitch before so I didn't really have any expectation when I pushed it in a few times. Is thumpy a bad thing?

 

Did you notice that all of the knobs are weighted with the exception of gains a and b and the master? My initial guess is that it is related to the select and limiter defeat options (dont really understand why the limited defeat is even an option)

[WCriley]

fEARful 15/6 when I'm don't building it.

 

nice. i would love to hear one someday. i doubt it will supersede my love for my bergantino HT/EX-112 stack, but i heard of some nidacore (composite) builds getting around 30 pounds total weight. rad.

 

Robb. How far are you from Hickory Corners, MI? There's an authorized fEARful builder there named David Homer (www.gigmaster.biz)

 

I have 2 fEARful 12/6 cabs. I built one long before there were kits and authorized builders. The second one was a prototype kit from www.speakerhardware.com.

 

My Acme B-2 went on Craigslist immediately after my 1st gig with a fEARful.

[5 string Mike]

Detroit is a ways from Hickory Corners- that's my neck of the woods.

 

However, if you want to go to the Gilmore Car Museum, it's a nice day trip.

[CaptainCutthroat]

Hey Jeremy! Glad to see the usual suspects around these parts!

[CaptainCutthroat]

The lack of weighted-ness on those is definitely the select/defeat function. I supposed the limiter defeat is to be able to drive the amp into clip infinity.

 

The footswitch thing i think will just take some practice and timing when switching between to two to compensate for the thump. I've never used a footswitch either so it's obviously different than a stompbox.

 

On a more frustrating note. The channel b lights went out 24 hours after I brought it home > but the new one has already shipped!

[LLroomtempJ]

sounds really huge coming through my two acme B2s. I can only imagine how it will sound through my ashdown 410 (probably very different, but significantly louder)

 

Really loud (and clear) in my house, but i've yet to try it out in a huge room.

 

I was really impressed with how clear the sound was coming through my setup.

 

Overdriving channel A did not give me the distortion that gk stuff usually gives. I wont miss it too much.

 

i don't see myself selling my gk 2001 rbp nor my crown xti2000 anytime soon.

 

I'm kinda wondering if i need to throw this amp in a rack and use it with a power conditioner. I never used a power conditioner for ANY of my stuff until i blew something in my gk2001rbp a few years ago due to poor wiring at a church ($175 repair)

 

I like all the lights and stuff. They look cool.

[LLroomtempJ]

decided against throwing the unit in a rack case. By itself, the mb800 is too small. the rack handles to make it fit in a case are out of stock and imo too expensive ($40?).

 

also decided against using it with a power conditioner because of the circuitry.

 

I got this email from jason, the gk sales rep, that helped me to come to that decision:

Yes, there is a limiting circuit that keeps the unit from drawing too much current from the wall outlet. All digital amplifiers have a current limitation because they draw the current from the outlet, unlike an analog amp that uses a transformer. The circuit we use allows the transient response to not be effected at higher volumes while still allowing the amp to function with the current that is available from the wall.

 

Also, if the amp senses a fault it will mute itself and the power button will turn red.

For now, I carry it around in one of those free bags that you get when you go to random conferences with a 40' (overkill?) extension cord and a speakon.

 

I'm glad that it is small enough to never have to leave my sight when i'm on gigs with mixed crowds. Because of its size it is easily stolen and concealed under a shirt.

 

i've played the bitter end (a venue over here in nyc) a few times and i've always been a little nervous about leaving my equipment in the back room with a bunch of stuff from other bands.

[LLroomtempJ]

had minor problems with the direct out. It works, but it was introducing a weird high frequency cycling sound into the system at the church 2 weeks ago. Everyone could hear it.

 

Sent the unit back to the factory.

 

Awaiting a replacement unit. The sales and factory guys have been nice.

 

I had to use my gk rbp 2001 + crown for my christmas gig and i'm expecting to have to use them for my new years eve and new years day gigs. It's good to have gigs.

 

The christmas day gig was awesome. Christmas cantata - 80 person choir, nice arrangement - nice overall christmas day service. Good times. Happy Holidays to all.

 

jason

[Mark Schmieder]

I did a shootout today of this head vs. the Genz Benz Shuttle and Streamliner heads, an Orange Bass Terror (1000 watts), Aguilar DB750, Aguilar ToneHammer, Mesa Walkabout, and one other that I've forgotten. The GK was the first to get knocked off the list; it has a very specific sound that I couldn't coax into transparency or even into vintage territory. Some love the GK sound, but I had been led to believe this series was a departure for them, so was surprised. It's good for what it is though.

 

I found both Genz Benz heads easier to dial in, with the Streamliner being the most transparent yet also the most capable of SVT territory. Orange is nice but limited in its palette (no pun intended). The Aguilar units seemed two dimensional (surprisingly) and biased but good for what they are (almost in Eden territory). Mesa Walkabout wins the day as the most versatile and also the easiest to push into SVT duties. Luckily I have a line on a used one for $700. :-)

 

Given that the GB and GK heads are about the same price, I would have to unconditionally recommend the GB due to more versatility, better construction and customer support, and even more headroom. But of course if someone wants that specific GK sound, the GK is the way to go.

 

I hope those that had problems with their units were able to get the help they needed from GK support. GK is still a better choice than most else on the market; I am comparing them above to some fairly elite brands.