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Author Topic:  GK MB500 amp question
Dick Wood


From:
Springtown Texas, USA
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2016 5:50 am    
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I've noticed some of you using the MB500 for steel. I have a Nashville 1000 cabinet that has a dead Preamp. It's been back to Peavey a couple of times and dies after only a few gigs and I'd like to do something different.

Do any of you have a sound clips/videos using this amp or even the MB200?

Thanks
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Tom Wolverton


From:
Carpinteria, CA
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2016 9:20 am    
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This might not help, but here's an MB200 into a 12" BW speaker. It's with a lap steel and Earth Drive

https://youtu.be/ZH0OXnEk-Es
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Dick Wood


From:
Springtown Texas, USA
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2016 10:44 am    
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That was cool but I'm looking for something with more traditional pedal steel fills so I can hear the highs mids lows etc.

Nice playing BTW.

Thanks
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Bill Terry


From:
Bastrop, TX
Post  Posted 6 Aug 2016 7:31 am    
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Sorry to hijack the thread Dicky, but I've been kinda itchy to try something different myself. I'm 100% happy with my choice of amps, but I've never tried the head + speaker thing so thought I might give it a go.

I've been looking at this, seems to be pretty popular with steel players:
http://carvinaudio.com/collections/bx-series-bass-amplifiers/products/BX700?gclid=CJif7NCNrc4CFQgxaQod2R0CVA

I may pull the trigger, or possibly the BX500 which seems to be 'last years model', but basically the same amp. Anybody got any feedback on those?
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David Cook

 

From:
Florida, USA
Post  Posted 6 Aug 2016 9:09 am    
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My BX500 crapped out one me last night at a big outdoor gig. 13 months old. I really liked the functions and sound but I was SO mad.
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Mike Spaeth

 

From:
Springdale, Arkansas
Post  Posted 7 Aug 2016 5:22 pm     Mb200
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Here's my MB200 through a 15" Sica neo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdchBwzSezY














'
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Dick Wood


From:
Springtown Texas, USA
Post  Posted 8 Aug 2016 11:26 am    
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Thank you very much for that clip Mike.

I've been looking at some reviews on Youtube and two things kinda bother me.

First,I see that some people have had these amps die after a short time.

Secondly,some have commented saying they get distortion if they go past about 10 o'clock which may be loud as hell but I can't tell because all the video's seem to be at relatively low volume.
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Mike Spaeth

 

From:
Springdale, Arkansas
Post  Posted 8 Aug 2016 4:03 pm     Mb200
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Dick I have had mine over 4 years now. It is in use nearly every weekend and a lot of our gigs are outside. Outside I have the volume at 3 O'Clock and have never had it break up. I wonder if they are using speakers made to handle the 200 watts? If I remember correctly, It seems like my 15" Sica is rated for 300 watts
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Dick Wood


From:
Springtown Texas, USA
Post  Posted 9 Aug 2016 11:20 am    
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The videos are not real clear as they are demoing the MB500 and simply make the comment about if you go past around 11 o'clock you get distortion so keep it around 10 and it sounds fine. To me that sounded like they were describing preamp distortion and not speaker but again it's not clear.
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Len Amaral

 

From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
Post  Posted 10 Aug 2016 4:26 am    
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Also might mention that my MB500 has Speakon speaker jacks and you will need an adapter from Speakon to 1/4 inch Jack to go into a standard speaker cab. No big deal. My unit is about 3 years old so the newer models may be differerent. I keep my head in a laptop computer bag with several of these speaker jacks.
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Dick Wood


From:
Springtown Texas, USA
Post  Posted 10 Aug 2016 5:36 am    
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Len,If I get it, I plan on mounting it in my Nashville 1000 and make some kind of plate to cover the rest of the hole where the original preamp went.
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Len Amaral

 

From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
Post  Posted 10 Aug 2016 6:36 am    
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You may want to get a right angle Speakon adapter so the speaker cable goes down to the speaker creating less stress if you mount it in the Nashville 1000 cab.look into a mounting rack tray to secure the MB500 and then mount the tray to the cab. Depends how neat you want it to look but you want the amp secure if you move it around.
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John Sluszny

 

From:
Brussels, Belgium
Post  Posted 10 Aug 2016 10:37 am    
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Mike,it sounds real good ! But what's that little box next to your amp ? Thanks.
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Mike Spaeth

 

From:
Springdale, Arkansas
Post  Posted 10 Aug 2016 6:43 pm     re
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John, the other box was a Boss RV3 reverb/delay pedal
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Danny Naccarato


From:
Burleson, Texas
Post  Posted 10 Sep 2016 10:16 am    
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I've been using mb500 locally for a couple years. They're great. Used it a couple of times with Gene as well. You can buy a set of ears for mounting in a rack. Better yet though, it'll fit in you pacseat!!!
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Ace Moss


From:
Texas, USA
Post  Posted 2 Dec 2016 7:14 pm    
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Hey Dick this JD. Danny has a MB500 & it sounded great. He and i both are having Tommy Huff build us cabinets to make it into a combo amp now.
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Carl Mesrobian


From:
Salem, Massachusetts, USA
Post  Posted 3 Dec 2016 10:32 am    
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Len Amaral wrote:
Also might mention that my MB500 has Speakon speaker jacks and you will need an adapter from Speakon to 1/4 inch Jack to go into a standard speaker cab. No big deal. My unit is about 3 years old so the newer models may be differerent. I keep my head in a laptop computer bag with several of these speaker jacks.


It doesn't look like this?? This takes both..



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Gaylon Mathews


From:
Jasper, Georgia
Post  Posted 9 Dec 2016 8:46 am    
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Carl, This is like mine, it takes both but the newer models only do speakon and you need the adapter.
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Carl Mesrobian


From:
Salem, Massachusetts, USA
Post  Posted 9 Dec 2016 9:46 am    
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In this case it pays to be old school Smile
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Gaylon Mathews


From:
Jasper, Georgia
Post  Posted 9 Dec 2016 10:40 am    
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I'm always good with old school!
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Jonathan Mitguard


From:
San Rafael, California, USA
Post  Posted 11 Dec 2016 4:41 pm    
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I made this clip with a GK MB 500 Hybrid running a JBL K-140. It is a decent amp and I always carry it with me as a back up since it weighs only 4 pounds. I was not satisfied and currently loving the tone from a FYD octal preamp to a Peavey tube amp to the JBL. So the tone quest has me carrying 40+ extra pounds but it is worth it for now.

That said you could get a MB 500 and if you don't exactly like it you can, like me keep it on hand as a very serviceable and light weight back up. Again mine is a hybrid so it has a tube in the preamp section.

https://soundcloud.com/jon-mitguard/kapalua-sunset
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Gaylon Mathews


From:
Jasper, Georgia
Post  Posted 16 Dec 2016 5:56 pm    
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The steel in this video promo was played through my MB500

https://youtu.be/TkX6O3FJMdA
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