Took delivery of one of these GK MB500 "microbass" heads recently and thought I'd tell you a little more about it. I currently have an Eden WT550, Genz-Benz Shuttle 9 and an Ibanez Promethean P500H; so I compared the GK against these.
It is smaller than a telephone directory...and weights less as well! To be exact 280 x 225 x 1U and at a mere 1,7kg the lightest bass amp I have handled. The output is 500watts @ 4 ohms and the amp certainly lives up to this spec...it is seriously loud compared to my other Class-D amps. It gives a respectable 350watts into 8ohms and will certainly drive any cab comfortably. Compared to my other amps the GK is by far more trebly and slightly less bassy, but cutting the tops somewhat does not seriously affect the amp's output volume. It also has a second "Boost" via G.I.V.E. control which kicks some grunt into action for serious rock sounds.
The amp has all the usual in and outputs and obviously speakon jacks for the speaker outputs which I feel should by now be standard on high power units. There's also a contour control for generating instant settings more suitable for slapping, and the usual Treble, Hi Mid, Lo Mid and Bass controls.
The only negative I picked up was that the amp produces some hiss - especially when the cabs have the horn turned on full. Not too serious in live situations though.
I love this little amp, and in live situations it comes across crystal clear no matter what size of speakers used. I used it with my Promethean 2x10 and I quickly realized why the GK amps and their associated sound is so popular abroad.
So if you are in the market for a lightweight amp, give the GK a try. It is worth every penny spent and soon that syndrome of bigger is better or rather louder will be something of the past.
http://www.gallien-krueger.com/products_mb.html
It is smaller than a telephone directory...and weights less as well! To be exact 280 x 225 x 1U and at a mere 1,7kg the lightest bass amp I have handled. The output is 500watts @ 4 ohms and the amp certainly lives up to this spec...it is seriously loud compared to my other Class-D amps. It gives a respectable 350watts into 8ohms and will certainly drive any cab comfortably. Compared to my other amps the GK is by far more trebly and slightly less bassy, but cutting the tops somewhat does not seriously affect the amp's output volume. It also has a second "Boost" via G.I.V.E. control which kicks some grunt into action for serious rock sounds.
The amp has all the usual in and outputs and obviously speakon jacks for the speaker outputs which I feel should by now be standard on high power units. There's also a contour control for generating instant settings more suitable for slapping, and the usual Treble, Hi Mid, Lo Mid and Bass controls.
The only negative I picked up was that the amp produces some hiss - especially when the cabs have the horn turned on full. Not too serious in live situations though.
I love this little amp, and in live situations it comes across crystal clear no matter what size of speakers used. I used it with my Promethean 2x10 and I quickly realized why the GK amps and their associated sound is so popular abroad.
So if you are in the market for a lightweight amp, give the GK a try. It is worth every penny spent and soon that syndrome of bigger is better or rather louder will be something of the past.
http://www.gallien-krueger.com/products_mb.html
