New MB200 Arrives!!!

Tommy Huff · Post by **Tommy Huff** » 3 Nov 2010 2:24 pm

thanx Roger for the nice comment. Yes, I did the rack ears. and the ears will work on the mb-500 it has the same bolt pattern......Tommy

George Macdonald · Post by **George Macdonald** » 5 Nov 2010 1:07 pm

I sent my first MB200 back because it had a hum that was annoying here at home. [and it isn't my house wiring] I phoned GK today to find out if this was normal for the amp or was there a problem. I was told that there are a few units out there that have a wire inside that is routed too close to another component, causing the hum. They should be completely silent. He said it is an easy fix for a qualified amp repairman and it is covered under waranty. Just have the repairman call GK at 209 234 7300 ext. 116 for instructions. I did order another one today and look forward to playing it through my very nice Tommy Huff cab.

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 6 Nov 2010 9:32 pm

Tom Wolverton wrote:GK support staff tell me that the MB200 amp is not supposed to work with ungrounded AC. I guess I am out of luck. I can't be certain that every gig will have clean, grounded power. That ratty buzz is not nice, so it's back to my larger and heavier Peavey and Fender amps. Darn.

Tom, I found the same problem as you in my older home. I found that if you turn on the -10 DB switch, that annoying noise goes away. Besides with the power this amp has, only a deaf man would operate it with peak efficiency anyway. I just obtained the amp on Wednesday, and I am really impressed with the sound. I use a Black Box with the amp, and I have the best tone I have ever been able to extract from an amplifier. I wish it had an effects loop however.

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 7 Nov 2010 10:50 pm

Yes. GK took my amp and reworked it. It is much better now and I am gigging with it now quite a bit. I'll try the pad trick and see how quiet it really gets. It's nice to have a head the fits inside my SteelSeat.

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 20 Nov 2010 3:55 pm

I found something that works easy as a cheapo gig bag for the GK MB200.....a lunch bag from Crate and Barrel

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/search.aspx?query=671-358

$10. not bad.

George Macdonald · Post by **George Macdonald** » 23 Nov 2010 6:25 pm

Got my second MB200 today. [ The first one hummed ] This one is silent and sounds just great through my Tommy Huff cab with a 15" Sica speaker. This set up sounds as good or better than anything I've had in the last 40 years including various Peavey amps and a Fender Steel King. And it only weighs 22 pounds with cab and amp. The amp is only $250.00, and is 200 watts, and the cabs are very reasonable from Tommy Huff, and they look great.

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 23 Nov 2010 8:44 pm

I'm going for the mb 500 black friday, guitar center in Indy is suppose to be having a good sale, do'nt know how true it is but i heard 20% off on every thing, may be hog wash do'nt know yet, but i do have a coupon for 15% off at least that will help.

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 24 Nov 2010 8:08 am

Wow, 500 watts would fill up any venue you could imagine. I think 200 watts will fill up anything our band plays. I'll have to check out the Guitar Center sale!

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 24 Nov 2010 10:21 am

The MB-500 is a little monster of an amp!

Not only the power, but the two speaker outs, effects loop, dedicated tuner out, and master control differentiate this one from the MB-200.

http://www.gallien-krueger.com/productm ... MANUAL.pdf

Killer lead guitar amp also!

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 24 Nov 2010 10:32 am

Steve, had you had any instances where you wish you had gone to the 500?

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 24 Nov 2010 10:37 am

No Roger,

My intention all along was to have two MB-200's to use in stereo.

I can always take one for smaller jobs, but I really like the stereo spread and extra power, when feasible.

Also, I always like the security of having one as a backup.

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 24 Nov 2010 1:33 pm

Steve, how about a picture of the inside showing how you mounted th MB200???

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 24 Nov 2010 1:44 pm

oops...

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 24 Nov 2010 1:48 pm

This is the only pic I have of my current box. The MB-200 is mounted using a single 1/2" L-bracket at the rear on each side, screwed into the top. There are several tapped holes on the sides available for use. The amp loads from the rear into the tight rectangular cavity on the speaker baffle. Removes easily and a very secure mount. I did remove the feet, however it wasn't really necessary. The carpeting wraps into the cavity and protects the chassis from being scratched or marred.

Since this is the same 15.5"x15.5"x9" cabinet, I had to front-load the speaker in order to have enough room to mount the amp. Also the speaker is mounted as low in the cabinet as possible.

I relocated the handle to the top after seeing that it was wide enough to span the amp for mounting.

rpetersen · Post by **rpetersen** » 30 Nov 2010 5:12 am

I bought the 200 recently - That is a very impressive little amp - Really is voiced nice for steel!!

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 2 Dec 2010 8:43 am

Received my 500 yesterday and it sounds realy good running thru 2 12" delta pros. Still checking out the EQs to find out how to get the best sound but all is good so far. With the 8ohm speakers it's running about 185w a side according to the specs so i'm going to try some neo speakers to liten up the load, hope all goes well cause this was my main objective anyway, liter and fewer

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 2 Dec 2010 9:59 am

Roger - Can't you wire those 2 8-ohm speakers so you get 4 ohms?

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 2 Dec 2010 4:12 pm

I don't know Tom, it says you can only run one 4ohm or 2 8ohm and I don't know enough about doing all that and I'm afraid of messing up the amp.

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 3 Dec 2010 9:28 am

Do any of you guys that has one of these amps experience any white noise, or know what causes white noise?

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 3 Dec 2010 11:05 am

My MB200 has a tiny amount of hiss. It's about what my Peavey amp puts out. Not bad at all and I don't usually notice it. Certainly not at a gig.

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 3 Dec 2010 3:51 pm

I run the pre up and the master down and that gets rid of 50% of it, i geuss it could just be something in the house wiring

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 3 Dec 2010 5:45 pm

Roger,

Try setting them both the same, such as at 9 o'clock and see what happens.

I'll look at Chuck's tonight and see where he sets his for guitar, and ask him how he sets it for steel.

The MB200's don't have the Master, just the Gain control.

I rarely need to turn my 200 gain up to 12 o'clock at our loudest gigs.

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 4 Dec 2010 12:09 am

I played an outdoor gig tonight with the amp mic'ed and I ran it up to 11 o'clock. It sounded great with a PV 12 BW.

Steve English · Post by **Steve English** » 4 Dec 2010 10:04 am

We played a medium size venue last night and were fairly punchy on stage

. Chuch had his MB5000 Master set at 3 o'clock and his Gain just under 9 o'clock and his tone was killer.

Dan Hunter sat in for a set on my Rittenberry and MB200 rig (thanks Dan!). It was the first time I heard my setup from the audience and I was extremely happy with the sound!! I mean extremely happy!

The Rittenberry had the most beautiful tone and the MB200 injected it faithfully in every spot of the room. Just as clear and pure as I could've ever hoped for. What a confidence boost!!

My EQ settings were all straight up 12o'clock with just a smidgen of low bass, Gain at 10-11 o'clock.

I love my Ritt!! And now am even more totally sold on the MB series.

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 4 Dec 2010 10:55 am

Thats great to hear Steve, i was wondering how it would sound out front of the stage. I do'nt know when i'll get a chance to play out, our band has'nt played for about 5 Months now and do'nt know when we will.
I'm going to build a couple cabs out of pine and 1/2 birch ply wood with some neo speakers and hope it sounds ok when i do get to play.

The Steel Guitar Forum

New MB200 Arrives!!!

rack ears

MB200 hum

Mb200

four ohms

hiss = white noise?