FuNkShUi Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 So...Im looking at the GK heads. Ive settled on the MB800. But i dont know whether to pay the extra £200 odd to get the MB800 fusion. Whats the difference? I know the fusion has a 3 tube pre amp, but whats the difference in sound/playability/use? Whats your experiences? Worth the extra? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanditSid Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 I've never played a Fusion 800 so I would be interested to hear the replies you get, I like the extra push button tone variations it offers over the regular MB800. I do use an MB800 twice a week for club and pub gigs and it does the job really well, I can get a wide range of sounds from it and it is extremely loud. It always feels cool to the touch, no matter how hard I drive it. All in all a great bit of kit and highly recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuNkShUi Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 Yeh i have a mate who has the MB800, and it sounds great. I just want to find out if theres enough "extra" in the fusion version, to warrant the extra money. We shall see...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 I had the MB500, then the MB Fusion 500. Soloed they didn`t sound that much different, though the regular MB500 was crisper. However in the mix, the Fusion had much more depth and warmth to it, and you can coax some real old-school motown sounds from it. Flip-side, the MB500 could, in my view, achieve much more of the famed GK crispness. I`ve read on Talkbass that the MB Fusion is the least GK-sounding amp that GK make. I think that`s a good description, but in no way a criticism. Each can get near the other, but they can`t, again in my view, replicate each other entirely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuNkShUi Posted June 20, 2014 Author Share Posted June 20, 2014 If you had the choice again Lozz, what would you opt for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 (edited) Get the 500 Fusion instead. You won't need any more power - it's [i]very [/i]loud. I'm using mine with a Barefaced Big One (8 ohms) in a rock band and never have the master further than 10 o'clock at the very most. If you used it with two 8 ohm cabs I can't think of a situation where you'd need more beans. I also used it with a 4 ohm Schroeder 1212L and it was just immense. [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1403250247' post='2481063'] I`ve read on Talkbass that the MB Fusion is the least GK-sounding amp that GK make. I think that`s a good description, but in no way a criticism. Each can get near the other, but they can`t, again in my view, replicate each other entirely. [/quote] +1 It will do the GK sound if you want it to but also [i]much [/i]more besides. You can make it sound very hefty and warm, (almost) like a large valve amp. You won't need any preamps or pedals either, it's plug and play - the core tones available are quite amazing. Mine's not going anywhere. Edited June 20, 2014 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirky Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 I ditto what discreet says. I play mine through 2x Compacts and it does a great range of sounds at all the volume I will ever need. I've never tried the non-Fusion version so can't help answer your question though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 [quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1403250621' post='2481068'] If you had the choice again Lozz, what would you opt for? [/quote] It would have to the MB Fusion. From what I experienced, you can thin down the sound of the MB Fusion (if wanting traditional crisp GK) with the on-board eq much easier than you can fatten up the sound of the regular MB, if wanting old-school vibes. And echoing Discreet and Kirky (who has my old MB Fusion) the 500 is incredibly loud. Witha 4ohm Schroeder 4 on volume decimated the rest of the band and it had more to give. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 Get the Fusion, cracking amp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuNkShUi Posted June 21, 2014 Author Share Posted June 21, 2014 Settled thenn. Cheers gents! Now, to find one!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 I'd opt for the MB800. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 [quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1403336046' post='2481879'] Settled thenn. Cheers gents! Now, to find one!! [/quote] I've had a thread running about replacing my MB F1 head. Both Lozz and Discreet have practically convinced me to get the 500 fusion as well. Hopefully going to order it this week from Thomanns for £555. I was considering the 800 version but after reading the comments here I think 500 is enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AttitudeCastle Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1403250247' post='2481063'] I had the MB500, then the MB Fusion 500. Soloed they didn`t sound that much different, though the regular MB500 was crisper. However in the mix, the Fusion had much more depth and warmth to it, and you can coax some real old-school motown sounds from it. Flip-side, the MB500 could, in my view, achieve much more of the famed GK crispness. I`ve read on Talkbass that the MB Fusion is the least GK-sounding amp that GK make. I think that`s a good description, but in no way a criticism. Each can get near the other, but they can`t, again in my view, replicate each other entirely. [/quote] Any difference in the "growl potential"? Thinking of getting an MB500 or a fusion and looking for as much of the Growl as I can muster! Thinking possibly the MB500 as that crispness and tightness in the lows may be beneficial for lower faster player etc. A friend of mine has the MB500 and plays a warwick thumb through it and boy does it sound awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 (edited) [quote name='AttitudeCastle' timestamp='1403519738' post='2483408'] Any difference in the "growl potential"? Thinking of getting an MB500 or a fusion and looking for as much of the Growl as I can muster! Thinking possibly the MB500 as that crispness and tightness in the lows may be beneficial for lower faster player etc. [/quote] The Fusion 'growl' is awesome. There is a switchable 'Presence' filter on board (plus a Countour [mid-scoop] control that can be switched in at 500 or 800Hz and a 'Deep' filter) that makes any bass growl and then some. The (active) 4-band EQ on the Fusion is superb and is particularly extensive in the mids - which is growl country, as we know. Don't worry about the low-end, though - the Fusion is taut in the bottom. Missus. Edited June 23, 2014 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 [quote name='AttitudeCastle' timestamp='1403519738' post='2483408'] Any difference in the "growl potential"? Thinking of getting an MB500 or a fusion and looking for as much of the Growl as I can muster! Thinking possibly the MB500 as that crispness and tightness in the lows may be beneficial for lower faster player etc. A friend of mine has the MB500 and plays a warwick thumb through it and boy does it sound awesome! [/quote] The MB Fusion has no problem with crispness or tightness in the lows, I'd always plump for that over the MB500 as I think it offer more tonal options and of course valvey goodness. And yes I have gigged both Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted June 23, 2014 Share Posted June 23, 2014 I've got a GK MB200 and I don't half like the tone, plus for the size of it, it's f***-loud. I've been thinking about a 500 however I really like the look of the 550. Any players of that here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damonjames Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 I have wondered this myself, there doesn't really seen to be many good reviews on the gk stuff online. From what I have heard, the fusion still seem to have the classic GK sound, but with a slightly warmer sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 (edited) This helped me make my decision. Though appraisal of gear on YouTube is of limited use - you really need to try before you buy. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzfSyJ8g658[/media] Edited June 29, 2014 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 That was the video that sold me on getting one....only didn't, but i almost did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 [quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1404044396' post='2488704'] That was the video that sold me on getting one....only didn't, but i almost did. [/quote] I think if our Norm had had the Fusion plugged into a Schroeder cab it might have been different... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuNkShUi Posted June 29, 2014 Author Share Posted June 29, 2014 Ended up getting a bx700. Haven't used it in practice yet, but sounds great great coming through my big twin T. Can't wait to gig it now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pslh Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 I would be very interested to hear how you get on with the bx700. Cheers, Paul [quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1404046592' post='2488727'] Ended up getting a bx700. Haven't used it in practice yet, but sounds great great coming through my big twin T. Can't wait to gig it now [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1404045148' post='2488709'] I think if our Norm had had the Fusion plugged into a Schroeder cab it might have been different... [/quote] Haha, possibly but an amp change scared me so I went for the softer option this time. You never know though, if I was to get a new head this amp would be the only runner. Really love the tones from what I've heard on line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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