General
The Gallien-Krueger MB500 is the heavier, more elaborate brother of the MB200. Not only does it have more power (500 watts), it also boasts several other practical extras. For instance, this mini bass amplifier head features an additional boost channel with separate volume control that you can activate with the included foot switch. On the back, there's an extra FX loop as well as a second speaker output. Despite its amplifying prowess, the MB500 is ultra compact and weighs just 3.7 pounds.
Many faces of the Gallien-Krueger MB500
Despite its modest size, the MB500 offers a lot of options with which to conjure up a plethora of bass sounds. First and foremost, there's Gallien-Krueger's famous active 4-band EQ, plus an adjustable contour to scoop the mids while boosting the bass and treble. The boost channel is driven by GK's G.I.V.E. technology, for a delightful grunt, and it has its own volume control (Master-B) so that you can optimally adjust the levels of both channels. Additionally, there's a selectable limiter for when you really want to move all the air in the room.
DI output, FX loop and more
On the back of the amp is Gallien-Krueger's high-end DI output with ground lift and pre/post switch. Next to the foot switch input is the tuner out and the FX loop that allows you to add your favourite external effects to the signal. What's more, the MB500 is equipped with a headphone output that you can also use as a line-out or chain-out to connect it to an MB-powered speaker cabinet or heavier power amp. Lastly, there are two speaker outputs (1x 4 ohms or 2x 8 ohms) that can be used for both jack and SpeakOn connectors.
