Amp for school

6bassist9 · #1 07-07-2011, 10:10 PM

What my school has for amp equipment is completely insufficient for our current needs. I am the bassist for all the schools band functions, this entitles marching band, jazz band, and off gigs that my band teacher runs into every now and then that he asks me to play at. I have to talk him into a new set up that will get me through all that, last a while, and stay within reason as far as price (bout a grand). Everything i receive for response will be discussed between me and my band director.

**B-string** · #2 07-07-2011, 10:23 PM

G-K MB212 Light so easy to transport, won't break the budget and sounds great. 500 watts into two NEO 12".

The1bassist06 · #3 07-07-2011, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

G-K MB212 Light so easy to transport, won't break the budget and sounds great. 500 watts into two NEO 12".

I couldn't agree more.

6bassist9 · #4 07-07-2011, 10:33 PM

Ok the bass I'd b using is a 5 string, will the 12 inch speakers limit my bottom end as opposed to 15 inch?

**B-string** · #5 07-07-2011, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6bassist9

Ok the bass I'd b using is a 5 string, will the 12 inch speakers limit my bottom end as opposed to 15 inch?

In a word no. I play a 5 string through the G-K Fusion 550 and NEO 412 cab. It handles it better than my old 15's did and just as well as my newer Eminence 3015's.
(And I love my low B)

6bassist9 · #6 07-07-2011, 11:31 PM

Works for me, how well do they hold up over time? The one that I get is gonna take some punishment, not as far as like throwing it around but it'll b in Florida heat and cold ALOT! I'm talkin during band camp 8 hours a day for a month of the summer then everyday after school until December. But in the January through July months it'll have a break cause marching season will be over, but still have jazz and such things to keep up with.

droo46 · #7 07-07-2011, 11:34 PM

+1 to everything that's been said about the GK MB212. As far as durability goes, many feel like the lightweight cab feels fragile but I have yet to hear of anyone who has broken it. I can't imagine it's any more or less susceptible to weather than any other amp.

6bassist9 · #8 07-07-2011, 11:38 PM

Alright I think I got what I need to kno. Hey B mind if I pm u with any Qs I may have later on?

CamMcIntyre · #9 07-08-2011, 09:30 PM

I agree about the GK212. I haven't played one, but have read lots of good stuff about them.

I used an SWR WM12 for college, and one of my regular gigs has a backlined SWR WM15.

In high school, I took the other extreme. I played through a half stack (rack + 2X12). I did everything we had, marching band (requirement for our contests was that there was power on the field), jazz band, two show choir bands, pep/basketball band, concert band, as well as got hired to play for local churches. The 2X12 will be enough power for marching band, yet not be overbearing in jazz band or other indoor settings.

The hottest gig I played was about 95 degrees on black top, the coldest was a big band gig where it started to snow...and we were outside.

If you have any questions about playing all the bands, gear specific to that setting, etc-feel free to email me.

**B-string** · #10 07-08-2011, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6bassist9

Alright I think I got what I need to kno. Hey B mind if I pm u with any Qs I may have later on?

Feel free to!

RedLeg · #11 07-08-2011, 10:18 PM

GK is great, but I am inclined to say PJB suitcase.

PotsdamBass8 · #12 07-08-2011, 10:34 PM

I would be more inclined to go for more reliability and plug-and-play than the GK. There's a reason why you see a lot of peavey and crate 15 inch combo amps in schools, it's because they last and can easily put out a strong bass sound.

Remember that when a school is buying equipment, they're buying for all of the students who will use it, not just the current ones. The next student(s) might not be as careful with the amp as you are.

jungleheat · #13 07-09-2011, 12:37 AM

Getting crappy stuff because nice stuff MIGHT break is the stupidest idea ever. I mean, yeah, you don't want to buy a Ferrari 430 as a driver's ed car, but if anything, I'd trust the reliability and durability of "we make bass amps" GK over "we make anything we think we can build for cheap and sell at a profit, even if it is usually pretty decent" Peavey and Crate. And would there even be an appreciable price difference anyway? Unless you're comparing a brand new GK to a 30 yo POS TKO or something, I doubt it.

And no, the reason you see a lot of Peavey and Crate stuff in schools is that it's cheap, and schools are notoriously shortsighted when it comes to $$$ and only see the number on the CURRENT invoice, and don't think about the future costs, the benefit of students having nice gear to use (which is especially important to keep young beginning musicians inspired and interested in playing at all), etc... Sure, a Crate or Peavey will make the bass "loud" (enough) but almost invariably it will likely be missing all the tone and magic that keeps people playing music in the first place.

Imagine you're just starting to play or have played less than a couple years and somehow you're given access to an SVT stack and a vintage J to play. Are you going to want to play whenever you can? Now imagine instead of that sweet gear, you have a Fender Squier 15 guitar practice amp and an Encore bass made in Malaysia or something by people who make 17 cents an hour. Now how is your relationship with your instrument?

**B-string** · #14 07-09-2011, 11:58 AM

^ good points made here!

PotsdamBass8 · #15 07-09-2011, 12:18 PM

I currently own a GK amp, I know their stuff is good. I'm not saying it isn't reliable, I think that model is relatively new and we don't know how well it's going to hold up down the line.

I'm also a school music teacher, so I know that when I order equipment, it has to be reliable and last. Of course I want all of my students playing the best equipment they can, but you have to understand that all it takes is one student who handles it the wrong way and it's broken. Getting equipment repaired takes time and money that some schools don't have a budget for, and that means that there are kids not playing. Kids at every age level can break something, it's not necessarily their fault, they might not know any better.

So when I purchase equipment, my priority is that it will work for a long time. I want the best tone I can get within reason, but unfortunately tone will have to take a backseat because it doesn't matter how great something sounds if it can't turn on and it'll take 2 weeks to get a purchase order to repair it.

**B-string** · #16 07-09-2011, 12:30 PM

You take that chance no matter what you buy. Moot unless you buy Behringer, then you know it stands a good chance of failure.

Marko5657 · #17 07-09-2011, 01:06 PM

I don’t own a GK combo, but an MB500 head and 212MBE cab. I’ve had bad experience with the cab; it’s just not built for being pushed, at least volume-wise.

Mine is a vibrating rattle trap now. I plan to brace it up and make it usable again, but to me the MB line are not for being pushed.

I’ll repost this deal, and I suggest you do a little search; I think you’ll be impressed.

TC BG500 at GC $349 !

**B-string** · #18 07-09-2011, 01:24 PM

Zero troubles with my NEO 412. Is there a reason you are pimping the TC? Have you contacted brian@gallien.com (or G-K in any way) about your cab troubles to see if they can help resolve the issue?

Marko5657 · #19 07-09-2011, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Zero troubles with my NEO 412. Is there a reason you are pimping the TC? Have you contacted brian@gallien.com (or G-K in any way) about your cab troubles to see if they can help resolve the issue?

Just sharing a good experience.

I don’t have anything against GK except that this guy wants something rugged, and as good as the MBs are, I don’t think they’re rugged, and I think I’m allowed to share my experience and opinions, and express them as such.

**B-string** · #20 07-09-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marko5657

Just sharing a good experience.

I don’t have anything against GK except that this guy wants something rugged, and as good as the MGs are, I don’t think they’re rugged, and I think I’m allowed to share my experience and opinions, and express them as such.

No problem but you should contact G-K about your cab troubles!