fell in love with GK amps!

ghostjs · #1 06-01-2010, 09:45 AM

played several at GC and i loved its tone. im saving up for a good full stack rig and i was thinking about getting a MB500. does anyone have a good combination of GK cabs i can get with it?

ghostjs · #2 06-01-2010, 09:47 AM

im very new to buying amp stacks so i really dont know what combo will make sure im getting the most out of the head i want. i was thinking of getting the 410mbx and 210mbx but id like to know options

jelwood · #3 06-01-2010, 09:52 AM

Have you tried their full-size (non MB series) heads with the HMS (horn management system)? I'm talking about the 700, 1001, and 2001rb heads. Those are a great way to make enemies with your neighbors. Also, with those heads your range of cabinets, or rather, cabinets you can make the most of, are extended. Try something like a 700rb-II with a Neo 212 and see what you get. You will be very happy!

NicJimBass · #4 06-01-2010, 09:55 AM

until recently, I've been using a Neo 212-II with an MB2-500... great tone, and loud! I've run several variations of GK gear, and that was one of my faves. Recently went down to a 700RB/210 combo, and love it.

FWIW, I A/B'd the MB2 with my (then) Fusion 550... driving the same cabs, the tone was nearly identical, and the MB2 kept up with the Fusion, volume-wise. Very good head, but then again, anything GK makes is great, IMO.

ghostjs · #5 06-01-2010, 01:30 PM

thanks for the info guys! im getting a MB500 and most likely 115mbx and 410mbx. im on a budget and those seem like reasonable cabs unless i can find a used neo 410 or something lighter

ghostjs · #6 06-01-2010, 01:31 PM

i must mention i play mainly funk, punk and hard rock. not a lot of jazz or smooth stuff, so i dont know if the Neo cabs are worth the money for me

Breslin dp · #7 06-01-2010, 01:39 PM

The GK Neo cabs are great for the styles of music that you mentioned. I use a GK 2001rb with a Neo 410 and I play punk,rock and metal. I also play covers songs from bands like Fishbone, RHCP and many others. You can't go wrong with the Neo cabs.

jtc_hunter · #8 06-01-2010, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostjs

thanks for the info guys! im getting a MB500 and most likely 115mbx and 410mbx. im on a budget and those seem like reasonable cabs unless i can find a used neo 410 or something lighter

I have the MB-500 and love it. I think you will be very happy with the setup you are considering.

ghostjs · #9 06-01-2010, 02:42 PM

hmm. i'm looking at the Neo cabs and they're getting costly. especially when i want to only spend around $1000 on my rig... i might just stick with the MBX series cabs seeing how they're cheaper and a teeny bit lighter

ghostjs · #10 06-01-2010, 08:33 PM

700RB or MB500? any thoughts and what exactly are the differences besides the size and a bit of the volume? do they sound similar or does one sound different?

jelwood · #11 06-01-2010, 09:52 PM

A/B them at the store and see which one you like more. The horn bi-amp on the 700 is something you should toy around with as well.

bassistloaded21 · #12 06-01-2010, 09:54 PM

Same here. I had an epifani UL502 and UL410. I know have a GK Fusion 550 and a neo 112 and 212. Best rig ive ever owned, as far as tone, for me, blew the epifani tone away, but thats just for my needs. I was previoulsy tryin to get a thick rock tone out of the epifani gear, which i dont think its really meant for. But man, im really happy with my purchase.

ghostjs · #13 06-01-2010, 10:04 PM

i havent had the chance to A/B the mb500 and 700rb, but i played the 700rb and backline 600 and the 700rb blew me away. amazing tone...

ljazz · #14 06-02-2010, 03:32 AM

Get with RMC Audio for a quote...... best deals going on the GK gear. You should be able to land a 700rbII with 212 neo for just under a grand. And then, depending on how loud you're playing, you can add another 212 or even a 112. Get the neos now.... because if you don't, you'll be selling off whatever you buy now to get them later!

As for the difference in the 700 and the mb500...... there is a feeling of more "heft" in the tone of the 700.... a bit more "organic"..... IMHO. I also love the HMS, which is something you won't get with the mb500. Of course, I've been playing my 700rbII for just about 3 years now, and I'm always amazed at how great it is at nailing MY tone. I'm so used to my rig, that dialing in for any stage or room is a snap. There's a lot to be said for knowing your gear. I've thought about going to the MB500, just because of the weight.... but man, the 700 in the shoulder bag is really not that heavy.

georgestrings · #15 06-02-2010, 05:42 AM

Here's another vote for the 700rb-II...

- georgestrings

rojo412 · #16 06-02-2010, 07:28 AM

I have had a 1001, 700, 800, backline 600... just played a borrowed MB2-500. There is no such thing as a BAD GK, trust me! All are great! However, with the amount of beef that the tiny little MB kicked out, if you are looking for a small, superlight amp, get that one. It is killer.
The 700 sounds awesome, 1001 is the same, just more power.

The ones with horn management are cool if you have their cabs, but it is a moot point when you use other cabs, so take that into consideration.

And by the way, what's up with the MB2-500 vs the MB-500? GC and MF have said the MB2 is discontinued and the MB is available... don't know much about the series, but isn't the MB2 the update/newer model?

MysticMichael · #17 06-02-2010, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghostjs

thanks for the info guys! im getting a MB500 and most likely 115mbx and 410mbx. im on a budget and those seem like reasonable cabs unless i can find a used neo 410 or something lighter

Why screw around with mixing driver sizes? For your kind of stuff, just stick with 10s.

Trust me: When you learn more about gear, you'll realize it was the right move...

MM

jtc_hunter · #18 06-02-2010, 08:26 AM

I ran a 700rbII for several years and loved it. But , I sold it to get an MB500. Way lighter, and with some slight EQ'ing I can get the same tone out of it and just as much beef. The G.I.V.E. adjustments on the MB500 also give you some added versatility that the 700rb doesnt have. You cant go wrong with either one, but I dont think the 700rbII has any advantage over the mb500. I have gigged both quite alot.