GK decline in popularity with pros (in rock) and GC?

powellmacaque · #1 08-02-2010, 07:11 AM

It seems to me that GK, for whatever reason, is declining in popularity outside of TB. I never see too many pros in the rock/punk/metal scene playing them, and the guys who are prominent GK rock players have been out of the public eye for a while (Red Hot Chili Peppers have been on hiatus, Avenged Sevenfold has just started again after The Rev passed, Velvet Revolver fell off the face of the earth).

I've also noticed that GK has been almost entirely eliminated from the Guitar Centers that I've been going to for the past few months (Pensacola, Orlando, Tampa). This shocks me since the brand was very popular in the store 2-5 years ago. Think the decline in prominent rock players has anything to do with it?

I know GK is and always will be more popular with the R&B crowd, and I know as far as bass amps go, there will be Ampeg and there will be "everybody else" as far as popularity for rock backlines. But besides Ampeg, I've been seeing quite a bit of Orange, Eden, and Aguilar in backlines.

Any comments on this pattern?

JimmyM · #2 08-02-2010, 07:26 AM

only thing i can think of is that tube amps have made a big comeback lately. but there are still plenty of players using gk in rock.

Sufenta · #3 08-02-2010, 07:33 AM

FWIW, I asked about GK on Friday while at GC and the guy said there has/had been production problems on GK's end, but that they are starting to get more gear from them now, or should be soon.

powellmacaque · #4 08-02-2010, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sufenta

FWIW, I asked about GK on Friday while at GC and the guy said there has/had been production problems on GK's end, but that they are starting to get more gear from them now, or should be soon.

Yea, figures for me. I'm in the market for a new GK head, cab, and combo. Only things left at my GCs are clearance Goldline cabs and an average of one or two 1001RBs

Din Of Win · #5 08-02-2010, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powellmacaque

I never see too many pros in the rock/punk/metal scene playing them

I can speak on the punk side of things...

I play a GK (old 80's 400rb), and at a fest i played in June, there were just as many 800rbs in attendance as there were Ampegs...

Honestly, i've been seeing MORE GKs lately than ever before ("before" being the 15 or so years that i've been in the punk scene).

Especially for punk... the lousy economy has made many bassists i know get rid of high-upkeep ($$$) tube heads and gig more with solid states (tons of 80's Peaveys).

powellmacaque · #6 08-02-2010, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

I can speak on the punk side of things...

I play a GK (old 80's 400rb), and at a fest i played in June, there were just as many 800rbs in attendance as there were Ampegs...

Honestly, i've been seeing MORE GKs lately than ever before ("before" being the 15 or so years that i've been in the punk scene).

Especially for punk... the lousy economy has made many bassists i know get rid of high-upkeep ($$$) tube heads and gig more with solid states (tons of 80's Peaveys).

Maybe it's just my region then. I've played in punk and ska bands all over Florida, and the only solid state stuff I'm seeing a lot of lately has been the Acoustic stuff.

Side note: how do you like your 800rb for punk? Do you use the biamping at all? I have a 700rb, but was thinking about investing in an 800rb and having the 700rb be a backup.

Din Of Win · #7 08-02-2010, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powellmacaque

Maybe it's just my region then. I've played in punk and ska bands all over Florida, and the only solid state stuff I'm seeing a lot of lately has been the Acoustic stuff.

Side note: how do you like your 800rb for punk? Do you use the biamping at all? I have a 700rb, but was thinking about investing in an 800rb and having the 700rb be a backup.

Well, i mainly play out of a 400rb. I don't Bi-amp and i use it through a 70's Ampeg B-25b 2x15... which is MORE than enough, haha.

However, i've borrowed a few of these 800rb's... and i love em.

Again, i haven't used any bi-amped (out of my 2x15 or usually with an 8x10)... so that hasn't been utalized much. In fact, the only time i've seen a 'punk' band bi-amp was a psychobilly band that bi-amped an 800rb with a 4x10 and 1x15 (but it was an upright bass, so it's hard to analyze that sound).

Anywho... i love the GK sound in punk. Moreso than Ampeg these days. At that fest i played, in my opinion, the best bass tone of the entire three days was a dude playing a MM Stingray through an 800rb and Ampeg 8x10.

I'm one of those rare-bird punk bassists that uses fingers moreso than picks, and something about the GK just makes punk + finger-style sound really really good.

(all opinion based)

newwavefrank · #8 08-02-2010, 08:04 AM

My teacher is a GK endorser. I really havent noticed any significant change..

powellmacaque · #9 08-02-2010, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

Well, i mainly play out of a 400rb. I don't Bi-amp and i use it through a 70's Ampeg B-25b 2x15... which is MORE than enough, haha.

However, i've borrowed a few of these 800rb's... and i love em.

Again, i haven't used any bi-amped (out of my 2x15 or usually with an 8x10)... so that hasn't been utalized much. In fact, the only time i've seen a 'punk' band bi-amp was a psychobilly band that bi-amped an 800rb with a 4x10 and 1x15 (but it was an upright bass, so it's hard to analyze that sound).

Anywho... i love the GK sound in punk. Moreso than Ampeg these days. At that fest i played, in my opinion, the best bass tone of the entire three days was a dude playing a MM Stingray through an 800rb and Ampeg 8x10.

I'm one of those rare-bird punk bassists that uses fingers moreso than picks, and something about the GK just makes punk + finger-style sound really really good.

(all opinion based)

Yea same here, although with my current band I do about 60/40 fingers to pick.

I was actually surprised to learn that Jason Black from Hot Water Music used a 700rb to record (at least) one of their albums.

But I do agree with you. I think GK has a pretty gnarly punk tone, but when I was at Warped this past month the only GK I saw was being used as a backup for an SVT.

EDIT: Yea I just reread your post. I read the "80's" part as 800, which caused the 800rb question.

harmendebresser · #10 08-02-2010, 08:08 AM

Weird thing about G.K. is you just don't see it much in stores in Europe... Was asking this guy at a store somewhere in Germany, and he said he'd order it for me but was reluctant because of his experience with G.K.'s customer service. On the other hand, my MB150 has been through hell & back and have never needed to contact them myself so I wouldn't know!

GaryLC · #11 08-02-2010, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

Anywho... i love the GK sound in punk. Moreso than Ampeg these days. At that fest i played, in my opinion, the best bass tone of the entire three days was a dude playing a MM Stingray through an 800rb and Ampeg 8x10.

(all opinion based)

I played a gig 20 years ago that had a stage setup with an Ampeg SVT and matching 8-10" cabinet, and a separate 800RB head sitting there. I ended up using the 800RB head with the 8-10" cab, thought it sounded better than the SVT!

Din Of Win · #12 08-02-2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powellmacaque

Yea same here, although with my current band I do about 60/40 fingers to pick.

I'm WORKING on 100% fingers... but realistically, it's about 80/20 these days.

Quote:

I was actually surprised to learn that Jason Black from Hot Water Music used a 700rb to record (at least) one of their albums.

I never knew that, the one and only time i saw them i was too far away to see what he was playing out of.

Quote:

But I do agree with you. I think GK has a pretty gnarly punk tone, but when I was at Warped this past month the only GK I saw was being used as a backup for an SVT.

The thing to realize in instances like this is, that Fests have weird back-up sittuations and it's pretty hard to analyze the gear being used at them (aside from the basses they play).

powellmacaque · #13 08-02-2010, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Din Of Win

I never knew that, the one and only time i saw them i was too far away to see what he was playing out of.

I guess he used Mesas for a while, but I read an old BP article where it said he played Ampegs, GK, and Mesas on the road and recorded with the 700rb

Wadge · #14 08-02-2010, 08:55 AM

I think GK had a bit of an issue getting their product into stores so that might be a reason but I think they might be back on track now.

I do play a lot of rock but I also play in a big band and in several jazz combos and my 400RB-III has never let me down.

At my local store the big sellers right now are TC Electronics but GK is a close second with Ampeg being a distant third. I do notice that GK don't sell as well although the Neo line is becoming more popular.

powellmacaque · #15 08-02-2010, 10:34 AM

As noted in other threads, I don't think GK is as endorsement trigger-happy as Ampeg, so GK doesn't just give out amps like Ampeg does. Which could also explain less popularity.

DanNowhere · #16 08-02-2010, 11:00 AM

They're not the flavor of the month, but I'm still rockin' my GK stuff. I see a lot more MarkBass in the classifieds and Craigslist these days than anything. I think the fever's wearing off there a little too.

KramerBassFan · #17 08-02-2010, 12:19 PM

GK was recently hit by a large demand for the micro amps, and it has backed up their supply.

At least, i believe i read that from Mr. Gallien on here...

metallicafan18 · #18 08-02-2010, 12:22 PM

There probably aren't any in the GC store, because they are selling them as soon as they get them in.

I do know that Godsmack's bassist recently switched from SWR to GK. I haven't noticed any drop in GK use around the world.

tombowlus · #19 08-02-2010, 12:33 PM

I can't speak to the gear choices of popular rock bands or to the floor display policies at GC, but as someone who gets to review just about every new amplification product that comes out, I am personally extremely impressed with GK's offerings, now more than ever. They've had some delays in getting some parts delivered, which has slowed manufacturing, but from what the guys at GK tell me, everything they make gets snapped up very quickly.

Tom.

jelwood · #20 08-02-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KramerBassFan

GK was recently hit by a large demand for the micro amps, and it has backed up their supply.

At least, i believe i read that from Mr. Gallien on here...

We have a winner!

Also, what Metallicafan said has come straight from Bob's mouth. Youtube "GK factory tour" and watch all four parts, that will explain a lot. GK is shipping their supplies to lots of countries and not just the US, and the demand for their new micro bass series is immense. We Americans can't have all the fun!

GK works hard to get their equipment certified for use in these countries and that's often why their products take like a year after expected release date to actually come out. It's not that GK is slowing down, it's that they've actually hit their maximum production output (they only have two very well maintained factories worldwide) and not all of it is going to Guitar Center anymore. Boohoo.