GK micro bass amp?

meinl · #1 01-09-2011, 03:57 PM

Hey,

So in the next year or so I was planning on getting another bass amp that I could travel with since I will probably going to school in south Korea next year. My current amp an ampeg b200r while it sounds great is rather heavy to take with and a little more on the fragile side.

So a while back I discovered a gk amp with a 15" and 200 watts at 33 pounds. $400 is not too bad. the amp is the GK MB115.
but one of my friends has two GK micro 12" bass amps for sale and he would sell them for $200. They are $700 new each. He said that sometimes they don't turn, but they work most of the time, but since he is an avid gigger he needs reliability. So he bought a new one and is selling these.

So should I get them and fix them? Anybody know what the problem maybe? Should I get them or just wait till' I have the money for the MB115.

My friend does not live by me so I cannot listen to them. Anybody know how they handle a low B? also is it 100 wats for the main amp and 150 watts for the extension or 150watts for both?
thanks,
Matt

JimmyM · #2 01-09-2011, 04:05 PM

no idea about the gk stuff, but your b100r may be heavier but it's not fragile. ampegs are built like tanks, and the b100r is no expection, imho. may i ask why you think it's fragile?

onosson · #3 01-09-2011, 04:11 PM

Why not wait till you get to S. Korea and buy an amp there? I recall music electronics and amps being relatively cheap there - although you might not have the selection you want, especially if you're outside of Seoul.

TC424 · #4 01-09-2011, 04:19 PM

I don't know for sure, but what about different ac voltages? You might do better to wait and buy an amp there

meinl · #5 01-09-2011, 04:21 PM

Hey Jimmy :-D
how are you these days?
Well my b200r is chinese made and I heard the amp head is not put in the best and it can be damaged pretty bad if it gets dropped. I could definitely wrong though it wouldn't be the first time as you know haha.

Well I will probably staying near seoul and my friend there knows where the music market is. Although if I got an amp there it would be 220 volts. Well its a good deal (atleast I think) and I am using my b200r for guitar a lot these days

I got a tele a few weeks back

but I still like bass a lot and I play guitar bass style haha

well for now atleast

RickenBoogie · #6 01-09-2011, 04:30 PM

Because Korea is 220 volts, it'd be prudent to buy an amp there, or else you'd need a step down transformer for any US amp.

meinl · #7 01-09-2011, 04:36 PM

yes I am going to buy a transformer since I will have a computer and some audio stuff. I am only living there for like a year then I'm moving back. although now I am curious at what the market offers.

My main question right now is whether I should get the amps my friend is selling since they seem to be good (just with some quirks)

If I don't get these amps I can wait. I think I might go to seoul this summer so I can see what options there are.

but do you guys think I should get the microbass GK's? Anybody have any guesses on the problem? Would it be wiring? Maybe like a heat circuit?

shalom,
Matt

JimmyM · #8 01-09-2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meinl

Hey Jimmy :-D
how are you these days?
Well my b200r is chinese made and I heard the amp head is not put in the best and it can be damaged pretty bad if it gets dropped. I could definitely wrong though it wouldn't be the first time as you know haha.

lol! well any amp can get damaged if you drop it. btw, sorry...meant to type b200r but it came out b100r.

in your situation, i would definitely consider going micro since they are a lot easier to switch for different power requirements. again, no idea about the gk, but the ampeg micro vr is rocking my world these days. the head isn't small but it is very light. and ampeg's got a line of class d portaflex heads and cabs coming out in march that might be to your liking as well, since you dig the b200r.

good luck with the school in s korea!

Pilgrim · #9 01-09-2011, 05:00 PM

The Genz-Benz Shuttle series are switchable 100V to 240 volts, 50 to 60 Hz for world wide use, light, portable, and high quality.

Get a Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.0 or 9.0...your problem is solved, and you have one of the best amps in the world.

meinl · #10 01-09-2011, 05:04 PM

Yes the Genz benz does look nice, but I don't think I will be spending that much ;-) trying to keep at $400 or below. thanks for the suggestion though.
maybe depends how much money I have left over from my job I am getting.

meinl · #11 01-09-2011, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

lol! well any amp can get damaged if you drop it. btw, sorry...meant to type b200r but it came out b100r.

in your situation, i would definitely consider going micro since they are a lot easier to switch for different power requirements. again, no idea about the gk, but the ampeg micro vr is rocking my world these days. the head isn't small but it is very light. and ampeg's got a line of class d portaflex heads and cabs coming out in march that might be to your liking as well, since you dig the b200r.

good luck with the school in s korea!

Are you sure all amps can be damaged with dropping?

I think some company needs to do a test like mackie did where they dropped their sound boards off 10 story buildings to see what happened

You never know its possible that one might drop ones amp off a 10 story building?

I'll check out the ampeg.
Thanks hopefully it goes wells the school that is especailly since they are all smarter than me probably.

shalom,
Matt

ian_s · #12 01-09-2011, 05:26 PM

I've seen Shuttle 3.0s on CL for $3-400. Switchable and the right weight for travel!

JimmyM · #13 01-09-2011, 05:28 PM

well i know for a fact that my micro vr can sirvive a 2 ft. drop. i stick a wedge under the cab to tilt it back, and i tilted it too far and the amp fell off and bounced on the wood stage floor a couple times and skidded to a stop. still works great, though...didn't even scuff the tolex

ok, not as dramatic as 10 stories, i know.

meinl · #14 01-09-2011, 05:49 PM

not quite ten stories haha.
Don't you love how mackie tests their products? "hmm lets drive some trucks full of large men over our product to see if it works after words."

Here we are going to dip our product in acid......

so nobody knows anything about fixing these gk micro cabs?

shalom,
Matt

JimmyM · #15 01-09-2011, 06:00 PM

i would be really concerned about repairs on a micro. it could be something simple, but it could also cost more than the amp is worth to fix it.

meinl · #16 01-09-2011, 10:27 PM

yes thats true. I wonder how easy of a fix it would be though. Because if they don't work sometimes... probably same problem for both. Could be an over heating circuit which a fan could fix. It could be a lose wire or something.

Not sure. Hopefully someone on here knows something lol :-)
thanks JimmyM you ahve always been very helpful.
shalom,
Matt

mrekoj · #17 01-09-2011, 10:34 PM

http://www.carvinguitars.com/product...p?product=MB10
this ?
internal fuse 90-240v, should works for most countries

meinl · #18 01-09-2011, 10:52 PM

how does it handle a 5?

I know some 10's are much better than others and some can go lower. I have played through a swr 2x10 cab with like a 400watt head. Could hardly handle my E much less my b it sounded awful.

I am guessing carvin are better than swr though.

-it looks nice but freq. wise it can't even go low enough for an A.....

mrekoj · #19 01-09-2011, 11:13 PM

I cant answer you on that... I don't own one
just gassing for one, too expensive to ship one to my country.

Low B seems fine from these few threads

http://www.carvinguitars.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=21489

New Carvin Micro bass combo amps!

just felt that it suits your requirements so i suggested it to you.
voltage wise, works for South Korea
small and portable for you to ship around
within your budget

meinl · #20 01-09-2011, 11:23 PM

thanks I will consider those.