GK vs Trace Elliot vs Eden vs. Markbass

smcgov · #1 03-15-2010, 11:03 PM

hey gents, I'm coming out of my bass playing coma (I have a 3 year old) and want to try something different than my current GK 1001rb.

I've had an eden preamp years ago that broke on me and I was not happy with it. I'm curious if anybody has experienced all of these amps and can tell me the pitfalls. I like classic rock and blues and I also have a demeter pre that is my main unit. I have the clean covered but am looking for something somewhat portable with a nice character or flavor to it. As I get older the GK is too hot in the high end for me, I find myself lusting for a thicker lower tone.

nitsuj · #2 03-16-2010, 12:05 AM

GK 700RB; tonally warmer than the 1001rb... had them both... have still the 700.

Breslin dp · #3 03-16-2010, 12:43 AM

I know it's not on your list but get yourself an old SWR Super Redhead. I loved my SWR Super Redhead for a combo amp it killed and had a nice deep tone for a 210. I played rock and punk with it and it last me a long time. I regretted the day I got rid of her. I tried to replace her with an Eden metro just wasn't the same.

There are also some good combos coming out from GK check them out everyone is talking about them.

Son of Bovril · #4 03-16-2010, 01:46 AM

get a Fender TBP-1 pre if they still make them? That will give you that warm thick tubey low end without the bright top end and it has an overdrive channel that can be mixed in to boot!

smcgov · #5 03-16-2010, 07:53 AM

thanks for the ideas, I'd never considered a combo amp. Last time I played one was an SWR and I think it was blue colored, it sounded really good, but that was back when steinbergers were still being sold in music stores.

nobody can vouche for edens or trace elliot on here? I'm kind of in bass player hell around here with only guitar centers to mess with.

Son of Bovril · #6 03-16-2010, 07:58 AM

The edens can also easily get you the sound you are after and are naturally quite warm, plus they have enough eq ability to go from SWR clean to a nice gritty ampeg like tone quite easily if you know how to use it

nato101010 · #7 03-16-2010, 08:44 AM

I love Markbass. They all have such a warm deep sound. I played through like 5 different Markbass amps, all of them were AWESOME.

**B-string** · #8 03-16-2010, 09:46 AM

Give the G-K MB-500 a listen as well, it's a different animal from the 1001RB. Small, light and thick sounding.
Sorry haven't tryed Trace in 25 or more years. Any music store for me is now at least 2 1/2 hours away. Genz Benz deserves a nod as well.

cyclopathic · #9 03-16-2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Give the G-K MB-500 a listen as well, it's a different animal from the 1001RB. Small, light and thick sounding.

+20dB more noise when compared to side by side to 700RBII

**B-string** · #10 03-16-2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyclopathic

+20dB more noise when compared to side by side to 700RBII

I understand YOU had trouble with yours, but you really need to get over it.

cyclopathic · #11 03-16-2010, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

I understand YOU had trouble with yours, but you really need to get over it.

it is still a tender spot since it was a painful x2 divorce!

at least 700RBII treats me right, despite extra 12lbs she packs.

Mental check: never go for all those skinny flashy girls, stick to heavy artillery

**B-string** · #12 03-16-2010, 02:41 PM

That'll get the job done!

Exploiter8 · #13 03-16-2010, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Genz Benz deserves a nod as well.

+100

X8

testing1two · #14 03-16-2010, 03:10 PM

I will always have a soft spot for the Trace Elliot sound. I played the GP12SMX series for several years. It may laugh in the face of "less is more" but it sure sounds good to me.

chiplexic · #15 03-16-2010, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyclopathic

it is still a tender spot since it was a painful x2 divorce!

at least 700RBII treats me right, despite extra 12lbs she packs.

Mental check: never go for all those skinny flashy girls, stick to heavy artillery

Your old situation sticks in my mind. But I hold out hope that that amp will/has become a solid product. I often wonder if any of the tweeks made to, what is now called the MB-500, touches on any of the problems you had with your units?

JSK5String · #16 03-16-2010, 06:58 PM

I've used both Trace and GK, and they both pale in comparison to my current rig...

...I'm just using a VT Bass pedal, a compressor, a BBE Sonic Stomp and a Carvin DCM1540 power amp. Sounds simple, doesn't it. Well, it is and it flipping cranks!

smcgov · #17 03-16-2010, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Son of Bovril

The edens can also easily get you the sound you are after and are naturally quite warm, plus they have enough eq ability to go from SWR clean to a nice gritty ampeg like tone quite easily if you know how to use it

thanks so bovril....I have a line on a wt800...and had one on a trace..around the same price....the markbass intrigue me...but some other good ideas here as well. I played a GK I liked the other day at GC but I had no clue what it was. I'm going to need to start taking notes.

I really miss livng in Texas, they had the most fantastic music stores there.....I don't even know who has bergantinos or any of this stuff anywhere near where I am.

**B-string** · #18 03-16-2010, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSK5String

I've used both Trace and GK, and they both pale in comparison to my current rig...

...I'm just using a VT Bass pedal, a compressor, a BBE Sonic Stomp and a Carvin DCM1540 power amp. Sounds simple, doesn't it. Well, it is and it flipping cranks!

For me bass-amp head-speaker cab. Thats simple

Son of Bovril · #19 03-17-2010, 01:59 AM

can't go wrong with the WT800 it's been the EDEN workhorse for years now - solid tone and loads of bridged power!

It isn't however as light as the new Markbass and GK offerings though, so if that is an important factor to you then the eden probably isn't what you are looking for

The eden does have quite a tubey sound and so does the markbass. I've heard great things about the GK fusion line as well in this regard

I would still recommend taking a listen to the fender TD600 (is that the right model name?) as well

tombowlus · #20 03-17-2010, 08:08 AM

The Fender you are thinking of is the TB600 (or TB1200, if you are feeling randy!

). These are both excellent-sounding heads, IME/IMHO.

Lots of good suggestions already, but the OP might also want to consider Mesa/Boogie. The M-Pulse line (including the BB750 and Titan V-12) will give you a nice, warm, full, powerful tone that is quite "tube-like." The M3/6/9 are still very full and authoritative, but more quick than their brethren, and slightly mid-scooped (in comparison to the more thick-sounding M-Pulse amps).

Tom.