GK800RB or Ampeg SVT 7 Pro with Ampeg SVTHLF Cab?

iloveaholiday · #1 04-05-2011, 04:35 PM

Do i get a GK800RB or the new Ampeg SVT 7 Pro to go with my Ampeg SVTHLF 410 Cab? I use a USA P-Bass. Any suggestions?

JimmyM · #2 04-05-2011, 04:42 PM

i just happened to try the 7 pro last night through a 410hlf. AWESOME! gk is a well respected brand and the 800rb is a good amp, but the 7 pro is much better imho...possibly the best sounding amp without power tubes that i ever heard.

KwanzaaLizard · #3 04-05-2011, 04:45 PM

I just got the same cab!

If you can't try them out, I'd recommend the Ampeg based off of the light weight and power output. Of course if you've got an HLF lightweight might not be your priority, but every bit can help.

Either way it's a great sounding cab as long as you keep your lows a little bit on the conservative side on your head IMHO. (I cut mine a touch)

joeydavidson · #4 04-05-2011, 04:51 PM

I'd go for the Ampeg SVT 7 Pro, Ampeg heads sound better with Ampeg cabs then GK heads/Ampeg cabs in my experience. I was seriously considering buying a 7pro at one stage before I got my Orange Terror.

iloveaholiday · #5 04-06-2011, 03:33 PM

Thanks for the feedback guys. Even though Ampeg now made in Vietnam or China you still think it's the way to go? GK made in the USA right? I am in Australia.

woody357 · #6 04-06-2011, 03:44 PM

I own a GK 800rb, and IMHO I'd go with the Pro7 for the added power to push the cab you have.

JimmyM · #7 04-06-2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonB71

Thanks for the feedback guys. Even though Ampeg now made in Vietnam or China you still think it's the way to go? GK made in the USA right? I am in Australia.

gk makes a lot of their stuff in china as well. besides, even if they're not made there, almost all amps out there these days have a bunch of chinese parts in them. i use rented ampegs all the time, and the new heads sound just like the old ones to me, and the cabs are vastly improved over the last few years of american cabs imho.

there were some bugs with early 7 pros, but since then, all i'm hearing is that they work fine. and their cs dept is top notch, so if you do have a problem, they'll help you get sorted. ampeg got a bad rap over the move, and for a couple years, they deserved it. but ever since they fired the former head idiot of the company in 2008 and moved in people who know what they're doing, i've seen a drastic improvement all around.

iloveaholiday · #8 04-11-2011, 02:58 AM

Awesome guys....really keen on the Ampeg now but just a little sceptical about the whole class D thing as i don't know a lot about it. Can anyone shed a little light on Class D amplification?

Also, does anyone think that as the Pro 7 just having 1x pre-amp tube.....could this be a problem if it blew while playing live etc?

JimmyM · #9 04-11-2011, 03:11 AM

class d has been around now for almost 30 years. it's no more prone to breakage than any other class of amp. and though some folks say they prefer the sound of solid state amps with big iron transformers, i really don't get that one, since i actually prefer the sound of these smaller micros. i don't prefer them over all tube amps like the svt, but definitely i prefer them over regular ss designs.

as for the tube, you stand a much greater chance of breaking a cable or a string than a tube. tubes can last years, even decades. that isn't to say some won't go bad on you, but it's hardly anything to be concerned about. but if you are concerned, just carry a spare with you. but in all my years of playing amps with tubes (about 32 years now), i never lost a tube during a gig.

mouthmw · #10 04-11-2011, 04:58 AM

Why GK800RB? Unless you're really into that old skool classic GK amp, you can pretty much get that sound with either 700RB II or 1001RB II and get more power and headroom than 800RB.

I haven't tried the SVT 7 PRO amp, but I'm using GK 700RB II with Ampeg SVT 810E cab and it's great. I couldn't imagine needing more power since I already overpower the rest of the band easily and often have to turn down. And that's in a loud hard rock band and my guitarist is using a loud Orange all tube head with a Marshall 412 cab.

It all boils down to which tone you'd prefer. I'd probably rather take GK with its great recognizable signature tone than a solid state Ampeg. If it's Ampeg, it has to be all tube for me. Every other Ampeg is meh.

iloveaholiday · #11 04-11-2011, 05:56 PM

Well i am using a GK800RB at the moment and have the option to buy it or go for the Ampeg SVT 7

Rockmusician · #12 04-11-2011, 05:59 PM

I had an SVT 410 HLF. I ran it with an Ampeg SVT 4 Pro and didn't like it. I had a hard time getting volume and clarity. I switched to GK and it sounded much better. I haven't tried the SVT 7 but based on my previous experience with Ampeg, I would go for the 800RB.

iloveaholiday · #13 04-15-2011, 08:55 PM

The 800RB sounded good again last night......still unsure though :-)

nitsuj · #14 04-15-2011, 10:30 PM

I'd keep the 800RB; it's one hell of an amp. I'd also invest in a SansAmp VT Pedal. The GK will make any cab sound killer and the VT will give you some tube tone for when you feel the need.

You will be happy with your rig. Trust me.

+1 on the GK 700RB; it's what I use currently.

iloveaholiday · #15 04-16-2011, 10:29 PM

Thanks nitsuj, I had a VT pedal but prefer the tone when you just plug straight into the GK amp

bassthumpersf · #16 04-16-2011, 11:18 PM

I'd stick with the GK. the RB series are made in California, I've been using the same head for 25 years & the only thing I've ever had to do is change the fuse once.

iloveaholiday · #17 04-20-2011, 04:47 AM

I'm sticking with the 800RB guys....it's a killer Amp, and very, very clean. Not a scratch on it and made in the USA in 1998. Thanks for all your responses. Great to read so many cool opinions :-)

Standalone · #18 04-20-2011, 10:12 AM

good for you. you can always grab an ampeg amp down the line, but since you have a good amp that you're happy with, no reason to jump on the gear switcher-oo merry-go-round.

From what I've heard, the deep bass character of the HLF wil complement/balance out the natural deep bass roll-off of the old GK.