Recommendation for Bass Amp Head

rockinroller · #1 11-09-2011, 10:56 AM

I am considering the GK 212 MBE - 2x12, 600 Watt 4 ohm cabinet and would like your recommendation on a decent amp to drive that. I don't need a ton of boutique stuff like effects, etc. but i do like at least 4 EQs min.

I know very little about compatibility between speaker cabinets and separate amps, as all of my past purchases have been combo amps.

Used is better too--for me. My budget is about $300, give or take a $100.

Thanks in advance for your recommendations!

sad_katz · #2 11-09-2011, 11:06 AM

GK MB200 ($250), Ampeg PF350 ($300), Ampeg Micro-SVT ($300). All around. Try them out if you can and pick your favorite tone. Growly highs (GK) or growly mids (Ampeg). The GK has 4-band EQ and the Ampegs have 3-band. Can't think of any other 4-band EQ under $300.

I think Hartke LH-500 also goes into that budget.

rockinroller · #3 11-09-2011, 11:14 AM

Thanks for the recommendation. I'd personally lean toward the GK, just because of the brand consistency with the cabinet (and the fact that I've had a few of their combo amps recently including the MB210 and MB212 and despite the recurring piezo tweeter issues, they've been a tremendous live performing amp for the money).

Wouldn't that 200 watts on the amp though be insufficient to run the potentially 600 watts cabinet?

PotsdamBass8 · #4 11-09-2011, 11:26 AM

Gk 800rb would be my recommendation. There's a used one in the classifieds for 325.

Reliable, powerful, great sounding.

basscooker · #5 11-09-2011, 11:29 AM

i'm not an expert by any means, but not exactly. the 600 watts is where you risk burning your speakers coils. 200 watts thru a great cab can sound louder than alot more power thru a junk cab. loudness and power (my terms, maybe not tech terms) are only kinda related. 100 watts thru a very well designed cab can peel off your face!

rockinroller · #6 11-09-2011, 11:41 AM

That's a good point. I currently play through a Yorkville XM 200 Bassmaster with one 15" and tweeter and it kicks and punches way more than the Fender Bassman 250/210 that I owned for about a month before reselling it.

Are you inferring that GK's 212MBE is a "great cab" (at least in that price range)?

basscooker · #7 11-09-2011, 12:03 PM

i haven't played thru one, so no. just saying that good cabs and not so good cabs can make the same amp perform very differently. also consider the speaker surface area. more surface area=more potential for moving air, which is what sound is. but i'd also remind y'all i'm by no means an expert on gear, acoustics, or electronics, just passing on what i've learned to be true.

RickenBoogie · #8 11-09-2011, 12:14 PM

Important point- the wattage ratings of the cab in question are thermal limits of the voice coil. Period. You do NOT "need" a 600 watt amp to make the cab work, and in fact, the cab will only really handle approx 300 watts before running into it's mechanical limits. ANY amp head rated between 100- 600 watts will work out well.

rockinroller · #9 11-09-2011, 12:56 PM

Thanks for that note on limitation. I just want something that's "efficient" in the power perspective and don't need an amp that pushes the speakers potentially past their limits.

scottfeldstein · #10 11-09-2011, 01:03 PM

If it's a head to drive a 4 ohm 212 cab, you don't need more than the MB200.

basscooker · #11 11-09-2011, 01:03 PM

so, long around the initial question, but i gotta agree with post above there gk 800 rb sounds like a winner. the backline 600 is another good one. both can be had used on the inexpensive tip too.

ian_s · #12 11-09-2011, 02:31 PM

I bought a used Carvin BX500 from a fellow TBer. I like it very much compared to my MB200, but the MB200 fits in a gig bag, and that's just too crazy convenient for me to sell it yet.

scottfeldstein · #13 11-09-2011, 02:32 PM

If the goal is to buy a head that'll be useful to drive more cabs or bigger cabs or other cabs... then sure, get the 800 RB or similar. If the goal, however, is to get enough amp to drive that 212 cab.. then get the MB200. Even new it's cheaper than a used 800RB or Backline 600. It's smaller, cheaper, lighter... and is nicely matched with a cab of that size, I think.

Bullitt5135 · #14 11-09-2011, 07:07 PM

Any vintage workhorses to throw into the mix? Something that would be even cheaper than the GKs already mentioned. Would something like a Peavey Mark 3 or 4 be suitable?

I'm looking for a backup to drive my Avatar 2x12 while my 700RBII is in for repair (taking a while to get parts).

LowEndMan2112 · #15 11-10-2011, 03:39 PM

If you like GK, and you want the 212, I'd go the step above the MB200 and get the MB500! They can be had on the classifieds here for 350 ish and have seen them as low as 320 IIRC.

scottfeldstein · #16 11-10-2011, 06:33 PM

I love my own MB500.

Standalone · #17 11-10-2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PotsdamBass8

Gk 800rb would be my recommendation. There's a used one in the classifieds for 325.

Reliable, powerful, great sounding.

You can pretty much never go wrong with an 800RB.

Same goes for the old 400RB.

Standalone · #18 11-10-2011, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullitt5135

Any vintage workhorses to throw into the mix? Something that would be even cheaper than the GKs already mentioned. Would something like a Peavey Mark 3 or 4 be suitable?

I'm looking for a backup to drive my Avatar 2x12 while my 700RBII is in for repair (taking a while to get parts).

Sure they would. The GK 4 band is really where it's at, though. Peavey parametric mids are a little harder to adjust on the fly at a gig.