Shifting from GK to Ampeg

[lucaflea80]

Hi anyone there
i have a kind of problem...

i'd like to sell my gk 410rbh (too heavy!!).
i also have a gk 1001rb head...

yesterday i tried an ampeg 410hlf with a gk head and it sounded good, a little bit "confused" but very loud!
after that i tried the same cabinet with tha svt 450h ampeg head and it was... amazing!

what do you think about that head?
i've never used ampeg because i always preferred stacks with lot of attack... i used to play funk & dance music.
nowadays i play a lot of beatles and 60rock and i was looking for a kind of vintage rig.

[Marton]

You know that the 410-HLF is at least as heavy as the GK 410RBH, right ?

In my opinion the 410-HLF is an awesome sounding cabinet, but its really heavy and bulky. I had one, and I sold because I couldn't put in my car alone. I got an Epifani UL-410 instead.

For the head, I know for sure that I wouldn't never trade my GK 700RB-II for an Ampeg SVT 450h head. I'm not really impressed with Ampeg solid state heads. I would like to get a full tube Ampeg head, but I don't want to carry it around.

[JimmyM]

Can't say I'm a fan of the 450H. It's alright, but I think their new PF500 is a better head that costs a lot less, and the SVT 7 Pro is about the best non-all-tube amp I've ever played and only costs $50 more than the 450H.

But YOU are the one who has to play it, so if you dug the 450H, don't let us stop you.

[Sartori]

GK heads with Ampeg cabs are, from what I've seen, actually a pretty popular rig choice.

[Downunderwonder]

I always play better when I'm digging my tone. Whatever floats your boat.

If you have a problem it sounds like you want to be talked out of spending the money on the gear you like. Or you want to be comforted in your choice?

[lucaflea80]

when i try to lift my gk 410 up i can't do it alone...
i found the ampeg 410 lighter...

in any case i own also a mark bass f500 and a mark 102p.
i use them in very small venues. i could add another 102...


i once owned the first line of mark bass but after 3/4 years i was tired of its sound so i bought gk.
i find that mark bass products change every 6 months so you always get "old" stuff. isn't it?

[RustyAxe]

Originally Posted by Sartori

GK heads with Ampeg cabs are, from what I've seen, actually a pretty popular rig choice.

This combination works for me. There's nothing about Ampeg heads that excites me. The solid state heads are only "OK", and the tube heads are too heavy and bulky for me to want to haul around.

[Quickie]

I have mainly used Ampeg for over 30 years. Always seem to come back to them. The 410hlf cabinet was the best I ever owned. A more "rounder" tone than the 8-10. And it has a horn. Gave my Sting Ray at the time some great "clickity" bite. I have either used just about all or most Ampeg heads. The "classic" to me was ....ok, but I play with a lot of bottom end and want a crystal clear tone, so that tube amp pooped out when played loud...oh...as many would say, it just sounded as it should....tube distortion and all. I am going to get another 410 hlf with the new SVT 7. That's gotta be a match made in heaven.

[AMJBASS]

The SVT450 is a decent sounding head. I would be inclined to keep the 1001RB head. It is one of the better units out there. As much as I like the Ampeg sound, I have not had good experience with them being reliable(2 SVT7Pros died on me, one at the store). I don't wish it to sound like a blanket statement as many many players have had great success with them. The older ampeg heads are particularly good. I just think the RB heads from GK are some of the best most reliable units out there. If you are looking for something with a bit more grit, the new GK MB Fusion is a terrific sounding head. I am very pleased with mine, and it only weighs about 5 lbs!

[JimmyM]

The first batch of 7 Pros did have problems but were more mechanical in nature than a design problem. Any amps can break, but the 7 Pro since that first batch doesn't seem to have the problems of the first.