Warm sounding Amp Heads

[moeroncuban]

Hey again fellow TBer's,
Can anyone out here recommend a warm, tubey sounding amplifier. I currently have a GK 1001RB-II. I'm thinking of adding an Ampeg SVP tube preamp OR trading in my GK head for a more "warmer" sounding head. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks again!

Peace

:^)

[Alex1984]

As much as I love the SVT, I wouldn't say it's overly warm. If you want warmth, you may be better off with a B-15 or a Mesa.

[Ric5]

I like my ampeg B2 and B3 heads. The SVT is too tubey for me.

[PurpleDrank]

I think a VT Bass pedal might get you there for cheaper and it's easier to get your hands on. Try it out, if you don't like it, just return it and keep looking for a tube pre.

Then there's the all tube rout, of course...

[unclekebm]

Mesa $$$$
Aguilar $$$$
TC electronics $$$
Hartke LH500 / LH1000 $$
other GK models $$
Acoustic $

[Calaverasgrande]

Originally Posted by Alex1984

As much as I love the SVT, I wouldn't say it's overly warm. If you want warmth, you may be better off with a B-15 or a Mesa.

Mesa's cover a lot of ground tonally. The 400 and 400+ are (I dare say) a lot less warm than an SVT. They tend more towards a crunchy clean than a "fat" tubey tone.
the M3-M6-m9 are a lot cleaner than the 400's or mpulse models. The BB and Titan are dirt machines!

[okcrum]

Eden WT800 and WT550 are pretty warm sounding for SS.

I get warm out of an SVT after adjusting tone.

[unclekebm]

I might get punched for this but, the high end Fender stuff is thick and warm

[moeroncuban]

LOL ! :^)

Earlier today, someone suggested the higher end Fender's as well...

So you're not alone !

:^)

[Baer]

I use a VT Bass pedal in front of my GK 1001RBII into some GK SBX cabinets. It can be very warm.

[moeroncuban]

May I ask which VT model it is?
A friend just recommend a sansamp stomp. So it does warm your tone up nicely? Did you have the same warm-less tone before you added the VT?

Thanks!

[Baer]

It's the simple "VT Bass" pedal. Not to steer you wrong, I attribute a fair amount of the warmth to the SBX cabinets. I play the VT Bass pedal and GK amp into Eden XSTs at sometimes, and the GK SBX cabinets are definitely warmer.

[georgestrings]

IME, the 700rb-II is definitely warmer than the 1001rb-II... In a similar tonal region, Mesa's M-pulse 600 is a contender, and warmer even yet would be the Big Block 750, Markbass LMII and III, and the Genz-Benz amps - GBE series, and the Shuttles...

Although I like Mesa's M6 and M9 Carbines, I wouldn't call them any warmer than the 1001rb-II...

Seriously - if you like your 1001rb-II, but just want a little more warmth, try out a 700rb-II before any of the others...

Lastly - I don't think of the cabs in your profile as helping the situation... I really dig G-K amps, but not so much their cabs... I think G-K amps pair up better with cabs by Mesa, SWR, Ampeg, Eden, and Bergantino - cabs that have a little warm character already voiced into them...


- georgestrings

[ljazz]

I agree with georgestrings.... the 700rbII is the ticket if you're looking to add some warmth, but stay in the same tonal universe.

The VT is also a great suggestion. I'd add that the EBS MultiComp in tubesim mode is a nice touch as well.

Personally, I think your cabs are fine..... although the 410 is a bit too "thick" for me on the bottom, it may be your thing..... love the 212 though.

I don't want to insult your intellegence, but you are keeping your vol knob (preamp gain) below noon (preferrably lower), and your boost knob up? The gk heads can get pretty brittle sounding if you're not gain staging properly.

[greenboy]

GK heads tend to have rising frequency response as a default baked-in voicing. That's largely opposite of what most people categorize as warm, which can be seen as having less upper mids and treble, and more mid-mids and especially, lower-mids.

That's pretty much the opposite of a rising response, BTW.

[RSmith]

Instrument and speaker selection are important factors....

I play a passive Fender Jazz into a GK 1001RB with an Ampeg 810 and it is very warm sounding. Not gooey..... but big , round and warm.

I had a Mesa M-6 Carbine and I AB'd them and I will have to concede the Carbine is warmer to my ears but not by much.

[tomhanzo]

IME the Acoustic brand from guitar center is a great bang for your buck. Super warm. I love mine. Only had a fan issue since I got it two years ago.

[Phatbottom]

Originally Posted by georgestrings

IME, the 700rb-II is definitely warmer than the 1001rb-II... In a similar tonal region, Mesa's M-pulse 600 is a contender, and warmer even yet would be the Big Block 750, Markbass LMII and III, and the Genz-Benz amps - GBE series, and the Shuttles...

Although I like Mesa's M6 and M9 Carbines, I wouldn't call them any warmer than the 1001rb-II...

Seriously - if you like your 1001rb-II, but just want a little more warmth, try out a 700rb-II before any of the others...

Lastly - I don't think of the cabs in your profile as helping the situation... I really dig G-K amps, but not so much their cabs... I think G-K amps pair up better with cabs by Mesa, SWR, Ampeg, Eden, and Bergantino - cabs that have a little warm character already voiced into them...


- georgestrings

+1
My 700rb-II is really warm with my passive jazz and it has volume for days. I use mine with a vintage SVT. Tone, growl, nice warmth, very versatile, and could level a small city.

[duff84]

my genz benz gbe 750 is a very warm amp when you set it right, use the tube channel and it sounds fantastic. Blend both and it got a crazy tone to it.

[fourfinger]

Mesa M-Pulse is one warm amp.

Flatwound strings are dramatically warmer than roundwounds; not sure if that's relevant for you. In my case, trying flatwounds was a revelation.