Yet Another "What to buy" Thread...
 

OK, so here's the scoop.

I cleaned house, I sold ALL my "gigging" gear, just wasn't getting the sound I was going for, and some of it was just plain too heavy.

So I'm kinda looking at trying some new stuff all together.

I'd like some suggestions on a new amp, I definitely want to try one of the new lightweight digital amps. Something in the 400-600 watt range.

As far as cabs go...2X10? 2X12? 4X10? The crucial thing here is I need a cab (or cabs) that is light, I'm DONE carrying uber heavy cabs...period.

My main bass is a MIA Precision, and I play mostly hard rock & some "heavier" stuff. Both of the guitar players have tube half stacks, and tend to be WAY LOUD, so I obviously need to have some "ooomph" behind me.

Now, before someone says "just go play around at the store, and see what suits you", I fully intend to do just that (and have been), but there really is much variety around here, so it's likely at least one of these things is going to be ordered online.

My budget is somewhere between $1400-1700 "all in".

I figure now is a good time to do this as we are currently taking a little time off, so I have a couple months to put a rig back together,

Thoughts?

Tone is a fickle thing. Have you tried different strings? Maybe just new strings??

What is the one tonal quality you think you lack, and what's the rig that doesn't seem to deliver?

Suggestion: G-K MB500/MB Fusion or MB800 micro head and one or two G-K NEO212 cabs. No one will step on you. As they say DONE :)

Tone is definitely a fickle thing, I can't tell you honestly what was missing from my tone...it just wasn't "there"...can't explain it.

And yes I tried different strings, basses, pedals, EQ's, sonic maximizers...hell I even tried high end cables....

The rig I sold was a SWR WorkingPro 400 (not the best amp...I know) running into a Ampeg SVT410HLF. (BBE Sonic Maximizer in the rack as well).

You would be in for a big surprise with the G-K rig without processors.

Actually I've been looking at the GK stuff a lot, unfortunately my local GC doesn't have much in stock (Mostly Ampeg & Mark Bass), but they can/will order it, plus they seem to have a fair return policy if it ends up not being what I'm looking for.

OK,

I have played a TON of different gear in the last month, and I think I have it narrowed down a bit......

I am certainly going to pick up the GK MB Fusion or MB800 (I'd really like the MB Fusion 800, but it hasn't been released yet it would appear).

The cabinets are a different story though. I definitely want to go with the GK Neo line, but what combination?

I mentioned above that I usually play with heavy hitting drummers, and really loud guitar players, so I don't want to "get lost" in the mix. The style I tend to lean to is hard rock & some metal.

So, I have 3 choices that I like...

GK Neo 412 (nice simple 1 cab solution...pushing 100lbs though....still lighter than my old SVT410HLF though :D)

A pair of GK Neo 212-II (Similar to the 412, but I can choose if I want to bring the "whole thing" or just a single cab to the gig).

A GK Neo 212-II and a GK Neo 112-II (maybe not quite as much "ooomph" as the other two choices, but it's a bit more portable). I think I'd prefer this choice if it would suit my needs.

What are your thoughts? The budget that I set for myself will cover any of these choices.

Of the 3 choices, I think the 412 would be completely out of the question. I like the third choice as you could use 1, 2, or 3 as needed. What are the weights of those?

Yea, not really leaning toward the 412 either.

The 212-II is 51lbs. and the 112-II is 30lbs.

+1
MB800 + NEO 212 (X2) is my next rig. That new GK stuff blows my mind.

Yea, the suggestion from B-String is what really got me looking at GK in the first place. And I do like the 212 (x2) option, but I was considering the 212 & 112 option only as it's a bit more portable....I'm hoping someone who has tried both can give me some insight as to which is "better" for my needs.

212 w/Eminence Kappa Lite 3012HO drivers. Tremendous box. About 50 lbs, maybe less. About 30" tall x 18" wide x 15" deep.

Or, a little larger/heavier & a little more bucks, a 215 w/Eminence Kappa Lite 3015s or Faital Pro 15PR400s.

I was skeptical of GK MB stuff... Then I bought a GK MB200. What a beast that little box is!

I love my Eden cabs, but they are hefty at 98lbs each. It would be nice to shed the weight via 2, 212 GK NEOs.

OK,

So I'm still on my never ending (it would seem) quest to buy myself a new rig.

It's likely going to happen this week.

As mentioned above, I'm considering a couple different cabs, but I think it will likely be a pair of Neo 212-II cabs.

As far as power amp, I'm leaning toward the MB800....However I keep eyeballing that 1001RB-II

Aside from the bi-amp feature & the 1001RB not being a digital amp, what are some other pro/cons that these two heads have?

They both are close in wattage, and I think either would do a great job driving these cabs, anybody out the ever had a chance to A/B these heads? or better yet own both?

The switch mode power supply has digital elements to it, but it's still an analog amp. I'm not familiar with that little GK, but the only major con with micros in general that I can see is that if you run them really hard, they'll tap out of headroom quicker than lead sleds. And I've yet to hear a micro that has that sharp hard attack of lead sleds like the GK stuff, but that could go either way as to whether you like it or not. I generally prefer the micros myself but I see why many people are hesitant to give up the lead sleds.

Thanks Jimmy!

Yea, I tend to run my gear hard, but maybe not that hard

I don't really have any local outlet to try either of these heads, so I'm kinda buying sight unseen.

One of my only real "fears" is that I hear all the time time about that "signature GK growl"....I'm hoping that's not all it can do, I prefer my tone to be a bit more smooth and not too edgy.

You will need to run the MB800 really hard to "run out of steam" It tested an honest 800 watts at 4 ohms and over 1,000 watts burst. The MB is said to have a smoother and deeper native voice than the 1001RB II. The 1001RB II will use the biamp of the NEO cabs that is designed to keep some grit out of the tweeter horns (adjustable from the amp face). You will need to drive the 1001RB II pretty hard to get "the growl". The MB800 does not have the biamp.
Help any?

Really good info, sounds like the smoother/deeper tone of the MB800 might be right up my alley.

Yea, that does sound like a nice feature, however I generally turn the tweeters off, or nearly off anyway, so I may not use that feature to it's fullest possible potential.

Good to know, it isn't like I don't like some grit once in a while, I just prefer a more smooth tone most of the time.

Yea, I knew that, but as I mentioned above, I probably wouldn't use it much, but who knows?


Yep, I appreciate the break down, Thanks!! :D

Cool. :)