GT10B with what head?

**barebones** · #1 01-25-2009, 01:16 PM

Hey, all. Tried to search threads specifically addressing this but no luck. Just wondering what some of you are running your GT10B (or maybe GT6B?) into and what you think of the results.

I haven't had my board long, but I've run it through an A.M.P. solid state head, a custom all-tube head, my band's P.A. system, and headphones. I'm pleased with the sound through the P.A. and headphones, but I find the sound through the two amp heads--and a variety of cabs--less than satisfactory.

I'm wondering if the preamps in the heads are providing too much sort of conflicting coloration with the sounds in the GT10B. Or perhaps the cabs are doing this...

And I'm wondering if I there's a head/cab combination that can provide a little flatter sound, so that most of the tone generated is coming from the processor, and I can just use the head's preamp for quick room adjustments.

Or perhaps I just need to stick with P.A. gear to achieve the best results. Ideally, though, I'd have sort of a double duty setup--an amp/cab setup I can use on it's own, or add the processor to when I need it.

Or perhaps I'm barking up the wrong tree altogether. What do you guys think?

Thanks!

dannybuoy · #2 01-25-2009, 01:21 PM

You should check out an EA iAmp or a Markbass LMII, I reckon. Or maybe even a cab with a built in power amp like the Carvin LS1503A or Bergantino IP115. (This is probably best off in the amps section, but I can see why you posted it here).

I used to have an EA iAmp 350 combo for this purpose and it was great, but just a little too heavy for me, so I sold it and got a Markbass CMD121P. Much lighter and I prefer the tone too, sounds awesome plugged straight in.

**barebones** · #3 01-25-2009, 01:35 PM

I might have to check it out with the MarkBass stuff. I've considered the Carvin powered speaker, and I might have to go ahead and give that a try as well. I've run into a powered JBL speaker and loved it. Unfortunately, I don't own that speaker, so my use of it is limited. Thanks for the tips!

Anyone else?

paganjack · #4 01-25-2009, 01:39 PM

are you running the preamp sims on the board? those might conflict with your actual preamp in the head. are you running into the main instrument input or the effects return?

If you are getting multiple preamp tone shaping, that might sound weird. i actually turned off the preamp sims on most of my settings on the 6B i used to have, and just used it for effects. It sounded great.
just a thought.

**barebones** · #5 01-25-2009, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paganjack

are you running the preamp sims on the board? those might conflict with your actual preamp in the head. are you running into the main instrument input or the effects return?

If you are getting multiple preamp tone shaping, that might sound weird. i actually turned off the preamp sims on most of my settings on the 6B i used to have, and just used it for effects. It sounded great.
just a thought.

That's a good thought. I have not done a lot of tweaking on the unit yet, and I don't recall if some of the more squirrely sounding settings included the preamp sims. I'd love to find a head that stays out of the way of the processor's sims when set flat, but I don't know if that's realistic or not.

**barebones** · #6 01-26-2009, 09:54 AM

Anyone else have a good head/cab combination that's worked well with this processor?

gumtownbassman · #7 02-27-2009, 04:53 AM

Running GT-10B into the front end of a Marshall MB450H, i don't use the GT preamp's much except for a special colouring to a patch.
I have yet to try it plugged into the amps fx return and use the GT10B preamps.

Happynoj · #8 02-27-2009, 05:07 AM

Any head is good head.

EDIT: I missed an 'a' out of there...

fokof · #9 02-27-2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stringbass69

Anyone else have a good head/cab combination that's worked well with this processor?

I have a VB99 and run it through active PA boxes , and it's perfect.
If you tried headphone , Pa , JBL and thought it sounded good and you were un-satisfied with "normal" bass amps , I think I see an answer right there....

I use an RCF active box all the time.I also have a Mackie SRM450 but prefer the RCF. Can't play with normal bass amps amymore. Even when I don't use the V-bass , I plug my bass in a TD100 in the RCF , that's it , Sound and transportability nirvana

ga_edwards · #10 03-01-2009, 08:16 AM

I think the speaker cab would have more effect than the amp head. I mean, you're going to find it tough to get the sound of an 8x10 cab through say a 2x15 for example.

You may want to look for a cab that has a full range, relatively uncoloured, neutral response, similar to the way the PA speakers behave, This is why I love my Markbass 1x12. Not a particularly 'wow' stunning sounding cab, but it sounds pretty much even from the lowest lows, through the mids and to the top end. If I then use amp modelling, I can get quite a convincing representation of most rigs (admittedly at lower volume than afore mentioned ampeg 8x10!)

FreaqyFrequency · #11 03-01-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happynoj

Any head is good head.

Definitely disagreed. Unless you run into the effects return (which is what you should be doing with most heads when running a multi), the preamp is going to add its own color and, more than likely, the two sounds are going to blend horribly.

If you want to stay relatively cheap, a used LMII is probably your best bet.

ga_edwards · #12 03-02-2009, 06:05 AM

I agree with your disagreement about any head is a good head. Some are just too coloured. I remember my old Trace Elliot having the distinct TE sound no matter what I did with the eq and pre-shapes.

However, I will disagree slightly with the 'should be running a multi into the fx return' comment. If you have a very coloured preamp, then yes, this is the only way around it, but I like to use my amp's eq section to 'eq for the room'. It's a lot easier doing it live on the amp than tweaking every patch in your multi to sound right in each venue.

Although I believe some multi's have a live master eq that is not tied to patches for this purpose, but not all of them. I do however have a relatively neutral amp in the LMII that does help a lot!

The other thing I will say is when my guitarist used a VG88, he ran it through a valve amp, which sounded a lot better than his full range & neutral keyboard amp. The digital modelling on some multi's can sound rather cold and sterile, a good valve amp can warm things up a treat and sound a lot more realistic.

bassomane · #13 03-02-2009, 06:48 AM

Hi fokof! What RCF active box are you using?

fokof · #14 03-02-2009, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassomane

Hi fokof! What RCF active box are you using?

RCF ART310A
Bought it for Transportability/weight vs power/small footprint
http://www.rcfaudio.com/vediMacro.ph...-A/product.htm

Sounds A LOT better than any small amps out there.
Genz-Benz , MarkBass , .... "place a boutique bass amp name here"

Waiting to have some budget back , gonna sell the SRM450 and get a ART525 or a ART725 for bigger stages

The 725 is 750 watts and weights 41 pounds !!!!!!!