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Alternatives to Gallien Krueger?

#61
The entire premise of this thread is that the OP likes GK amps but wants something cheaper. Thing is, GK amps aren't expensive per se; they pretty much have an offering at every sensible amp price point. Just like Ampeg, Peavey, and a dozen others.

If the dude wants a 500 watt class D amp with a tube preamp section and that weighs 4 pounds and he has $179 for it, he'll need to mow a few more lawns.
 
#62
Question: What kind of cabinets do you have picked out? I ask because if your speakers cannot faithfully reproduce the sound sent to them, you might not ever get "that" sound that you want.

Buy any head you want, run it through an old, 18" Acoustic, and you will never get a hi-fi sound out of it.

So, what cabinets?
 
#64
Al Kraft said:
Is used gear from a reliable seller an option? I would think $500 could get you something like a used 700RB (which will likely last until you're 30) or an MB500 which should also be reliable enough to serve you into your 20's.

If you have a sound in your head and GK gets you there, I would not be afraid of buying used. GK, especially the RB line, is as reliable as anything out there IME. I have friends with 20 and 30 year old GK gear that plays fine...my SWR SM-400S is from the early 90's, was recently checked out, found to be in fine order, and still sounds killer. Don't be afraid of higher quality older gear as long as you know who owned it and how it was cared for.
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I think this is very good advice. I have no fear in buying Gently used used gear.

I’m going to add that that while repair incidents may increase with age, the amount of time in use is also a factor in failure. There is a large difference in longevity between an amp running 40 hours a week as opposed to one that runs 10 hours a month. My Eden heads are closing in on twenty years old and still would like a champ.

To that end, used gear purchased @ Guitar Center comes with a short term money back guarantee, you also have an option to buy an extended warranty for a reasonable cost.

Even though I have no experience dearly with GK heads, I understand they are fairly Rock solid dependable and age well.
 
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#65
mmbongo said:
Darkglass Microtubes 500. Problem is, you'll need another $100. Cut a few lawns next week and you're there. But the advantage is you get an incredible amp that's NEW with a warranty and already has all the dirt pedals you need built in (heck that will save you $300 right there). It's small and weighs nothing. Not only will it last until you are 18, it will last until your kids are 18 if you take care of it.

Darkglass Microtubes 500 - 500-watt Bass Head

View attachment 3828164
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THIS!!!!
I have been using an Ampeg V4-B and an Ashdown ABM500 for about a decade now. I recently wanted a lightweight and versatile Class D head to pack as a backup. I was using the DG B3K pedal so I looked at this and spent the $599 from Sweetwater. This has now become my primary amp. It simply KILLS!
 
#67
I bought my 800rb for $175 and a Peavey 115bx cab for $99 from Guitar Center online used section. Great rig for $274. Nothing about it was less than 7 pounds though. If the amp is 7 pounds and the bass is 10 pounds, how much does the cab weigh I wonder? :unsure:
 
#68
peavey is a great brand in general, and i've had nothing but good experiences with their instruments, amps, PA gear, whatever. ampeg has a checked past, unfortunately.

if you like the GK sound, GK is the one for you. those old 200w silver faced amps were amazing bang for the buck back in the day (who remembers that model number?)
 
#69
OP, when it comes to a preferred sound, settling is NEVER an option. I too, am a GK fan and most likely will be for the rest of my life. Grew up listening to my fathers 800RB and peavy 215 growl through my chest since I was 5. I started playing and GK was what I just had to have. So I ended up with the 700RBii. I played that head for 2 years before scratchiness became a real irritation. My goal was to get brand new GK gear. After searching around, comparing prices, and just plain bouncing my face in and out of music stores I came to 2 realizations. First, buying second hand will always leave you wondering what the true sound of the head/cab really was. When we buy stuff second hand, typically it has been used well. Second, If you have your heart set on something, nothing else will compare and you will be unhappy with whatever you settle on. Even if it does happen to have the GK logo on it.

BTW, I bought an Ampeg SVT 4 pro and an 810 cab for 1k. Serious wheeling and dealing but I could not be happier.
 
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#70
The weight constraint is going to be a problem, 7lbs is Class D territory and usually more money.

Set that aside for a minute and I recommend either a 700RBII (350.00) or a 400 RB (200.00). These are work horse amps and a decent one should still have plenty of life in it. I used a 700RBII for years and never had any issue. Last year I picked up an old 400RB off GC's used site for 175.00. It sounds awesome and is the sound that defined GK, IMHO. Works amazing and I use it on gigs quite a lot. It's 40 years old and is still working like a champ.
 
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#71
Dude...ok I’m a diehard GNR fan. Like as extreme as it gets. My all time favorite band.in my earlier years of playing I’d go through phases where I wanted to sound just like my influences.At the end of the day it’s just a phase.a couple months down the line you’ll be in another phase.i suggest you focus on your playing and the tone will come.different music and different bands require all kinds of tones.Youre talking Duff,lemmy and cliff hybrid tone and you’re saying GK is out of your price range. What is your price range? Because it’s not gunna be cheap for what you’re trying to accomplish as far as your gear goes. Start off with an amp that has a good EQ and OD channel. Fender Rumble combo amps or affordable. Maybe get a darkglass pedal.Thats a start. Probably within the 550-650$$ range. That’s just some basic stuff. Take your current setup and learn about gain structure.learn about adding and scooping mids. You’d be surprised. I spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars trying all different brands, amps,preAmps,poweramps,Rackmount stuff,cabs etc. less is more. I have my bass and amp and nothing else. I don’t use any effects, no preAmps nothing. I’ve owned SVT,V4B, various pro series, BA, all the modern portaflex pf 350 and pf 500.the Ampeg pf series is junk btw.youll have issues. Ive owned orange,trace elliot,GK,Fender,Hartke and so much more.less is more,less is more,less is more.my current Rig and best rig is a fender Rumble 800 head into a Fender Bassman neo 610. I use dimarzio DP122 pickups and round wounds. I get all the tone options I’ve ever dreamed of.i used that 30 day satisfaction return policy for so long at GC. Do you’re own thing
 
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#72
Bass Boy J said:
Hello. I am on a quest for a new rig, and looked at GK, but it is out of my price range. I was wondering if Ampeg or Peavy were good alternatives to this brand.
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I’m not saying this because I’m an artist with GK.

The reason I’m with GK is because nothing else sounds like them and I incorporated that sound in what I do.

There are other amps that work just fine, but nothing else sounds like GK.
There is no substitute, I would just be patient and work towards one.
 
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#75
BassBrass said:
we don't know how far his walk to school is or how many books or PC he already carries: if it's over hills climbing fences or urban desolation broken glass and barbed wire, 5 miles in all weather like mah daddy did to do or so he claimed... 15 lbs Extra carry a mile or 2, a voluntary conditioning march, when so many amps weigh nothing these days, why do it? (other than for character and conditioning).
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My walk is about 2-t minutes, but I also carry a trombone, and my bass, and my amp.
 
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#76
ezstep said:
Question: What kind of cabinets do you have picked out? I ask because if your speakers cannot faithfully reproduce the sound sent to them, you might not ever get "that" sound that you want.

Buy any head you want, run it through an old, 18" Acoustic, and you will never get a hi-fi sound out of it.

So, what cabinets?
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I picked out two acoustic 1x15’s
 
#78
I say just nab a used 700 RB and be done with it. I picked mine up for 600 with 2 cabs from a friend a year ago. It did get really scratchy but that's more often than not solved with a good cleaning, which mine is currently in the shop getting done and checked over. The RB heads are very serviceable and every amp will need periodic maintenance, but the newer micro heads tend to be more difficult to perform routine maintenance on and may require outright replacement for something that older bigger heads would require an easy fix. Now mind you my head started acting up after a year of weekly rehearsals and a few gigs, so it's not like mine was just sitting in a closet getting played only once or twice a month. With proper care an RB will last for years whether new or used
 
#80
TonyP- said:
I’m not saying this because I’m an artist with GK.

The reason I’m with GK is because nothing else sounds like them and I incorporated that sound in what I do.

There are other amps that work just fine, but nothing else sounds like GK.
There is no substitute, I would just be patient and work towards one.
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You can say the same about every amp though.ive never heard anything that sounds like orange amps.fender certainly doesn’t sound like an ampeg or GK or anything else. It’s all preference and what you’re expected tone is.To me NOTHING sounds like anything else.
 

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