Alternatives to Gallien Krueger?

[dkelley]

used ampeg pf350, or a pf500 if you come across one (But they're pricier often). At 15, you have no reason to be looking for GK stuff in particular - just get an amp with power that is light - GK amps can be hard to figure out at first compared to other brands because they have unusual controls and gain staging that is more at your control than with most other amps.... at least that is the case with the RB stuff I've used.

AMPEG PF heads are very affordable, used. PF350, which I owned for a long time, is 200 watts into 8 ohms, more or less, and 350 watts into 4 ohms. you'll thank me later - I bought one used and it was a workhorse without a single issue and sounded great. Very light too.

 

[flyingfinbar]

The trombone itself teaches character and conditioning. Do your long tones brah. Do you have any idea how valuable that double makes you? Good trombones can work anywhere. And the info you get from arrangements of trombone parts informs your bass playing know-how. Most bass lines are baritone range which the trombone covers. You may already know that...

just dropping in to +1 on all of this. I played trombone, and eventually bass trombone, all throughout elementary, middle, and high school. I learned more about playing bass during those years than I ever did with a bass in my hand.

 

[PaulKaplan]

There's an MB500 in the Classifieds here for $400 right now. Just sayin'

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

There are unending bass amps out there, but I've yet to run across one that sounds like G-K that isn't G-K. There are a lot better and a lot worse, but there's only one G-K. Used Gallien Krueger amps are among the safest bets in the used amp universe (they just work forever), and their smallest practice combo sounds just like their biggest tour ready rig, they're not out of your price range unless your price range is like 75 bucks.

 

[ga_edwards]

And yes I looked at used GK stuff, but a lot of the stuff that is in my price range is pretty old. I just want to have a head that will last me until I am 18 or 20, because I am 15.

If the gear you're looking at is pretty old but still works great, then there's no reason it won't last you another 3-5 years.

That said, reading the rest of the thread, you may be better served by a faily inexpensive, lightweight head and a modeller which will let you get close to that elusive GK sound. Even the cheapest Zoom multifx bass pedals have a GK model.

 

[Standalone]

My friend, there are scads of used GK amps out there. Seek out a 700RBii. You will nail Duff's tone. Chasing that tone with other amps doesn't make sense when it's out there for cheap. This of course depends on where you live, but if you are in the continental US, it is very doable.

 

[dkelley]

Also, if you're in or near Canada, Yorkville/Traynor products (from long and mcquade musical instrument stores) are excellent top notch products in every way... and often more affordable than products from other companies, specially used.

 

[DeepThoughts]

For portability and that bright Duff tone I think the ELF is a good bet. I mean,how much stage is he needing to fill?

 

[Peteyboy]

@Bass Boy J

You may have been 14 when we started talking about this, but we're just gonna keep talking about it until dudes who haven't read the whole thread can make suggestions you've heard already. You will have bought your amp, joined a band, gone on tour, won a Grammy. Just remember us when you hit the bigtime!

 

[Plectrum72]

Why?

Why not?

 

[Bass Boy J]

@Bass Boy J

You may have been 14 when we started talking about this, but we're just gonna keep talking about it until dudes who haven't read the whole thread can make suggestions you've heard already. You will have bought your amp, joined a band, gone on tour, won a Grammy. Just remember us when you hit the bigtime![/QUOTE
For sure!

 

[bherman]

@Bass Boy J

Best of luck to you on your search, I hope that all of these posts were helpful. I appreciate seeing your dedication to music. I know that at some point you’ll have to narrow it down to a few instruments to get really good at, but I’m envious of your trying so many instruments! One of my big regrets is not keeping up with more instruments. When I was your age I played some piano, pretty serious on alto sax, then guitar, then bass, now for 50 yrs. Left them all behind for bass.

 

[Bass Boy J]

@Bass Boy J

Best of luck to you on your search, I hope that all of these posts were helpful. I appreciate seeing your dedication to music. I know that at some point you’ll have to narrow it down to a few instruments to get really good at, but I’m envious of your trying so many instruments! One of my big regrets is not keeping up with more instruments. When I was your age I played some piano, pretty serious on alto sax, then guitar, then bass, now for 50 yrs. Left them all behind for bass.

I really enjoy bass and I learn a ton of theory on the bass, and then I transfer that knowledge to guitar, and then I take formal lessons for piano, and transfer that knowledge to bass, and then I play trombone in my school’s band and marching band, as it is required at my school to be in band to be in the Show Choir Combo band and Jazz Band. And thank you!

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I also want something that is no more than 7 lbs

Now this is a joke! You can get great sound, good power, lightweight, choose any two but only 2 of the 3. All three for a low price, dream on. By the time you're 25 maybe, but not now...

I could point you to a DNS-800 (800-watts rms) for $799, but that's $1 short of being $300 more than your budget. Great sound, plenty of power (800-watts rms), and weighs 7-lbs. But, it doesn't have a GK sound. In my opinion, it has a much clearer more articulate sound than any GK I've used (had two of them), which is why I'm a DNA endorser.

So, if the GK sound floats your boat (it floats a lot of boats), accept the heavier weight and buy the 800RB used for now. You can get a lighter amp with a similar sound in about 10-years for a similar price (inflation adjusted price) that you'll pay now for a used 800RB.

 

[Peteyboy]

Now this is a joke! You can get great sound, good power, lightweight, choose any two but only 2 of the 3. All three for a low price, dream on. By the time you're 25 maybe, but not now...

I could point you to a DNS-800 (800-watts rms) for $799, but that's $1 short of being $300 more than your budget. Great sound, plenty of power (800-watts rms), and weighs 7-lbs. But, it doesn't have a GK sound. In my opinion, it has a much clearer more articulate sound than any GK I've used (had two of them), which is why I'm a DNA endorser.

So, if the GK sound floats your boat (it floats a lot of boats), accept the heavier weight and buy the 800RB used for now. You can get a lighter amp with a similar sound in about 10-years for a similar price (inflation adjusted price) that you'll pay now for a used 800RB.

RVD - kinda buzzkillin here. YOU fit an 800RB in your backpack with all your books.

 

[swarfrat]

There are several nonstarters here. One I and others have pointed out. Weight and cost. Pick one. The other is the practicality of toting all this. This actually makes me think someone is pulling our leg, but bass, trombone, and amp huffing it on foot. I'm not buying it, and if it is true, I'd say put that $400 towards a car. By the time he's 16-17 he might be able to get a high mileage Volvo.

 

[nilorius]

Aguilar, it is better but more expensive.

 

[acid bass]

Seriously folks, get your heads out of the sand. GK not only makes a 500W head that weighs less than 5 lbs, there are several used ones floating around for under $500. You would know this if you read the entire thread (why do I even suggest this on TB)

 

[Meaculpa]

I use on almost all my projects the gk emulation on my gt1b. It's great.
Gk Plex pedal it's a good choice.
Hartke has a similar sound (in terms of punchiness and on sort of "modern" sound... Hartke HD combos range)
Edit: punchiness= attack. That's what I mean to say.

 

[TinIndian]

Seriously folks, get your heads out of the sand. GK not only makes a 500W head that weighs less than 5 lbs, there are several used ones floating around for under $500. You would know this if you read the entire thread (why do I even suggest this on TB)

Given he needs to carry it to and from school the most logical choice is the MB500. Lightweight, plenty of power and well, GK. As you point out several on the used market well within his budget.