Alternatives to Gallien Krueger?

[Cardsfan_69]

this may be blasphemous to some... but, a Fender Stage 800 does a pretty decent job of mimicking GK sound and dozens of other usable models. I used to play through a GK rb1001ii and a 4x10 neo cab. This set up I a have now stage 800 and matching 210 ext cab is very light and killer tone, effects, looper...

 

[Eminor3rd]

$500 should be plenty to get one of several used GK heads.

 

[Muttleybass]

I'm not sure why people are suggesting more expensive alternatives when the kid clearly said he was looking for a CHEAPER alternative to GK, which is already great gear for the price.

The best suggestion is buy used. None of the cheap brands will come close, however IMHO, the Traynor stuff will come closest with the most reliability. The challenge will be finding something in his budget that fits in his backpack.

 

[mmbongo]

The takeaway from this thread is that there's a significant number of bassists that still aren't aware class D amps exist or how affordable they are.

Yep. I don't understand the 'you will never find a 7lb. amp' comments....7 pounds is a TANK these days. Those Darkglass amps are less than FOUR pounds and they have B3K AND Vintage Microtubes pedals built in....for $600! Incredible.

 

[dougjwray]

Maybe a used MB200 and a Sansamp to dirty it up a little?

 

[BergerHead]

Forget Galllien, give Freddy a try!

 

[DJ Bebop]

Less than $500, less than 7 lbs. Brand new.
Peavey MiniMax V2 600-Watt Lightweight Bass Head

https://peavey.com/ItemFiles/Manual/119100_37290.pdf

 

[Joebone]

Why not?

Philosophy 101, eh?

 

[crabfunk]

Another vote for MB500. Sounds great, rugged construction, plenty of power.

 

[Stranger Danger]

The amp that I need needs to have 200 watts minimum, 500 watts max.

Why?

 

[alaskaleftybass]

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.

I second that emotion! GK all the way! You'll never regret it!

GK:There is no substitute!

 

[N4860]

Here's a bit of a different suggestion, but how about a used older GK (like a 400rb, 700rb, or 800rb) that you can just take to school once and keep in the locker and then just use the rest of the budget for an at home practice amp? This of course depends on how much you trust leaving an amp in your locker. I went to high school in a pretty small town so there wasn't much worry about leaving an instrument in my locker.

 

[bobbybass85]

Ok having read most of this, I feel like I can respond.

1. why did you pick the acoustic 15s? I’ve played some of the newer acoustic stuff and in my experience you’ll get a decent vintage tone for a while, but they will be the weak link in your rig long term. Fender rumbles are solid cabs, and can be found for reasonable prices used. That’d be my pick.

2. Don’t worry a ton about wattage, the Trace Elliot elf into an efficient cab can be louder than an amp with many more watts run into an inefficient one. Also, the elf would be a solid choice to consider.

3. As for amps, I’d recommend the Elf as I mentioned, the gk mb heads, or the Ashdown Original if you can find one used.

4. Are you taking a cab to school each day too? What are you plugging the amp into at school?

 

[Bass Boy J]

Ok having read most of this, I feel like I can respond.

1. why did you pick the acoustic 15s? I’ve played some of the newer acoustic stuff and in my experience you’ll get a decent vintage tone for a while, but they will be the weak link in your rig long term. Fender rumbles are solid cabs, and can be found for reasonable prices used. That’d be my pick.

2. Don’t worry a ton about wattage, the Trace Elliot elf into an efficient cab can be louder than an amp with many more watts run into an inefficient one. Also, the elf would be a solid choice to consider.

3. As for amps, I’d recommend the Elf as I mentioned, the gk mb heads, or the Ashdown Original if you can find one used.

4. Are you taking a cab to school each day too? What are you plugging the amp into at school?

1. Duff Mckagan used 15 inches to record the gnr albums, and I like that sound the best.
2. I don’t want something too loud, as my neighbors can hear my rumble 15.
4 yes.

 

[Al Kraft]

1. Duff Mckagan used 15 inches to record the gnr albums, and I like that sound the best.
2. I don’t want something too loud, as my neighbors can hear my rumble 15.
4 yes.

Please don't let yourself get drug into a rut by thinking that 15" speakers all sound like "fill in the blank" and 12" like something else and 10" are their own unique sound. How a speaker/cab "system" is tuned and voiced by the designer has more to do with specific tone goals than speaker size. I'll spare you a lengthy post, but just say that I have been playing music since the 1960's and working as an engineer since the 1970's...my advice is not based on internet folklore.

If practice volume is a concern (and I'm sure your neighbors appreciate being shown that respect), turn down the volume or use headphones. I can practice quietly enough to not bother neighbors with a 412 or 410 and an 800 Watt head, which could easily rattle windows and set-off car alarms up and down the block. There are a ton of headphone solutions out there, including as a built-in feature on some the GK amps suggested (e.g. the GK MB500). Most all solid state heads do not require you to have speakers connected to use the headphone option.

One of my life lessons is that I almost always find better success meeting my tone goals using my ears to listen for the qualities I'm looking for than by trying to buy using similar specs to gear others I admire have. Speaker size tells you roughly how big the hole is in the front baffle is and that's really about it.

If you get a chance, stop by a music store when this virus deal is over and listen to different brand cabs of similar configuration (115, 210, 112, 212, doesn't matter). In fact if you get a chance, try an Aguilar DB whatever size cab against an Aguilar GS whatever size cab and you'll quickly hear that sometimes voicing within a company's different series using the same size speaker varies significantly.

I hope some of that is helpful as you look to make a wise investment with the money you've saved up. I only wish I had applied more of this kind of advice when I was starting out and buying my first few rigs.

 

[Bass Boy J]

Please don't let yourself get drug into a rut by thinking that 15" speakers all sound like "fill in the blank" and 12" like something else and 10" are their own unique sound. How a speaker/cab "system" is tuned and voiced by the designer has more to do with specific tone goals than speaker size. I'll spare you a lengthy post, but just say that I have been playing music since the 1960's and working as an engineer since the 1970's...my advice is not based on internet folklore.

If practice volume is a concern (and I'm sure your neighbors appreciate being shown that respect), turn down the volume or use headphones. I can practice quietly enough to not bother neighbors with a 412 or 410 and an 800 Watt head, which could easily set-off rattle windows and car alarms up and down the block. There are a ton of headphone solutions out there, including aas a built-in feature on some the GK amps suggested (e.g. the GK MB500). Most all solid state heads do not require you to have speakers connected to use the headphone option.

One of my life lessons is that I almost always find better success meeting my tone goals using my ears to listen for the qualities I'm looking for than by trying to buy using similar specs to gear others I admire have. Speaker size tells you roughly how big the hole is in the front baffle is and that's really about it.

If you get a chance, stop by a music store when this virus deal is over and listen to different brand cabs of similar configuration (115, 210, 112, 212, doesn't matter). In fact if you get a chance, try an Aguilar DB whatever size cab against an Aguilar GS whatever size cab and you'll quickly hear that sometimes voicing within a company's different series using the same size speaker varies significantly.

I hope some of that is helpful as you look to make a wise investment with the money you've saved up. I only wish I had applied more of this kind of advice when I was starting out and buying my first few rigs.

Thanks! I am going to the get the Peavy MiniMax Head for sure, and I will for sure try those 15 inch speaker cabinets, but I’ll try 2x10, like the Ampeg, micro 2x10, etc.

 

[Al Kraft]

Thanks! I am going to the get the Peavy MiniMax Head for sure, and I will for sure try those 15 inch speaker cabinets, but I’ll try 2x10, like the Ampeg, micro 2x10, etc.

...and you may end up finding a 15" loaded cab produces the tone that's in your head, but you'll be much happier in the long run if your ears got the final vote on that decision as opposed to simply buying by speaker size. You've done everything right in approaching this IMO. You know what your personal requirements are (budget, size, weight, tone goal, reliability, etc.) and why, you've reached out to vet those requirements with others who can help you test whether your assumptions are sound and if you've missed anything, and you are listening to see what makes sense.

I'd say good luck in your search, but your won't need luck with the open-minded approach you're taking!

 

[Bass Boy J]

...and you may end up finding a 15" loaded cab produces the tone that's in your head, but you'll be much happier in the long run if your ears got the final vote on that decision as opposed to simply buying by speaker size. You've done everything right in approaching this IMO. You know what your personal requirements are (budget, size, weight, tone goal, reliability, etc.) and why, you've reached out to vet those requirements with others who can help you test whether your assumptions are sound and if you've missed anything, and you are listening to see what makes sense.

I'd say good luck in your search, but your won't need luck with the open-minded approach you're taking!

Thanks!

 

[bobbybass85]

Al’s giving you good advice! All else I’ll say is save some money for a car, you’ll want one ASAP carrying all that gear around!!

 

[madmaskbass]

man if you are starting out and playing that music then searching for Gk specifically is severely limiting..just get something loud and keep practicing...seems like you're reading talkbass too much talking about being under 7lbs. you're 15...just get into it.