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Alternatives to Gallien Krueger?
- Thread starter Bass Boy J
- Start date
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
- 10,771
- 40,450
- Disclosures
- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
I've played this head on a number of gigs with a 115 cab ("house rig" a friend sets up for me when we play a particular venue). While I don't own any Markbass gear, I have to say it sounds great to me with those two unique voicing filters (VLE and VPF) and a very nice tonestack with well chosen EQ center points. This is a great suggestion IMO!
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No nonstarters found, and the teenage high mileage Volvo thing ended decades ago. You can't make this up: "it is required at my school to be in band to be in the Show Choir Combo band and Jazz Band" (What? No marching band requirement! The Beat Goes On at 20 degrees is the way to learn bass lines!)
All his questions are legit and his approach to music fits his age perfectly. There Are great sounding 3-4 lb heads that sound good and loud if needed, forget about the cab situation, it's his business, why doubt the story at all? Conspiracy buff? a joke maybe? ps I like the littleMark bass heads too.
Some of these responses make me unsure whether to laugh or shake my head. “You can’t get a good amp for $500 > 7 lbs”, why did you pick 15’s?” Etc. Seems to me that Bass Boy J has his head way more together than I did at age 14. Good on you, kid. Keep up the hard work.
At 23-lbs., that 800RB is a bit heavier than the 7-lb wish. Also just checked used prices and they are still over $500 on Reverb.
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
- 10,771
- 40,450
- Disclosures
- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
+1...I thought I was a smart teenager (hey, didn't we all), but I don't think I would have been smart enough or brave enough to seek out this kind of advice and then sort through it. Most all learning starts with a question and Bass Boy J has my respect for not being afraid to ask.
hello bassplayer's, i'm new here in the forum and already have a question regarding an old GK 800 RB.
Which loudspeaker do you use for the hi-out at the GK? as far as i know, the X-over has a frequency range/output from 100 Hz to 1000 Hz? i tried a Jensen tweeter 1" 16 W 8Ω: it just squeaks very high... so you need a speaker that only sounds up to about 1000 Hz?
Thanks for your help, regarts TurboSenior
Which loudspeaker do you use for the hi-out at the GK? as far as i know, the X-over has a frequency range/output from 100 Hz to 1000 Hz? i tried a Jensen tweeter 1" 16 W 8Ω: it just squeaks very high... so you need a speaker that only sounds up to about 1000 Hz?
Thanks for your help, regarts TurboSenior
1khz is a bit low for a tweeter to be crossed over. Most are happier crossed over around 2khz - 3 khz range, and the power requirements go up dramatically the lower the frequency. When biamping was a buzzword among bassists it was not well applied, and people would often run a 15 and a 210, which is what that crossover range sort of implies. Crossing over above 300 Hz can pretty much prevent your 10's from farting out.
Tweeters typically use very low power relative to their bass drivers, and the components are small enough that biamping doesn't really do much for you there.
Tweeters typically use very low power relative to their bass drivers, and the components are small enough that biamping doesn't really do much for you there.
Thanks swarfrat for your opinion. Meanwhile I also got an answer from GK USA: the X-over goes from 100Hz to about 10KHz. Well, I will try a mid/high speaker and hope for a good sound result. Until now I've been using a JBL 2" horn made of cast iron(!) but it's too heavy for me to take it with me to the gigs :-/
...and a trombone? You are a straight up STUD!!!
I got a brandy new MB 500 just before this grand pause descended upon us and I haven't even had a chance to gig it yet, but it's sounding very good. I could have perhaps shopped out a used one for myself, but my favorite music shop gets my $$$ if they have what I'm looking for.
Looking like a win-win so far. I was worried that maybe I should be thinking about the 800, but so far this thing is more than eager to bark.
I am getting my rig figured out! But, a lot of this stuff is used, so I am come with backup rigs for backup rigs. I like to plan ahead. And thanks!
Well, if you are in band at my school, then you are automatically in marching band.
Oh good. You didn't mention marching band. Just "Show Choir Combo Band" which sounds like a South Park parody name, meaning it's probably genuine. A name that's so PC trying to hit every point possible but the result is (to use an outdated term), lame. It's a Show! It's a Choir! It's a Combo! It's a Band! It's four groups in one! You can't miss, everyone is happy and recognised.
I suppose band member's exposure to the choir and "theatre people" could have some benefit, but I can't think of one. Learning tolerance maybe?
Remember that music is magical art and no amount of theory or analysis can help you come up with new melodies. If you aren't already, don't forget to improvise every day.
The bass I am going to get- Used Jazz Bass Special in black, and if that doesn’t work, a Yamaha bb300.
Cabinet- Acoustic 2x15, if that doesn’t work, a Road 2x15, then a Custom 2x15.
Head- 400RB, if that doesn’t work, 800RB, then MB500.
I know that I just went against everything I said in this thread, but I made up my mind on the sound. My mind tends to change a lot, and so I am sure maybe some day in the future the MB500 will be my main choice, but it is just the way I am a lot.
