Amp Head Decision Help

[Bobby Bass]

Trying to make a decision here for a small 200 watt @ 4 ohm amp head. It's between GK MB200, Fender Rumble 200 & Trace Elliot ELF. Going to us it with the speaker cab from a Ampeg B100R that has finally died. Tired of trying to get it working & spending money on it. Could have bought a whole bass amp for I have spent on it. HELP will be appreciated.

 

[Oren Hudson]

Rumble 200 would be my choice.

 

[Linnin]

Rumble 200 would be my choice.

^^^Mine Too^^^ I would advise you to get the Rumble 200 combo and use your ampeg as an extension speaker when needed. MF/GC is having a 15% off sale on all Fender Rumbles.

 

[Bent77]

Trying to make a decision here for a small 200 watt @ 4 ohm amp head. It's between GK MB200, Fender Rumble 200 & Trace Elliot ELF. Going to us it with the speaker cab from a Ampeg B100R that has finally died. Tired of trying to get it working & spending money on it. Could have bought a whole bass amp for I have spent on it. HELP will be appreciated.

To me they each have a specific sound, proprietary if you will.

I like both the GK and the Fender. Both get a lot of love. Haven’t played the trace. I had a fender head and sold it because I didn’t need two heads. If I was to buy another head, I would go GK just for something new

Are you able to listen the the three choices?

 

[jthisdell]

I used a Rumble 150 head for a similar purpose for several years and was happy with it.

 

[Bobby Bass]

I think I have ruled out the ELF. The ampeg cab. is 4 ohm & the rumble combo is most likely 8 ohm. Don't think it would be a good combination. OHMs would be off. Now it's down to GK or Rumble.

 

[mmbongo]

GK for sure. Made in the USA, much better quality, much better support, Speakon connectors, just an overall higher class of equipment.

 

[Bobby Bass]

GK for sure. Made in the USA, much better quality, much better support, Speakon connectors, just an overall higher class of equipment.

I think GK maybe. I already have a 1001RBII & a 410 Neo GK Cab. The big head is too much for the B100R 4 ohm speaker.

 

[pudgychef]

Rumble 200 would be my choice.

I just recently got the ELF and matching 2x8 - I really like it and I love the cab. Rumble wasn't an option for me (here in China, they barely even sell the V2s) or I would have definitely considered it as I quite like the sound.

No complaints about the ELF - I preferred it to the GK.

 

[pudgychef]

GK for sure. Made in the USA, much better quality, much better support, Speakon connectors, just an overall higher class of equipment.

Not that you are biased.. but I would put the ELF I have up against the MB200 I briefly had across the board.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Not that you are biased.. but I would put the ELF I have up against the MB200 I briefly had across the board.

Yes, there is nothing wrong with bias. Bias is our preference to what our amp sounds like. The GK MB200 is a high quality piece of gear and has a classic PUNCHY tone that about half of Talkbass loves. It just cuts through the mix and makes bass players sound good.

Now, I haven't tried the Trace Elliot yet, but the big draw to me is it's toyish size. I have no idea what it sounds like, when I get to Seattle I'll give it a try. But my GK gear has been giving me excellent sound for years, and absolutely reliable. A proven product.

So my recommendation is the GK MB200 and a GK CX115 or CX110. They are the cabs designed to go with those heads. And by the way they are quite affordable.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[Mastermold]

GK for sure. Made in the USA, much better quality, much better support, Speakon connectors, just an overall higher class of equipment.

+1
I've used the GK MB200 to power every cab I own including an Ampeg 810 and it does it in spades. Great amp.

 

[beaglesandbass]

^^^Mine Too^^^ I would advise you to get the Rumble 200 combo and use your ampeg as an extension speaker when needed. MF/GC is having a 15% off sale on all Fender Rumbles.

They asked for a head, not a combo. Also, they’re having a 15% off everything sale. It’s a week before Christmas. They will let you use those coupons for anything, even the “restricted brands”.

 

[FMBassist]

Trying to make a decision here for a small 200 watt @ 4 ohm amp head. It's between GK MB200, Fender Rumble 200 & Trace Elliot ELF. Going to us it with the speaker cab from a Ampeg B100R that has finally died. Tired of trying to get it working & spending money on it. Could have bought a whole bass amp for I have spent on it. HELP will be appreciated.

Potaflex all the way. PF350 head with either a 2x10 cab or a 1x15hlf.

 

[bass40hz]

GK, always GK.

 

[beaglesandbass]

GK, always GK.

I tend to agree. I've played the Fender Rumble (Combos) and they're not bad amps at all, just not my cup of tea. I have no experience with the heads though. I have a GK MB800, and the 200 has all the same tone shaping as the 800, just not as much power, so I'm sure I'd still love it. I also have the MB112-ii and MB212-ii combos. I just really like their MB series.

Ultimately though, the same thing is true with almost EVERY thread in the history of this site asking for help like this. Other people's recommendations will only get you so far. Gotta get to the store and try them out yourself.

 

[Bobby Bass]

Down to these 2 amp heads. GK MB200 or Fender Rumble 200?

 

[beaglesandbass]

Down to these 2 amp heads. GK MB200 or Fender Rumble 200?

Can you try either in store?

 

[beaglesandbass]

FWIW, I think GK’s customer service is way better. I’ve never had any issue getting to someone or having an issue resolved.

I had a Fender Rumble 500 combo that had an issue. I took it back to GC and they opened 3 more in front of me, all with the same issue. The GC salesman called Fender where they claimed they never heard of the issue and offered no help. I promptly returned it and went back to GK where I haven’t had an issue since.

 

[bass40hz]

GK. Done.