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Amp poll (Ampeg, GK content)
- Thread starter TheDude007
- Start date
Different basses have different outputs and different amps adjust differently.
I always adjust gain until clipping and roll-off a little bit...
Anyone here can go to a store and AB these amps or whatever they want (provided there's a music store where you live). Then you can come here and post your impressions. Really, it's not that hard... I did it, I can prove that I did it and I have my opinion...
OTOH, I'm sure there's a bunch of folks who will disagree without having ever touched any of the amps mentioned. Would love if I could do a blind-test on these subjects. I bet many people would be surprised...
I've tried both and I went for the Ampeg, but then I'm a sucker for the Ampeg sound.
I've played Hartke, Peavey, Markbass, Genz Benz, Mesa Boogie and Traynor. Always prefered the Ampeg sound in the end.
I even prefer the sound of the Micro VR above my MB Walkabout, which has got a pretty decent sound itself.
Sure, the little guy has it flaws but then, what amp is perfect all the way?
I love when people say: "so this is what I want, but I'm not willing to use the right gear for it, how ELSE can I achieve that?"
You already know how to get the tone you want... the rest seems to be rooted in lethargy.
And this is coming from one of the laziest people in the world... so please don't think I'm judging you. I play a MB210 combo myself for that exact reason. And I really want a 410 extension to add to it because that's the exact tone I want, but I don't want the weight of a 410... so I hear ya. I just think it's silly (even when I do it) to be like "well, I know that this will get me what I want, but it's too heavy (or too much work)"... sigh... I, at least, need to stop being so lazy.But in an effort to actually answer your question: I absolutely LOVE the GK MB series.
Maybe you and I should trade? Then you could have the 210 which allows you to add an extension to it, then that extension could have the vintage tone you're looking for and you could just bust it out when you're feeling really ambitious.
allexcosta - You're more than entitled to your opinion. I can tell you've tried them both, and if you like the Acoustic 260 better, then more power to you. You probably saved a good amount of money too.
GroovinOnFunk - I hear ya, and yeah, I'm lazy, and if I had something better than a Mazda3 hatch back to haul around an 810, and if I didn't practice in a basement studio, complete with death-stairs and everything else, I'd probably save my pennies for another year and go for a full stack and an SVT, or similar. However, I am lazy, hence this poll. With the gear that's available in this day and age, you can get really dang close to the sound that you want (if not nailing it) without taking a refrigerater with you everywhere you go.
I guess really all around this should have just been a GAS poll. I've got a tax return burning a hole in my pocket, and this is the first year since I've been an actual working adult where all of my debt is paid off, and I get to have some fun with my return.
GroovinOnFunk - I hear ya, and yeah, I'm lazy, and if I had something better than a Mazda3 hatch back to haul around an 810, and if I didn't practice in a basement studio, complete with death-stairs and everything else, I'd probably save my pennies for another year and go for a full stack and an SVT, or similar. However, I am lazy, hence this poll. With the gear that's available in this day and age, you can get really dang close to the sound that you want (if not nailing it) without taking a refrigerater with you everywhere you go.
I guess really all around this should have just been a GAS poll. I've got a tax return burning a hole in my pocket, and this is the first year since I've been an actual working adult where all of my debt is paid off, and I get to have some fun with my return.
Thanks kosmicwizard. By the way, I checked out the Genz-Benz amps you were talking about (by checked out, I mean looked at on the web) and they do look pretty sweet. However, I couldn't find anything on Ashdown fliptops. Do you have a link or anything for them? I wouldn't mind checking those out.
Thousand of dollars later I learned my lesson. Take your bass and any pedal you "must use" and go to a store and try amps. Forget about what anyone says about style/brand/etc. When you get a couple you really like do the research. Your asking us if you'll like a TB Burger with special sauce and willing to drop $600 on our say so. If that works for you I have a car, a bike, a house, some tag sale stuff.....that I can recommend
My first purchase after the Fender Rumble 60 combo was a Micro V with (2) matching cabs. that mini rig cost $ 1000 and looking back it wasn't a smart purchase for me to make . Now after getting rid of the head and one cab , I have just one 210
left for studio stuff which is all its good for IMO. Everybody is different but we all want the biggest bang for our bucks. My favorite cab and make currently is Fender Pro. Yes is costs more but the 215Pro is a blast to play. I have 810 cabs but a 215 cab still gets me going..................Old school I guess but once I toy around with "lite-rigs", I'm always back to the big heavy sound................Good luck
left for studio stuff which is all its good for IMO. Everybody is different but we all want the biggest bang for our bucks. My favorite cab and make currently is Fender Pro. Yes is costs more but the 215Pro is a blast to play. I have 810 cabs but a 215 cab still gets me going..................Old school I guess but once I toy around with "lite-rigs", I'm always back to the big heavy sound................Good luck
MrMeacham, trust me, I'm not going to buy anything till I have a chance to sit down with it and try it out and see what I think. However, there are many TB folk whose opinions I value, and who DO have experience with the stuff in question. I can sit down with something and try it out and I may think it's great while I'm there. However, someone whose had one for a while can tell me about the reliability, etc. It's kind of like researching a car before you buy one. You may value the opinion of Car & Driver, but are you going to go buy one without a test drive because they say it's great? Who knows, I may try them out and think neither of them fit my needs and hang on to the money...who knows? But I do know that I like opinions of informed fellow players. Besides, if we didn't ask these dumb questions, there'd only be like 4 threads on TB.
I don't know that particular GK head, but my 700RBII can get a very wide variety of tones. Between adjusting especially the contour, presence, treble, and boost, you can get some very vintage tones.
Wow, you took some advice very personally. I ask a ton of questions and get responses that are helpful and some that are not. I've had threads hijacked and I've never mouthed off. As on fellow TB'r to another.
While you are trying to decide, experiment a bit more with the settings on the MB212.
Have you tried crankin' up the boost and lowering the master on the MB212?
You may also like to try out a GK 700RB-II or an 800RB-?.
Have you tried crankin' up the boost and lowering the master on the MB212?
You may also like to try out a GK 700RB-II or an 800RB-?.
honestly for smaller amps. Mark Bass has a killer line! small, lightweight, and can fill a room standing next to a STV IMO. And super versatile!!
I really like old Ampeg sound . . . that said, yesterday UPS delivered a GK MB212 Combo. This is an alternative to my much heavier all Eden rig, which I still will use for all gigging. I purchased the MB212, so I could use it for low-volume band practices and for use on Thursday night practices and Sundays playing on our church's Worship Team.
I made sure the amp worked, then last night, I took the MB212 to WT practice. I think I'm fairly good at setting up equipment, and within a few minutes was ready to play. Gain at 11:00. Contour 'on,' EQ knobs nearly at 12:00 - the Lo and Bass down somewhat! Boost and Volume at 12:00 . . . the amp sounded very good, but sterile, mechanical . . . not to warm . . . guess I'm comparing it to the warm sound of my Eden rig! But it a good combo!
Anyway, I think it's a keeper, though I have 29 more days to return it. I read that it loosens up after about ten hours of playing through it, and I just read to lower the Vol while increasing the Boost, which I will try Sunday morning. I do love the lightweight of the MB212 vs 175 pounds for my complete Eden rig - 2 cabs and a rack!
Edit: One complaint about the MB212 is that I used it to go from the amp to the PA system via the XLR connection. I tried a half-dozen different cables, and all of them have the small slide disconnect/release, whatever it's called, and that release is right up against the back edge. The cable goes in easily enough, but to get it out, you can't get a finger in to release the cable . . . I had to use a key to do so. GK, if you read these . . . you need to put a notch (cheap fix) in that area or turn the amp connection around, which is what I'm going to try to do!
I made sure the amp worked, then last night, I took the MB212 to WT practice. I think I'm fairly good at setting up equipment, and within a few minutes was ready to play. Gain at 11:00. Contour 'on,' EQ knobs nearly at 12:00 - the Lo and Bass down somewhat! Boost and Volume at 12:00 . . . the amp sounded very good, but sterile, mechanical . . . not to warm . . . guess I'm comparing it to the warm sound of my Eden rig! But it a good combo!
Anyway, I think it's a keeper, though I have 29 more days to return it. I read that it loosens up after about ten hours of playing through it, and I just read to lower the Vol while increasing the Boost, which I will try Sunday morning. I do love the lightweight of the MB212 vs 175 pounds for my complete Eden rig - 2 cabs and a rack!
Edit: One complaint about the MB212 is that I used it to go from the amp to the PA system via the XLR connection. I tried a half-dozen different cables, and all of them have the small slide disconnect/release, whatever it's called, and that release is right up against the back edge. The cable goes in easily enough, but to get it out, you can't get a finger in to release the cable . . . I had to use a key to do so. GK, if you read these . . . you need to put a notch (cheap fix) in that area or turn the amp connection around, which is what I'm going to try to do!
MrMeacham - I apologize, I didn't mean for that to come off sounding snarky or anything like that. I was merely trying to get across that I am not planning on buying anything before trying it out and that I value a variety of opinions. Sorry about that.
Same here Dude. When I put the "smile" I meant "the bridge etc" comments as a joke not a insult. That aside. I does help to get some opinions to start but I've found that there are few products here that get no love. You do have to spend time playing. My board pedals are not popular here. They work great for me. MY take is that people love the VR Micro but they have had fan and shop issues. The New GK's seem to have some shop issues as well. Acoustic appear to be the best bang for the buck if you like the sound. I love my B-100r but hated my SVT Pro 4. I like Hartke amps. My SWR Baby Blue fried the speakers and crossovers twice. My working man SWR 210 sounded to sterile for me. The new Portaflex love is all based on fantasy. No one really knows until a few TBr's start posting reviews when they arrive.-Peace
actually the new pf love is based on looks...black diamond, dude!
hey, whatever...opinions are like beer...some i like, some make me puke.
hey, whatever...opinions are like beer...some i like, some make me puke.
