Ampeg rig to a GK rig: What can I expect?

[projectMalamute]

Not according to all the GK literature I've read. According to GK they're using 'Paragon Loudspeakers' which they apparently make.

Now, these very-well might be re-branded Eminence speakers, but if that's the case they're doing a great job of disguising it

Pyle! that's what GK used to put in their cabs circa '92 or so. Just remembered. It does appear that they are rolling their own these days.

 

[steve4765630]

Both are good amps. The SVT series head are still decent although they are made in Vietnam now, big mistake Loud Technologies! The cabs are nice too, but a bit boomy for my taste. Boomy does not equal warm though. Boomy means that they push a ton of air, but they lack sparkle and definition. To say that GK is not warm is false. They are very warm amps, but the problem is most guys don't know how to set them. For the warmest tone turn the contour all the way off as well as the presence. Put all the EQ knobs at 12 o'clock. Don't push in the 5 string button (too much low end). Have the boost at 1 o'clock and push in the two Hi-Cut buttons over by the master volume. There you have warm, punchy, full-range bass tone that will cut right through any mix.

 

[realdeal]

As the OP of this thread, I have noticed the trend that players believe Ampeg amps are warm, angry, aggressive, and classic sounding. Players also believe that GK amps are modern, hi-fi, punchy, and loud sounding. Is this an accurate depiction?

I'd like to hear more from people who do not have a bias toward one company or the other, and people who have experience with both companies.

I own(ed) both, formerly a G-K 400RBII. currently a 3-PRO and a V4Bh through SVT Classic cabs. I like(d) them all very much. The G-K's G.I.V.E. circuit has a very accurate tube growl, and Ampegs sound like.....Ampegs, which is a very good thing.

My advice:
Absolutely disregard and ignore any descriptions of sound and preferences of gear posted here, including mine. Repeat daily.
The desired tone of one player whose style might be thrashing away has nothing to do with a pocket or Blues, or Jazz or R&B player, and so on.

Do YOUR homework, play through as many combinations of those (or others) as you can, preferably in a real-life working or rehearsal situation. IME it's apparent which tone suits YOUR attack and style and sonic goal.

What someone else wants to hear means nuthin' to me!
And opinions.....

Good luck!

 

[Warpeg]

Believe me, I'd love nothing more than to be able to go out try some GK rigs for research. However, my "9 to 5" and gig schedule keeps me too busy to get to a store that carries GK. The closest store is 70 miles away!

 

[realdeal]

I understand. You could buy from GC, or online from MF,either brand, try the unit, return it; , then order the other, etc- keep the one that you like the best.
Of course there's shipping costs involved, but it's the only SURE way to know what floats your boat.
No disrespect intended for anyone's preference...
But as I mentioned, there are so many variables as to styles of music, playing style, and most of all PERSONAL preference.

Some of the comments I hear about Ampeg e.g. being "muddy" or a one-trick pony are way ridiculous.
Both brands you're considering can do the job, and you should be able to produce great sounds from either.
Fair enough?

 

[NicJimBass]

The choice of cabinets can produce a perceived difference as well. A lot of bassists who I see in GC every now and then compare an SVT-CL with an 810E (no tweeter) to a GK 1001RB-II with a tweeter-loaded GK cab of some sort, and the tweeter on. It's no surprise that people will jump to the "hi-fi" or "sterile" conclusion in a matter of minutes;

This is a good point. GK is definitely capable of a very hi-fi cutting sound, but you can also turn the tweeter down or off, EQ it a bit, and get a nice, warm grinding tone. My jump from an 810 to Neo 412 was pretty apparent. I kept the tweeter down quite a bit, only turning it up when I really wanted to cut through.

Someone else posted I may have played a sick Ampeg. Could've been. I also only played one head at a GC near me, but it was enough to turn me off from any other Ampeg head. I've used GK since I started, it's what I know and what I love.

 

[SteveC]

Useable tone instaed of that Ampeg mush.

 

[silky smoove]

There's definitely a lot of sway in either direction for both brands.

GK is stereotypically known for being very punchy and to some very sterile. Ampeg is stereotypically known for being very warm and to some very muddy.

GK IS capable of producing warm pocket filling tones. Ampeg IS capable of producing punchy modern tones.

 

[Ryan L.]

Mush??

 

[origami]

yes, the GK heads sound way different in tweeter cabs versus non tweeter cabs especially when the horn managment (bi amp) feature is involved.

my GK800rb really doesn't seem to like horn loaded cabs, it seems much more at home and sounds killer powering my 2 old ampeg SVT 115 cabs (tweeterless) I once had, or an ampeg SVT810 (no tweeter) often a backlined combination.

i found the 800rb to be a bit noisy in the power amps (in comparison to my 1001rbII), and if someone wanted to use the 800's mid cut (which has a slight treble boost) or the treble boost presets using a horn cab this would add a lot of hiss to the sound unless you turned the horn off, but this hiss is tamed when used through a non-tweeter cabinet (which may not have the top end reproduction ability anyhow). The tweeterless cabs were much more prevelent when the 800rb came out and thus the unit is designed better to work with them.

my 1001rbII just comes to life when used with a horn managment cab. the neo 2x12 i have sounds so much better with the 1001rb versus the 800rb. I'm not saying that a 1001rbII will sound bad with a tweeterless cab, but it does sound better with a cab with horn managment.

all this said, does not mean you cannot get a hi-fi sound from an ampeg or a warm sound from GK, but each head
and/or cab does have the leaning towards a paticular intended sound and sold to players with that midset.

I will say this, the GK magic is in the Boost knob. Turn it off and GK is sort of bland/lifeless, crank it up... there it is! I also like GKs 5string switch 12db boost at 20Hz boom! i use it with both 4 and 5 stings. Play a club/theatre with a good woofer sound system, and hear the bass just slam. If I were even to buy an ampeg it'd be a VB4 100watt model because then you could just get full tube tone/grind at low volume and the pre/power amps would be really sensitive to eachother. when i had my fender bassman 50 top, it did that awesomely.

 

[JimmyM]

Useable tone instaed of that Ampeg mush.

This line about "mush" is only used by people who either parrot what they see on Talkbass or by people who like the icepick-to-the-eye sharpness of SS treble. Which are you?

 

[SteveC]

This line about "mush" is only used by people who either parrot what they see on Talkbass or by people who like the icepick-to-the-eye sharpness of SS treble. Which are you?

Neither. I played a mighty Ampeg SVT/8x10 rig and was not impressed at all. I basically turned it off and used the stage monitor. It sucked. No definition, just mush. I'd take SS over that any day.

I should have known that statement would cause a fuss.

 

[realdeal]

Useable tone instaed of that Ampeg mush.

Sorry to hear you have chops/technique that make Ampegs sound like...
"mush"
You're entitled to your tastes, but-
Those kind of incendiary comments are what makes TB seem stoopid sometimes...

I see you use a Neo-Pak...so do I! For rehearsals, small rooms. Sounds great. Luv it. But for bigger rooms, my 3-PRO does the trick FOR WHAT I DO...And it doesn't sound mushy to me, or a few other Ampeg users I know of...Say George Porter, e.g. Yeah, his tone, pure "mush"...
Grow up, dude.

 

[BillySid]

I've had at the same time as my 1001RB II a SVT3Pro, SVT4Pro and an SVT6Pro all running through a 410hlf. To me, they couldn't hold a candle to the 1001RBII as far as tone goes. Now this is my preference and I've sold all my ampeg gear and run strickly GK now. For me, it's just where it's at. Love the punch, clarity and aggressive nature of them.

 

[Passinwind]

This line about "mush" is only used by people who either parrot what they see on Talkbass or by people who like the icepick-to-the-eye sharpness of SS treble. Which are you?

Way to take the high ground Jimmy!

Everything sucks. There, now it's out in the open. Group hug, anyone?

 

[sineas]

Way to take the high ground Jimmy!

Everything sucks. There, now it's out in the open. Group hug, anyone?

+100000 this is why forums like these exsist

 

[Seb_VitusFreak]

Sorry to hear you have chops/technique that make Ampegs sound like...
"mush"
You're entitled to your tastes, but-
Those kind of incendiary comments are what makes TB seem stoopid sometimes...

I see you use a Neo-Pak...so do I! For rehearsals, small rooms. Sounds great. Luv it. But for bigger rooms, my 3-PRO does the trick FOR WHAT I DO...And it doesn't sound mushy to me, or a few other Ampeg users I know of...Say George Porter, e.g. Yeah, his tone, pure "mush"...
Grow up, dude.

+1

 

[pedro]

I own both. I love my GK 700 because its reliable, loud and easy to move and use. That said, for the style of music I play (60-70's soul/r&b) my Ampeg B15S and VB sound more authentic. I'm not familiar at all really with the Ampeg hybrids/ss amps but the old tube amps have a looser/softer more organic sound (to my ears).

As has been suggested the best way is try both out and see what suits your taste better.

 

[Warpeg]

I have no experience with GK. Can anyone tell me where their amps and cabs are made?--specifically the 1001RBII and the 810SBX.

 

[pedro]

California I think.