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Anyone Using Only Micros Now?
- Thread starter jmattbassplaya
- Start date
Yes. Sold my rack mount rig a couple of years ago. And I don't consider my Magellan 800 a step back in any respect. Just the opposite. Life is good!
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What makes your D-800 your primary head over the GK? I ask because I own that same GK head and also plan on getting the Mesa soon.
I have been playing nothing but a Markbass F1 or a Genz Benz Shuttle for the last 6 years. Play through a Avatar 210 Neo. Starting to think my cab is too heavy.
I use to think this a lot, but litterally when I turn on my Ampeg I hear music um my ears and all myself complaints become just blá blá blá...
I still in love with the tone, maybe this is the key that makes me to go on.
I agree with your considerations about volume, but I still prefer the good voice of my bass rig...
I still in love with the tone, maybe this is the key that makes me to go on.
I agree with your considerations about volume, but I still prefer the good voice of my bass rig...
Got a Carvin MB/MBE115 mini-stack here. Love the portability, got the tone dialed, even looks great in tweed. Have not had any volume issues until this past Saturday. Outdoor gig with (possible) weird electric/power. But that's another thread upcoming...
I've recently moved from all SS to only micro heads and neo cabs in the past year. Can't imagine going back! My GK MBF800 and a 35pound Schroeder cab has my ears and back in heaven. If I need more volume, then it's too big of a venue with too little PA reinforcement, which just doesn't happen to me. I've honestly never got the master close to noon, and can't imagine needing too. That includes playing in a 10-piece Afrobeat band with crazy loud drums all over the stage. I guess my rig doesn't look nearly as impressive as it sounds...but I'd probably dress better, practice dance moves instead of scales and buy a Rickenbacker if I cared about looks.
My GK beat out the Mesa D-800 in a months-long shoot out, and now I'm GASing to try the Magellan.
My GK beat out the Mesa D-800 in a months-long shoot out, and now I'm GASing to try the Magellan.
I'm thinking about it. Never been a tube guy anyway, so more power / less weight sounds like a good deal to me. I have a few days off left, I might go out and take a few class D heads for a test drive this week. If the tone is there, I'll be joining the club soon.
Except for the aberration of a Fender 100T I have only used micro's for a long time - Genz Shuttle 6.0, Streamliner 900 and now a Glock Blue Sky. My back really likes them and they sound GREAT! Of course, I added a pedalboard, so maybe I am NOT so smart! I only played the Fender out a few times.
Dan
Dan
After schlepping an SVT-CL and Aguilar 810 cab to two different gigs on Saturday I'm seriously considering it.
I found the D-800 to be softer voiced, and faster to arrive at a tone that suits my current band mix. I can get there with the GK but I needed to keep re-tweaking during the set to achieve it.
Also, I found the D-800 voice knob to be a great shortcut to dialing things in.
Lastly, I struggled having to be cautious with the GK master volume. It seemed quite unruly to me. The D-800 worked in a much more predictable and linear fashion.
I think anyone would be satisfied with either of these outstanding offerings, but in the end the Mesa just suits me better.
I'm really thinking about a Mesa D-800 with either one of their 1x12 compact cabs or a Berg 2x10 for 400W @ 8 ohms, and renting a 4x10 (either as a single 4 ohm load or in addition to the smaller cab) for the full 800W the few times I might need that much ooompff.
My BBC 1215 is the same weight as a big plate at the gym and can cover anything that I'll reasonably ever encounter. The GK Fusion MB800 pairs up well with it and it's an easy carry. Bass on back, cab and amp on the MagnaCart and hopefully I don't have to do a lot of steps.
Been rolling the Orange TerrorBass for ~6 years now.
Considering the Quilter or another one that i can put in my pedalboard case.
My problem has been finding light weight cabs.
My main cab is ~60lbs, and i'd love to downsize, but dunno what to look at and sure don't have the mass of cash to get the stuff i already know.
Such is life.
Considering the Quilter or another one that i can put in my pedalboard case.
My problem has been finding light weight cabs.
My main cab is ~60lbs, and i'd love to downsize, but dunno what to look at and sure don't have the mass of cash to get the stuff i already know.
Such is life.
Me, too--several years now. TH500, MB 800, MB fusion 800, and now (the keeper) a Mesa D-800. Love the sound of it. No compromise on tone, to my taste, and the easy schlep is a beautiful thing.
I also found the D-800 to be "softer voiced." The GK just had more sheen and aggressiveness, maybe that's just more high end? I think the GK is inherently more scooped than the Mesa, but not to a fault. I still get all the mids I could need. Also, I'm coming from an SWR SM-400S and SWR 4X10, which is pretty hi-fi sounding. So maybe I'm more used to that, and the GK delivers it? I could get the GK EQ tamed to sound like the Mesa, but I had a more difficult time getting the Mesa to sound like the GK. Maybe I just needed more time to figure out the Mesa and it's voicing knob?
The biggest factor was that the GK had WAY more headroom, felt way more powerful. I also liked the tube overdrive of the GK more than what I got out of the Mesa, and I only use it around the point of breakup.
I know I'm in the minority with the GK/Mesa thoughts. After reading all the reviews here I wanted to like the Mesa more. But the Mesa just sounded too flat to me, and the GK does what I want it too with more power and highs/lows.
Edit: I also have tried moving to use one rig for both electric and upright bass. The GK worked with my Shen upright/full circle pickup better than the Mesa. I think both amps are amazing, but the GK met my needs/preferences. And I think I'm in the minority, not for lack of trying to conform.
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When the size of the room makes it necessary, I'll still break out the big guns. I have a hand truck, and once I put my lead sled power amp in it's own rack case, my schlep will be a bit easier. Each of my cabinets weigh a around 75 lbs, but they aren't that bad to lift.
I do have a TH500 and a pair of GS112's for smaller rooms.
