Best 200w amp head on a medium budget?

[ImTheOnlyOne]

Elf on a Shelf

That's good comedy

No need to limit your power to 200W in that range. Find a nice used Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 or 6.2.

 

[WestyBassBob]

Hartke amps are excellent value.

 

[MadJack]

I don't think that will work: I'm pretty sure the crossover is built into the amp section on the combos.

I'm approaching it with what I have, the R200 head and R115 & R210 cabs and my R40 doesn't have a horn/tweeter.

I know the combo's crossover is ON and OFF, whereas the cabs are 0dBl, -6dBl and OFF. I haven't opened either of the amp sections of my Rumbles, but if they do like most other amps I have been in, the crossover is likely passive and the switch would be wired to the output leads. It wouldn't be difficult to carry the crossover from the amp section to the cab section. The switch would likely be the biggest issue, as it's a panel mount rocker, whereas you would need through hole switch of some sort. Most likely the combo's rocker switch is just a SPST/On-Off rocker switch, so a SPST mini-toggle should work just fine.

 

[rob_thebassman]

I've heard good things about the ashdown ant

 

[Ben Clarke]

The MB200 is a great little head but it is my personal opinion that GK heads sound best with GK cabinets and "eh" with any other brand of cabinet. If you're playing rock or metal, I'd look at the Darkglass Microtubes 200. You've also got the TC Electronic BAM200, Phil Jones BP200, Trace Elliot Elf, Ampeg MicroVR, and Traynor SB200H all at $350 or less.

Great points about competitive options. I considered the Ampeg, but wanted a gigbag pocket-friendly form. Would consider the Traynor as well, but in my situation I knew what I was getting with the GK, having used it extensively previously.

For me, sounds great, punchy, full, and clear with one or two Eden D112XLT. I also ran it through an Ampeg flatback 810 and it was silly good. Makes no sense.

The key is to never use contour on the MB stuff, for my preference.

 

[shoot-r]

The key is to never use contour on the MB stuff, for my preference.

Big G.K. MB series fan-boy here, (a MB2-500, my back-up amp.....a MB500.....a MB Fusion 800, my main gigging amp.)

From the MB500 manual (and I'm guessing the MB200 also), G.K. recommends running the contour fully off for more mids/treble for high volume cut in a live mix.....or.....(fully on), for a 800RB voicing.

Awhile back at a job, I was using the MB2-500, and as always, with the T.B. advised setting of contour off (FYI, I also always run a SansAmp BDDI V1 or V2 in front of any amp I'm using, it's set clean with all eq set low) and just for giggles I turned the contour full on and dropped some bass and low mid from the eq on the GK.....and absolutely loved what I heard!

Tried that the next night while using the Fusion.
Ended up running the contour at roughfully 1:00/1:30, brought down the bass and low mids on the Fusion and there's no going back "for my ears."
Still plenty of cut through in the mix but now there's a added thickness with clarity to the lows with the 5 pcs., moderately loud, country/rock group I work with.

Experiment with it, you might like what it adds.

 

[Sml175]

OK, finally I went over his head and ordered the PB200. Ill keep you posted on the results after the "expert non-bassist hears it.