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Bigger bang for the buck??

devinp17

devinp17

Jun 26, 2014
722
355
Ontario, Canada
#1
Hi everyone, I'm looking to buy an amp head that's at least 500w, my budget is about 350-400 (but less than that would be great), I play punk and metal, I want something that will last me for quite a while (at least 5-10 years), and I love it LOUD. I'm looking to get a used GK MB500, I've heard great things about this amp and it's really cheap too, but I wanted to know if there's an amp head out there that will be an even bigger bang for the buck. Any suggestions?

Thanks!
 
#2
The GK would very likely be my 1st choice, but there are at least a couple others to think about. Both the Aguilar Tonehammer 350 & the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 or 6.2 are excellent, too.

There's a Shuttle 9.0 in the TB classifieds for $425 shipped. Bet you could get it for $400.
 
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#3
iualum said:
The GK would very likely be my 1st choice, but there are at least a couple others to think about. Both the Aguilar Tonehammer 350 & the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 or 6.2 are excellent, too.

There's a Shuttle 9.0 in the TB classifieds for $425 shipped. Bet you could get it for $400.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestions... I looked into the Aggy TH but the 500 was too expensive for me. I'm not really a fan of the Genz Benz sound.

Thanks again, though!
 
#4
devinp17 said:
Hi everyone, I'm looking to buy an amp head that's at least 500w, my budget is about 350-400 (but less than that would be great), I play punk and metal, I want something that will last me for quite a while (at least 5-10 years), and I love it LOUD. I'm looking to get a used GK MB500, I've heard great things about this amp and it's really cheap too, but I wanted to know if there's an amp head out there that will be an even bigger bang for the buck. Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Click to expand...



I had a G.K. MB2-500 head, great sounding head, but it would run out of steam on me at our louder, bigger gigs.
It would hit it's limiter and have no sound for a second or three.

I'm now running a Hartke LH1000 head, 750 watts at 8 ohms, 1,000 watts at 4 ohms, 1,100 watts total at 4 ohms.
Tube preamp, simple tone stack tone controls, xlr out, ect.
$499.00 brand new.
NO running out of headroom now!!!!!
I absolutely LOVE it!
The LH1000's draw back...it's not a micro.....and you will have to learn the "how to" of running the tone stack controls (nothing to it really).

Hartke also has a LH500.
It has a tube preamp, tone stack controls, but it's power amp outs is configured differently from the 1000.
The LH500 was selling for $349.00 brand new.
 
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#6
I just scanned the classifieds here to see what was listed for amps, and noticed the Carvin B1500 with a rack case for $300+ ... you would have to worry about getting it into Canada, but 1500 watts and 2 ohm capable, I dont think you will find a 'bigger bang for the buck' anywhere around ... and you wont find many negative comments on this head, in terms of reliability or performance ... that rack is worth a solid $50+ itself to offset shipping .... JMHO
 
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#8
shoot-r said:
I had a G.K. MB2-500 head, great sounding head, but it would run out of steam on me at our louder, bigger gigs.
It would hit it's limiter and have no sound for a second or three.

I'm now running a Hartke LH1000 head, 750 watts at 8 ohms, 1,000 watts at 4 ohms, 1,100 watts total at 4 ohms.
Tube preamp, simple tone stack tone controls, xlr out, ect.
$499.00 brand new.
NO running out of headroom now!!!!!
I absolutely LOVE it!
The LH1000's draw back...it's not a micro.....and you will have to learn the "how to" of running the tone stack controls (nothing to it really).

Hartke also has a LH500.
It has a tube preamp, tone stack controls, but it's power amp outs is configured differently from the 1000.
The LH500 was selling for $349.00 brand new.
Click to expand...
The GK MB500 has way better ratings and reviews than the MB2-500 did btw. So I don't see a problem if in the end I decide to just get the MB500. Thanks for the suggestion on Hartke though, I'll look into the LH500.
 
#10
tjh said:
I just scanned the classifieds here to see what was listed for amps, and noticed the Carvin B1500 with a rack case for $300+ ... you would have to worry about getting it into Canada, but 1500 watts and 2 ohm capable, I dont think you will find a 'bigger bang for the buck' anywhere around ... and you wont find many negative comments on this head, in terms of reliability or performance ... that rack is worth a solid $50+ itself to offset shipping .... JMHO
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestion, but I think it's a bit big for me. I think the most wattage I'll ever need is about half of that. Like 800 or something.
 
#15
devinp17 said:
The GK MB500 has way better ratings and reviews than the MB2-500 did btw. So I don't see a problem if in the end I decide to just get the MB500. Thanks for the suggestion on Hartke though, I'll look into the LH500.
Click to expand...



To the best of my knowledge all short-comings of the MB500's have been addressed by G.K.
And it was reported to me they we're addressed "before" I purchased the MB2-500.....(that I had problems with).
But, it has to be said, IMHO, the MB500's aren't moving as they we're at first (so not as many negative reports) since the release of the MB800 models.
The MB800's extra 300 watts, 1,000 burst watts was the REAL solution to the early limiter kick-in problem.

Same can be said about the very problem prone Ampeg PF-500 heads.
The PF500's are not selling as they we're (so not as many negative reports) since the release of the PF800 model.

I'm convinced that the extra power in the class D amps make's all the difference in their dependability.
 
#17
devinp17 said:
Thanks for the suggestion, but I think it's a bit big for me. I think the most wattage I'll ever need is about half of that. Like 800 or something.
Click to expand...

... yup, understood completely ... thats why a lot more people dont have (or keep) the B1500 ... however, according to your earlier posted criteria:

devinp17 said:
Hi everyone, I'm looking to buy an amp head that's at least 500w, my budget is about 350-400 (but less than that would be great), I play punk and metal, I want something that will last me for quite a while (at least 5-10 years), and I love it LOUD. I'm looking to get a used GK MB500, I've heard great things about this amp and it's really cheap too, but I wanted to know if there's an amp head out there that will be an even bigger bang for the buck. Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

.. combined with your thread title:

"Bigger bang for the buck??"

.. and no mention of cabinets you intend to use, you might need to consider impedance of the cab/cabs you intend to use with this head you purchase ... the MB500 is only 350 watts at 8 ohms, so to get your minimum of 500 watts, you are into at least the MB800 if you have an 8 ohm cabinet ... at $499 for the MB500, and $699 for the MB800 ... $300 for 700 watts at 8 ohms, and 1250 watts at 4 ohms and then the ability to never really have to worry about running the head below a 4 ohm impedance allowing you to use pretty much any cab or combination of cabs that hit your fancy ... is a pretty major bang for the buck !! ;)

I have no agenda for what you choose, but playing punk and metal and loving LOUD, just be aware going in, that the ratings you usually see on amp heads is for running at their lowest number suggested impedance ... if you go for a rated 500 watt head, you need to run a 4 ohm load to see that ... also, consider that some class D heads do not sound the most desirable pushed into an overdrive situation, so you will often see those purchasing class D power opting for more power to assure a clean headroom ... certainly your call,but with a title of 'More Bang for the Buck', it is probably not going to happen in the highly sought after group of 500 watt class D micro heads ... JMHO
 
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#19
tjh said:
... yup, understood completely ... thats why a lot more people dont have (or keep) the B1500 ... however, according to your earlier posted criteria:



.. combined with your thread title:

"Bigger bang for the buck??"

.. and no mention of cabinets you intend to use, you might need to consider impedance of the cab/cabs you intend to use with this head you purchase ... the MB500 is only 350 watts at 8 ohms, so to get your minimum of 500 watts, you are into at least the MB800 if you have an 8 ohm cabinet ... at $499 for the MB500, and $699 for the MB800 ... $300 for 700 watts at 8 ohms, and 1250 watts at 4 ohms and then the ability to never really have to worry about running the head below a 4 ohm impedance allowing you to use pretty much any cab or combination of cabs that hit your fancy ... is a pretty major bang for the buck !! ;)

I have no agenda for what you choose, but playing punk and metal and loving LOUD, just be aware going in, that the ratings you usually see on amp heads is for running at their lowest number suggested impedance ... if you go for a rated 500 watt head, you need to run a 4 ohm load to see that ... also, consider that some class D heads do not sound the most desirable pushed into an overdrive situation, so you will often see those purchasing class D power opting for more power to assure a clean headroom ... certainly your call,but with a title of 'More Bang for the Buck', it is probably not going to happen in the highly sought after group of 500 watt class D micro heads ... JMHO
Click to expand...
So you're saying that it would be a better idea to forget about 500 watt amps and go for an 800?
 
#20
"LOUD" and "Bang for the buck" just screams CARVIN!!!

BX1200, BX1500, BX1600, B1500, B1000, B2000 and finding one of those used...No other amp is going to touch your main criteria. Go for the "B" series if you want lead sled power, go for the "BX" Series if you want power but light weight. Even new those are killer amps for the price.

If you think you don't need that much wattage...then turn the volume down. No one said you have to crank it. But you asked, so...

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