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Cheap amp heads with punch?
- Thread starter Dan Newsom
- Start date
That's a good budget for used gear already. You have plenty of choice in this price segment. One of the safe bets would be to go with either the rb700 or even better an rb1001 gk. These things are loud, punch extremely hard if wanted and are built very solid. I personaly don't care much about them (even though I own one) for I have found my sound with ampegs but gk rb heads are one of the best amps out there. Their eq is very potent and offers a lot of versatility and would fit your genre needs very well especially since their inherent harsher voicing will make sure that your upper frequency nuances will get translated through the mix if wanted.
Pair it with either their neo or even better (though a lot heavier) their flagship rbh cabs and you are set.
Now i want it even more... probably because i can't have it lol.
Found one on ebay for $350,-, but sending it over here will cost €150,- and then it's a bloody 110V thingy... In the whole of europe there's only one for sale for €600,-... bloody italians...
Oh well.. i'll just play the good ol' waiting game. Best (if not only) way to go for used stuff
May not sound "the best" to some, however the older Peavey stuff is usually cheap and loud...but heavy!
GK all day...every day...perfect for metal...get a used MB500 for around $300 in most cases...
Rock on.
Rock on.
I assume you are referring to DDT. I don't have a Mk IV but I have a Combo 300 and they share the same power section, DDT can't be disabled on it.
If you don't use the two separate channels on the Mk IV, a Mk VIII or VIII XP might be a better choice for you. Both models of the VIII have onboard chorus, and while it might not be the best ever it can be used to 'embiggen' and works well with the Peavey sound. The VIII XP also has a built in compressor in the pre, as well as the DDT, and has a button to disable the DDT on the front if you want. You shouldn't need to disable DDT though to be louder with one;
Mk IV 210W into 4 ohms, 300W into 2 ohms
Mk VIII 350W into 4 ohms, 600W into 2 ohms
I love it, it is a great amp, easy to dial in, incredible for the price.
The GK RB series amps are an awesome bargain, only weigh about 20 lbs, and put out tons of watts.
I’m messaging the guy today! Thank you so much! He lives like a neighborhood away!
Haven’t read the whole thread but if you can’t get ahold of a used GK, I’VE BEEN EXTREMELY IMPRESSED by the Rumble 500 head through my Eden 210XLT.
My previous heads included the Mesa walkabout, Eden WT300, and SWR Bass350, among others... The rumble has been one of my favorites. YMMV
My previous heads included the Mesa walkabout, Eden WT300, and SWR Bass350, among others... The rumble has been one of my favorites. YMMV
If I needed spl, $500 to spend, I could find something serviceable on CL in California fairly easily:
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I'd rather grab a 400rb + an hlf cab but some weeks it is what it is.
Bay Area, LA, San Diego, Sacramento are easiest.
Rumbles should be easier in most markets, GC really spammed those out. They sold tons of Markbass tho. GK and SWR was their darling back in the day.
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I'd rather grab a 400rb + an hlf cab but some weeks it is what it is.
Bay Area, LA, San Diego, Sacramento are easiest.
Rumbles should be easier in most markets, GC really spammed those out. They sold tons of Markbass tho. GK and SWR was their darling back in the day.
I have a Mark VIII that I bought new in the very late 80s/early 90s. I originally bought it with a Peavey 1820 cabinet. It never really sounded like I wanted it to, but I never bi-amped the cab. I have since sold the 1820. What are some suggestions for cabinets to match up with that power head?
I find these threads can be funny because everyone will list all types of amps that can get loud, but not all of them punch. With that being said I agree with those who have said the GK 700rb II, 1001rb II and EBS Reidmar 750 hit very hard.
I'm also a little surprised that no one has mentioned the Orange Terror Bass 500? I think most people associate Orange with breakup, but that amp can definitely kick with authority. Although at $799 it may not be considered cheap and isn't as easily found used as some other amps.
Edit: Ooops, I got suckered into a Zombie Thread.
I'm also a little surprised that no one has mentioned the Orange Terror Bass 500? I think most people associate Orange with breakup, but that amp can definitely kick with authority. Although at $799 it may not be considered cheap and isn't as easily found used as some other amps.
Edit: Ooops, I got suckered into a Zombie Thread.
Black Widow 15's from the same era, or most of the better 410's available from anyone. I personally use it with a BRX10.4 Carvin but have also used an Acoustic B410 and the Peavey gave it about as much punch as I've ever heard out of that cab.
