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Gallien 2001 RB Or...?

#21
Element Zero said:
2001RB or Mesa Carbine M9. Either will destroy and not offer a single apology.
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Thanks But I owned a Mesa M9 for about a month and sold it. Did Not do it for me.
MarkA said:
I always find myself apologizing after I destroy. It's a habit I'm trying break.

How so, and which do you have? Have you had enough power with it, with your cabs, for what you do?

If you think you'll use it and if you like the idea of being able, functionally speaking, to switch between a 500 Watt and a 1000 Watt amp, the 2001 might be worth the extra cost and weight. Otherwise, the 1001 looks like it would do a capable job.

Tonally, I suspect that there are many roads to your particular Rome, but if you dig the GK vibe, then it's just a matter of picking the power and features you want. One other thing. 1001s are plentiful -- if the 2001 is a rare deal -- or if you know you want its features -- you might want to snag that. If not, maybe try a 1001 and see if it does it for you.

Good luck.
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The Fafner 1 is a single channel head and rated at 600watts RMS at 4 ohms. It does not have very many connections on the back, either. The Fafner II is a two channel head and is rated at 750watts RMS at 4 ohms and has several input/outputs on the back. I have owned both and I must say the Fafner II is a MUCH better amp! It also sounds better.
The overdrive built into the Fafner I is plain-jane overdrive, where-as the overdrive on the Fafner II sounds like Billy Sheehan's overdrive. Plus, a bit more bottom end than the Fafner I. But not quite enough for me. There are more highlights to the Fafner II, I just can't think of them at the moment.

I have owned a GK Fusion 550 and thought it to be a good head overall. Warm and clean. No GK Growl and the bottom end lacked. That's why I've been questioning the bottom end on the RB heads.


BassmanPaul said:
Take a look at Carvin’s BX1600. At $649 it’s a good price. They also have the earlier BX1500, which I own, for $100 less.
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I have owned several Carvin heads and was very displeased with all of them. For me, I have wrote Carvin off for good.
 
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#22
FiveStringer1 said:
Thanks But I owned a Mesa M9 for about a month and sold it. Did Not do it for me.


The Fafner 1 is a single channel head and rated at 600watts RMS at 4 ohms. It does not have very many connections on the back, either. The Fafner II is a two channel head and is rated at 750watts RMS at 4 ohms and has several input/outputs on the back. I have owned both and I must say the Fafner II is a MUCH better amp! It also sounds better.
The overdrive built into the Fafner I is plain-jane overdrive, where-as the overdrive on the Fafner II sound like Billy Sheehan's overdrive. Plus, a bit more bottom end than the Fafner I. But not quite enough for me. There are more highlights to the Fafner II, I just can't think of them at the moment.

I have owned a GK Fusion 550 and thought it to be a good head overall. Warm and clean. No GK Growl and the bottom end lacked. That's why I've been questioning the bottom end on the RB heads.




I have owned several Carvin heads and was very displeased with all of them. For me, I have wrote Carvin off for good.
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There is a big difference between the Fusion and the RB series IMO. The RB series is aggressive when properly set and you can EQ as much bottom as you desire. I run an SVT but have a 1001RB II I use as a backup and for when I don't want to lift 98lbs to the top of my 810.

I play aggressive music and the 1001 with a VT bass in front of it can cover just about anything you ask of it IMO.
 
#23
Worf! (@son_of_mogh)

@FiveStringer1, did the M9 have enough bottom for you? I haven't owned that head, but, by all accounts, it's supposed to be very widely voiced and punishing in its low-end delivery. I'm wondering how, specifically, it fell short for you. There is a lot that goes into how the low end of a rig comes across -- there are several approaches you can take and they all depend on, among other things, the interplay of the different components of your rig. It's possible for a killer amp and a killer cab to be not-so-killer together.

If you can be more specific about your experiences with different heads (I can't tell, for instance, if more power would be good or bad for you, based on what you've said so far) I think it would help. I still think that posting "Metal!" somewhere in the title and posting clips that you like would help, too. ;)

Beyond that, the final verdict has to be you playing the amp with your bass through your cabs. If you're somewhere where you can pick up a 700 RB cheap, that'll give you an idea of whether or not the GK RB thing is for you. If not, you should be able to sell the amp with minimal loss. If so, and it's enough power, great, you're there. You'll get into the "growl zone" more easily, too. If you dig it but need more power, there are the 1001 and 2001.

Since you mentioned Mike Starr, are you going for something like the tone on Would? Covered that in high school. Learned the bass line, at the other band members' request, shortly before going on stage -- cramming with a cassette tape and a Walkman -- at the high school talent show. My first time playing bass (or at least performing) with a pick, too. (We also played Alive and What I Like About You.) It came off really well. :)

Don't know if this will help you directly, but I found this thread: Alice in Chains - Would bass tone

That's all I've got! Good luck.
 
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#24
i Love the song, Would! Yah... that's a cool sound. I can play that song very well without pick and make it sound close. I'm not a pick player. Feel silly playing a bass with a pick. I did it back in the 80's as it was the thing to do... but no more pick for me. But most guys lugged around the SVT back then. I'm not in the mode of carrying a 100 pound head around these days. 50 would be the most. I will say that my most favorite head of today IS...

The Mesa Strategy... could put a Darkglass Alpha/Omega in front of it and Viola!... but just can't afford it.
 
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#25
FiveStringer1 said:
Hey MarkA... thanks for your response! Regarding the Mesa, a friend of mine used to own that head and he had numerous issues with it and that it kept shutting down on him several times thru-out his gigs. He even sent it into Mesa for repair and when he got it back, he took the cover off to inspect and he said they did a few things, including mounting a 120 fan in the cover to help cool. But he said it Still kept shutting down on him. Then Mesa agreed to take the head back and sent him a brand new one and SAME THING! Both my friend and I have gone thru the Mesa era in our lives. The ONLY Mesa that I believe would be worthy today would be the Strategy. But who's got the money for THAT!?

I have been looking into the GK 2001 RB for a little over a month now and have seen good and bad about the head. When I call Sweetwater to order one on 3 occasions now... they have worked to talk me out of purchasing that head... saying it is a good head if you like a really clean sound. a few different (so-called) sales engineers have all told me the head is not the best choice for me, yet they don't seem to have a recommendation for me. Some so-called engineers!!

Anyway... I have come to the position that I will not buy from Sweetwater and go against their recommendation to stay away from the GK head. I found a used one in perfect condition for $750 and I'm seriously considering. I really just wanted to get a few more thoughts on it and is why I posted here.
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You should listen to them. They're right. Any amp with that much power is going to be clean. I guess it just depends on what you're really looking for. The wattage doesn't matter as much with the cabs you have.

If I wanted to play metal and was looking for an amp for that sound I would look very very hard at the Darkglass 900. I think it's probably exactly what you're looking for.
 
#26
Stranger Danger said:
You should listen to them. They're right. Any amp with that much power is going to be clean. I guess it just depends on what you're really looking for. The wattage doesn't matter as much with the cabs you have.

If I wanted to play metal and was looking for an amp for that sound I would look very very hard at the Darkglass 900. I think it's probably exactly what you're looking for.
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I have listened to videos on YT on that head and really wasn't impressed. Where's the bottom end?? They start it at 80HZ. Ridiculous. It sounds thin and nasally. Plus, I HATE the form-factor (unless it was my Mac Mini) AND it's a Class D toy! I despise class D. You must not have read all of my posts... That was one of my stipulations early on.
 
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#27
FiveStringer1 said:
Hey. I'm currently running an EBS Fafner 1 on my two LDS custom cabs which each contain 15, 10, 6.5 and need to find a thunderous gut wrenching head! The EBS is a great sounding head... but maybe for jazz and that kind of thing. Not for metal. Someone told me that the GK 2001 RB has that ability. I also tried a 4 pro and a 6 pro. The 6 was definitely better, but not gut wrenching enough. I can't stand the Class D toy heads out there. Have had several over the past 7 years and NONE had cut it for me.

Any thoughts or ideas from Metal players?
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Can't go wrong with the good Old
all mighty GK 800RB !!!
 
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#28
Sounds like you're pretty set on the 2001. If it's the right price and other amps aren't going to cut it, it's a no brainer.

I know that you said you can't stand class D. FWIW I was of the same opinion, having had a 400W tube rig since 2009. That was until I tried the D800+. I bought it immediately after trying it in the shop. Has more heft than my 400w tube amp, and sounds more aggressive. I also play metal and am a complete tone freak. This amp converted me in a heartbeat. If your ideal would be a Mesa Strategy, perhaps worth trying one out before dismissing it based on its size or class.
 
#29
@SerratedBass, is the neck on the bass in your avatar longer than normal (metal -- dropped down tuning?) or are my eyes playing a trick on me?

I started to type another, perhaps-lengthy reply last night but gave up on it. I didn't want to wade into the whole class D vs. class AB thing and it's not like Talkbass pays me to be annoying on the internet -- I do that on my own time. I started to do it again, just now, but instead I'll say that, in my own, personal gear journey, I currently have a (sometimes uneasy) place for both. Yes... yes, I'll stop there.

FiveStringer1, you can try a D800 if you're so inclined. Mesa has a good, transferable warranty and they turn up now and then in the classifieds. You shouldn't be out much more than the cost of shipping if you decide that it's not for you and want to move it on.

If you dig the Strategy but it's demasiado dinero, maybe have a look at a Traynor YBA-300. 300 Watts, comparatively light (not with the Strategy, but with most other big tube heads); they come up used sometimes for cheap, and are supposed to do both grind and clean headroom well. A re-tube wouldn't be cheap (12 6L6 or EL34 power tubes), but that can be said for most of the bigger amps and the handy, user-adjustable bias should help with some of that cost. I haven't played one (though I strongly considered picking one up at one time), but they seem to be something of a cult classic (at least on TB).

"The big guns" - Ampeg SVT vs Traynor YBA 300 vs ?
Traynor YBA300
Traynor Amps

Actually, there's one in the classifieds now (no affiliation with the seller).
 
#30
MarkA said:
@SerratedBass, is the neck on the bass in your avatar longer than normal (metal -- dropped down tuning?) or are my eyes playing a trick on me?

I started to type another, perhaps-lengthy reply last night but gave up on it. I didn't want to wade into the whole class D vs. class AB thing and it's not like Talkbass pays me to be annoying on the internet -- I do that on my own time. I started to do it again, just now, but instead I'll say that, in my own, personal gear journey, I currently have a (sometimes uneasy) place for both. Yes... yes, I'll stop there.

FiveStringer1, you can try a D800 if you're so inclined. Mesa has a good, transferable warranty and they turn up now and then in the classifieds. You shouldn't be out much more than the cost of shipping if you decide that it's not for you and want to move it on.

If you dig the Strategy but it's demasiado dinero, maybe have a look at a Traynor YBA-300. 300 Watts, comparatively light (not with the Strategy, but with most other big tube heads); they come up used sometimes for cheap, and are supposed to do both grind and clean headroom well. A re-tube wouldn't be cheap (12 6L6 or EL34 power tubes), but that can be said for most of the bigger amps and the handy, user-adjustable bias should help with some of that cost. I haven't played one (though I strongly considered picking one up at one time), but they seem to be something of a cult classic (at least on TB).

"The big guns" - Ampeg SVT vs Traynor YBA 300 vs ?
Traynor YBA300
Traynor Amps

Actually, there's one in the classifieds now (no affiliation with the seller).
Click to expand...

It's a regular Fender American Deluxe jazz, although it is tuned drop A :D
 
#31
SerratedBass said:
It's a regular Fender American Deluxe jazz, although it is tuned drop A :D
Click to expand...

neonjoe_ep202_003_The_LongBass.jpg
 
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#40
I AM a metal player, I run a 2001 into 2 8x10s and dude!!!! I also run an RBI into the front end which I can switch on for more ampeg or off for my GK sound. I got it for $500 used, sold my Heritage svt. I can actually add 2 more 8x10s if I want.
 

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