Gallien-Krueger Amplification

[Bassmann135]

Hi, I'm considering getting a Gallien-Krueger Backline 600 Bass Head along with a Gallien-Krueger 210BLX-II Bass Cabinet. This would be my first purchase of a cabinet and a head. I'm mainly considering these two because they add up too a total of only 500 and I've heard they sound and work good. Is this a good decision?

Thanks!

 

[fdeck]

For your reading pleasure, I have a little review of the Backline 600 head at my web page.

 

[Delberthot]

If its Gallien gear you are after, why not have a look for second hand stuff?

You may be able to get a 400RB and 210 for similar money.

GK stuff is pretty indestructable so don't worry about going the second hand route.

 

[Wadge]

I'm not sure about the BLX series but I agree with the above poster that you could make your money go further by buying used, particularly since this is your first amp/cab purchase.

 

[ihateusernames]

to continue the used theme, a used bl600 would be a great purchase (first hand experience)

 

[bass4me]

The backline 600 head isn't bad, but I wasn't very impressed with the Backline series cabs. As said above, I'd look for used.

 

[jtc_hunter]

All the responses are good here. I have owned a ton of different heads and cabs. I'll give you my opinion in order of Good/Better/Best in your interest/and $ area.
Good- Backline 600 head (used) with Avatar b210 cab or sb112 cab
Better- GK 400rb head with same cabs (or Avatar B212 cab both used)
Best- GK 400rb w/ 2- Avatar SB112 cabs . More options for different size venues and portability.
I recommend always getting 8 ohm cabs. That way you can run one or two cabs. The real world difference between a single 4ohm cab and an 8ohm cab is really very little. Hardly noticeable at all. But 2- 8ohm cabs is quite a bit more than a single 4 ohm cab. Pushing more air gives you more volume than more watts. If you want to be compact and save $ get the sb112 cab and run a DI line to the PA. I could gig easily w/ a BL600 head and an sb112 cab as long as I had good PA support. (15" mains and subs).

 

[woody357]

IMHO the Backline head is cool, but try and get it used, then spend the rest of your money on a good cabinet. I say this because a good cabinet will make almost any head sound good, but a bad cabinet will sound bad no matter what head you use. Avatars are not a bad start, but for my taste I'd go with Dr. Bass same price range, and IMHO they sound better.

 

[Premek]

Hi everyone,

I need a new equipment, 'cause I bought a new 5-string bass and my recent GK MB150 is to small for it.
Idealy, I want stay with Gallien - I trust them. The problem is, I don't like GK's cabinets, so what do you thing about GK 1001RB-II head with some Ampeg cabinet???

Thanks a lot for your suggestions...

 

[MrRiff]

I use to use a Aguilar GS212 cab with my GK1001RB and it was a very good match. Now I use the same cab with a markbass head and I get an even sweeter tone, less grind more singing.

 

[GearHeadBassMan]

avoid the backline cabs. I used a backline 210 as a last second rental for a quick jam. it looked brand new, but sounded terrible (powering it right at the recommended wattage, 200 watts at 8 ohms) It was also the heaviest 210 I've ever come across, and it was actually easier to deal with moving around and carrying my swr 410 over the dang thing.

 

[Easy8]

Hi everyone,

I need a new equipment, 'cause I bought a new 5-string bass and my recent GK MB150 is to small for it.
Idealy, I want stay with Gallien - I trust them. The problem is, I don't like GK's cabinets, so what do you thing about GK 1001RB-II head with some Ampeg cabinet???

Thanks a lot for your suggestions...

Depends on the cab. I like my 1001RB-II with a SVT-115e.

 

[The_Xander]

Hi everyone,

I need a new equipment, 'cause I bought a new 5-string bass and my recent GK MB150 is to small for it.
Idealy, I want stay with Gallien - I trust them. The problem is, I don't like GK's cabinets, so what do you thing about GK 1001RB-II head with some Ampeg cabinet???

Thanks a lot for your suggestions...

I've seen a few live bands with this combination (Oh Sleeper, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Story of the Year). Oh Sleeper's bassist (Lucas?) seemed to liked the sound a lot. I was careful to move around the room while they were playing (from in front of the stage -directly infront of the amp, to the back - where it was mostly the pa) and was impressed with the punchy sound of the combination. The Ampeg 810e is a fairly (i think) tough, decently-voiced cab (for rock and the SVT) and that's why you see it so much on stages. I myself have run an old-school 800RB through the Ampeg 810e and achieved results I liked, so I don't see why the 1001RBII would be a problem.

hope that helps.

 

[cadduc]

any g-k is a good choice
if it were my decision
i would opt for a used 400
it is cheap
it is indestructable
and it is a reliable choice

it really out performs the backline
and you will be happier with the choice

 

[Rick Auricchio]

...and I've heard they sound and work good. Is this a good decision?

They sound good to other people's ears. You should use your own to see if the sound meets your needs.

Hot habanero peppers taste good to some people.

 

[brianbj46]

GK stuff is pretty indestructable so don't worry about going the second hand route.

AMEN,
Last night, i spilled a little bit of beer on my 1001rbII at a gig :scowl:, i'm not sure how much (if any) went down the fan hole, but it seems to work fine!

 

[agreatheight]

If its Gallien gear you are after, why not have a look for second hand stuff?

+1. I got a 700RB and a 410RBH for $300 used. Good deals are out there! Craigslist!

 

[C-60 Bass]

Depends on the cab. I like my 1001RB-II with a SVT-115e.

+1. 700RBII & SVT 115E here.

 

[B-string]

800rb with a GK NEO 412 here, but you won't find either one cheap.

 

[Christian Waiau]

800rb with a GK NEO 412 here, but you won't find either one cheap.

an 800rb can be found used for around $300 which is the price of a new 600