Gallien Krueger mb115 or ampeg ba115hpu

[peladosf]

hey there, I play bass in a funk rock band (the kind of band that use a lot of slap) and I also play in a rock band (kinda foo fighters and pearl jam genre, loud guitars and powerful bass lines).

I want to buy a new amp for the upcoming gigs, (we usually play in some mediuem sized bars and pubs). But I cant decide for wich one, the mb115 or the ba115hpu.

Any owner of this amp want to give me some advice???





I play a musicman stingray (4 strings) and some effects (chorus, envelope filter, overdrive).

 

[dwjazz54]

I've always found the sound of GK gear to be pretty great right out of the box, and am a current owner of both a MB212-ii (the MB115's bigger brother) and an older 400RB/115 combo. So, I'm biased, but I'd have to recommend the MB115 - or, even better, the MB212, if only for the additional power and output - you wanna be able to keep up with anything!

I had a successful recording session last winter, and used an Ampeg BA115 on a few tracks. While I was able to get a sound I liked out of it, it seemed like I had to tweak a LOT of knobs to get there. Not bad, but not my kinda easy.

This is, of course, only my opinion. The best advice you're gonna get is to go and play through both of them and see which works best for you.

 

[Sav'nBass]

The GK hands down. Especially if you will be gigging it. The BA115 is not a back breaker but it is heavy enough. I also think the EQ on the GK is more versatile.

 

[ChopperDave]

I've owned both the older MB115t (2012) and an Ampeg BA115 (2001) and the GK, hands-down, would be my choice if I needed a combo again.

I don't know much about the HP model, but I couldn't get anything resembling "great" out of the Ampeg, nor could I ever get it loud enough, not even as a stage monitor when I had PA support*.

The GK, though, could get to a nice volume, cut through the mix nicely, and weighs about 40% as much as the Ampeg.

Good luck!

*I understand there's a 120-watt difference between the BA115 and the 115HP, but wattage isn't everything, as you'll hear 1000 times an hour here on TB