Get a GK or Stay with my TH500

[velalv]

So here is my dilemma. I play Contemporary Christian, Gospel, and the occasional event, but with my TH 500, which is paired with a Berg CN 112. The reason I am reconsidering it is because I went from a 4 string Fender jazz to a 5 string MM Bongo as my main electric, very different tones. I play the electric whenever we have a drummer, usually in a three piece with the drummer, my wife on the keys, and myself on bass. Occasionally we might get someone on acoustic guitar. I also play a Martin Acoustic Bass strung up with TI Flats when there is no drummer or only hand percussion. The Martin sounds glorious when I have the gain and drive completely off, and with a bit of bump in the mids.

The Bongo, on the other hand, sounds undefined when I get to the low B. There is no definition on the lowest notes, and that is even when I cut the bass a bit relative to the mids. I have been now avoiding the bottom string sometimes because of this. I know Aguilars are meant to be more vintage voiced, so I was wondering if pairing my modern voiced Bongo would work with a more modern sounding amp like the GK Fusion. I usually play what some people call "lead bass", meaning I do some melody work while my wife keeps the rhythm on the piano with the drummer.

My only fear with the GK is that, with the hot preamp from the bongo, there will be too much treble, and that the GK won't sound too good if I play the Bongo with a pick? What would you pick? I'm open to the MB 500, the MB Fusion, or keeping my Aguilar.

 

[slade]

could be that you're asking too much from a single 12?

 

[arai]

You don't know until you try it out yourself. But music Man basses and gk amps usually sound pretty dam good together

 

[RoadRanger]

I'd suspect it is your cab and not the amp that needs an upgrade.

 

[velalv]

I'd suspect it is your cab and not the amp that needs an upgrade.

From Bergantino cabs? Or from a 12 inch? Bergs are pretty good cabs.

 

[RoadRanger]

From Bergantino cabs? Or from a 12 inch? Bergs are pretty good cabs.

I just know that there's nothing "undefined" about my TH-350 with the drive off and the master cranked. Using a GK 212MBE cab any note will tear your head off .

Also, are you sure that the "B" string isn't dead?

 

[lermgalieu]

From Bergantino cabs? Or from a 12 inch? Bergs are pretty good cabs.

I suspect he means adding another cab.

 

[RoadRanger]

Oh, and try plugging the bass into the effects return, that bypasses the preamp and gives you a pure power amp sound.

 

[Olde Axeman]

Don't know how helpful this may be but I've played around with my 5-string P/J in experimentation mode. In my limited experience I found there was a much bigger difference (definition & tone-wise) in strings than cabs.

So far the best B-string definition with decent tone I've found was obtained using Dean Markley Blue Steel strings, but there are too many strings I haven't tried to tout the Dean Markleys as the ultimate solution.

Also, a fiver P/J vs Bongo is sorta apples and oranges so anything I've said may be non value-added. FWIW though, I've tried about 10 different brands of nickel rounds.

 

[velalv]

I've been playing the bass with Ernie Ball Slinkys, which is what came with the bass. I thought it was the strings being dead because they do go dead quick, and changed the strings and that helped a tiny bit, but the low notes were an uncontrolled mess. I used the Dean Markley for a while with my jazz, and they were really good. Maybe I'll get a set of Stainless steels, though that might be a lot for the already hot bongo.

 

[velalv]

I just know that there's nothing "undefined" about my TH-350 with the drive off and the master cranked. Using a GK 212MBE cab any note will tear your head off .

Also, are you sure that the "B" string isn't dead?

Positive, I always keep a back up set of strings and immediately changed them, and got the same response, but with a trebly overtone. Also cut the bass on the amp and the pre.

 

[velalv]

You don't know until you try it out yourself. But music Man basses and gk amps usually sound pretty dam good together

Hoping to try one today at Jive Sound. They have the MB and the Fusions along with my cab, just wanted to get a sense of what to expect.

 

[eriky4003]

I'd try different strings to see if the bongo doesn't give you the sound of the bstring that you're hoping for. DR Hi or Fat Beams which are solid rounds or the Blue Steels. Dunlop Super Brights? Maybe lift the cabinet off the floor? It may just be the cabinet needs to be closer to your ear. Or dial out more of the bass and add more mids. And/or any combination of these.

 

[velalv]

I'd try different strings to see if the bongo doesn't give you the sound of the bstring that you're hoping for. DR Hi or Fat Beams which are solid rounds or the Blue Steels. Dunlop Super Brights? Maybe lift the cabinet off the floor? It may just be the cabinet needs to be closer to your ear. Or dial out more of the bass and add more mids. And/or any combination of these.

Hi Beams are a favorite of mine. Used them with my Jazz before selling it. Did the dial bass, more mids, play closer to the bridge thing. This has me perplexed.

 

[rufus.K]

I've always thought my TH500 is kinda squishy down there. Leave the drive off, crank the master, use the gain for level. Im happen when I can keep the pad on too. I usually cut the bass know a bit too to clean it up, and roll more low end in if I need it with low mid EQ.

 

[velalv]

I've always thought my TH500 is kinda squishy down there. Leave the drive off, crank the master, use the gain for level. Im happen when I can keep the pad on too. I usually cut the bass know a bit too to clean it up, and roll more low end in if I need it with low mid EQ.

I'll have to try this, but it is definitely a strange setting. Doesn't the MB 500 get there pretty easily without so much tweaking? I always feel weird fighting an amp's inherent voicing.

 

[rufus.K]

I'll have to try this, but it is definitely a strange setting. Doesn't the MB 500 get there pretty easily without so much tweaking? I always feel weird fighting an amp's inherent voicing.

Dunno about MB500, I'm talking about the TH500.
Interestingly, I use it closer to flat with a SR5, but with a passive J, I do all that tweaking.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

look at the Mesa D800, much love.
Have owned MB and MBF GK's -- Mesa hands down more solid and flexible.

 

[Munjibunga]

look at the Mesa D800, much love.
Have owned MB and MBF GK's -- Mesa hands down more solid and flexible.

Not in my experience. The D800 has more of a baked-in tone (but not extreme) than the GKs, and I find the GKs to be significantly more versatile, tone-wise.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Not in my experience. The D800 has more of a baked-in tone (but not extreme) than the GKs, and I find the GKs to be significantly more versatile, tone-wise.

possibly, but i found myself "fighting" the top-endy tone of the GK, different shades of awesome
the Mesa is just more to my liking i suppose !