Gk 1001rb or ampeg tube amp?

[garrett-777]

Iv been looking into replacing
My gallien Krueger head with and amped svt or ampeg v4bh tube amp. I feel tube amps sound so much better. But I've hear the ampeg heads break really easy. Is this true? What are your thoughts?

 

[Dethrats]

if they break so "easy" i dont think any pro's would use one :/

 

[Quickie]

My experience. If you want CLEAN big low end, go with a S/S amp. You want middy and rich, and the distortion that follows when pushed hard, go with the tubes.

 

[jumbo_steelie]

I bought a vintage V4B a couple months ago and before that was using the 1001RBII. I still use my gk for away jams, but yeah, I need not ever look for another amp now that I have the ampeg. The newer ones I hear are plagued with issues, but seldom still. Get one!!!

 

[Quickie]

if they break so "easy" i dont think any pro's would use one :/

They are like anything else.....say a Ferrari.....their complexity has its own limitations. In the shop....a lot....but if that's the tone you want...so be it. "Pros" used the Acoustic 360. It was known to break down so often, they would carry extra heads. Then, players started to put the heads on the floor so as not to get the vibration.

Kustom amps were also well used by pros....they blew up regularly. John Forgerty carries spare heads.

You would be amazed at what people are willing to do for tone.

 

[Marton]

Ampeg are pretty solid, just don't throw them in the stairs and you should be OK.

Now, I know that I would not trade my GK for a SVT. The SVT, may sound a little bit better, but not 70 lbs better in my opinion.

 

[coreyfyfe]

.their complexity has its own limitations. In the shop....a lot....but if that's the tone you want...so be it. .

A well maintained and correctly operated amp should have no problems. If they're in the shop a lot it's not a design issue, it's a user issue. Granted components can fail if the part used to build the amp isn't up to spec, but that's not inherent to the amplifier type or brand.

 

[TinIndian]

It all comes down to your preference in tone. Both have their own flavor.

Gotta agree with the above though, for me I would'nt want to deal with the extra weight.

 

[derridiandrift]

I own a GK 1001RBII, a V4BH, and an SVT-VR.

My preference is for the Ampeg tube heads. The V4BH is cool because it's relatively light for a tube head, has no fan, and sounds great. The SVT is cooler because, well, you'll just have to turn one on to know why. The GK is simply an extra amp for me. Not a thing wrong with it, but it's just not the amp that sounds the best to my ears. [Edit: I've had more issues with my GK than any all-tube Ampeg I've ever owned, and I've had a few of them]

 

[kander]

But I've hear the ampeg heads break really easy. Is this true?

I keep my SVT-2 Pro in a rack case; I've never had any issues in the 6 years I've gigged with it up and down the East Coast. Just be gentle with it right after playing: the tubes become quite brittle right after playing.

 

[The1bassist06]

Ampeg are pretty solid, just don't throw them in the stairs and you should be OK.

Now, I know that I would not trade my GK for a SVT. The SVT, may sound a little bit better, but not 70 lbs better in my opinion.

Ive heard of throwing something down the stairs but not in the stairs.

 

[johnk_10]

i have a GK 1001RBII and several ampeg tube heads (SVT, SVT-VR and a '71 V4B), and i actually like ALL of them. IME, the tube heads have a different response to my touch, but coupled with the right cab the GK is no slouch. it's just a different flavor. BTW, i've never had a problem with any of them.

 

[deeptubes]

I sold all of my Ampeg gear and bought a GK 1001RB-II and an SWR Workingman's Tower. I can get ANY tone out of my rig. It seems much more versatile than Ampeg. I played through Ampeg for about 9 years. Comparitively speaking, I think Ampeg sounds muddy. Great for certain styles, but certainly not all. It seems Ampeg is at the point where they are surviving on a reputation built 20-30 years ago. Ultimately, it's up to what tone YOU want.

 

[derridiandrift]

i have a GK 1001RBII and several ampeg tube heads... coupled with the right cab the GK is no slouch. it's just a different flavor.

I stopped short of expressing my thoughts as completely as John did in his post. My personal preference is for the all-tube head, but I don't claim to be an authority on anything but my personal preference.

 

[JimmyM]

I sold all of my Ampeg gear and bought a GK 1001RB-II and an SWR Workingman's Tower. I can get ANY tone out of my rig. It seems much more versatile than Ampeg. I played through Ampeg for about 9 years. Comparitively speaking, I think Ampeg sounds muddy. Great for certain styles, but certainly not all. It seems Ampeg is at the point where they are surviving on a reputation built 20-30 years ago. Ultimately, it's up to what tone YOU want.

Bah...nobody survives on reputation alone. If Ampeg's new stuff wasn't cutting it, it would be all over the internet like it was 2-3 years ago when they first moved to China and their new stuff wasn't cutting it. But since then, they fired their head idiot and brought in a team of people who actually like making quality products. All amps can fail, but the failure rate of Ampegs these days is much lower from what I can see. And if it does fail, their CS dept is all over it.

Anyway, I greatly prefer Ampeg for everything I do, but there's nothing wrong with GK either. Would I make that trade from GK SS to Ampeg tube? In a New York minute.

 

[Turock]

They are like anything else.....say a Ferrari.....their complexity has its own limitations. In the shop....a lot....but if that's the tone you want...so be it.

Awe man, don't spread that BS. My Ampeg tube amps have been the most reliable amps I've ever owned. Never failed me, never had a repair.

 

[countrybass007]

Used an Ampeg SVT and two 810 cabs on the road from '71 to '73 and the only failure was an occasional blown fuse. The old gear was fairly bulletproof, and I can't say that I've heard anything making me afraid of the new Ampeg gear. Get what trips your trigger.

 

[GnRDuff1]

Bah...nobody survives on reputation alone. If Ampeg's new stuff wasn't cutting it, it would be all over the internet like it was 2-3 years ago when they first moved to China and their new stuff wasn't cutting it. But since then, they fired their head idiot and brought in a team of people who actually like making quality products. All amps can fail, but the failure rate of Ampegs these days is much lower from what I can see. And if it does fail, their CS dept is all over it.

Anyway, I greatly prefer Ampeg for everything I do, but there's nothing wrong with GK either. Would I make that trade from GK SS to Ampeg tube? In a New York minute.

Jimmy saying he likes Ampeg?! NO WAY!

 

[jmattbassplaya]

My experience. If you want CLEAN big low end, go with a S/S amp. You want middy and rich, and the distortion that follows when pushed hard, go with the tubes.

Couldn't disagree more. SVT's have an amazing clean sound unless they're pushed very hard. Heck, they were built to sound clear at high volumes!

 

[Art Araya]

i have a GK 1001RBII and several ampeg tube heads (SVT, SVT-VR and a '71 V4B), and i actually like ALL of them. IME, the tube heads have a different response to my touch, but coupled with the right cab the GK is no slouch. it's just a different flavor. BTW, i've never had a problem with any of them.

+1

I have both the GK 1001RB and and SVT-VR. Both are excellent but different.