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GK 200MB contour - in an adjustable preamp?

Digital Larry

Digital Larry

Jan 5, 2007
81
123
Silicon Valley, CA
#1
Hello,

I'm more or less a GK fan boy, but in spite of that I'm not tilting towards the Plex preamp. While it looks like it has voices of several GK amps, it looks a bit overly complex for what I'm after, and I'm also interested perhaps in a rack mount solution.

I had the speaker in my 200MB replaced last year and just brought it out again to hook up via XLR for recording. It really sounds great with my new Fender Aerodyne Jazz P/J bass. Clicking on the "Contour" button is like getting transported to another dimension. I guess it cuts out a lot of midrange but leaves a deep bottom end and highs for definition. I can see having it both ways for different styles.

I am looking for something that can do that but in more of an adjustable fashion, you know, a regular parametric EQ but also bass oriented with overdrive possibilities. I'm looking at a Tech21 GED-2112 which seems pretty cool in this regard. Sure sounds like Geddy when he plays through it! It's not necessarily what I'm going for all the time (I probably am more interested in cleaner tones 90% of the time).

Any other suggestions?
 
#2
Digital Larry said:
a regular parametric EQ but also bass oriented with overdrive possibilities
Click to expand...
Why not two pedals or two rack units? A multieffect processor like a Line 6 Stomp/Helix, Fractal, Kemper or Neural might be overkill for these needs, but it would certainly get the job done. Lastly, if this is for recording you could always record via DI and just adjust the EQ and overdrive via DSP once you're in the box. If your computer is sufficiently powerful you could even monitor through these plugins without enough latency to be perceptible.
 
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#3
Yeah, I have a Headrush MX-5 and it's got parametric EQ and a couple bass amp models I could use. I'm just in the mood for a real hardware unit without presets that I don't have to monitor through the DAW. I've already probably got more than I need to get the job done, just fishing around for specific boxes that might do roughly the same things.

I know the Tech21 Bass Driver DI is well regarded but I don't think it's got a notch filter.
 
#5
As usual I'm dealing with lingering GAS (I bought and sold a lot of stuff in the past few months). Limiting myself to rack mount devices unfortunately really narrows the field down, perhaps too much. No surprise, most of the demos of the GED-2112 have that "Geddy" tone, and he himself says "that's my sound, I don't change it, it's always on".

I'm looking through the Darkglass pedals now... might get one via Guitar Center Used (that's how I bought nearly everything this year)... easy to take back for any reason within 45 days.

I'm not about to get rid of the 200MB - it has a great sound and the compressor and chorus are workable but it doesn't do overdrive.
 

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