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Double Bass GK Backlines?

#3
Hi Bob, welcome to TalkBass. I've owned two GK 200MB combos and have a 400RB head. I found the BackLine 10 and 12 inch combos to sound cheap in comparison to the MB (this was only with bass guitar; since they couldn't handle low notes well at any sort of volume I imagine they'd fare worse with double bass).

I'd also recommend a used WorkingMan's 10 or 12, or a used 200MB or MB150. I tried a used Hartke KickBack 15 and thought it sounded terrible for upright. The smaller new Fender Bassman combos (like the Bassman 100 with 1-10) are also worth a look, as are the Genz Benz combos. Ashdown MAG line is good for a more old-school, Ampeg fliptop type of tone. Used Ampeg B-50 combo is also nice for upright.
 
#4
I recently bought a Yorkville xm50. Right now it is being used for the shop... trying out pickups and fine tuning client's setups... but for under $250, it has a quite a punch! This amp would work well for duet/trio restaurant-type gigs. I use the GK150 on jobs, and the Backline series is a different animal.

fwiw... although maybe this just makes you more confused...:hmm:
 
#5
You can probably get a used SWR Workingman's 12 for the same price. I tried out a Backline combo at a rehearsal and it couldn't handle much volume or low end compared to the SWR.
 
#9
I tried a GK Backline combo and it was very noisy (lots of hiss).

I also checked out the SWR LA line...OK but nothing amazing. Very limited on EQ, etc., not very loud.

The older WM 10 and 12 combos are much better.

I'm looking forward to hearing about the new SWR Working Pro combos.
 
#10
I've been using an SWR Workingman's 12 for the last 3+ years with no troubles. I have a big bass strung with gut for a large, lush sound. The amp works great on restaurant, wedding, and club gigs with the AKG 419 microphone that I usually use for most gigs, the Realist that I use on louder gigs, and even my low-strung electric bass. It's been like a good, reliable Toyota for me.

Steve Swan
 
#11
nicklloyd said:
I recently bought a Yorkville xm50. Right now it is being used for the shop... trying out pickups and fine tuning client's setups... but for under $250, it has a quite a punch! This amp would work well for duet/trio restaurant-type gigs. I use the GK150 on jobs, and the Backline series is a different animal.
Click to expand...

Yorkville's neither fancy nor hi-fi, but those little amps (1X10") give you reasonably good functionality for dead cheap. They're also extremely durable - I have an older model 50-watt combo and it's been my only amp for years. In fact the thing won't die ...

They are a little bass-heavy, I guess because the cab and EQ are probably voiced as an EB practice amp. I play through a Realist and have to roll off a bit of bass. I think the Yorkville's perfectly good for smaller jobs or noisier rooms. I've even used mine for big band gigs, though it gets a quite rubbery at high volumes - then again, what small combo doesn't. Might be worth checking out, if you can find one for cheap.

Yorkville stuff is a little like the Peavey of Canada - works OK, doesn't cost much, and you get absolutely no style points for using it. Although of course they're better than Peavey. Heh.
 
#12
i also have an old yorkville 50w 1x10" amp . bought it used at ebay for 70 euros.
it works. i used it on a little great-britain-tour last year (5 jobs in two days... )and nobody wanted to steal it from the bandbus.:) not really hifi, but like some other one said: "IMO no better or worse than a Contra in a crowded restaurant".... :hiding:
 

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