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GK Legacy 800 vs Tech 21 VT500
- Thread starter ReeV0
- Start date
The GK is in another tier with the price to match. The VT200 combos I've played were all quite noisy but weren't the VT500 so take it for what it's worth. The GK MB115 I had at the time was silent.
I been own both vt500/410 and vt200 combo previous, the vt200 has no noisy issue at all, meanwhile build quality better than rumble 200, Hartke kb15 and my current Ampeg RB112.
Modern clean tone Vs vary tone. Not a good compare between both brand.
I've recently gotten a G.K. Legacy 800 head.
Gigging it in a loud, 5 pcs., outlaw, country/rock group.
I always run a SansAmp BDDI V1 in front of the heads set as clean as I can figure out how to use it.
I've FOH support 100% of the time.
(To my ears), the Legacy 800 has the solid full lows, the present mids, and crisp highs with the feeling of a fast transient response and big available power that G.K. is known for.
It also seems to have a 3-dimensional low end, tube like quality like my MB Fusion 800 but it stays clean and clear with clarity at higher levels.
It's also proven to be the most plug and play head I've ever owned.
Build quality is top of the line.
(Only negative), it can be slightly noisy with some circuits in some rooms.
But not loud enough to be heard while playing.
I'm VERY happy with it!
I don't use the overdrive circuit, distorted bass, not my thing, so I can't speak to it's use/sound.
Gigging it in a loud, 5 pcs., outlaw, country/rock group.
I always run a SansAmp BDDI V1 in front of the heads set as clean as I can figure out how to use it.
I've FOH support 100% of the time.
(To my ears), the Legacy 800 has the solid full lows, the present mids, and crisp highs with the feeling of a fast transient response and big available power that G.K. is known for.
It also seems to have a 3-dimensional low end, tube like quality like my MB Fusion 800 but it stays clean and clear with clarity at higher levels.
It's also proven to be the most plug and play head I've ever owned.
Build quality is top of the line.
(Only negative), it can be slightly noisy with some circuits in some rooms.
But not loud enough to be heard while playing.
I'm VERY happy with it!
I don't use the overdrive circuit, distorted bass, not my thing, so I can't speak to it's use/sound.
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I've been running a VT500 for 4-5 years now. Very versatile, very quiet. The only negative I've seen put on it, and I tend to agree, is the DI output is variable. It will go up and down with the master volume, level, control. I hardly ever adjust stage volume so I let whoever is running the board make the adjustments there.
Break the warranty likely, but that might not be a difficult mod to fix.
I would very respectfully disagree about the VT500 being in a lesser tier than GK, they are both built in the USA, both are killer at what they do. As shoot-r stated, the GK has really full lows, crisp highs and are lightning fast response-wise, and the VT500 is the most gnarly kind of tubey, gritty tone with big lows (the grit can be pulled back) that sounds just awesome. Two very different beasts, both great heads.
The VT500s aren't made in the US. Never have been. Even with that, I agree. It's a great amp.
Not a knock. I love Tech21 but I consider the VT series in the same tier as the GK MB series. Which I also love and I agree that both are killer at what they do.
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The Bite button engage able make VT sound crispy and zing like clean modern amp with full volume up then with drive knob tweak to meet the volume you need before tone get compressed.
With above clean EQ setup, you need second matching cab for VT200 to get more output in band mix. If just using combo alone , before tone (drive knob turn up ) get compressed, overall output just like 60 watts thing. No problem on VT500 since she has powerful 410 cab.
I also prefer the 500hz/1khz mid shift button along with Bite button engage or off on VT200 which pretty useful on few bass guitar with different type of flatwound bass string .
If OP love both amp sound,I suggest get the GK amp, then add VT pedal since GK sound clean without too much vintage vibe which easily drive with effect pedal.
Hopehelp.
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While your comparison is somewhat apples/oranges, I’d suggest that with the right signal chain the GK can cover sonics very similar to the VT but it might not work as well trying to get the VT to cover what the GK can do.
Respectfully disagree. Simulation of other amps is what the VT500 was made to do, and with just turning a few dials and pushing a button. No signal chain manipulation needed. Or not.
