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GK let me down :[

April Ethereal

April Ethereal

Jul 23, 2010
193
2
#1
I was very excited to finally move away from my combo amp years to a cab....Well, I got a GK 4x10 blx II cab with the Backline 600 gk head. I was sooo excited...until I tried it. Well the Speakers have rattling and when you turn the head on the power light stays on Red for a while and then goes to green...hmm? So while Im playing on the clean channel the overdrive channel light starts flickering and then turns completely solid green [but no overdrive effect and while Im playing on the clean channel ] I will admit however minus the flaws, the rig gave great tone for the price, maybe I just got unlucky with my set up... But Im taking it back while I can and am buying an ampeg b200r combo amp! =D Anyone heard good specs about this ampeg product?
 
#2
I bought a Backline rig similar to yours last year through a classified add. Same result. I thought it was because I bought it second hand. Sold it to some poor bastard for what I paid for it. Moral of the story: GK makes great amps, but stay away from the Backline series.
 
#5
My first "real" amp was a Backline, Blew it three times under warranty until my friends dad bought it from me. Last night at rehearsal my drummer showed me a Bacline 600 head that his other bassist had given him. "I thought it was the jack but I had a new one put in and it still won't work..." If not for the 400RB I played for a short time, all my faith in GK would be lost. From what I hear, the Backline's don't reflect the rest of their products, but it was the worst experience with an amp I've ever had.
 
#7
wave rider said:
My 1001RB II shows red for a few seconds then blue when powered up, kind of like your 600. It does that to avoid the "thump" that many solid state amps produce when turned on.

=wr=
Click to expand...

My MB150S too and all my previous GK amps.

Great amps. My favourite. Always been reliable too.The only ones I've heard don't stand up are the Backline products.

I wouldn't get the Ampeg. I'd get a GK400RB that'll do much better. I used one for over 10 years. The new models put out 280 watts. That's enough for almost anything.

But, that's me and my taste in amps.
 
#9
I've read nothing but bad things about the backline and goldline series amps/cabs.
Why do they even make 'em if they're not going to at least try? Seems like a great way to turn a budget-conscious bassplayer away from GK for future serious purchases.
 
#11
My first amp head was a 700RBII back in 2005, to this day it's still my main amp. I've tried selling it but I just can't let it go. Backline series cabs are no good but the amps are OK you just have to find the right cab. If you don't want to spend too much but at the same time you want a good sound, go for the 400RBII and the GK MBX series cabs.
 
#12
Sounds to me like the OP wasn't "let down" by G-K, but basically bought some of their cheapest gear that was used, and probably already broken - then used that as a basis to decide that G-K's aren't very good...

Nevermind the fact that G-K has been used by many touring professionals for many, many years - and still is, actually...


- georgestrings
 
#14
Sorry to hear that, dude. Ive read quite a few reviews of people who liked them and never had a problem, and alot of reviews who say they're a BIG letdown. I would have thought the would have worked the bugs out of these amps, but i guess not. My advice would be to take that one back to GC and get a refund, and upgrade to a used 700, 1001 series amps, total workhorses. Even the MB2-500's are great, if you can find a version A05 or later used.
 
#16
even still, i think one is getting a lot for their money with a backline. i did a stint with a local cover-circuit band that had a backline 250 available as a backup head. i began using for rehearsals and found that i really really liked its aggressive tone. yes, it was only 125 watts, and for that purpose, was plenty loud with drums and two rock guitars. what did those sell for? like $199 or something, wasnt it? brand new.

you want a "pro" amp? you pay the "pro" price (or get very lucky on craigslist!).
 
#19
April Ethereal said:
I was very excited to finally move away from my combo amp years to a cab....Well, I got a GK 4x10 blx II cab with the Backline 600 gk head. I was sooo excited...until I tried it. Well the Speakers have rattling and when you turn the head on the power light stays on Red for a while and then goes to green...hmm? So while Im playing on the clean channel the overdrive channel light starts flickering and then turns completely solid green [but no overdrive effect and while Im playing on the clean channel ] I will admit however minus the flaws, the rig gave great tone for the price, maybe I just got unlucky with my set up... But Im taking it back while I can and am buying an ampeg b200r combo amp! =D Anyone heard good specs about this ampeg product?
Click to expand...

The BL 600 is actually a pretty good head. The red light staying on for a few seconds when you turn it on is normal. It's in a standby/protect mode while it powers up. The light that is coming on may be the clip indicator for the preamp section. Try adjusting your gain or engaging the pad and see if it goes away.

OTOH the BLX cabs are crap. Take the cab back and order an Avatar. BL600 + Avatar will give you a very nice, budget friendly rig.

As far as the Ampeg combo, the B200R amps are quite unimpressive, IMO. The BL 600 is the better head between those two.

Good luck in your quest.
 
#20
KillerQuebec said:
GK has very nice tone, just don't rely on it if you are a pro player. Keep a spare head handy for on stage failures and for when you need to send your's back to GK for service every two years.
Click to expand...


Yet, as I said before - many, many pro players have used G-K by choice for many years... I don't know what happened in your case, but it certainly isn't the norm - I've already had several trouble-free years of service out of my 700rb-II...

I'll just point out that G-K seems to have stood up to more than a couple of hard years of rigorous touring by Guns N Roses and the Red Hot Chili Peppers - just off the top of my head...



- georgestrings
 

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