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GK>Mesa>Eden>MarkBass>Genz>GK

tallboybass

tallboybass

Supporting Member
Feb 25, 2003
4,573
1,163
69
Tulsa, Oklahoma
#1
With thanks to 'Enron Hubbard'...

I'm wondering how many people have done this...ended up playing the amp they liked before experimenting.

BT (Before Talkbass) I used a GK 800RB for about 20 years and loved it. After finding 'this fine online community for bass players' I started buying and using all kinds of amps...probably owned one of about everything out there. Then I bought a GK MB210 which not only gets the job done and weighs 33 pounds, but just "feels" right when I play.

Anyone else gone around in a circle and ended up back where they started? I still love my Genz stuff too, and I love love love TB, but there are a LOT of options out there for a guy/gal to explore. Ever thought that you should've just stuck with what worked?
 
#3
I did that with basses, not amps. Started with a MIM Jazz... somewhere down the line bought a Stingray. Years later I joined TB, and promptly bought an SX precision, then a T-40, then a vintage Guild JS-II, then another T-40, and somewhere around then I decided I liked my old MIM Jazz better than most of those other basses and started playing it live again. Then I bought a Rick. Somehow I'm convinced it never ends, at least not once you've joined TB.

I did however start life playing a GK 410, and there are times when I consider going the GK neo 112 route... I could easily come full circle with the cabs, though I doubt I'd necessarily go back to a GK head anytime soon.
 
#5
Me too. I have had to really think hard about selling any bass I have owned as lefty instruments are hard to come by.

I miss my 800RB sometimes too. But have recently discovered Mesa bass gear and think I am having GAS attacks on a daily basis!
 
#6
TB has played a large role in my gear swapping over the last 2 years or so, but I made it a point to hang onto the Genz gear that I loved before starting... a bunch of amps, cabs, and basses later, I still have that gear and a couple of new pieces that I love as well.

Maybe there should be some kind of disclaimer - "Please TalkBass responsibly" :)
 
#7
What a coincidence. My first 'real' amp was an 800RB, which I bought new in '89 and played for several years, before being lured away by SWR, then a pre/power sled, then Mesa, then MarkBass. Parked the 800RB for, oh, 8 or 10 years and sold it to a friend a couple of years ago. Recently started seeing a lot of 800RB buzz here, and started GASsing for my old amp, which by some miracle my friend agreed to sell back to me. Naturally, I now greatly prefer it to all my other stuff!!!!!!
 
#8
I can't say I ever want to go back to a Peavey head and a home made 18" cab. I did have a GnK RB2001 and it was good bright and pretty loud. But I now own 2 Mesa Titan heads and I will never play another head. Mesa is a great company with great customer service which to me is as important as the tone. I have owned several Ampeg heads and cabs, Eden WT1200, older Mesa MPulse stuff and too many cabs to list but my quest is done. 1 Titan clean through a Mesa 4/12 neo and at the same time #2 Titan through an SWR 8/10 Megoliath ran a little dirty....This is everything a bass player needs for versatility, Tone, Headroom, Volume, vintage tube or crystal clear tones. Not easy to move around but will bring a tear to your eyes as far as tone and well small gigs I bring 1 head and I have an Avatar 4/10 neo that pretty good. To me "vintage" is French for trash can.
 
#10
if it aint broken,dont fix it.....the only reason i am upgrading to a markbass from my nemesis is because it´s 15 years old and on it´ś last legs :( ..........gotta love the markbass though.really if your amp/cab is good enough,i would suggest trying a compressor or preamp or cool pedal.new speakers are cool too.

Link Removed
 
#11
KsPiNeSh said:
TB has played a large role in my gear swapping over the last 2 years or so, but I made it a point to hang onto the Genz gear that I loved before starting... a bunch of amps, cabs, and basses later, I still have that gear and a couple of new pieces that I love as well.

Maybe there should be some kind of disclaimer - "Please TalkBass responsibly" :)
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You are smart! At the time, I thought I had to get rid of stuff to buy new stuff (or was it a financial thing?). Anyway, wish I had my mid-80s 800RB back, I knew every scratch and cooling fin bend!!

Glad the cabs are gone though, I had a Hartke 410 and a Mesa 115 Diesel and feel like I have cabs now that can hang with those, only they weigh less than half as much!
 
#13
I kinda did...

Ashdown (Mag300), GK (700RBII), Markbass (LMII), Genz (NeoPak), GK (400RB), GK (700RBII).

Although I wouldn't pass up a deal on an LMIII if I found one. I liked the LMII but couldn't get over not having DI level control, Pre\Post and Mute buttons. LMIII addressed those issues.
 
#14
Joseph Sheldon said:
I can't say I ever want to go back to a Peavey head and a home made 18" cab. I did have a GnK RB2001 and it was good bright and pretty loud. But I now own 2 Mesa Titan heads and I will never play another head. Mesa is a great company with great customer service which to me is as important as the tone. I have owned several Ampeg heads and cabs, Eden WT1200, older Mesa MPulse stuff and too many cabs to list but my quest is done. 1 Titan clean through a Mesa 4/12 neo and at the same time #2 Titan through an SWR 8/10 Megoliath ran a little dirty....This is everything a bass player needs for versatility, Tone, Headroom, Volume, vintage tube or crystal clear tones. Not easy to move around but will bring a tear to your eyes as far as tone and well small gigs I bring 1 head and I have an Avatar 4/10 neo that pretty good. To me "vintage" is French for trash can.
Click to expand...

Mesa and SWR are my favorite companies for bass amplification. :)
 

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