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GK or MESA amp?
- Thread starter stefean
- Start date
Firstly, I've always respected Mesa. It's a fine company, but I don't like these higher powered tube amplifiers because they end up paralleling many tubes in order to get all that power. I believe the 400+ uses 12 tubes.
Also note that they don't specify the S/N ratio ( please correct me if I'm wrong). I believe the absolute noise floor of these massively paralleled tube amps can become quite high.
I really like the lesser powered tube amps (50 to100 Watt range). For me, this is sort of a sweet spot for tube amps.
Also note that they don't specify the S/N ratio ( please correct me if I'm wrong). I believe the absolute noise floor of these massively paralleled tube amps can become quite high.
I really like the lesser powered tube amps (50 to100 Watt range). For me, this is sort of a sweet spot for tube amps.
A GK2001 RB is louder and punchier than the 400+. I have owned the 400+ and I play the 2001. Soft rock group? You sure you need that much power?
I guess my 400+ missed class that day . . . it's one of the quietest amps I have. Oh, and on solid state amps of high power, you most likely have a lot more than 12 output devices . . . it's the norm in high power gear, no matter which technology . . .
- Tim
Mike Grohndal (the bass player for the late Jeff Buckley) used a 400+, Buckleys range was anything from the softest, sweetest soings, to hardest rockingest songs.
The GK 2001RB is a great amp and it can play quietly and do the softer stuff very well, as will the Mesa. A lot of your final sound will be dtermined by the speaker cabinets you use.
The GK 2001 has enormous power. I had the earlier 2000RB and it was way more than I ever needed and I soon got tired of carrying around all that extra weight when I didn't need to, so I went smaller and now use the Mesa Walkabout Scout. Great sound, plenty of power and light weight.
The GK 2001 has enormous power. I had the earlier 2000RB and it was way more than I ever needed and I soon got tired of carrying around all that extra weight when I didn't need to, so I went smaller and now use the Mesa Walkabout Scout. Great sound, plenty of power and light weight.
I'm playing with a praise band that's been getting some out of church gigs (several outdoors as well), and the 1001RB-II has served me well. Both are good brands, but my personal preference is the GK. As someone else said, do you really need that much power for what you're playing?
My thoughts exactly. The 1001RB whould be plenty and sounds about the same as the 2001. I regret getting my 2001 to an extent because I could have bought 2x1001RBs and had a dual amp setup (1 clean and 1 dirty!)
i have used the 400 and 400+ great amps they just weigh a lot
u have used gk great amps, it is just that their head person in charge is a stanford guy
the head guy in charge at mesa is a cal guy
i am a cal guy
so
i bought a mesa walkabout head and i am using it with a schroeder 1212L, they weigh 13 and 42 pounds respectively
they are small, light and powerful
i dig em
and they sound sooooo good
u have used gk great amps, it is just that their head person in charge is a stanford guy
the head guy in charge at mesa is a cal guy
i am a cal guy
so
i bought a mesa walkabout head and i am using it with a schroeder 1212L, they weigh 13 and 42 pounds respectively
they are small, light and powerful
i dig em
and they sound sooooo good
I use a 700rb in a permanent situation playing contemporary christian music. It never cracks a sweat.
I haul a 1001rb around in a 6pc blues band and have yet to even think about needing more power.
Apples and oranges here, but I ran into an old acquaintence between shows last week. He is a highly acclaimed and respected guitar player and one of the top 2 or 3 guys in my city. He is getting ready to go on national tour with the Broadway production of "Ring of Fire". Shootin the breeze with him and the topic of gear and amps came up. While acknowledging the great sound of Mesa, in the same breath he said the happiest day was when he sold his.
JKT
I haul a 1001rb around in a 6pc blues band and have yet to even think about needing more power.
Apples and oranges here, but I ran into an old acquaintence between shows last week. He is a highly acclaimed and respected guitar player and one of the top 2 or 3 guys in my city. He is getting ready to go on national tour with the Broadway production of "Ring of Fire". Shootin the breeze with him and the topic of gear and amps came up. While acknowledging the great sound of Mesa, in the same breath he said the happiest day was when he sold his.
JKT
My Mesa 400+ works quite well in softer tunes, as well as in considerably louder situations. I would also say that my Mesa is extremely quiet. I play primarily contemporary christian worship, as well as instrumental jazz and a few other things thrown in on occasion. It is a very solid head, and 45 lbs isn't bad at all for an all tube head. Never had a problem with the tubes either. GK stuff is great too, but the Mesa is more my taste in tone... at least for now! 
Norm Stockton (currently touring w/ Lincoln Brewster) is now playing the Gallien-Krueger 1001RB (MIGHT bee the 2001, but i'm pretty sure it was the 1001). I sat in on a seminar he gave and then went to a clinic a night or two later that he did at the local GC. The 1001 w/ the NEO212 cab sounded so good that I replaced my Ampeg head with it that combo.
(Side note - before the GK, Norm was playing EBS. That's what he is playing in his instructional video's IIRC.)
(Side note - before the GK, Norm was playing EBS. That's what he is playing in his instructional video's IIRC.)
rockstarbassist
Inactive
Mine is dead quiet, till I turn it loose. To each his own, but how well can a 50-100 watt bass amp be heard in a band? If it could, everyone would use Ampeg B-15's.
I don't for this band. But I could've used it for my last one. I play every style and I just want one good rig that'll prepare me for pretty much anything.
Get the ALL tube amp.......either a MESA 400+ or another.. IMHO U just cannot beat the sound, feel, warmth & punch of an all tube amp-Not with ANY hybrid amp.. I've tried nearly ALL of 'em. Well Ampeg, Mesa, Eden, Aguilar, Mark Bass, the list goes on & on......... The tube amp-Mesa 400+ will sound NICE quiet as well as awesome loud. My Fender 300PRO is VERY quiet.....in fact, damn close to silent, apart from the fan I installed into it's rear. IT sounds great at ANY level. Sure it's heavy(I don't mind that) & so is the bass power it thumps out! I play everything from jazz, soul, blues to funk, disco, hard rock & metal & it sounds GREAT for ALL these!
Norm does in fact use a 1001RB-II and either a Neo 212 or a Neo 412 depending on the size of the venue. He did recently ask me about using 4 2001RB heads with 4 Neo 412 cabinets for a series of dates they have coming up though
Interesting - that's a LOT of power and sound !!! ... I'll have to look at the calender.... I'm guessing one of those gigs is in Monterey.
