GK Questions!

[beaglesandbass]

I have the MB212 combo and I love it. IMO you should have just stayed with that, but if you think it's a little too much, go for the MB210 combo. Still get the GK sound, but in smaller package.

 

[Bill Murray]

Hello! I am a light touring musician (playing in different towns once every two weeks or so) and I play bass and do vocals. I use a GK MB212-II Combo and it sounds perfect with my basses (Gibson Thunderbird and Ernie Ball Sterling SUB Stingray). I nearly just sold it and got a Fender Rumble 800 Head with 2x12 Cab and 1x15 Cab. However, the Rumble just didn't have the GK Tone. I'm looking for a similar rig to my GK MB212-II Combo in Head/Cab Format. Should I stick with the combo or go for a whole different sound all together? What brands sound similar to GK Tone?

as others have mentioned, if you dig the GK I’d keep riding that wave. You won’t find anything else that sounds like them, every brand has its own color and it’s not worth chasing tone if you’ve already found what you’re looking for.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

If you can imagine a GK head being a bit more laid back and dressed in a tuxedo as opposed to a leather jacket, you'd have something approaching the Berg sound...a very smooth, sophisticated presentation and totally ready to step up when called upon.

Well, that counts me out! I'm gonna stick with my black leather jacket and GK's! That was a good description, Al!

I've been trying to build up the courage to sell my two GK heads to buy one of the newer Legacy heads as everyone GK has been raving about them. But every time I play through either head, I love what I hear. Maybe I'll steal wife's tax return and buy a third GK--the Legacy!

Lots of good suggestions here. But you will find that most GK owners are very loyal customers and tend to buy up to better GK's and save the lesser ones for backup. Good luck, let us know what you ended up with!

 

[AdamR]

Fusion 212 combo amd a neo 115 or better yet, a neo 212 cab.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

You should go old school and get an 800RB. I have one from 88 and it's pretty much indestructible. I also have a 700RB II and two old 400RBs. The RB series is so tried and true.

 

[Al Kraft]

You should go old school and get an 800RB. I have one from 88 and it's pretty much indestructible. I also have a 700RB II and two old 400RBs. The RB series is so tried and true.

IME all GK heads have some obviously similar family traits/characteristics - in a good way. However, IMO the RB series is the gold standard classic GK sound. The RB heads are also notoriously reliable.

 

[klejst]

Stay with GK. I believe they have separate 1x12 (x2 in your case) and 2x12 cabs no? The Neo line comes to mind along with their MB line which can be had cheaper on a used market.

 

[Kukulkan61]

The only thing that is gonna sound like a GK is GK, your combo is great but if your wanting to stack I would get the GK Legacy 800 and cabs of your choice, I use a GK 400RB with Mesa Subway cabs, but before the pandemic I was using a Legacy 800, I sold it and went back to my 400..

 

[Solude]

Legacy 800 and Neo IV 212 would be the obvious "upgrade".

 

[J R Knots]

The only thing that is gonna sound like a GK is GK, your combo is great but if your wanting to stack I would get the GK Legacy 800 and cabs of your choice, I use a GK 400RB with Mesa Subway cabs, but before the pandemic I was using a Legacy 800, I sold it and went back to my 400..

I have several GK amps and love them all. (Never an issue on any of them-except having to replace the speakers on one my combo amps)

If I were looking for something to replace them I would look at a Legacy 800 (I own a Legacy 500 as one of my amps) and a GK Neo IV 2x12. If your budget will accommodate maybe two of the boxes for the louder rooms.

These are really great looking and the sound is is very true to the GK sound that a lot of us love.

 

[pbassnut]

Hello! I am a light touring musician (playing in different towns once every two weeks or so) and I play bass and do vocals. I use a GK MB212-II Combo and it sounds perfect with my basses (Gibson Thunderbird and Ernie Ball Sterling SUB Stingray). I nearly just sold it and got a Fender Rumble 800 Head with 2x12 Cab and 1x15 Cab. However, the Rumble just didn't have the GK Tone. I'm looking for a similar rig to my GK MB212-II Combo in Head/Cab Format. Should I stick with the combo or go for a whole different sound all together? What brands sound similar to GK Tone?

That's a great combo. If you really like it, but need/want more "juice", why don't you get a GK powered enclosure to augment it? This should sound great with your GK MB212-II combo which is designed to hook up to them ...

212 MBP Specs — Gallien-Krueger

 

[juancaminos]

That's a great combo. If you really like it, but need/want more "juice", why don't you get a GK powered enclosure to augment it? This should sound great with your GK MB212-II combo which is designed to hook up to them ...

212 MBP Specs — Gallien-Krueger

Wow, the GK 212 MBP seems fantastic. I wish I would have given that a try instead of the Rumble 500 that I cant get a good sound out of. Maybe the 212 extension with my Eden WT400?

 

[MNAirHead]

or a plex and ditch the amp

 

[groove pump]

Another happy GK player. Mine is the mighty wee MB 500 head that I use to run a pair of 2x10 cabs, which aren't GK or even the same brand/model, but they run together just fine. In a vertical stack, this rig is all the loud 'n clear that I want without even needing to turn my master up near 12 o'clock or use any boost. There's also the flexibility of using only one cab if I want to play a smaller rig depending on the setting.

I was initially worried about having the lower powered 500 watt head when I first brought it home. But now that I've gigged with it outdoors more than once, I have no want or need for the 800 watt version.