Help Deciding between Mesa and GK Amp Head

[Giubaloo]

Hello everybody! I'm in the process of updating my amp/cab setup, recently ordered a new cabinet which I'm stoked about (Revsound RS210, 4-ohm 650w) and now I'm trying to decide on an amp head to go with it, but I'm stuck and could definitely use some advice. I'm looking at amps in the $500-$1000 ish range, anywhere from 300w-600w, and have tentatively narrowed it down to the Mesa/Boogie Subway D-350 and the GK Legacy 500.

They both sound great in demos I've seen, but aside from the Mesa not having an effects loop (which I don't think is a deal breaker) I'm really struggling to determine which one would be best. Unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to try either of them before I purchase them. Other amps I've been looking at are the Warwick LWA500 and the Carvin B1000, though I'm not sure how I feel about purchasing a used amp without a warranty.

I'm pretty much exclusively a hobbyist that plays at home but have been playing with a 4-piece rock/jazz group recently and would like the option to be able to play very small shows (eg. house show.) I mostly play more aggressive music like rock, metal etc so the amp doesn't need to be the most versatile amp ever but I would like to be able to get a good clean sound out of it. What I will say is that the sounds I've heard come from the GK Legacy sound *exactly* like what I envision my bass tone to sound like, but I also have a pedal board with a SansAmp and a Darkglass B7K as well so I imagine I could get close to replicating those more aggressive tones with relative ease on any of these amps. I also have an Aguilar TLC compressor pedal so I don't need a built-in compressor.

Pros/Cons of Mesa D-350:

• Less expensive by $150
• 350w is almost certainly more than enough power for me
• Comes with gig bag
• Very well-reviewed
• Potentially more versatile
• No effects loop

Pros/Cons of GK Legacy 500:

• More expensive
• Love the tone, seems like it would be perfect fit for the majority of music I play however as a result is potentially less versatile
• Does not come with a gig bag
• Effects loop
• 300w at 4-ohm is almost certainly more than enough power for me, however having the option of 450w @2-ohm would be nice if I ever decide to add another cab
• Also very well-reviewed

I've reached out to a few individual TalkBass users to ask about both amps and have gotten some great responses, but I still can't decide for the life of me which one I think would be the best fit and was hoping to get some more people to chime in. Thank you in advance!

 

[Al Kraft]

What I will say is that the sounds I've heard come from the GK Legacy sound *exactly* like what I envision my bass tone to sound like

This statement from your post is where I would park and make my decision. Both are excellent products, but they are different in their voicing IMO. It is a rare treat to find a head that sounds just like the sound that's in your head.

I own both Mesa and GK gear so I would say both brands offer a lot to like. In your case though, I think you already have a clear winner.

 

[TomB]

I have both a Legacy 800 and a D800+, similar to your choices. Both are great amps, so I'm not much help. I'm with Al. Go with your gut on this one. You may even find the Legacy's boost / OD foot switch feature to be useful. I sure do, and I miss it on the Mesa, though pedals make for an easy fix, and the Legacy OD's not for everybody. Bottom line though you can't go wrong with either.

 

[SJan3]

Hello everybody! I'm in the process of updating my amp/cab setup, recently ordered a new cabinet which I'm stoked about (Revsound RS210, 4-ohm 650w) and now I'm trying to decide on an amp head to go with it, but I'm stuck and could definitely use some advice. I'm looking at amps in the $500-$1000 ish range, anywhere from 300w-600w, and have tentatively narrowed it down to the Mesa/Boogie Subway D-350 and the GK Legacy 500.

They both sound great in demos I've seen, but aside from the Mesa not having an effects loop (which I don't think is a deal breaker) I'm really struggling to determine which one would be best. Unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to try either of them before I purchase them. Other amps I've been looking at are the Warwick LWA500 and the Carvin B1000, though I'm not sure how I feel about purchasing a used amp without a warranty.

I'm pretty much exclusively a hobbyist that plays at home but have been playing with a 4-piece rock/jazz group recently and would like the option to be able to play very small shows (eg. house show.) I mostly play more aggressive music like rock, metal etc so the amp doesn't need to be the most versatile amp ever but I would like to be able to get a good clean sound out of it. What I will say is that the sounds I've heard come from the GK Legacy sound *exactly* like what I envision my bass tone to sound like, but I also have a pedal board with a SansAmp and a Darkglass B7K as well so I imagine I could get close to replicating those more aggressive tones with relative ease on any of these amps. I also have an Aguilar TLC compressor pedal so I don't need a built-in compressor.

Pros/Cons of Mesa D-350:

• Less expensive by $150
• 350w is almost certainly more than enough power for me
• Comes with gig bag
• Very well-reviewed
• Potentially more versatile
• No effects loop

Pros/Cons of GK Legacy 500:

• More expensive
• Love the tone, seems like it would be perfect fit for the majority of music I play however as a result is potentially less versatile
• Does not come with a gig bag
• Effects loop
• 300w at 4-ohm is almost certainly more than enough power for me, however having the option of 450w @2-ohm would be nice if I ever decide to add another cab
• Also very well-reviewed

I've reached out to a few individual TalkBass users to ask about both amps and have gotten some great responses, but I still can't decide for the life of me which one I think would be the best fit and was hoping to get some more people to chime in. Thank you in advance!

You said you *love* the tone of the GK. What could possibly be more important? Why try to simulate the sound of an amp when you can have the real deal? For you...GK.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Your words also say GK to me.

 

[jwindham]

Just my opinion, but I have played both the 500 and 800 legacy, and while I really liked the 500's tone, I definitely think the 800 is worth the extra coin if may ever need to push a less efficient cab, etc. The 800 can always be turned down, but I think it is capable of driving almost any cab out there with perhaps a slightly fuller tone + more headroom, of course. That said, I realize not every player needs the extra headroom. The 500 does seem to grind a bit more at lower volumes, which is very cool in itself. That said, if you can possible a/b these amps in person, with your own cabs, I think it would be pretty clear which one would work best for your needs/tone goals.

 

[Giubaloo]

This statement from your post is where I would park and make my decision. Both are excellent products, but they are different in their voicing IMO. It is a rare treat to find a head that sounds just like the sound that's in your head.

I own both Mesa and GK gear so I would say both brands offer a lot to like. In your case though, I think you already have a clear winner.

I think you're completely right, and sincerely appreciate you helping me look at it that way. I was getting so caught up in the minor details that I completely lost sight of the most important thing. Thank you Al, as well as everybody else who replied to this post. I think the Legacy 500 will be the ultimate winner!

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Now I'm a big GK fanatic, but believe it or not....I was gonna suggest the Mesa amp on this one lol.

If you like the GK, that's your answer. Being able to go down to 2-ohms is actually a REALLY nice feature to have IMO. Hard to go wrong with either amp, I can attest to the quality of GK personally, but I can't say I've heard much negativity about Mesa stuff.

 

[Stewie]

For me, it would be the Mesa, the straw that turned me is the USB jack on the back, perfect for my wireless. I'm saving for one (Don't tell my wife)

 

[john_g]

I have the GK Legacy 500 and its...ok. For playing with a band, you will need 4 ohms for sure to get the 300 watts, and even then it just barely keeps up, but thats my experience. The overdrive is good in it if you like a Darkglass-ish type of OD (again, my opinion). The tones are decent, but i dont like that there isnt a gig bag for it (got used to that with my Markbass and again with my new Quilter), you need to use the latest speakon connector only (hate that) and the light stays on all the time when its plugged in but switched off. I actually have it for sale since i got my 800 watt Quilter.

 

[groovaholic]

Take this with a grain of salt, because I'm a biased GK user...
They are both GREAT amps, but your description gives a strong impression the GK tone is what you're after.

Both companies have solid reputations because they've made a lot of bassists happy.
But your tone preference should weigh heavily because those two amps sound very different from each other.

In fact, I've been on the hunt for a Mesa D-800 because it sounds so different from my GK stuff; I want to add that flavor to my toolbox.

But if you're looking at GK, you might want to hold out for the Legacy 800 for the exact reason that @john_g communicated above: Although GK has a reputation for amps that are louder than folks expect, the Legacy 500 isn't one of them.

I prowl the Guitar Center used listings regularly, and have seen several used Legacy 500 available.
In that same time, I can't recall a single Legacy 800.

Bob Gallien explained that his intent behind the Legacy 500 was to provide an amp that filled the niche of the 800RB. The 800 RB offered 300w at 4 ohms from the "main" amp and 100 watts into 8 ohms from the "tweeter" amp. If you look at the Legacy 500 specs, it matches those output ratings VERY closely.

I often saw the 800RB paired with a couple 15s and an 8 ohm 2x10 (Hartke was the preferred pairing for a hot minute) and that setup was blisteringly loud and aggressive sounding!

But people are carrying less speaker cabs these days, and it seems like although the tone of the Legacy 500 sells it, people end up unimpressed by the power.

 

[agedhorse]

I have the GK Legacy 500 and its...ok. For playing with a band, you will need 4 ohms for sure to get the 300 watts, and even then it just barely keeps up, but thats my experience. The overdrive is good in it if you like a Darkglass-ish type of OD (again, my opinion). The tones are decent, but i dont like that there isnt a gig bag for it (got used to that with my Markbass and again with my new Quilter), you need to use the latest speakon connector only (hate that) and the light stays on all the time when its plugged in but switched off. I actually have it for sale since i got my 800 watt Quilter.

To clarify, because I have trouble-shot standard NL4 SpeakOn plugs not fitting when the cable was successfully used with one of our amps and cabinets, is that GK uses the NL2 jacks which are NOT compatible with industry standard NL4 plugs. The NL2 plug and jack are not new or newer.

In short, almost all manufacturers use NL4 jacks or combo jacks on amps and speakers which are compatible with both NL2 and NL4 plugs. GK uses NL2 jacks which are ONLY compatible with NL2 plugs and NOT with NL4 plugs. Do NOT try to force an NL4 plug into an NL2 jack, things will break on both sides.

 

[Killing Floor]

Mesa.

2 things we both know to be true; you won't use 2 Ohms output even if you have it and you will not use an effects loop even if you have one.

Mesa. Best tone. Best value. Best aftermarket support even though you will never need it.

 

[john_g]

To clarify, because I have trouble-shot standard NL4 SpeakOn plugs not fitting when the cable was successfully used with one of our amps and cabinets, is that GK uses the NL2 jacks which are NOT comparable with industry standard NL4 plugs.

In short, almost all manufacturers use NL4 jacks or combo jacks on amps and speakers which are compatible with both NL2 and NL4 plugs. GK uses NL2 jacks which are ONLY compatible with NL2 plugs and NOT with NL4 plugs. Do NOT try to force an NL4 plug into an NL2 jack, things will break on both sides.

Ill take the "L" for not researching more ahead of time about the NL2 jack, but i assumed it was the standard speakon and possibly a combo with a 1/4". Ive only ever had amps with that, so its on me for assuming. But, a great TBer helped me out big time so in the end it all worked out for me, but i try to give the heads up to potential new owners when i can.

 

[agedhorse]

Ill take the "L" for not researching more ahead of time about the NL2 jack, but i assumed it was the standard speakon and possibly a combo with a 1/4". Ive only ever had amps with that, so its on me for assuming. But, a great TBer helped me out big time so in the end it all worked out for me, but i try to give the heads up to potential new owners when i can.

You aren't alone, I have dealt with this several times helping our customers who didn't realize this. Unfortunately, one player's helpful friend somehow managed to get his NL4 plug jammed into an NL2 jack... up until then i had considered it impossible.

 

[joel406]

Hello everybody! I'm in the process of updating my amp/cab setup, recently ordered a new cabinet which I'm stoked about (Revsound RS210, 4-ohm 650w) and now I'm trying to decide on an amp head to go with it, but I'm stuck and could definitely use some advice. I'm looking at amps in the $500-$1000 ish range, anywhere from 300w-600w, and have tentatively narrowed it down to the Mesa/Boogie Subway D-350 and the GK Legacy 500.

They both sound great in demos I've seen, but aside from the Mesa not having an effects loop (which I don't think is a deal breaker) I'm really struggling to determine which one would be best. Unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to try either of them before I purchase them. Other amps I've been looking at are the Warwick LWA500 and the Carvin B1000, though I'm not sure how I feel about purchasing a used amp without a warranty.

I'm pretty much exclusively a hobbyist that plays at home but have been playing with a 4-piece rock/jazz group recently and would like the option to be able to play very small shows (eg. house show.) I mostly play more aggressive music like rock, metal etc so the amp doesn't need to be the most versatile amp ever but I would like to be able to get a good clean sound out of it. What I will say is that the sounds I've heard come from the GK Legacy sound *exactly* like what I envision my bass tone to sound like, but I also have a pedal board with a SansAmp and a Darkglass B7K as well so I imagine I could get close to replicating those more aggressive tones with relative ease on any of these amps. I also have an Aguilar TLC compressor pedal so I don't need a built-in compressor.

Pros/Cons of Mesa D-350:

• Less expensive by $150
• 350w is almost certainly more than enough power for me
• Comes with gig bag
• Very well-reviewed
• Potentially more versatile
• No effects loop

Pros/Cons of GK Legacy 500:

• More expensive
• Love the tone, seems like it would be perfect fit for the majority of music I play however as a result is potentially less versatile
• Does not come with a gig bag
• Effects loop
• 300w at 4-ohm is almost certainly more than enough power for me, however having the option of 450w @2-ohm would be nice if I ever decide to add another cab
• Also very well-reviewed

I've reached out to a few individual TalkBass users to ask about both amps and have gotten some great responses, but I still can't decide for the life of me which one I think would be the best fit and was hoping to get some more people to chime in. Thank you in advance!

I've owned the GK stuff.

Get the Mesa.

 

[john_g]

Take this with a grain of salt, because I'm a biased GK user...
They are both GREAT amps, but your description gives a strong impression the GK tone is what you're after.

Both companies have solid reputations because they've made a lot of bassists happy.
But your tone preference should weigh heavily because those two amps sound very different from each other.

In fact, I've been on the hunt for a Mesa D-800 because it sounds so different from my GK stuff; I want to add that flavor to my toolbox.

But if you're looking at GK, you might want to hold out for the Legacy 800 for the exact reason that @john_g communicated above: Although GK has a reputation for amps that are louder than folks expect, the Legacy 500 isn't one of them.

I prowl the Guitar Center used listings regularly, and have seen several used Legacy 500 available.
In that same time, I can't recall a single Legacy 800.

Bob Gallien explained that his intent behind the Legacy 500 was to provide an amp that filled the niche of the 800RB. The 800 RB offered 300w at 4 ohms from the "main" amp and 100 watts into 8 ohms from the "tweeter" amp. If you look at the Legacy 500 specs, it matches those output ratings VERY closely.

I often saw the 800RB paired with a couple 15s and an 8 ohm 2x10 (Hartke was the preferred pairing for a hot minute) and that setup was blisteringly loud and aggressive sounding!

But people are carrying less speaker cabs these days, and it seems like although the tone of the Legacy 500 sells it, people end up unimpressed by the power.

Yep. My main reason for getting it was to get something 800RB-ish in a small package. Most of the older GK's were alot louder than what was on the label (IMO of course) but the Legacy is not that. Ill admit, I am more sensitive to some of the things I dont like because it wasnt cheap when i bought it, and now the prices have gone way up. I thought for what you pay you should get alot more but YMMV.

 

[musicman556]

I have class D heads from both brands. I find myself using my Legacy 800 most often. I just love its presence and bite. It's just right dang there in your face.

I have a TT800 as well, but think I might have been happier with a D800+. After the honeymoon phase wore off, I admit that I just am not jiving with it like I do with the GK. If you loved the GK tone, quit debating the point.

I had that same "love at first note" on a much more genuine level with the Legacy and it has never gone away. It wasn't a "this a fun new toy" excitement like with the TT800. It was more of a "holy crap! THIS is what I think bass sounds like in my head!"

 

[joel406]

Mesa.

2 things we both know to be true; you won't use 2 Ohms output even if you have it and you will not use an effects loop even if you have one.

Mesa. Best tone. Best value. Best aftermarket support even though you will never need it.

I use 4ohm cabs. I have 212 and 410 cabs. Matched pairs of each. I use 2ohm loads every day. Nothing unusual or rare about it. In fact, it's become the norm. Welcome to today.

 

[TomB]

Mesa.

2 things we both know to be true; you won't use 2 Ohms output even if you have it and you will not use an effects loop even if you have one.

Mesa. Best tone. Best value. Best aftermarket support even though you will never need it.

Best tone? …a little subjective maybe? What I would agree is that the GK has a very distinctive voice that you probably either love or not. I do. My D800+ on the other hand, has a very versatile voice. I can EQ it to sound almost like my GK's …we'll, almost . I love it too. We don't have much to complain about these days.