What sort of cabinet will it be driving, and what bass do you use/what is your signal chain like?
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- Thread starter rythmicillusion
- Start date
What sort of cabinet will it be driving, and what bass do you use/what is your signal chain like?
I should also mention that I've been looking at Ashdown, specifically the MAG 600H and ABM 500. I don't know much about the company, but the amps could certainly do the job. Any comments?
If you haven't tried a GK head before, now's the time. 
Given what you're looking for, I'd consider a 700RB-II or 1001RB-II, which are light but full-featured solid-state heads:
Output: 480W RMS @ 4 Ohms or 700W RMS @ 4 ohms, depending on which you consider. Both also have separate 50W tweeter poweramps, but they only are active if you have a GK cab (which is wired differently to work with that unusual dual-poweramp system). As far as volume goes, consider this: I gigged with a 2001RB, their most powerful head, for over a year, and never turned the master volume past 11:00. I used a single 8 Ohm 2x12 cab with it, so as far as power usage goes, I never even came close to the 650W RMS I could have pulled with that combo.
I'm currently using their hybrid tube/SS Fusion 550, which puts out considerably less power, but I don't notice it - it still provides all the power and volume I need with plenty to spare. My experiences with the 700RB-II have been equally positive.
Reliability: GK heads are known for being reliable and road-worthy; just look at how many old 800RBs are still out there in-use! Their warranty service and customer support are great as well.
Electrically Efficient: I don't know the technical answer to this, unfortunately, but I can tell you that many people TB agree that these heads seem louder and more powerful than they're actually rated to be.
Cost: $450 to $750, depending on which head you're looking at and whether you plan to buy it new or used. On the East Coast, RMC Audio is an excellent online dealer who offers a discount on GK gear (it's ALWAYS cheaper than the Guitar Center price).
Weight: They're not the lightest SS heads on the market, but the 1001RB-II is only 18 lbs., with the 700RB-II at 16.5 lbs. Unless you're on disability or have no arms, I think you'll have no problem carrying this head.
Features: 4-band EQ, Contour and Presence, adjustable "growl" with the Boost knob. Also has a built-in DI, tuner output, and mute switch output.
Note that GK controls are a little atypical as far as setting up your sound goes. There are three gain stages (Input Volume, Boost, Woofer/Master Volume) instead of the typical two you see on most amps. It's not hard to get used to, but it sometimes throws people off who haven't seen it before. Many people think the Boost knob is some sort of "overdrive" knob, but that's not accurate (it actually emulates tube behavior with transistors - not to be confused with digital modeling!). Those who leave it at zero will wonder why they aren't getting much volume...
Origin: Built in California. Only their Backline series of amps and cabinets are made overseas, while the rest is built here.
If it sounds like I'm a GK endorsee or employee, I'm not. I just really like their stuff and have been using them for years.
Given what you're looking for, I'd consider a 700RB-II or 1001RB-II, which are light but full-featured solid-state heads:
Output: 480W RMS @ 4 Ohms or 700W RMS @ 4 ohms, depending on which you consider. Both also have separate 50W tweeter poweramps, but they only are active if you have a GK cab (which is wired differently to work with that unusual dual-poweramp system). As far as volume goes, consider this: I gigged with a 2001RB, their most powerful head, for over a year, and never turned the master volume past 11:00. I used a single 8 Ohm 2x12 cab with it, so as far as power usage goes, I never even came close to the 650W RMS I could have pulled with that combo.
I'm currently using their hybrid tube/SS Fusion 550, which puts out considerably less power, but I don't notice it - it still provides all the power and volume I need with plenty to spare. My experiences with the 700RB-II have been equally positive.
Reliability: GK heads are known for being reliable and road-worthy; just look at how many old 800RBs are still out there in-use! Their warranty service and customer support are great as well.
Electrically Efficient: I don't know the technical answer to this, unfortunately, but I can tell you that many people TB agree that these heads seem louder and more powerful than they're actually rated to be.
Cost: $450 to $750, depending on which head you're looking at and whether you plan to buy it new or used. On the East Coast, RMC Audio is an excellent online dealer who offers a discount on GK gear (it's ALWAYS cheaper than the Guitar Center price).
Weight: They're not the lightest SS heads on the market, but the 1001RB-II is only 18 lbs., with the 700RB-II at 16.5 lbs. Unless you're on disability or have no arms, I think you'll have no problem carrying this head.
Features: 4-band EQ, Contour and Presence, adjustable "growl" with the Boost knob. Also has a built-in DI, tuner output, and mute switch output.
Note that GK controls are a little atypical as far as setting up your sound goes. There are three gain stages (Input Volume, Boost, Woofer/Master Volume) instead of the typical two you see on most amps. It's not hard to get used to, but it sometimes throws people off who haven't seen it before. Many people think the Boost knob is some sort of "overdrive" knob, but that's not accurate (it actually emulates tube behavior with transistors - not to be confused with digital modeling!). Those who leave it at zero will wonder why they aren't getting much volume...
Origin: Built in California. Only their Backline series of amps and cabinets are made overseas, while the rest is built here.
If it sounds like I'm a GK endorsee or employee, I'm not. I just really like their stuff and have been using them for years.
i've got an avatar b212 Neo, and a yorkville 4x10, each at 8ohm. I play a MIM Jazz (dimarzio pickups, badassII bridge), and I run a few pedals - compression, overdrive, echo, phaser.
can't wait until it gets here!
Absolutely GK 1001RB-II or if you can find a used one, try the 2001RB. The MB2-500 is also a nice head to have. I've been playing GK for years and have never been disappointed.
Neodymium constitutes about 38 ppm of the Earth's crust, which isn't very rare. The magnets are made of Neodymium, Iron and Boron. From what Wikipedia says
, Alnico magnets cost about $4.30 per BHmax while Neodymium magnets cost $1.40 per BHmax (which must vary with grade and other factors). I couldn't guess the costs of extraction, monetarily or environmentally, but it certainly seems like it would have lower resource costs in some applications in addition to reduced shipping costs.
+1
To put that in perspective, "lead" is 14 ppm
But Neodymium just might be a good investment right now.
