Well, after playing GK amps exclusively for the last 20 years, I decided to go with the Promethean. Here's my story:
I bought my first GK microbass amp (model 200MB) in 1988 used. I heard these amps for the first time in college and loved the sound. It was all I needed at the time. Then about 10 years ago it started blowing fuses. Had it repaired but began blowing fuses again after about a year. So...I bought an MB150S from Musician's Friend. This year I've had some occasions where the 150 was just not enough volume. So I decided to sell the MB150S (and a few other pieces of gear) and buy myself a cab and head. Bought a GK Neo 410 off craigslist. Was in the local music store in my small town and mentioned to the owner that I was looking for a head. He doesn't carry big equipment since it's a small town and has trouble moving bass gear (he's got a used MIM Jazz I'm eyeballing). He shows me this Promethean. Now understand that I've never been an Ibanez fan. I have an Ibanez electric guitar that I like but have never liked their basses. So he loans it to me to try out (like a good salesman). I take it home and was SHOCKED at how good this thing sounded both through the Neo and straight into a board. My wife said it made my playing crisp and clear. So to be fair, I drug out the 150 and the 200MB (I had the older 200MB repaired at another shop and has been running fine). The 150 sounds good but the Promethean really evened out the sound up and down the neck. Big difference. I even plugged the 150 into my neo and it sounded just like the 150, just louder. I also discovered how big a difference there is in sound between the 150 and the older 200MB. In reality, I like the 200MB's sound better. Warmer, not as harsh as the 150.
Not wanting to make a snap decision, I took the Promethean back to give other amps a try.
Then I wound up trading my 150 for a 700RB to a guy on craigslist. The 700RB is a great amp, but it sounded a lot like the 150 but again, just louder. I couldn't get that darn Promethean out of my head. Well, the guy wasn't happy with the 150 so we traded back. I then went to GC and tried the Little Mark and Aguilar. Liked the Little Mark, lots of tonal possibilities but didn't sound as good as the Promethean. The Augilar is, in my opinion, not very versatile. Wanted to try the new GK fusion amps but they were not in stock.
So in the end, I decided to go with the Promethean. Here's the best part of the story...when I took the Promethean home on loan, the owner of the store said I could have the head for half the listed price brand new! He's had it for two years and just can't move it! So...read for this? I got the head AND the bag for $315. Brand new!
So I took the head and the Neo to a men's retreat this weekend. Great combination! I have not been this happy with my sound for a long time. Amp sounded great, I barely had to tweak the settings at all. I agree with others who have commented on the Vibe control, not really a huge difference in sound but it is noticeable. Graphic EQ is great. No issues with a noisy fan, put my hand in front of the fan and never felt any warm air coming out so I may not have been running it that hard.
So I'm going to sell the 150, keep the 200 for times when I don't need the cabinet. I'm also going to keep an eye out for the 1x10 Promethean cabinet. I'm sure the 200 isn't going to last that long!
