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LMII vs GK700RB-II vs Warwick Profet 5.1

C

chris_pokkuri

Apr 20, 2008
25
0
Bridgend, S Wales
#1
So I was all set on getting the LMII but the more I read about it it seems you either love it or hate it.

I've now started looking at other heads and also like the GK700RB-II and the warwick profet 5.1 seems like it might be good too.

I want around 500w and play alternative/progressive metal along the lines of tool and opeth. The GK seems like it has loads of extra features that the others don't jusst not sure if i'd use them... The warwick is much cheaper than the LMII and GK but is it as good? I don't have the option to try all these out, the nearest guitar store just has a couple of ashdowns and peavey stuff.

Anyway, anyone got any views on these three amps or suggestions for others in the same price bracket (around £500 preferably less)
 
#2
I own and play the GK700rbII, and have tried the LMII, but I haven't heard the Warwick. Ultimately, I chose the GK, simply because I felt it was a better value for me. When trying them out in the stores, I didn't feel there was a volume difference (at 8ohms), and while I dig the clean tones of the LMII, I felt the GK, especially with a bit of boost dialed in did an old school sound a bit better. I've heard both live while sitting out in the crowd at a local club, and I think the GK sits better in the mix. I maintain that the punchy voicing of the GK heads sits better in a live mix better than just about anything.

I dig the gk more and more as I continue to play with the vol/boost/master relationship too. Combine that with some tweaking on the contour and presence, and you find the possibilities in dialing up tones to be seemingly endless.

Here in the US, the GK is about 100 bucks cheaper too.

It's too bad you can't try them out, because that is really the only way you can make a good decision.

Ljazz
 
#3
I play on a Warwick Quad IV ... okay, it is not really the same as the Profet 5.1, but I can say with my hand om my heart that is does all the things (and more thanks to the quadruple presets of the preamp) then the much more expensive Ampeg svt-3-pro does.
They know how to make decent amps at Warwick so give it a thought (and you can add a few quids for that cabinet upgrade :D)
 
#4
I spent probably about an hour or more (time flies when playing with toys) in a quiet bass room at GC one afternoon switching between the LMII and the 70rbII. My intent was to see if there was a clean tone one had that the other didn't. I specify "clean" because we all know the GK can get dirty and the LMII was not designed with that intention.

I set both heads flat to start,yes the LMII "V" controls set to off. I used a MarkBass 151 cab and kept switching the speaker cable back and forth between the two heads stacked one on the other. I switched also between an active jazz bass and passive. In this limited setting and situation it seemed that when I boosted the LMII bass up I was able to match it by tweeking the 700rb. Where I think the two would separate would be maintaining clean tone at high volume. The LMII ,I believe, would accomplish this better. Without using the GK Boost control it seems I wouldn't be getting all the volume it is capable of and if the boost is set too high then you loose the clean tone and start adding grit. This you may like for the music your doing. This little test I did was less than ideal. Real world situation is always prefered but I hope it helps you.
 
#6
ljazz said:
I own and play the GK700rbII, and have tried the LMII, but I haven't heard the Warwick. Ultimately, I chose the GK, simply because I felt it was a better value for me. When trying them out in the stores, I didn't feel there was a volume difference (at 8ohms), and while I dig the clean tones of the LMII, I felt the GK, especially with a bit of boost dialed in did an old school sound a bit better. I've heard both live while sitting out in the crowd at a local club, and I think the GK sits better in the mix. I maintain that the punchy voicing of the GK heads sits better in a live mix better than just about anything.

I dig the gk more and more as I continue to play with the vol/boost/master relationship too. Combine that with some tweaking on the contour and presence, and you find the possibilities in dialing up tones to be seemingly endless.

Here in the US, the GK is about 100 bucks cheaper too.

It's too bad you can't try them out, because that is really the only way you can make a good decision.

Ljazz
Click to expand...

+1
 
#7
I currently have both the 700RB and the LMII. I was happy with the LMII and think it is a nice amp but my first one went out on me twice. I received a new LMII from Guitar Center and it was bad out of the box. I think MarkBass gear is good quality but I must be one of the unlucky ones. I am currently waiting on a third LMII to replace my second bad one and it has been over a month now. I had to have another bass amp and I had A/B'ed the LMII and 1001RB extensively as I owned both at the same time so in a bind I picked up a 700RB. With the luck I have had with MarkBass gear I think I am going to stay with the 700RB and sell the LMII (once I ever get a new, good one).

The volume on both the LMII and 700RB is very similar. I haven't had the 700RB break up at higher volumes like the other poster but then again I haven't had to turn it past 11:00. My only complaint with the LMII is it seemed to harshen up a bit the louder it gets. It was hard to dial in a warm tone and for that matter it seemed to need more tweaking as the volume changes...if that makes sense. The only negatives on the 700RB are the fact that it weighs 3 times what the LMII weighs and until you get really familiar with the front controls it is hard to adjust on a dark stage since the knobs are close together and the buttons are small and dark.

Either amp is good and you would most likely be happy with either. Given your music style I would choose the GK. I also think the GK is a better choice of the two for modern rock.
 
#10
I have played 2 warwick set ups. A combo, and a head/cab. Its been years, and I don;t remember which ones. But they were both fantastic sounding set ups. I don;t know if it was the cab design, or head...but I have often wondered why I don;t see more warwick amps. If I saw one for cheap, I would snag it.
 
#13
Having owned both GK and LMII, the difference is pretty simple. The LMII stays cleaner the louder you go and the GK gets grittier the louder you go. If all you ever play is electric bass, you would be happy the rest of your life with the GK. If you play upright that requires volume without distortion, the LMII is for you. If you are really concerned with weight, get the LMII and get yourself a distortion pedal. Both amps are top notch in their price point and are made for different purposes. Myself, I spend about 75% of my time on the upright, so I kept the LMII and sold the GK to buy some EA cabs.
 
#15
wingnut said:
Having owned both GK and LMII, the difference is pretty simple. The LMII stays cleaner the louder you go and the GK gets grittier the louder you go. If all you ever play is electric bass, you would be happy the rest of your life with the GK. If you play upright that requires volume without distortion, the LMII is for you. If you are really concerned with weight, get the LMII and get yourself a distortion pedal. Both amps are top notch in their price point and are made for different purposes. Myself, I spend about 75% of my time on the upright, so I kept the LMII and sold the GK to buy some EA cabs.
Click to expand...

The weight is somewhat of an issue, but the GK700rb-II is 16lbs, so it's very lightweight concerning old-school solid-state amps -- i.e. it's not that heavy compared with other offerings.

Otherwise I agree, if you go for the rock&roll/metallic sound, GK should be it. For more clean projects, LMII should be it, not that both could operate in both spaces with some extra effort.

--Kent
 
#19
chris_pokkuri said:
Can someone explain the biamp thing on GK 700RB-II? What it is and does etc?

Thanks muchly
Click to expand...

Try not to think of it a biamping..... 'cuz it's really a bit different.

It's simply a different way to control the tweeter in the GK cabs. Instead of using the level in the cab, you can set the power level going to the tweeter with the head. This allows you to "dirty up" the signal going to the woofers using the boost..... the tweeter power amp is not affected by the boost, so your signal going into the tweeter will stay clean. Overdriven tones through the tweeter don't always sound so good.

Ljazz
 
#20
Re -the GK biamping - I have often wondered about this too. Surley you have to buy a GK cab which would be equipped with separate inputs to the tweeter and woofer in order to use it? Otherwise I assume you would use it in fullrange mode with an ordinary cab and the tweeter amp is effectively wasted??? Just curious,Tim.
 

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