Looking to buy a GK head - advice wanted

[stinsoja]

Hey all, I'm looking at replacing my Acoustic b200h with an amp that puts out some more power and offers a bit more of a growly tone. My first combo was a GK BL115 and I absolutely loved it (in fact I just cleaned the pots last month and have been noodling around on it ever since).

My question is this: what are your suggestions for a 200-300W 4ohm amp that either is a GK or has a similar tonality to one.

Further info: I'm running an EBMM HH Stingray into an Acoustic b200h/Traynor TC1510, and my music style ranges from funk to indie to post-punk to jazz fusion, all with an explicit rock overtone. Not sure if it matters but I do have some pedals in my setup (el capistan tape echo, voodoo fuzz).

 

[Chef]

You'd probably want to look at the MBF500 or 700RBII.
Both great.
The MBF is "a little more modern/hi-fi" by nature, and the 700 is a little moew "raw/vintage by nature, but, both really great for what you want, I think.

 

[will33]

Ya, 700 give you all the power and growl you need.

 

[Low Class]

I just sold my GK MB200, have owned the MB500 and 700RB-II, and recently went to a Kustom KXB500. I liked the GK, but the Kustom sounds MUCH better. And because the Kustom has more of a neutral sound to it will work better with effects IMO. A friend of mine who is big GK 700RB-II guy fell in love with the Kustom also and bought one. Big plus is that also cost less than a MBF500 or 700RB-II!!

 

[KevInDaBassment]

...Big plus is that also cost less!!

Costs less than what? The GK MB200 is $100 cheaper than the Kustom IIRC

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I know a guy selling an MB800 locally, he's got it on kijiji. I don't know how much you come north though. He is asking $650, but that is pretty high in my opinion.

 

[Low Class]

Costs less than what? The GK MB200 is $100 cheaper than the Kustom IIRC

Than a MBF500 or 700RB-II. Yes only $100 more than a MB200 for 300 more watts!

 

[KevInDaBassment]

If you dig the GK growl and tone of the BL, you'll probably love either the 700RB or the MB series heads just as much. I personally feel like the MB200 is a very safe bet to start off in. It's a super light head, only $299, does 200w (RMS to be honest), and will do either an 8 or 4 ohm cabinet. Tone is great, made me fall in love with GK. Even if you want something bigger down the road, it's a great backup or head for small gigs. Make no mistake though, if you put it through a good, efficient cabinet it will be VERY loud.

 

[stinsoja]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm definitely trying to track down a 700rb, as that one appeals to me quite a bit more than the mb200. Anyone have any reviews for the bi-amp function? Useful? Sales gimmick?

 

[topcat2069]

With a crossover point of 5000hz I just used the "high" output knob to "turn the tweeter off" I really don't make musically useful sounds above 5000hz..... BUT .... you may find the tweeter useful if you slap or use a pick. You have to use GK cabs to be able to use the Bi Amp function (unless you wire the tweeter in other cabs to the GK specs.) You can keep that tweeter "click" and still get the GK growl by using the Bi Amp function.... and though I didn't use it at all (with my RB 1001 II) it was always nice to know that I had the capability.

 

[will33]

The "biamp" thing is really just a separate small amp to control the tweeter in GK cabinets. The amp will run fine with any brand of speakers, you just won't use that knob with them.

 

[will33]

Do know if you plan to put the 700 in a rack or headcase, the cooling fan is on top, so it needs an empty space above it in the rack, or a hole made in the headcase, for the fan to breath.

That's about it.

 

[Mvilmany]

Buy a used 800RB

 

[gregmon79]

IMO. the 700RB would be perfect for what youre describing you want. The 1001RB if you want a little more power and clean headroom. Both are marvelous amps IMO. I own and still use my 1001 all the time. I will probably have that amp for the rest of my life. GK lifer here.

 

[NoGraveConcern]

If all you need is 2-300w then you could look for a 400rb as well or even a blackline 600.

I just picked up a used 700rb2 to go with my mb200. The 700rb has lots of power and a much more versatile pre-amp.

 

[stinsoja]

If all you need is 2-300w then you could look for a 400rb as well or even a blackline 600.

I just picked up a used 700rb2 to go with my mb200. The 700rb has lots of power and a much more versatile pre-amp.

I would love to have a backline 600, although I might be wrong but I think it's impedance is 8 ohms, which is unfortunate. Looks like I might need a new cab soon as well!

 

[will33]

I would love to have a backline 600, although I might be wrong but I think it's impedance is 8 ohms, which is unfortunate. Looks like I might need a new cab soon as well!

It's a 4-ohm transistor amp, which means you can run any impedance on it from 4 up to infinity, just don't go below 4.

 

[waveman]

I use the GK MB 500, and love it. @350 watts at 8ohm, 500 watts at 4ohm. Plus, it is super light and more options than the GK MB 200

 

[srayb]

Find a used 400RB

 

[donnyrocker]

IMO. the 700RB would be perfect for what youre describing you want. The 1001RB if you want a little more power and clean headroom. Both are marvelous amps IMO. I own and still use my 1001 all the time. I will probably have that amp for the rest of my life. GK lifer here.

I'm still trying to figure out my GK 1001RB MkII, then. After 30 years of being primarily a guitar player (with attendant booteek amps and pedals), I began my "serious" pursuit of bass playing Jan 2013 for a regularly gigging, better paying local band and bought this head from the band after using it a few months. I run this into an EV 210 cab and a 115 cab.

"Clean headroom" has never been a trait I'd associate with this head, particularly after melting the coils of a EVM 15L and its first replacement speaker. (I have since prevented the master volume from going louder than 9 o'clock, no matter how loud the 100w H&K half stack next to me gets.) I understand that it's the lack of headroom—that is, the head's distortion—coupled with the size of the bass frequencies that the coils on the 15" speakers are melting. Hence the output volume restriction.

Besides my interest in getting one of those lunch box-sized heads at a quarter of the GK 1001RB MKII's weight, I've been interested in getting rid of my head as I can't seem to get out of it what I need to compete with the (somewhat unfortunate) stage volume. (Working in two bands now, the sound guys *love* my SD Paranormal, so FOH sounds great, apparently.)

What am I missing?