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Mesa M6 Combo vs. Trace 1210 Combo vs. GK Neo 1001/212

tdstiayw

tdstiayw

Jan 24, 2007
65
21
#1
Hello,

I'm thinking of moving up to a bigger setup and need some advice. I play metal and am having trouble deciding which setup to go for. The sound I'm going for is in the thrash metal / death metal vein.

I'm looking for a combo that's loud enough to handle intense overdrive and distortion tones without totally losing its composure. I want the combo for my home studio and do not intend to play out with it.

I'm leaning heavily toward the Mesa but am still unsure if its the best option. I don't need a combo but I like the idea of an all in one option. Speaker size is less of a concern. As long as they sound really punchy I'm happy.

Good amp overdrive/distortion is a must. I don't mind overdriven SS tones or digital modeling but didn't see any modelling amps for bass that were loud enough. (Except for maybe a Line6 Lowdown 400 pro combo).

Sorry for the long post.

Any advice?
 
#8
Hey tdstiayw if you really want the volume and the pure distorted/overdriven goodness I know it doesn't come in a combo but look at either the Mesa Titan V-12, and the Mesa Big Block 750 I say this because both put out a heck of a lot of power, and as well both have a tube driven overdrive knob that would be perfect for what you want.
 
#9
I will be heading out to try some amps sometime this week. I'll give them all a fair shake but think the Mesas will probably kill. I love GKs yet hated my Diesel Dawg. Its overdrive was useless with my bass. I like Traces also, but worry that they won't give me the right "texture" when overdriven. If I can get a deal, I may go for the Big Block 750. Overall, I want the richest, harmonically overdriven tone, I can get without loosing the bottom.

Great suggestions all.
 
#10
I love GK, but hate that combo. I've owned the head and cab as a separate, and you'll be killinging that cab before attaining the classic GK growl. If you have to have the power of the 1001, then you need to be looking at 410 cabs, and forget the combo.... unless you're always playing an extension cab as well.... but that defeats the purpose of the combo.

Ljazz
 
#11
BB750 and problem solved. With the M6 you will have plenty of clean power and will most lilely need some other overdrive pedal to get what you are looking for. THe BB750 is the ultimate rock bass amp, but I used mine at my church gig with no overdrive and medium gain setting for perfect tone.
 
#12
ljazz said:
I love GK, but hate that combo. I've owned the head and cab as a separate, and you'll be killinging that cab before attaining the classic GK growl. If you have to have the power of the 1001, then you need to be looking at 410 cabs, and forget the combo.... unless you're always playing an extension cab as well.... but that defeats the purpose of the combo.

Ljazz
Click to expand...

I definitely want GK growl out of a GK amp. Good to know that I can't get there with the GK combo alone. I'll try the head with a 4x10.
 
#13
Saluki said:
BB750 and problem solved. With the M6 you will have plenty of clean power and will most lilely need some other overdrive pedal to get what you are looking for. THe BB750 is the ultimate rock bass amp, but I used mine at my church gig with no overdrive and medium gain setting for perfect tone.
Click to expand...

I've wanted to add a BB750 to my arsenal for a while. Kinda pricey however. I'm gonna compare it to the GK heads and pull the trigger on one or the other by the look of it.

I appreciate the feedback everyone.
 
#14
tdstiayw said:
I definitely want GK growl out of a GK amp. Good to know that I can't get there with the GK combo alone. I'll try the head with a 4x10.
Click to expand...

Thats an easy problem to fix I just got a GK 1001RB/2x12 combo and I got it to save some money from buying the head and cab seperately, and then I just took the head out of the combo shaved it down a bit and bam I've got a GK 1001RB head and GK 2x12 Neo Cabinet.
 
#15
loonybob123 said:
Thats an easy problem to fix I just got a GK 1001RB/2x12 combo and I got it to save some money from buying the head and cab seperately, and then I just took the head out of the combo shaved it down a bit and bam I've got a GK 1001RB head and GK 2x12 Neo Cabinet.
Click to expand...

I think you missed the point. The 212 starts distorting before you hit the rails on the head, meaning your speakers are breaking up prior to hitting the point of the GK growl. Unless you're using another cab with the 212, then I seriously doubt you're hearing the true grunt of the GK GIVE feature. But then again, that may be what you're after.

Personally, I like the 700 a lot more than the 1001, and would recommend it with the 212, unless you're playing huge friggin' stages with little pa support. Otherwise, the 700 is perfect. Heck, the 400 is probably enough for most of us.

Ljazz
 
#16
Tried a bunch of amps. All were decent and responded well to my EMGs. For additional distortion, my Line6 gear helped overly clean tones dirty things up nicely.

The new Trace gear was the most flexible (tone wise) with my maple bass. Good tube grind when you lay into it.

The choice, I guess, is now down to speaker size. Do I go with Trace 10s or 15s? Liked the percussive quality of the 10s, but think the 15s, might give me a thicker tone. Nice Celestions in those amps.

Hmm...
 
#18
ljazz said:
I love GK, but hate that combo. I've owned the head and cab as a separate, and you'll be killinging that cab before attaining the classic GK growl. If you have to have the power of the 1001, then you need to be looking at 410 cabs, and forget the combo.... unless you're always playing an extension cab as well.... but that defeats the purpose of the combo.

Ljazz
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, you are absolutely right. I have the combo and cannot really get it much out of second gear without pushing the speakers too hard.
 

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