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Most versatile intermediate head? (GK? SWR? something else?)

O

osciphex

Jun 1, 2001
234
2
#1
Does anyone have suggestions for a versatile intermediate level (300-600 watts, 450-700 dollars, im completely willing to shop around extensively and look into used gear) head?

I am playing in a hard rock band (still forming...), think Pearl Jam / STP, etc. But I also *occasionally* do some weird slap heavy Primus-like stuff (well, I try.) And yet deep down, I yearn most for fingerstyle funk / jazz type stuff (Jaco, Rocco Prestia, etc... ) I long to hone my walking bassline skills...

So this is a huge smattering of different styles I'd like to play. Is there an intermediate range amp that will be able to perform all of these? The GC near me has some GK 700RB-II & 1001RB-II heads, and those definately fullfill my rock needs. I did not try to dial in any sort of jazz tone with them. Does anyone use GK heads for jazz?

The SWR Working Pro heads are also in this range... and they certainly have a lot of knobs... but I haven't been able to find one to try. How do they measure up?

Ampeg has those lower priced BRE models... but I've read only negative comments about them on here.

Am I missing anything?

Thanks for any input!

Oh, I almost forgot. I have two basses: one is a stock MIM fender Jazz, the other is a MIA fender jazz with a fretless Moses replacement neck, and DiMarzio Model J pickups.
 
#2
Sounds like almost my exact situation. Heavilly influenced by Pearl Jam and STP, play rock and double in jazz using a pair of Jazz basses. I use a GK 700RB-II with a Pair of Neo 112's. I have no problem with the rock and I can twiddle knobs to get me a good hi-fi modern jazz sound.
 
#3
I have an iAMP 350 that I use for my band stuff (rock) and for my own stuff (uh... this, that, and the other stuff). For the rock stuff I sometimes use the sansamp bass driver. I love this amp, it can easily power a couple of aggie GS112s, plenty loud, has a nice DI, a tuner out. You might be able to find one used...
 
#4
The 1001RBII is serving me well. Great for rock tones, and the 5string switch turns it into a more modern, hi-fi sounding amp. You can ask at GC and they will give them to you for $600 new. Great amp, and not something to be looked down upon as a "mid line" amp.
 
#5
+1 to Gallien-Krueger!

It's my amp brand of choice.

Using the remainder of my ever-dwindling patience, clever searching, and a bit of haggling, I was able to get a modded 700RB (from the late 90s) and TWO 115RBH cabinets for about $1200 overall.

For a high-quality GK stack, I think I did pretty well :smug:

I've played around with the Mark II GK amps as well... they sound amazing! Amazing enough that I'll definitely be upgrading to a 1001RB-II when I get enough money.

GK is the standard in solid-state amps, and they are flexible enough to adapt to any music style because they're not limited by some super-specialized tone circuit or an array of preamp or poweramp tubes.

Tubes are still nice, though :D
 

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