New amp suggestions? Upgrade from GK 800RB

[gfab333]

I forgot to mention, I get the best tube tone when I have the preamp volume control set high enough so that the light indicator comes on when you play medium to hard fingerstyle, but doesn't not clip the amp. With my active basses, this is between 12 and 2 o'clock depending on the bass. Use the master volume to set the overall volume of your rig (with my rig this is between 10 and 12 o'clock). In other words, you may not get much of a fat tube-style tone if you run your preamp at 8 o'clock and your master at 4 o'clock.

 

[Mud Flaps]

Your question did not specifiy the price range, and I don't know the specs of the products of any of the brands I am about to list, but these are my favorite brands for preamps/heads:

1. Aguilar
2. (Vintage) Ampeg
3. EBS
4. SWR

Other heads can work too. My head (GK 200BL) is not good. I wouldn't recommend GK with the exception of distortion pedals and the preamp used solely for the purpose of distortion.

 

[ashbory]

Day two of Eden fun.

Well I tried some different tubes, it only made a slight difference to the overall sound - a bit smoother. It came with a Tesla JJ, I found an old Philips sounded best, with my usual favorite Sylvania close behind. But it still seems like subtleties are still being lost in the thickness.
I can see how the tone would work in and rock and roll setting -very punchy and solid. Next week I'll try the Eden with both the electric and the acoustic bands and see how it works in real life...

***Gfab and Ric- thanks for your tips***

***Mudflap - most of the amps from the companies you mention I wouldn't consider light weight. I have a vintage Ampeg and it weighs approximately 2.5 tons. At least the people at Ampeg had a sense of humour to put a single handle on the top.
My price range is up to around $1500 Canadian (~$1100US) ***