Hey, gang. New amp time. Love the Rumble series. I'm considering the 800 2x10. Im torn, however. Im also quite interested in GK 2x12 500w and the 500w 4x10. Price difference is significant. However, I'm familiar with Rumble, but I haven't had a GK in years. Any modern GK users out there? Worth the bump in price?
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New amp.
- Thread starter TimothyLindeman
- Start date
opinions will vary and only your ears will be the truth. i prefer the GK tone to the rumble sound. i also prefer the 212 configuration over the others.
so, if i'm choosing for me, it's the GK 212 500w
best thing to do is listen to the if you can.
kgb
so, if i'm choosing for me, it's the GK 212 500w
best thing to do is listen to the if you can.
kgb
Which GK are we talking about?
At 500 watts I’m guessing it’s the MB212.
I have the MB115 and it sounds great. However, I don’t like that I can’t add an extension cab unless it’s a self powered cab.
The Legacy is more my speed. Then again 2x12 and 500 watts, you may never need more.
At 500 watts I’m guessing it’s the MB212.
I have the MB115 and it sounds great. However, I don’t like that I can’t add an extension cab unless it’s a self powered cab.
The Legacy is more my speed. Then again 2x12 and 500 watts, you may never need more.
Cabs: Old "silver badge" Fender Rumble 410 or 610 any day
GK cabs, I can never pinpoint exactly what I don't like about them but, since I've started using pedals, the 212 I have sounds so much better than before it's become my cover band go to cab.
Amps; You couldn't give me a Rumble or a GK amp but I'd probably go GK over the Rumble if it was a live or die choice.
GK cabs, I can never pinpoint exactly what I don't like about them but, since I've started using pedals, the 212 I have sounds so much better than before it's become my cover band go to cab.
Amps; You couldn't give me a Rumble or a GK amp but I'd probably go GK over the Rumble if it was a live or die choice.
What kind of music are you playing, where are you playing it, and what kind of band do you have?
Without that information people can only throw out what they personally like rather than advise you about what might be good for your situation.
Rumble 800 is a great amp with 400 watts RMS plus the ability to connect to a matching 210 cab for the full 800 watts. At 28lbs it is sooooo easy to carry. Definitely worth considering.
I've got the same setup with the Rumble 800 Stage paired with a R210 cab. Very light indeed and sounds great to me. I like the presets, but I also can select a clean channel and run my pedalboard through it. I also have a R200 paired with a R115 cab. It's loud but doesn't cut through as well as having 4x10 inch option.Rumble 800 is a great amp with 400 watts RMS plus the ability to connect to a matching 210 cab for the full 800 watts. At 28lbs it is sooooo easy to carry. Definitely worth considering.
For me, a precision bass player, that would be the GK 212.
Very punchy, plenty loud, robust and transparent. By transparent I mean it will give you the real sound of your bass without adding any sound signature. In other words, you will hear a very clear difference between a precision bass and a jazz bass with it.
I mostly play fast paced rock songs so that might influence my choice.
Very punchy, plenty loud, robust and transparent. By transparent I mean it will give you the real sound of your bass without adding any sound signature. In other words, you will hear a very clear difference between a precision bass and a jazz bass with it.
I mostly play fast paced rock songs so that might influence my choice.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
My primary head is a GK MB500 (with a Revsound 212 cab).
I bought a Rumble 500 head, with 112 and 210 cabs, as a cheap backup.
I much prefer the GK for jazz gigs (cleaner, brighter). But I have no problems using the Rumble for bigger rock gigs (a bit more speaker area, so a bit louder).
I bought a Rumble 500 head, with 112 and 210 cabs, as a cheap backup.
I much prefer the GK for jazz gigs (cleaner, brighter). But I have no problems using the Rumble for bigger rock gigs (a bit more speaker area, so a bit louder).
Al Kraft
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I have always liked the GK sound in a band mix and how easy it is for me to get what I want out of a GK rig. I've also had a many Fender products including a P Bass Elite and liked every one of them. None of them were bass guitar heads or cabs, but I have played on Fender gear.
IME Fender and GK are both great brands but different in how they sound. IMO NitroBobby nailed it in post number 2, you really have to listen to both to make the choice here. The good news is that either would make a top notch bass rig.
IME Fender and GK are both great brands but different in how they sound. IMO NitroBobby nailed it in post number 2, you really have to listen to both to make the choice here. The good news is that either would make a top notch bass rig.
I've played a lot of different amps over my many years. My Rumble 500C is everything I need. GK makes great stuff too, I don't think you can go wrong either way. You really won't know until you play it on a gig.
We play similar music and use a rumble 500 (Bigger shows I will add the 210 ext. cab) It sounds amazing! If I could do it over, I would spend the extra and get the 800! It is almost 10 lbs lighter (not that the 500 is heavy), has a pre/post switch for the line out, and has a speakon option for the ext. speaker out! Those 3 items are worth the difference IMHO!
The last time I was amp buying (a lot of years ago), I played several amps including a Rumble and a couple of GKs. In my opinion, the Rumbles I played were hopelessly outclassed and outperformed by any of the GKs.
Agree with this. The Rumble combos are a very solid budget option, but aren't really in the same class as GK. GK is roughly double the cost for similar-ish specs on paper.
I've had my GK MB212 for a long time, and it's been worked a LOT in that time, and it's still going strong. I love the sound, love the simplicity of the combo, love the form and weight, love the reliability, and love the durability. The only downside I've found so far is that the extension cabs are no longer in production, and it doesn't have a true speaker output.
My dream setup is the newer 800W GK combo with a real speaker output. That combo pushing a second 2x12 would be glorious. It would also cost like $2,500 to acquire, so...
I have the MB212 and it's the amp I take to all our gigs. Played it last night and performed flawlessly. I like that the GK has 12" speakers, plenty of sound volume out of them. If you can demo both that's your best options but if you can't, I don't think you can go bad with the GK amp.
I have a Rumble 100 I keep at our rehearsal space which is perfect. Good luck.
I have a Rumble 100 I keep at our rehearsal space which is perfect. Good luck.
