Will I be able to make use of the 1200 watts with my two
Gk neo 2x12
Or does it make sense to get the 800?
Gk neo 2x12
Or does it make sense to get the 800?
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New GK 800 Legacy!
- Thread starter johnson79
- Start date
Ok, just returned from playing at church. I ran pretty much what I had already posted earlier. Several observations from people in the room. "Was that you playing? If so what did you do to sound like that?!" "How did it sound?" "Like a guitar playing really punchy notes down low." "That was me." My wife said I sounded like I was playing a new bass. Two others said it sounded good whatever it was.
So, what did I think? I have never sounded so clear in the ear buds as I did this morning. Distortion or normal, both were very clean and yet powerful. I'm not too good in describing sounds so that's as good as I can get. I liked it a lot! (Thanks RAG for dreaming up this rig.)
So, what did I think? I have never sounded so clear in the ear buds as I did this morning. Distortion or normal, both were very clean and yet powerful. I'm not too good in describing sounds so that's as good as I can get. I liked it a lot! (Thanks RAG for dreaming up this rig.)
I’m really intrigued about these legacy amps but not really sure about needing all that wattage, I played a gig last night with my Mesa Subways 12 and 15, I usually use my Mesa Mpulse 600 for this gig because it’s a fairly large bar room setting. When I got to the venue and started unloading my gear I realized I forgot my Mesa head, ya I know I’m a big dummy head, anyway it’s a good thing I carry my little MB200 in my gear case for a backup, so I used it as I had no choice, the volume and punch coming out of this set up was unbelievable, the nice clear crispness and thump had my band members in awww as they couldn’t believe what they were hearing coming out of that little box. My Mesa is awesome and a totally different sound but after last night I may start using this set up more often, I can only imagine what the New Legacy’s do as a matter of fact I can only imagine what the MB500 and 800 do!! Oh by the way I used my Lakland DDunn Pbass with EMG Geezers...
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I haven't tested them in a large room yet, but that was my rational for getting two small 8 Ohm cabs. With the Legacy 500 I have either 190 watts or 300 watts. That should fulfil most of my needs.
@TonyP- did a great presentation with his MB200 last time I saw him at a Bass Hang Clinic. He drove that amp with a Neo 212 Cab and was plenty loud! I was very pleased
Moved Legacy into the front of the house where I have about 4 times the volume to listen to the cabs. One discovery not in the manual is, when playing music from your computer or an MP3 player, the only knob that works with it is the Master knob. I turned all the other knobs all the way to the left (off) and nothing changed. So when practicing with that setup, you need to adjust all your settings on your computer or on your MP3 player (bass, treble, etc).
In my office I had the master about 9 o'clock. In the living room I had it about 2 o'clock. The sound (clean - no distortion) is much more 'GK' the higher you pump the master knob. I liked how much better it sounded.
I plan to take all the new stuff to a large room soon and crank it up there. With both cabs separately, and also with both cabs together.
In my office I had the master about 9 o'clock. In the living room I had it about 2 o'clock. The sound (clean - no distortion) is much more 'GK' the higher you pump the master knob. I liked how much better it sounded.
I plan to take all the new stuff to a large room soon and crank it up there. With both cabs separately, and also with both cabs together.
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What is the Legacy 1200 forum you refer to? Can you post a link or description?
My bad as it's not a "forum" in the usual TB manner. It's a post on the TB FORUM pages.
But to find it: Easy to do. Two ways.
Go to the top of the TB opening page and click once on FORUMS. Then go down on the next page and click on AMPS & CABS (BG). When that link opens just start scrolling from top to bottom until you see the topic 'GK Legacy 1200'. It's currently on page 7 but if anyone posts to it it moves back to page 1.
Or you can just do a search in the SEARCH box at the top of the page. Your call.
This can make a dull indoor rainy day into becoming a fun look-through at all the forums, literally thousands of them. The search box is your friend if you want to locate something but sometimes just spending a lazy Sunday afternoon scrolling can be more interesting than a lop-sided football game.
But to find it: Easy to do. Two ways.
Go to the top of the TB opening page and click once on FORUMS. Then go down on the next page and click on AMPS & CABS (BG). When that link opens just start scrolling from top to bottom until you see the topic 'GK Legacy 1200'. It's currently on page 7 but if anyone posts to it it moves back to page 1.
Or you can just do a search in the SEARCH box at the top of the page. Your call.
This can make a dull indoor rainy day into becoming a fun look-through at all the forums, literally thousands of them. The search box is your friend if you want to locate something but sometimes just spending a lazy Sunday afternoon scrolling can be more interesting than a lop-sided football game.
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FWIW I bought a legacy 500 today. Connected to a Mesa 2x12 powerhouse cab, and between the amp and the cab settings , tons of nice sounds with way more than enough volume than I’ll ever need.
One question on the loop. Would you use that for a pedal style compressor, usually played by me in front of the amp or is it mainly like guitar loops, for reverb and time based effects? I haven’t read the manual yet if it it mentions it.
One question on the loop. Would you use that for a pedal style compressor, usually played by me in front of the amp or is it mainly like guitar loops, for reverb and time based effects? I haven’t read the manual yet if it it mentions it.
- Apr 18, 2008
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- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
I too was sort of disheartened at the published wattage but still bought the 500 instead of the 800. It sounds as loud as I’d want, and if I ever play a big gig, I’ll rent or borrow something bigger. Totally it was flexible and quiet, which for recording is paramount imho.
Quoting my own post, I returned the 500 and got the 800. The 500 seemed to have trouble driving the Mesa cab I have, and had an ugly distortion as the volume and dynamic spikes crept up. Probably best for a more efficient cab, and much lower volumes. I’ve detected no such hesitation on controlling the speakers well in the 800.
So in this case what’s the best usage to drive a 500 head to? Cabs rated at 350 8ohms/4ohms?
I honestly predict GK using these heads efficiently to their own combo line which I’m hoping they will do.
I honestly predict GK using these heads efficiently to their own combo line which I’m hoping they will do.
I did just the opposite, returned the 500 and got the 800. With the Mesa Powerhouse 2x12 the 500 seemed to run out of steam. Sounded good but when pushed had a sort of ugly break up. The 800 is more what I hoped for, punch and a a wide variety of tone options. Plus in an hour or so of playing and testing over the last few days, the fans never kicked on. They might at a loud 3 hr gig but there are none of those in my future.
If I get a good deal on another powerhouse, 2x10 or 1x15, I’ll add them on. Stores tell me those heavy cabinets are dropping in price with all the lightweight models being made. I paid around $400 for an absolute mint 2x12 Mesa.
AM I the only one picturing this amp with 1 to 4 BE S15’s? New old school there.
