Please help! Durable, dependable amp needed ASAP.

[Spent]

GK is great stuff, but I had a 1001RB go up in flames right in the middle of a gig. Halloween gig, no less. IMHO an 800RB is one of the best workhorses out there; powerful, great tone, flexible, relatively light and might actually be bullet proof. Should be able to pick one up well within your budget.

 

[two fingers]

GK 700RBII or 1001RBII

This. If reliability is your main goal go for one of these. Renowned for their reliability....as are the 400RB and 800RB that preceded them. Bullet proof.

 

[red_rhino]

Another band's bass player was kind enough to lend me a GK MB500 last night, and I surprised with the tone despite having no time to really tweak any settings. Any opinions on that model?

Either the GK MB500 or MB800. Of the two, I prefer the MB800. Rock solid, sounds great, and easily as loud as what you're replacing. (I also prefer the tone of the MB800 over the MB500. It's my understanding that the preamp section of the MB800 is slightly different than the MB500.) Once you get the hang of the Gain B stage, there's some really nice subtle (and not so subtle) tonal options.

 

[Bigbri]

Ignoring all other factors in the tube (hybrid) vs solid state argument. An all SS amp would avoid the Ashdown problem that you experienced. Assuming your Ash was purchased new and not used, It seems odd that it gave up the ghost so soon. That being said, we have a phrase we use in electronics, Infant Mortality. Simply meaning that if a piece of equipment or a component has a flaw that will cause failure, it will happen early on. Hopefully within the warranty period.

My father always said, for certain things leave the power on if you can because it's the turning it on and off a lot that can cause premature failure. My computer stays on for months at a time but never did that with an amp. I just watched a vid of a guy who accidently left his 59 bassman on for 2 days and said it has never been quieter.

 

[Bigbri]

This. If reliability is your main goal go for one of these. Renowned for their reliability....as are the 400RB and 800RB that preceded them. Bullet proof.

...and they sound great too. I only would ask guys who sounded really good about their equiptment in the bar days, and alot of the time it was the 400RB.

 

[BrianVengeance]

Since you're on tour, you need backups and redundancy because failures happen. Find a preamp with a DI that you like the sound of and get a PA amp big enough to drive your rig with one channel. The other channel becomes backup and you'll still be able to get to FOH with most of your sound through the DI in case of total catastrophic failure.

 

[leonard]

Hmm.. GK bulletproof? I managed to burn the 100W part of my 800rb once. I guess any brand can fail. Some of them more than the others.

 

[The Regulator]

This. If reliability is your main goal go for one of these. Renowned for their reliability....as are the 400RB and 800RB that preceded them. Bullet proof.

 

[Downunderwonder]

Amps aren't designed to bounce.

On the other hand, more than a few old Peaveys have survived a trip down the stairs unaided.

Riding in a trailer is the next worst thing you can do to an amp.

 

[spaz21387]

How about carvin?

 

[Jirishman]

I ended up having to get a Little Mark III. All they had at GC. I called every store between Austin and Pheonix and I guess they don't carry the MB500 in stores any more.

So...any thoughts on the LM3? I have basically zero experience with Markbass. At least I have 45 days to return/exchange, and I hope it'll get me through the tour! Here goes nothing. Thanks to everyone for their input.

 

[dukeorock]

GK have had the best track record for many years. I always have one around (current an MB800) if only to know I have a solid dependabLe backup that just happens to take up practically no space

Agreed that ANY amp CAN break, so a medium range goal would be to have two dependable amps on tour

 

[srxplayer]

+2 on GK. I'm on the GK bandwagon recommendation. For years they were never my thing sound wise but If you need reliability the RB series is really solid. Over the years I have developed a taste for their tone as well.

 

[godley69]

Thunderfunk 550/750/800 or Mesa D800 are my current favorites. Both sound GREAT through any cabinet you can throw them into. Thunderfunks are Rock Solid reliable and I have absolutely no reason to believe differently about the Mesa. IMHO of course!

 

[mbelue]

Considering your luck with heads you need some sort of backup plan. A solid DI or a backup head.
Maybe a good roadcase.

Good luck on tour.

 

[Hamish MacCleod]

Since you're on tour, you need backups and redundancy because failures happen. Find a preamp with a DI that you like the sound of and get a PA amp big enough to drive your rig with one channel. The other channel becomes backup and you'll still be able to get to FOH with most of your sound through the DI in case of total catastrophic failure.

^This
My preamp of choice is Sansamp VTRM but any pre you like will work, I use a Carvin DCML 3000 amp.
Rondo

 

[Kukulkan61]

Anything Mesa Engineering they are bullet proof...