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Poll: Help me decide on a new amp

Which amp is the best match for me?

  • Peavey Minimega

  • G-K MB800

  • Ashdown Rootmaster 800 EVO

  • Ashdown ABM 600 EVO IV

  • Carrots!

Results are only viewable after voting.
Hypocrite

Hypocrite

Jun 3, 2009
1,240
1,882
Aalborg , Denmark
www.facebook.com
#1
I play bass in a death metal band, if that's relevant. My current setup is LTD B-206SM -> Darkglass Alpha/Omega Ultra -> cheapo 500W poweramp -> 800W GK 8x10

I love the sound of my bass, very clear and full/punchy. I mainly use the Darkglass to boost the low mids and top end, getting that clanky, grindy Derek Boyer/Alex Webster sound. I can't boost the low end at all or else the poweramp clips and sounds terrible, also it's a hassle for gigs when the soundguy wants a post-eq DI signal that sounds good out front but not through my cab.

Amps I've been looking at -
Peavey MiniMega:
Pros:
1000W, 700W@8Ohm
Lightweight
Sweepable mids
Cheapest
Relatively transparent tone

Cons:
Reliability, hit or miss
Won't even use half the features
Seems tacky, not rugged enough for gigging

G-K MB800:
Pros:
800W
Lightweight
Onboard limiter
Small

Cons:
Reliability
Knobs seem flimsy

Ashdown RM-800-EVO:
Pros:
800W
Relatively lightweight
Previous brand experience
Love the sound
It's Ashdown

Cons:
Budget line - reliability?
Won't use half the features
No pre-DI
Don't know if baked-in sound mixes well with Darkglass

Ashdown ABM600 EVO IV:
Pros:
Top pick
Great sound
Would love to upgrade to flagship Ashdown model
Extensive EQ

Cons:
Big
Heavy
"Only" 600W
Might not be enough Watts if I down the road decide to go with two separate 8Ohm cabs
 
#3
hi Hypocrite :)

You know the rules. :D No poll without a "carrots" option!!!

Hypocrite said:
cheapo 500W poweramp
Click to expand...

Hypocrite said:
I can't boost the low end at all or else the poweramp clips and sounds terrible, a
Click to expand...

Looks like your poweramp is the problem.

Low freqs are "power hungry", that' s why you run out of headroom, when you boost the low end.

For more headroom, having more Watts is cool!

A big head can be nice. But I would not buy something with a lot of features I won' t use!

When you like your sound just get a bigger poweramp!

And a HPF (high pass filter) to optimize your low end performance!

Maybe get the HPF first and see what it does with your current setup.

Just my thoughts!


may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass
 
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#4
beaglesandbass said:
Have you used the MB800? I have one and I've never had an issue with reliability. Also I don't think the knobs feel flimsy, but that may be just me.

I have no experience with the others.
Click to expand...
I haven't tried any of them, living in Denmark the availability of bass gear is pretty much limited to the Internet. Can you say anything about the the inherent tone of the MB?
 
#5
Wisebass said:
hi Hypocrite :)

You know the rules. :D No poll without a "carrots" option!!!





Looks like your poweramp is the problem.

Low freqs are "power hungry", that' s why you run out of headroom, when you boost the low end.

For more headroom, having more Watts is cool!

A big head can be nice. But I would not buy something with a lot of features I won' t use!

When you like your sound just get a bigger poweramp!

And a HPF (high pass filter) to optimize your low end performance!

Maybe get the HPF first and see what it does with your current setup.

Just my thoughts!


may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass
Click to expand...
Carrots added!
I did consider getting a bigger poweramp, but for the price and weight I might as well buy one of these four. I agree on not wasting money on features I won't use, but I do still want an eq, something a poweramp won't have. I also do want an HPF, but again, availability in Denmark is extremely limited.
 
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#6
Hypocrite said:
I haven't tried any of them, living in Denmark the availability of bass gear is pretty much limited to the Internet. Can you say anything about the the inherent tone of the MB?
Click to expand...

It's a pretty modern sounding amp. It can still do the nice warm tone if need, but its bread and butter is the clear brightness. And I should warn you, it can get LOUD. It can be overkill for a lot of smaller venues especially if all you need is stage volume.

Here's a good review on it. One I watched before buying.
 
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#8
Hypocrite said:
but for the price and weight I might as well buy one of these four
Click to expand...

You must be kidding! P.A. Watts are cheap!!!!!!

Just one example… ;)

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Hypocrite said:
I also do want an HPF, but again, availability in Denmark is extremely limited.
Click to expand...

I know HPFs are hard to find in in Europe. Check this!

Gate_Hotone

Check with hotone if there are shops in Denmark that have it.

When you live close to the German border check shops in Hamburg.


greetings

Wise(b)ass
 
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#11
Wisebass said:
You must be kidding! P.A. Watts are cheap!!!!!!

Just one example… ;)

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]



I know HPFs are hard to find in in Europe. Check this!

Gate_Hotone

Check with hotone if there are shops in Denmark that have it.

When you live close to the German border check shops in Hamburg.


greetings

Wise(b)ass
Click to expand...
Fair enough, haven't checked Pa's in a while now :)
I already have the Hotone Gate, and while it is a good gate, the bandpass feature is pretty useless.

And I live up north, nowhere near Germany ;)
 
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#12
Hypocrite said:
I already have the Hotone Gate, and while it is a good gate, the bandpass feature is pretty useless.
Click to expand...

That' s good to know! Should be added to the HPF/ LPF thread!!!!!

Sadly their manual is a bit :wacky: about the low cut / high cut function. :(


Hypocrite said:
And I live up north, nowhere near Germany ;)
Click to expand...

Just take one more day off from work, when you go to Wacken! ;):laugh:

up the irons :hyper:

Wise
 
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#13
Wisebass said:
That' s good to know! Should be added to the HPF/ LPF thread!!!!!

Sadly their manual is a bit :wacky: about the low cut / high cut function. :(




Just take one more day off from work, when you go to Wacken! ;):laugh:

up the irons :hyper:

Wise
Click to expand...
Bear in mind I play at stupid volume with two guitarists and a drummer who is about as subtle as a brick through a window, so take my experience with the Gate with a grain of salt. To me it seems like there is an additional boost in the lower frequencies when the filter is applied, adding to the slight clipping. I don't know if it's actually cutting the lows and freeing up power for the rest of the signal, or if it's doing something wrong somehow. Like I said, I'm not an expert but it's definitely not working how I thought it would.

And thanks for reminding me I need to go to Wacken again :D
 
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#17
Hypocrite said:
I play bass in a death metal band, if that's relevant. My current setup is LTD B-206SM -> Darkglass Alpha/Omega Ultra -> cheapo 500W poweramp -> 800W GK 8x10

I love the sound of my bass, very clear and full/punchy. I mainly use the Darkglass to boost the low mids and top end, getting that clanky, grindy Derek Boyer/Alex Webster sound. I can't boost the low end at all or else the poweramp clips and sounds terrible, also it's a hassle for gigs when the soundguy wants a post-eq DI signal that sounds good out front but not through my cab.

Amps I've been looking at -
Peavey MiniMega:
Pros:
1000W, 700W@8Ohm
Lightweight
Sweepable mids
Cheapest
Relatively transparent tone

Cons:
Reliability, hit or miss
Won't even use half the features
Seems tacky, not rugged enough for gigging

G-K MB800:
Pros:
800W
Lightweight
Onboard limiter
Small

Cons:
Reliability
Knobs seem flimsy

Ashdown RM-800-EVO:
Pros:
800W
Relatively lightweight
Previous brand experience
Love the sound
It's Ashdown

Cons:
Budget line - reliability?
Won't use half the features
No pre-DI
Don't know if baked-in sound mixes well with Darkglass

Ashdown ABM600 EVO IV:
Pros:
Top pick
Great sound
Would love to upgrade to flagship Ashdown model
Extensive EQ

Cons:
Big
Heavy
"Only" 600W
Might not be enough Watts if I down the road decide to go with two separate 8Ohm cabs
Click to expand...

I have used the GK MB-800. Played it for a year then the Mesa subway stuff hit the market. So, even though I was totally happy with the MB-800 I switched to the D-800+.

I missed the GK everyday. I gave the subway a year. Couldn’t get it to punch like the GK. I switched back. This time to the MB-800 Fusion.

I’ve never been happier.

The MB-800 has a “Fet” preamp. Different from the MB-500. I think it makes a difference.

And all this talk about HPF.

Don’t get to caught up in it. The presence and contour controls on the GK more than make up for it. There was a HPF on my Subway. Useless is the term I would use. And I run two 800 watt GK 410 cabs.
 
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#19
IMO:
GK MB800.
* A/B foot switch.
* Stupid proof.
* Limit.
* VERY reliable.
* Rackable (recommended). So lightweight and compact, you might forget you have it. 2U, shallow with Fuhrman PwrCond. perfect.
* Knobs seem weak, but are not.
* Decent overall, stupid easy to dial in.
Owned one, and recorded with one, a couple of years ago. Gigged with zero issues with LOUD Post-HC trio. Typically ran pedals through FX loop, but had zero issues running through front. Ran through Barefaced SuperTwin (212) or Barefaced 610 (both 4 Ohms, 1200W) without issues.

IMO, mids could of been a little tighter, and after a few years of other amps, went back with, and am ultra-happy with GK 1001RBii. GK MB212 combo w/extension at the ready also (with extension, total 412, 1000w. Gigged at HC shows with volume/room to spare.)
Good luck.
 
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